Clinton Agrees With Obama: It Is Not About Gender

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:04:24 PM EST
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Say what you will, give the Clinton campaign professionalism props. After a few days of her campaign, imo, insinuating that gender DID have something to do with the criticisms levelled at her, she now turns a nice phrase denying that:

Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that her status as the Democratic presidential front-runner _ not her gender _ has led her male primary rivals to intensify their criticism of her. "I don't think they're piling on because I'm a woman. I think they're piling on because I'm winning," Clinton told reporters after filing paperwork to appear on the New Hampshire primary ballot.

So Obama, erm, piles on today on this, a mistake imo, and walks into this one. This line also is a winner for Clinton:

"I anticipate it's going to get even hotter, and if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. I'm very much at home in the kitchen," she said.

Not baking cookies one assumes.

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Clinton Agrees With Obama: It Is Not About Gender | 53 comments (53 topical)

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Ha (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by squeaky on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:09:07 PM EST

The kitchen line is brilliant, and hilarious given the context.

what context ? (none / 0) (#3)
by RedHead on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:12:40 PM EST

It Eildes (none / 0) (#7)
by squeaky on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:39:31 PM EST

The regular meaning of the phrase, when the going gets tough the tough get going... with the stereotype of 'womans work' (the kitchen and turns it on its head: the kitchen is not for pansies.


Harry Truman too (none / 0) (#15)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:53:25 PM EST

How So? (none / 0) (#19)
by squeaky on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:21:35 PM EST

I am embarrassingly weak on political history.


Truman sd. it first: if you can't stand (none / 0) (#21)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:23:46 PM EST

the heat, get out of the kitchen.

He didn't add: I'm comfy in the kitchen!


Makes It Even Better (none / 0) (#22)
by squeaky on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:26:02 PM EST

Warming us up for a lady prez.


Not so sure. Sunday Times of (none / 0) (#23)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:37:20 PM EST

London included an opinion piece, written by a woman, who opinedd men have had to adapt more than women in this post-feminism age. I'm afraid men "of a certain age" will think angrily about the good ole days when the little woman stayed home, did the laundry, raised the kids, and cooked dinner every night. Now look whats happened!


: Ah The Good Old Days (none / 0) (#29)
by squeaky on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:56:59 PM EST

I'm afraid men "of a certain age" will think angrily about the good ole days when the little woman stayed home, did the laundry, raised the kids, and cooked dinner every night.
When I was two, that's just how it was. My diaper was even changed.

I finally get it (none / 0) (#27)
by DA in LA on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:52:06 PM EST

Makes sense now. Considering I make my living writing comedy and I didn't get it, how many others will?


: Its hard work reading BTD.. (none / 0) (#34)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:06:37 PM EST

: I'm pretty sure he's talking about (none / 0) (#40)
by andgarden on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:29:29 PM EST

this:

HILLARY CLINTON: I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession which I entered before my husband was in public life.

How does saying (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Molly Bloom on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:12:34 PM EST

Wellesley prepared me well for the old boy club of politics translate to the boys are picking on me anyway?

: Are there enough Wellesley alums (none / 0) (#47)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:45:39 PM EST

to balance the possible back lash from all of us who didn't attend Ivy League or Seven Sisters schools?

The fact (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by Dulcinea on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:01:48 PM EST

she enjoys the heat is what confounds her detractors. Women are supposed to go away while crying inconsolably. The irony is that the republics' unrelenting attack on her for years has immunized her, even to her colleagues' attacks. Happy days are here again.

boo boo (none / 0) (#4)
by RedHead on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:14:35 PM EST

"I'm very much at home in the kitchen,"

Mandy Grunwald and Howard Wolfson should know better to stay outta of there.

: Ah (none / 0) (#5)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:17:55 PM EST

Quite the opposite.
That is a great line for Hillary.

Good line from her. (none / 0) (#6)
by Geekesque on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:27:00 PM EST

However, I think the Obama people are happy they put an end to that chatter about Hillary being targetted for her gender. Now Clinton essentially can't reach for that one again.

The real way to assess the impact of this round will be the next debate and its fallout.

Clinton will be forced to speak with greater specificity. Which will provide for greater issue contrasts. And a real debate.

What makes you think HC will have to (none / 0) (#8)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:41:15 PM EST

get specific? Not so far.


Because now the media will treat vagueness (none / 0) (#17)
by Geekesque on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:12:32 PM EST

as a sign of dishonesty rather than responsibility.


Given all politicians are vague (none / 0) (#25)
by Molly Bloom on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:38:17 PM EST

This could actually be a good thing, as I have no doubt HRC and her supporters will began to demand specifics from everyone. GOP included.


She's a lot more vague than the others. (none / 0) (#38)
by Geekesque on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:28:00 PM EST

She refuses to answer more questions than she answers.


Perhaps (none / 0) (#45)
by Molly Bloom on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:32:54 PM EST

however, if that is going to be the standard, she will have every right to demand all live up to it and not just the female candidates and she will have a point and will have done us all a great service to boot.

I'd like to see all candidates be more specific, not just HRC.


: I say, "bring it on." (none / 0) (#50)
by Geekesque on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 05:30:17 PM EST

My own candidate is too squishy on how many troops he'd leave in Iraq, for instance.

The media is mostly asleep or too (none / 0) (#35)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:07:45 PM EST

busy partying. But, just today, AP announced a new remmedy for red wine hangover.


Hmmm (none / 0) (#14)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:53:00 PM EST

Do you think Obma would have said what he said this morning if he knew this was coming? I hope not.


Yes, of course he would have. (none / 0) (#16)
by Geekesque on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:11:53 PM EST

The point was to call her on this nonsense.

She pretty clearly WAS engaging in this behavior:

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/11/did_hillary_play_the_gender_card.php

Now, she's forced to deny it.

Her denial doesn't mean his charge wasn't true.

However, going forward she'll get called on it whenever she tries to push women's buttons like this.

Bottom line is that she was going to continue unsubtly use her gender to deflect criticism until she stopped.

The Obama campaign suffers no damage from getting her to deny the charge.


I see (none / 0) (#31)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:01:52 PM EST

You think it worked for Obama then.

Course you thought McClurkin was going to work for him too . . .


: No, I thought it wouldn't blow up in his face. (none / 0) (#32)
by Geekesque on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:05:27 PM EST

Of course, I also didn't know that he was going to be emceeing the event. Otherwise I would have soiled myself.

Somebody had to call her campaign out (none / 0) (#28)
by DA in LA on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:53:59 PM EST

It was a very distasteful move and beneath her. She's a better politician than to play the "I got beat up by six guys" card.


HC's "kitchen" comment (none / 0) (#9)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:41:53 PM EST

is kind of trite, IMO.

Yes politics (none / 0) (#13)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:52:17 PM EST

is oh so not trite right?

You do realize politics is completely idiotic I hope.


: When I read her kitchen comment, all (none / 0) (#18)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:16:14 PM EST

I could think of was this truism: nothin says lovin like somethin in the oven.
Watched C Span 2 as HC was campaigning in a faux-barn in NH. Lots of women clapping. Lots of men sitting next to those clapping women. The men looked like they had been dragged to this event against their wills.

more hedging (none / 0) (#10)
by Jgarza on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:46:05 PM EST

More double speak. It looks to me more like she is backing off the woman thing, because its not working. I guess if your last blog post was about how playing the gender card was such a great idea, you have no choice but to call this "professional" though. The kitchen line is great but nonetheless I still don't see this as a positive turn for her.

The card has been played (none / 0) (#12)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:51:31 PM EST

and effectively. Now denying it makes the player look good ad the persons who attack still subject to the card.

You utterly miss my point. This was welll played by Clinton. But you do not like to hear that so I guess for you there never will be a good play by clinton.


That depends if people believe the denial. (none / 0) (#33)
by Geekesque on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:06:35 PM EST

Let us just say that Senator Clinton's tenacity and determination are much more appreciated by voters than her honesty.


Anyone looking for honesty from pols (none / 0) (#36)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:08:33 PM EST

is a fool.


: Some pols are more notorious for their (none / 0) (#37)
by Geekesque on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:24:53 PM EST

lack of candor than others.

: Tis True, Tis True! (none / 0) (#41)
by Molly Bloom on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:29:41 PM EST

She made a comercial about it (none / 0) (#51)
by Jgarza on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 08:04:28 PM EST

she doesn't have plausible denial. there is her commercial and numerous statements


O/T McCain Targets GOP Chickhawks (none / 0) (#11)
by RedHead on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 02:48:46 PM EST

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- John McCain, a Vietnam war prisoner, argued Friday that his top rivals for the GOP nomination aren't qualified to deal with issues like torture - or to be president in wartime - because they never served in the military.
Giuliani's spokeswoman, Maria Comella, said her boss has clearly stated that "if we're going to defeat the terrorists then we must use aggressive questioning. And in those extraordinary circumstances, the president needs all options available to ensure the safety and security of Americans."
Romney's spokesman, Kevin Madden, said the ex-governor is focused on the future and has the vision and experience to be president. Madden added: "We will leave it to other campaigns to make the mistake of merely assigning blame about the past."
Said Thompson spokeswoman, Karen Hanretty: "We all respect Senator McCain's military service, however, there are many great Americans who have served this country and not worn its uniform."
None of the three enlisted. Draft deferments kept Giuliani out of Vietnam while he attended law school and worked for a federal judge; he had twice been eligible for the draft. Romney received a draft deferment while serving as a missionary in France during the war. He was eligible for the draft later, but was not selected. Thompson, with a wife and child, was deferred from service.
source

: thank you I enjoyed that! (none / 0) (#42)
by Molly Bloom on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:30:21 PM EST

It's about maintaining (none / 0) (#20)
by jondee on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:23:45 PM EST

a "soft" version of the PNAC paradigm staus quo; nevr mentioning the neocons or any of their names, never intimating that the threats endured by Israel might have anything to do with the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem; certainly never talking about the PNAC document itself and what it proposes.

And any suggestion that candidates principals, (assuming they have any),might be disasterously compromised in a mileau dominated by lobbyists and their make-or-break patronage will be blithely dispensed with with D.C cocktail party grins and guffaws-for-the-canera.

And then there's that nutty, UFO watching (aint he nutty?), Kucinich. Takes all kinds.

PNAC fellow travelers ?? (none / 0) (#24)
by RedHead on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:38:12 PM EST

Everyone, save Dennis, is a PNAC Lite??

I agree the MSM is hollow shell on a leash held by corporate masters (Telecos slamming Dodd via MTP tool), and have damaged out country by not bring PNAC to the surface, but on your other point, eveyone except Clinton and Obama voted against K-L.


: O.k , (none / 0) (#54)
by jondee on Sat Nov 03, 2007 at 10:05:31 AM EST

I went overboard.
Btw, good job with Hillary's cabana boy on the other thread.

Good lines (none / 0) (#26)
by Deconstructionist on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 03:47:02 PM EST

are better when it doesn't take your staff several days to prepare them for you. It sort of reminds me of George Costanza having the comeback occur to him after the moment has passed. It's a far bettwer approach even belatedly than the pathetic the mean boys need to stop picking on the girl blather that was her staff's reflexive reaction.

It is a good line and I think it is a riff on the arrogant sounding 92 "I won't be baking cookies" gaffe-- so it applies now and makes light of past awkwardness. In that light, it is remarkably self deprecating coming from someone who appears to take herself very seriously and is not exactly renowned for being witty or humorous about anything.

Obama Retorts (none / 0) (#39)
by squeaky on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:29:19 PM EST

Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign is launching a new line of attack on Sen. Hillary Clinton, accusing the Democratic presidential frontrunner of mimicking Obama's votes.
For the first time, Obama aides have publicly charged that Clinton waits for Obama to weigh in on controversial issues before taking the same stand, often to avoid creating disagreements that could be used as campaign ammunition.

Wow, third grade comes to mind. HuffPo

in that case (5.00 / 1) (#43)
by andgarden on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:30:34 PM EST

They're both cheating off of Chris Dodd. . .


: Good One (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by squeaky on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:32:44 PM EST

: True (5.00 / 2) (#46)
by DA in LA on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:34:31 PM EST

But Obama cheats first!

Didn't work on Kyl-Lieberman, (5.00 / 1) (#48)
by oculus on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 04:47:30 PM EST

as Obama "missed" the vote.


Piling on because she's (none / 0) (#49)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 05:26:30 PM EST

winning? Or whining?

Hey, if you dig the Hill, that does sound like a right-on funny, pithy smackdown.

My bet, if you are undecided or don't dig her, is that that came across kinda beatchy.

imo, of course...

Flip-flop (none / 0) (#52)
by diogenes on Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 08:32:30 PM EST

Yet another flip-flop generated by the polling/pandering machine. What she says is generated by which way the wind blows. Unfortunately, as president she will do the same thing until 2012, at least. That's the same disease that led Nixon's people to order the stupid Watergate breakin when they were way ahead anyway.