Headline Of The Week Weak
Filed under: Headline of the Week > Politik > Hillary Clinton
"Message, not gender, turns voters off Clinton"
Things are not looking up for Hillary! CLICK HERE to read all about it!
Message, not gender, turns voters off Clinton
Voters are not turning their backs on Hillary Clinton because of doubts about a woman in the White House but rather turning on to the optimistic message of her rival Barack Obama, according to some experts on gender and leadership.
The 46-year-old senator with his wife and two young children makes Clinton, a 60-year-old political veteran, seem outdated to some voters, they said.
Clinton lost caucuses in Iowa last week to Obama and has seen her poll lead overturned going into Tuesday's Democratic primary in New Hampshire, part of a state-by-state process by which parties choose a candidate for president.
Victory in November's election to succeed U.S. President George W. Bush would make Clinton the first U.S. female president after 43 male heads of state.
But that possibility could be fading if primary voters opt for the promise of hope and change projected by Obama over Clinton's experience and readiness to lead.
Those issues rather than gender will determine whether the U.S. senator from New York and wife of former President Bill Clinton stands or falls, according to Naomi Wolf, author of the 1991 bestseller "The Beauty Myth" and other books.
"None of the polling or the focus groups indicate that people are … (snubbing) her because she is a woman but because of a deficit in how she is projecting leadership," Wolf said.
"If anything, she is too entrenched, too competent a leader. She … has been on the world stage and people (voters) are sick of people who are … on the world stage," she said.
Obama captured overwhelming support among young voters in Iowa. Clinton, on the other hand, was flanked by politicians from years past on the night of the Iowa result, including her husband and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Clinton, a successful lawyer in Arkansas before Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, and Obama play down their symbolism as potential 'firsts' as presidents. But one surprise of the 2008 race is that Iowa and New Hampshire voters appear more enthused by the dream of a groundbreaking black president than a first female one.
"STANDARD BEARER"
Even if U.S. feminists can chew on many issues such as workplace constraints and lack of widely available cheap child care, few female voters view Clinton as a "standard bearer" for their cause because women span the spectrum of opinion and leaders already seek out their votes by responding to some of their concerns, Wolf said.
She cited the focus by politicians including Bush and Bill Clinton on middle-class "soccer moms" who care about education, health care and crime.
"What matters is to be comfortable and run the race that you believe in because you can't please everybody," said Victoria Budson, head of the Kennedy School's Women and Public Policy Program.
In an ideal world, Clinton would be judged on her merits rather than her gender but this was unlikely to happen, she added.
Clinton faced a struggle her rivals rarely confront to balance the appearance of toughness with a softer quality U.S. voters look for in female politicians, said academic Barbara Kellerman, who published "Women in Leadership" in 2007 and has written numerous other books on the subject.
Clinton's congressional vote in 2002 to authorize war in Iraq made her appear tougher on national security than some rivals. But she is also accused by critics of being cold and failing to show emotion, traits that in a male politician might be interpreted differently.
Debate over Clinton's style resurfaced at a campaign event on Monday when she became uncharacteristically emotional and teary-eyed as she described why she was running and the obstacles she faced.
Political comment ranged from sympathy to charges she was faking the emotion.
Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin suggested on her political blog "The Tears of a Clown" should be Clinton's new campaign song.
Kellerman said it would be a mistake to blame Clinton's style if she lost the nomination because until recently that same style had won her front-runner status among the Democratic candidates.
"If her candidacy does not succeed I hope that women will learn the right lessons from her defeat and not make overarching conclusions about how impossible it is (for women) to get to the top," she said.
Seventh!!!!!!!!! YA FAT HOMOSSSSSSSSSSSSS!~
Go obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FIIIIIRTS CUNTS!!!
first
Why do you keep talking your shit about Hilary? Why do we not speak about Obama? At least be far, and stop attacking individual presidental hopefuls, perez
Still voting Hilary
.v.
first
first
Why do you keep talking your shit about Hilary? Why do we not speak about Obama? At least be fair, and stop attacking individual presidental hopefuls, perez
Still voting Hilary
.v.
1st
give her a chance!
vajajay
first !!! yay finally
first?
Exactly how I feel. Before Hilary even ran, I did my research and pretty much discovered that she was evil. I am really glad that American can see past her gender because although she is the first female running, I would NEVER vote for her. Go OBAMA!!!
no comments yet?
VOTE
I LOVE BARACK
This site is really getting boring. There are a ton of other celebs out there and we keep reading about the same old tired has beens or idiots or gay shit here. I'm gone!
we are doomed, a woman (if you want to call her that), a man who wont wear the American flag & a religious freak.
RUDY HELP SAVE US!
first
I just hope the next president is a Democrat, whether it's Hillary or Obama, I really like them both. Hillary is a strong woman and that really turns people off….people don't like to see women who are that intelligent and ambitious (other women included). Obama is running a good campaign, but in my opinion it's Hillary who will get the job done in the White House…
awww… I actually really like Hilary!!!
I like you Perez…..but why do you hate on Hillary? You should stick to talking trash about celebrities. Hillary is the only one with the political experience necessary to fix our country. If Obama is voted in- he will need 6 months to get used to the White House. She lived there for 8 years, she can just get to work. VOTE FOR HILLARY. Perez- stick to talking about Lindsay, Paris and Britney.
go hilary
Go Hil!!! Wonder what if there will be another sex scandal?
i hate her anyway!!! FRIST!!
Just her voice alone irritates the crap out of me!!!!
Barack Obama has no plan for backing up what he says he is going to do. He has no experience and it is going to be Jimmy Carter all over again! Hillary is a realist, she doesn't have her head in the clouds with no feesible method of accomplishing what she promises to accomplish.
Go Hil!!! Wonder if there will be another sex scandal?
Perez,
You're no political analysis.
Puh-lease.
Perez,
You're no political analyst.
Puh-lease.
I am extremely disappointed in this website for even putting this article up. Senator Clinton has actions behind her words while Obama is based on ideas and promises yet no plans, and the plans he does have are taken from the Senator Clintons previous plans and accomplishments. I am disappointed in the media and the American people for being hypnotized by charisma–The last time we voted in a president that was "likable" we elected President Bush, and look what happened there.
Just the sound of her voice irritates the crap out of me!!!!
Ah yes… Vote Inexperience! Looks like we're going to get what we deserve yet again in 2008.
I MISS BILL!
I love most of what you say, except I'm not agreeing with this Perez!! I love Hillary and all of this is JUST HYPE. She's still KICKING ASS over all, in almost all of the states!
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still love her and hope she succeeds
I still think Hillary has it in her! Go Hillary from Mobile, AL!
I love Hillary. I hope Obama never makes it. Who would wants that… uhh Not happening. Go Hillary