
Screenshot via Feministing, hosted by PhotoBucket.
I first noticed the Right Wing’s decision to demonize Hillary Clinton some time in very late 1991 or early 1992. Although it must surely have begun warming up before then I associate it with the moment of their collective ZOMG-end-of-the-world flip-out over her post-election name change from “Hillary Clinton” to the scary-fezemeninist “Hillary Rodham Clinton”
And as I fretted last month they’ve wasted no time trying to smear Michelle Obama just as they would have Elizabeth Edwards, or Jill Tracey Jacobs (Joe Biden, not sure if she’s taken his last name), or Barbara Flavin (Bill Richardson, ditto), Elizabeth Kucinich or even long-shot Rita Gravel.
As I’ve said, um, a lot since at least 1992, if you want to be a twit attack someone for her gender, or race, or orientation, or whatever instead of something substantive. The right wing, intellectually as well as morally bankrupt since ketchup as a vegetable, have nothing but twit.
This has worked because, evidently, until at least 2004 the center and left have had nothing but doofus. Not so much any more.
Jessica Valenti of Feministing says
Fox’s Senior Vice President of Programming Bill Shine told the Politico that the producer responsible for labeling Michelle Obama “Obama’s baby mama” in a segment “exercised poor judgment.” Uh, yeah, I’d say so. (So much for a heartfelt apology.)
Via the newly-launched Michelle Obama Watch, created by What About Our Daughters. (Add it to your blogrolls, and get involved in keeping tabs on the media!)
I’ve added the site to my blogroll. Even if you’re not a fan of the Obamas, if you’d rather they were engaged on a policy rather than personal level you might consider doing likewise. (Twittery, by the way, is not limited to ‘wingers — the left is starting to become disgracefully twittish about John McCain’s age and I’d hate for that to interfere with his enormous lapses and gaps in substance.)
[Oh yeah, and “baby momma?” Seriously? What’s worse is a lot of people are arguing “but they’re married,” and “but she’s educated,” and… and… and… yeah, and they’re playing into the FOX News frame. Instead “baby momma” is only, and entirely, and inextricably a) racist and b) sexist. No other “talking points” are necessary whether you’re talking about… well… anybody! —fl]
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