Obama Criticizes MoveOn in Patriotism Speech

Ahem, would anyone like to venture a guess as to why Barack Obama saved his criticism of Move On until after the Democratic primary? And how many millions did Move On raise and spend on Barack Obama's behalf anyway? Some might say that Move On failed to read the tea leaves.

The Hill: Obama criticizes MoveOn.org in patriotism speech: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday, in a major speech on patriotism, criticized MoveOn.org for referring to Gen. David Petraeus as General Betray Us last year.

UPDATE - Matt Stoller observes that this is all part of Obama's master plan to Be the Power or "eliminate all vulnerable competing power centers, and this includes Moveon and Clark:" I wouldn't be surprised to see Moveon take a hit in donations and activism for this, but then, it's possible that the membership is frustrated over FISA and the opposite will occur. He can undermine Clark by damaging his reputation, taking Clark's comments out of context and then using a straw man to pretend like Clark had attacked McCain's service. Media Matters documents that this is not what Clark said, but Obama's imperative is not to the truth but to increase his own range of action within the party.

Obama has done so, hurting one of the top Democratic PACs and outside groups, and one of the top Democratic surrogates. He has also reduced his own range of actions in the general election and shouldered more of the burden on to his own campaign. UPDATE: Meanwhile, the Please Vote Against FISA group on MyBarackObama is up to 4700 members, in only four days.

Finally, here's a comment seen at Crooks and Liars: Can we draft Hillary at the Convention?

Liberal Politics News Barack Obama New Politics

Deranged Media Accuses Wes Clark of Swift-boating McCain & Obama Agrees

Well, the media has gone into one of its stark raving mad fits again. On days like this, I'm almost grateful that Hillary Clinton is out of the line of their deranged fire. My tolerance level for insanity is low today, so let's see if I can succinctly summarize the insanity.

Wes Clark observed on Face the Nation yesterday that being a prisoner of war and/or serving in the military is Not a qualification for the presidency:


“Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president. . Because in the matters of national security policymaking, it's a matter of understanding risk. It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service … But he hasn't held executive responsibility."

Shocker, eh? In case you didn't fully understand the level of treason [snark] embedded in the remarks of General Wes Clark, CNN's Rick Sanchez interprets it for you:

Rick Sanchez's lead-in to his next segment . . on CNN:

"Wesley Clark tried to Swiftboat John McCain today."

I’m liveblogging. He goes on to say:

"It will reverberate for weeks. Wes Clark tried to diss McCain's military record, that his service doesn't qualify him to be president."

That's right, Sanchez said Wes Clark "swiftboated" John McCain because the new definition of swiftboat is "to criticize. . . to point out facts." And just like when Obama took the media's word as "truth" in countless lies and mistruths about Hillary and Bill Clinton - Obama, once again, agrees with the irresponsible madness we call media.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton:

"As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark."

As if that wasn't clear enough, Obama personally rebuffed Wes Clark in his very long speech about patriotism earlier today. Exactly whose side is Obama on? Gawd. It's going to be a very very long general election. As always, my take on this is simple: The Empire is effin' imploding!

As if all of this wasn't enough madness for a Monday, in a post written before Obama joined the media attack on Wes Clark, WKJM objects to the media's attack on Wes Clark. Surreal.

Media Wes Clark Liberal Politics News Barack Obama New Politics John McCain

Canadian Armed Forces March in Toronto Pride Festival - Please Ask, Please Tell

File this one under news from the land of the freer than we are. This year's Toronto Gay Pride Festival featured a Canadian Armed Forces recruitment booth.

Gay members of the military represented the Canadian Armed Forces in the Toronto Pride Parade by marching in uniform:

"The message to the public is that the Canadian Forces is an employer of choice. We have employment opportunities that people can pursue, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation."

Or as they term it at Gawker, in Canada, they say: Please: Ask! Tell!

The Toronto Pride Parade saw a million spectators.

Gay Pride Toronto Canada Politics News Discrimination Don't Ask Don't Tell

Obama Is No Liberal

You might have thought that after eight long years of the Bush trainwreck, we could have gotten an actual liberal candidate. As the Hillary corner of the lefty blogosphere has repeatedly warned, Obama is no liberal. Is it time to say, we told you so, yet?

Jeralyn - Obama Shifts to the Center, Adopts Conservative Views: He is not a liberal. He has had no clearer message in this campaign than "there are no red states, no blue states, just the United States."

The Hill - Kucinich won’t rally for Obama until he gets answers: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has yet to officially endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president and indicated he will not rally his liberal supporters this fall until he knows “what the party stands for.”

Liberal Politics Conservative News Barack Obama New Politics Democratic Party

Unity Is Not a Real Town

"Unity doesn't exist. It's not a real town with a real population; it's just sort of a geographical center served by three different post offices. It was a ridiculous place to have this."

-- Rick Holmes, who biked to Unity, N.H. from Newport, quoted in Newsday

Or maybe the unreal town of Unity is the picture perfect place to hold a Unity Pony Show. Speaking of disunity, the latest AP-Yahoo News poll finds that just 53 percent of Hillary supporters back Barack Obama. Of the remaining 47 percent: "Twenty-three percent of Clinton's backers picked Republican John McCain over Obama. Of the rest, 16 percent were undecided, 5 percent were for independent candidate Ralph Nader and 3 percent said someone else."

TIME's David Von Drehle has some interesting thoughts on the 'appearance of unity':

The perfect political photo op — and this was a pretty darn good one —isn't aimed at the rational faculties of an informed electorate. It seeks whatever section of the brain it is that triggers a tummy rumble at the sight of a moist doughnut. It's about instinct, not reason.

But there's more here than meets the eye, so we'll keep going. Start with the simple fact that a truly unified political party doesn't need a unity rally. It's a long, slow bus ride down a winding two-lane road, over hills, through pines and pastures, to reach this remote New England village. The fuel that drives the bus is worry, and the worry stems from division.

Clinton's speech was effective in part because she didn't pretend otherwise. The photos said lovefest — his tie matched her suit and his arm was around her like Donnie and Marie — but her words subtly signaled that she was entering the tent of a once (and possibly future) rival solely to concentrate fire outward. She reminded a crowd long on anti-war voters that only three times in her 40 years of political life has a Democrat won a presidential election. "We cannot let this moment slip away," she said emphatically. . . .

The wounds from a fight like this one don't vanish overnight. Former President Jimmy Carter still bristles at the mention of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who challenged Carter in 1980, fought to the end and — at least in Carter's version of events — cost him a second term. That's 28 years. This one hasn't been over for 28 days.

Sen. Hillary Clinton in Unity, NH

Related: Confluence: PUMAS at Unity

Unity Video New Hampshire Politics News Gender Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Bill Clinton Democratic Party Denver

Lusty Senators Larry Craig & David Vitter Sponsor Anti Gay Marriage Amendment

Lustful Sen. Larry Craig and Lorena Bobbitt's wannabe husband Sen. David Vitter are co-sponsoring an, um, Marriage Protection Amendment. You cannot make this stuff up.

Oh well, it will go nowhere in a Democratic Congress and comic relief is just what we all need after that stressful nightmare assault on women's dignity that was the Democratic primary of 2008.

Suffice it to say, the Marriage Protection Amendment does not read: Thou shalt not publicly humiliate your wife by coveting another man in a bathroom stall. Nor does it read: Thou shalt not publicly humiliate your wife by fooling around with prostitutes. Rather the senate bad boyz are co-sponsoring the same old same old:

Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.

Apparently, the senate bad boyz want to return to the days when they were the laughingstock of the nation. All that laughter and ridicule must have been a real rush. We are happy to oblige the lusty dunces. By popular demand, we are happy to bring back the popular Lusty Loony Larry Tune. Turn it up!

Tap Three Times

Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), who was arrested June 11, 2007 on charges of lewd conduct in a Minneapolis airport terminal, is co-sponsoring the amendment along with Sen. David Vitter (R-LA). . . In July of 2007, Vitter was identified as a client of a prostitution firm owned by the late Deborah Jeane Palfrey, commonly known as The DC Madam.

MoJo Blog: Hypocrisy Meter Explodes
Queerty: Larry Craig Backs Act “Protecting” Marriage
Sovo: Craig and Vitter - the best sponsors you could get?
Wonkette: Marriage Amendment Has Utterly Predictable Cosponsors
HuffPost: Chutzpah Defined: Vitter and Craig co-sponsor marriage amendment

Gay Discrimination Larry Craig Bathroom Politics Idaho Humor Family Values David Vitter Louisiana Republican Jokes News Homophobia

Hillary & Barack Call for Party Unity

Even members of the ego-inflated MSNBC team are wearing blue today. Sorry MSNBC, I seriously doubt that Hillary and Barack mean to include you in the Democratic unity movement.

Political Intelligence: UNITY, N.H. -- The big moment came at 1:20 p.m. -- Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton taking the stage together, waving to the cheering throngs, his arm around her shoulder, even color coordinated -- she in a powder blue pantsuit and he wearing a tie of the same hue over a white dress shirt. . .

When some in the crowd started chanting, "Obama, Obama, Obama!" others started chanting "Hillary, Hillary, Hillary!"



Photos: AP - Obama, Clinton make show of unity in Unity, N.H.

Update: I tried to find a video clip of Hillary's remarks, but no luck yet. Of course, video clips of Obama's full remarks are everywhere, and naturally MSNBC is dutifully blasting out the remarks of the Darling One. It's almost like it's the primary again, when the media interrupted her speech in order to give us the speech from the One. I realize He's the presumptive nominee and all, but it's also true that we hear from Him every day and every night, and have heard very little from Her since she suspended her campaign. Obviously that's the way the media boyz like it. Good luck getting party unity while the biased media boyz remain in charge of shaping the narrative and manipulating the people.

Unity New Hampshire Politics News Gender Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Bill Clinton Democratic Party Denver

Just Say No Deal: The Coalition of Hillary's Rebels Featured in Washington Post

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama will appear together today, in Unity, New Hampshire (population, 1,700), in an effort to promote party unity (PUMA Protest details). Meanwhile, the Democratic Party shows signs of being deeply divided as word of the diverse Just Say No Deal coalition continues to spread.

Kevin Merida at the Washington Post:

Diane Mantouvalos (see photo) is an anger-shaker. The night before Clinton announced the suspension of her campaign, Mantouvalos was at home in Miami checking posts on her blog and sensing a mood that went beyond disillusionment, beyond sadness, beyond "I'm upset and bummed out." As co-creator of Hireheels.com, which describes itself as "a forum of power chics for Hillary," Mantouvalos hangs out on the sassy edge of the blogosphere. Feeling more empowered than embittered, the public relations consultant wondered: "Wouldn't it be great if we could thread all of these disparate factions and form one coalition?" A brassy coalition of rebels.

On June 8, the evening after Clinton conceded the Democratic presidential contest to Barack Obama, Mantouvalos organized a conference call with some 40 bloggers, political activists and other hardened loyalists of the New York senator's, in what became "a jam session of very intense opinion" -- about the party, its leadership, its presumptive nominee, the media. Five hours later, Mantouvalos, age "north of 35," had built a new Web site, JustSayNoDeal.com, which has become a clearinghouse for the renegade forces that are now confounding Democratic Party officials and Obama campaign operatives. . .

Several groups are planning marches in Denver, the site of this summer's Democratic National Convention. Others are organizing a Clinton write-in campaign or have switched to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), creating sites to promote his candidacy. Some have more targeted interests, such as establishing an ongoing critique of misogyny in the media, pressing for changes in Democratic National Committee rules on delegate selection, even the ouster of national party chairman Howard Dean. "Howard Dean is running this party like it is a Soviet-style dictatorship," fumed Faith Chatham, a Clinton delegate to the Texas Democratic convention.

. . Using various metrics -- e-mails to JustSayNoDeal.com (125,000), databases of organizations involved with the effort, registrants to and hits on selected protest Web sites -- Mantouvalos estimates the coalition of more than 100 groups represents at least 10 percent of the 18 million voters who backed Hillary Clinton during the primary battle. . . Defining the Just Say No Deal coalition is not simple. The clearest and strongest sentiments seem to be that party leaders tried to force Clinton out of the race prematurely, allowed sexism and misogyny to go unchecked in the media, and made decisions about the Florida and Michigan contests that were designed to favor Obama.


"Their goal was to stop Hillary Clinton by any means necessary," said Robin Murray, an Indianapolis therapist and social worker whose nine-minute YouTube video, " Mad as Hell/Bitch," detailed examples of sexism in the campaign and became a visual anthem for many feminists.

Given that she is a supporter of abortion rights and holds other beliefs that are at odds with McCain's, Murray was asked why she would consider voting against her own interests. "Whether it's appropriate or whether it will work doesn't matter at this time," she said. "The vote is a protest vote -- be it if I vote for McCain, if I don't show up, or if I write in Hillary's name." Added Murray: "I view it in a holistic way. It says, we will not be controlled and manipulated by these singular issues in order to cast a vote that we feel is deceitful, negative, there is just no pretty way to say it -- they cheated."

DNC Unity New Hampshire Feminist Backlash Misogyny Male Dominated Politics Feminist News Gender Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Sexism Democratic Party Denver

Russ Feingold on Telecom Immunity Or the Capitulation of Spineless Dems (Video)

It's the most embarrassing failure of the Democrats I've seen since 2006. . It's letting George Bush and Dick Cheney have their way even though they're that unpopular and on their way out. It's really incredible.

-- Senator Russ Feingold

via Firedoglake

Netroots feel jilted by Obama's FISA stand
Obama's FISA Cave In: A Reverse "Souljah" Moment
Obama On FISA: Telecom Immunity Doesn't Override National Security
Welcome To The General Election, Netroots!

New Politics News Barack Obama FISA Telecom Immunity Russ Feingold Useless Democrats

About that Party Unity: A Message from PUMA PAC (Video)

PUMA PAC (People United Means Action) is urging folks to:

GO TO UNITY NEW HAMPSHIRE TOMORROW WITH A SIGN THAT READS, “THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS A HOUSE DIVIDED”




via Riverdaughter
Taylor Marsh: HILLARY: A Mission of Unity
NY Times Caucus: The Early Word: On the Road to Unity
NY Mag: The Fraught Details of Obama-Clinton Unity

Unity New Hampshire Feminist Backlash Misogyny Male Dominated Politics Feminist News Gender Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Sexism Democratic Party

Without Hillary, It's Back to Men's Daily News

From the Washington Wire's Elizabeth Holmes, comes a note about that momentary rush of women on the political stage that was the Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign. Already, she notes, politics is fast returning to the usual suffocatingly male state of affairs with an occasional sweetie squeezed into the margins.

From Meet the Press to "progressive" websites like Democratic Undergound, it was quite a novelty to see so many political discussions centered around a woman, even if they were routinely calling her a nag or a bitch.

But we're making progress, right? After all, it was only 88 years ago that we got the vote, and already we're 16.4 percent of Congress!!

Woo fucking hoo.

Elizabeth Holmes: [O]n the whole the majority of press on the campaign trail are men—courteous gentleman, to be sure, but men nonetheless. . . It continues a trend of what, with the absence of Hillary Clinton, appears to be a lack of women in this election. Whereas Clinton employed scads of woman on her team (as well as men) and kept the issues of women at the forefront of the campaign, the general election match up between John McCain and Barack Obama seems to be the old-style male-dominated game. . Both candidates have male campaign managers and an inner circle comprised nearly exclusively of men.


Misogyny Male Dominated Politics Feminist News Gender Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Sexist Media Progressive New Politics Feminist Trailblazer

Feminist Video of the Day

via Feministing where Jessica rates this one as Best. Feminist. Video. Ever.

Gender Ms Pacman Feminist News Male Dominated Politics Feminist History

Ralph Nader: Obama Plays on White Guilt, 'Talks White'

Ralph Nader is running for president again. And Nader has never been shy about criticizing Democrats:

Nader was asked if Obama is any different than Democrats he has criticized in the past . . "There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards."

"I mean, first of all, the number one thing that a black American politician aspiring to the presidency should be is to candidly describe the plight of the poor, especially in the inner cities and the rural areas, and have a very detailed platform about how the poor is going to be defended by the law, is going to be protected by the law, and is going to be liberated by the law," Nader said. "Haven't heard a thing."

"We are obviously disappointed with these very backward-looking remarks," Obama campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said. . .

"He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician," Nader said. "He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up." - read more

Nader blog: Obama is just another corporate candidate
WaPo: In Ralph Nader's Race for Reform, This Is No Time to Slow Down: Nader didn't get to be Nader without a pilgrim's belief in the righteousness of his mission, which is nothing less than the transformation of the federal government into an instrument of "progressive" thought and action. via

Ralph Nader Democratic Party New Politics Barack Obama News Politics

Jon Stewart Mocks Obama; There Goes the Election

So the Daily Show has a little fun with Barack Obama's new position on campaign finance reform (he's for it, unless it applies to him) and over at the Obama Post, Joseph Palermo warns of the dire danger of mocking the messiah:

Just watch the right-wing radio shock jocks and the literati warmongers like David Brooks and William Kristol -- who are always looking for a cute "hook" to slime Obama -- cite The Daily Show as confirming, from a hip "liberal" source, their worst fears about Obama. . In such a contaminated and sulfurous political context anyone who wishes to rid the nation of the dead hand of Republican misrule must be careful not to play into the narratives the Right is expert in constructing every four years. Yeah, that means you Jon Stewart.

Seriously, Republicans might win by citing Jon Stewart? Can't you just see the November headlines? "Jon Stewart Joked About Barack Obama. Republicans Win by Landslide!"

Goddess help us if this messiah crap doesn't wear off soon. Palermo's very long and sanctimonious warning must also apply to the entire Democratic Congress and all the Democratic Party. Because after some eight freaking bleak nightmare years of Lunatic Bush, the only way Democrats can win is if we all behave like obedient lobotomized bleating sheep. Or in the words of the real author of Palermo's surreal lecture, George W. Bush: There are always only two choices, Black or White, Up or Down, Good or Evil, Democrat or Republican, or you are either With Us or Against Us! Sorry, Palermo, but the real problem is not George W. Bush, the real problem is a nation of obedient lobotomized progressives sheep.



John Kass, Chicago Tribune - Don't cry about Obama— it's just the Chicago Way: I've been telling you for almost two years that Chicago isn't Camelot. Do you believe me now? "The Politics of Spare Change: Even $85 million wasn't enough to get Barack Obama to keep his promise," cried The Washington Post. "Obama opts out of reform," said The Boston Globe. The New York Times was so upset with Obama that the last time I checked, they were beating up on him for not ostentatiously hugging Muslims at campaign rallies.

They feel betrayed. But just where did they think he comes from, their once-and-future young king, who wields the magical sword Axelrod, the singing blade solemnly handed to him by Richard "Shortshanks" Daley under the Michigan Avenue Bridge, as he rides forth to transform our cynicism into something good and pure?

New York Times: Obama’s Decision Threatens Public Financing System

Daily Show Democratic Party New Politics Barack Obama News Politics Campaign Finance Reform

The Banned Gay Heinz Deli Mayo TV Ad (Video)

So Heinz pulled this ad because of homophobic complaints about too much love and too many kisses. Men kissing??? OMG!! What will the children say? Protecting children from the specter of love and endearments, ah yes, yet more evidence that we humans are a woefully weird and violently deranged species.


Guardian.UK: Heinz pulls ad showing men kissing: Heinz has withdrawn its Deli Mayo TV ad that featured two men sharing a kiss and apologised to viewers after the advertising regulator received about 200 complaints that it was offensive and inappropriate.

The Heinz Deli Mayo ad has been pulled after less than a week on air after viewers complained to the Advertising Standards Authority that it was "offensive" and "inappropriate to see two men kissing". . Other complaints include that the ad was "unsuitable to be seen by children" and that it raised the difficult problem of parents having to discuss the issue of same-sex relationships with younger viewers.

Towleroad: Gay Rights Leader Slams Heinz for Pulling Gay Ad - Ben Summerskill, head of UK gay rights group Stonewall, has slammed Heinz for pulling its Deli Mayo advertisement, saying the company has insulted a broad base of gay consumers to appease a few vocal right-wing Christians. [via ]

Ben Summerskill: Beanz meanz bigotz - Heinz shouldn't have pulled its advert just because it showed two men kissing – in doing so it has insulted gay consumers.

Gay News Gender Politics Gay Rights Homophobia Bigots Progressive Politics Equality Civil Rights Same Sex Couples

Hey Democrats: We Are Not Your Bitches

If you're weary of reading about how PUMAS and other angry Hillary supporters should just stop "whining" and "pouting" and "get over it" because there is no place to go in November except "home" to the spineless Democratic Party, you need to read this awesome statement from Pocochina. An excerpt follows, but you'll want to read all of it.

Pocochina at The Raging Prosecutrix:

I think that non-feminist Obama supporters, and particularly male non-feminist Obama supporters, have this idea that we are just irrationally angry, our feelings are hurt and we should get over it or we’re just silly, don’t we know how bad McCain is, maybe they’ll just tell us one more time. The choice not to support Obama is a long-run rational choice. Right now, there is a party that hates women all the time, and a party that used to humor us, but hates us when it is convenient. It is our job to never, ever let it be convenient again, or there will be no one in government advocating for our rights.

We are not your sweeties, who just need candy and flowers to come around.

We are not your bitches, that is not a leash in your hand. Our bodily integrity is not a choke chain you may use to threaten us. If you think it is, you are no better than the Republicans. And yes, the “But! But! But!” Roe stick is just that - a threat. Politically involved women know exactly where we stand on Roe, and we know the Democrats haven’t been all that bothered to even look like they’re trying to protect it, these last seven years. We know what an anti-choice Supreme Court looks like, because we read Gonzales v. Carhart and our hearts broke in fear for ourselves and our sisters and nieces and daughters.

When you tell us that we’d better get in line and vote for Obama, OR ELSE ROE, you are holding our own bodies hostage against us, as if they were yours to take. You are actively, proudly, literally threatening us with our lives. Is that the change we should believe in?

read more . . .

via Heart at Women's Space

Related: Amy Sullivan at Time: Will Pro-Choice Women Back McCain?

Feminist Backlash Misogyny Male Dominated Politics Feminist News Gender Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Sexism Democratic Party Roe v. Wade

The Attack of the PUMAS

Riverdaughter's take on Rebecca Traister piece at Salon: "The biggest miss is that she assumes that Hillary lost."

Salon: Why Clinton voters say they won't support Obama: The attack of the PUMAs, or a dozen reasons why Clinton voters are still too angry to come home.

Update: I still haven't had time to read the piece, but from one of my all time favorite bloggers, Big Tent Dem, comes this choice bit which definitely gets it exactly right. Keith Olbermann is the one and only MSNBC misogynist whose show I absolutely refuse to watch. I can stomach Mathews, I can stomach Shuster, I can stomach a lot, but I cannot and will not suffer the likes of Keith Olbermann:

5. They are angry at the media's repeated denial of sexism, and they are angry at Keith Olbermann.

The first should be quite obvious. In a New York Times story last week, members of the media heartily denied that there was any sexism in the way that Clinton was discussed. This in the face of zillions of examples of gender-fueled language both explicit (comparisons of Clinton to a nagging spouse, to an ex-wife outside of probate court, to Lorena Bobbitt, to a sexless monster, to Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction") and only slightly more subtle (the unabashed determination on the part of print and broadcast media to put her campaign down as early as possible, and the hyperactive joy they betrayed whenever that wish appeared to be coming true). To deny that this happened is foolish, and it doesn't make any of the eagle-eyed women who spotted Tucker Carlson crossing his legs in emasculated fear any less angry.

As for Olbermann, outrage at him has supplanted displeasure with Chris Matthews, perhaps because Matthews has been publicly excoriated for his bias, while Olbermann is still held up by many as a talking-head hero of the left. Of course, those surprised by Olbermann's clear distaste for Hillary Clinton, or the venom he directed at that nutsy Katie Couric, who meekly ventured that maybe there had been some media sexism during the race, obviously missed the time he once wondered on air if anyone had ever ejaculated on Paris Hilton's face. Olbermann's simultaneous tenacity on the side of good, coupled with his utter disinterest in gender equity, makes him emblematic of the unpleasant position in which Hillary-supporting feminists find themselves -- members of a progressive party that doesn't seem particularly interested in their progress.

Media Misogynist Keith Olbermann Hillary Clinton Sexist New Politics News Barack Obama "Progressives" Democratic Party Hillary Supporters Gender PUMA Feminist Backlash MSNBC

MoveOn Pressures Obama to Keep His Word on FISA

MoveOn is calling on its members to demand that Obama keep his word. After famously endorsing Barack Obama in the Democratic primary, the lefty organization is now angry or "clearly not happy" with Obama's "decision to support the new FISA bill that includes lawsuit-immunity for the telecom companies."

MoveOn is far from the only angry party:

As he morphs from St. Obama of the Primaries to Village Barack of the General, Obama is quickly abandoning the liberal savior guise that got him from point A to point B. . . On the FISA move, blogger Digby stated, "I am tempted to say this is a Sistah Soljah [sic] moment, wherein Barack makes it clear to the Villagers that he is not one of the DFHs [Dirty Fucking Hippies], despite all their ardent support. Nothing is more associated with us than this issue. . He's also taken some pretty hard hits on FISA from progressive blogs like Glenn Greenwald's and Talking Points Memo, the latter headlining, "Obama Backs Surveillance Cave." Atrios awarded Obama the coveted "Wanker of the Day" award.

In October of 2007, Barack Obama promised to filibuster retroactive immunity. At that time, Barack Obama did not support helping Bush break the law.

MyDD: MoveOn: Tell Obama To Filibuster FISA

New Politics News Barack Obama FISA Telecon Immunity

Hillary Fulfills Promise to High School Graduate (Video)

Hillary Rodham Clinton kept her promise to her "honorary niece" Aleatha Williams and spoke at her high school graduation at Pelham Preparatory Academy in the Bronx.

The girl, Aleatha Williams, a campaign volunteer and the daughter of a supporter, introduced the senator to fellow graduates from Pelham Preparatory Academy in the Bronx as "my aunt." Clinton said she had known Aleatha "and her wonderful mother, Patricia," since the girl was 2 and had promised her when she graduated from eighth grade that she would attend her high school graduation.

Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who attended the school's commencement ceremony at nearby Fordham University, said students should always remember that an American hero spoke at their graduation. "She changed America's view of women," Klein said. "Someday soon, very soon in America, we will have a woman as president. And you know what that woman will say? 'I would not be here had it not been for Hillary Rodham Clinton.'"

Graphic: NY Daily News

Politics News Hillary Clinton Gender Feminist Trailblazer

Is Insufferable Paternalism in the Democratic Party Platform?

Walter Shapiro says "those angry Hillary supporters" are merely throwing a temper tantrum. So no one should worry about Hillary's emotional voters. The women will come back to the Democratic Obama Party because "they have no alternative but to toe the party line."

Um, is Walter Shapiro secretly working for the Green Party?

Walter Shapiro: As an empty threat, it ranks right up there with "Eat your spinach now or your mother and I won't pay for college" or even George W. Bush's taunting promise to get Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." During the post-primary news lull, ardent Hillary Clinton supporters have managed to linger in the spotlight with their over-hyped warnings that they intend to sit on their hands or even bolt to John McCain if they are not wooed and won over by Barack Obama.

Now that the Obama campaign has announced that the Democratic victor and his vanquished foe will campaign together on Friday, brace yourself for the frenzied over-analysis of every sound bite of banter, every muscle twitch of body language during the Barack-and-Hillary show. . Despite the efforts of Clinton activists like clothing entrepreneur Susie Tompkins Buell to highlight feminist grievances with the nomination process, the truth is that the Clintonites really have no alternative but to toe the party line. . .

So after a nomination fight without an overriding issue, there is absolutely no ideological reason -- beyond ruffled feelings -- for, say, college-educated feminist voters to vote Republican. As Monika McDermott, a political science professor and pollster at the University of Connecticut, puts it, "If the history of the past 20 years of voting has shown us anything, it is that women are more likely to vote Democratic and these particular [pro-Hillary] women are hardcore Democrats. They will get over how Hillary was treated very quickly when they realize that the alternative to Obama is John McCain."

via Susie Madrak: You Know How Chicks Are

Sexist New Politics News Barack Obama Polarizing Democratic Party Green Party Hillary Supporters Gender PUMA Feminist Backlash

MSNBC Runs Stripper Clip Art in Ad About Michelle Obama

Last week the Misogyny Channel ran a Hardball ad teasing an upcoming story about Michelle Obama's image makeover. The MSNBC ad featured what appears to be stripper clip art meant to represent Michelle Obama posing as sexy silhouetted dancers (pictured above).

Presumably, "Her New Outlook" would be sexy enough for deranged Chris Matthews and his Hardball viewers. Why the hell else would Chris Matthews want to talk about women?

MSNBC must have gotten some calls on this one. It was pulled after running "only once or twice," or so MSNBC claims. It was deemed "inappropriate."

Translation: The bitches wouldn't stop ringing our phones!!

Remember, it's not about Michelle or Hillary. It's about all women and girls!

(Watch the ad!)

MSNBC -- Phil Griffin: Phone (202) 783-2615.

Michelle Obama Misogyny Politics Feminist News Sexist MSNBC Gender Male Dominated Media Feminist Backlash Hillary Clinton

NOW's Media Hall of Shame: Rating the Misogynists

NOW's Media Hall of Shame is up. The National Organization for Women wants you to rate the media misogynists on the Misogyny Meter. I find it a real challenge to rate misogynists. I mean I want to give them all a zero on the scale of humanity, fire their asses, take out restraining orders to keep them forever away from all our daughters and sons, sentence the jerks to complete, or die trying, the most torturous of Ph.d programs in women's studies, and never ever have to hear from their sorry misogynistic twisted asses again.

Oh, yeah, and they should come back in their next lives as sexually objectified men living in the entrenched matriarchy.

But I see only one who has been fired and SHE is very far from the worst offender. It appears to be unthinkable in this woman-hating culture to fire male pundits for the crime of jeering, ridiculing, trivializing, and hating women. After all, these are the guardians of the time-honored American tradition of 232 years of male rule. Respect for women and Equal Representation are just outdated second-wave feminist issues.

No one who was paying attention to Hillary Rodham Clinton's historic campaign will be surprised to hear that NBC/MSNBC are the WORST MISOGYNISTS:

Six of the Hall of Shame nominees come to us from the NBC brand of media outlets. . . [T]ell Phil Griffin, NBC News senior VP and exec in charge of MSNBC, what you think! (Read our sample letter).

Maureen Dowd made the Hall of Shame. Read MoDo's lame defense in the Times Public Editor Clark Hoyt's Pantsuits and the Presidency.

Nominate a misogynist for NOW's Media Hall of Shame.

Phil Griffin -- MSNBC
Title: Executive Producer
Department: Hardball with Chris Matthews
E-mail: phil.griffin@msnbc.com
Phone: (202) 783-2615
Fax: (202) 737-4986
Address: 400 N Capitol St NW, Washington, DC 2000

h/t to Big Tent Democrat: Dowdy

"I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she’s feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal."

-- Barack Obama

"If women take a moment to realize that on every issue important to women, John McCain is not in their corner, that would help them get over it."

-- Barack Obama

Male Dominated Politics Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Misogyny Politics Feminist News Sexist Democratic Primary Gender Media Feminist Backlash MSNBC CNN Media Bias

Made for TV Elections: Kennedy v. Carter (Video)

The Made-for-TV Election Clip 12 with Martin Sheen via Charlotte Front and Center: Operation Hell Hath No Fury

. . . examining how TV changed the 1980 Presidential Election Campaign when Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter. Watch how commercial broadcast networks use polls, gaffes, flip-flops, stereotypes, and show business values to create winners and losers in a drama of their own making to pump the ratings--and distract you from what you need to be an informed citizen and understand what's really happening in America. . . "Profoundly enlightening... a devastating look at TV's impact on the presidency." --Helen Thomas, Hearst News Service and "Dean" of the White House press corps. . . read more . . .

Kennedy Refused To Drop Out in 1980 Primaries: Now Hillary Clinton still holds her delegates and the likes of Debra Barstoshevich and Sacha Millstone will probably be stripped of their delegate status..you know the "non-party players" who dare to vote their conscience. . . So once again the point is made that many, many democrats are not going to be forced by guilt to get on the band-wagon for a candidate that has been selected by a very undemocratic process no matter the platform.

Thanks palhart!

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Obama & McCain Woo Women (Video)

Sarah Haskins at Current TV looks at the attempts of the men - McCain and Obama - to woo women. Haskins notes that they only want us for one thing.


h/t to Feministing

Male Dominated Politics Hillary Clinton Barack Obama John McCain News Gender

Beyond Narnia: Obama Gets His Own Great Seal of the High King

Holy fainting Obama girls! It's the Great Seal of Obama! That's right a rip off of the Presidential Seal, and it has Obama's name on it. Gawd. Even Bush didn't try this.

But didn't Obama steal this from High King Peter who got his very own Great Seal after banishing the Ice Queen (White Bitch!) from Narnia? Clearly, somebody took all that breathless male media hysteria about Barack Obama as the Son of Camelot way too seriously. And, um, that somebody appears to be Barack Obama. Can we say, laughingstock? Even MSNBC is mocking Obama over this one.

Images of His name and His icy blue brand are already freaking all over the internet and we haven't even gotten to the convention yet. Somebody should just go ahead and give the megalomaniac a crown and be done with it. Land of the Obamamaniacs! This country has fucking lost its fucking mind.

Reactions to the Great Seal of Obamaland:

Barack Obama's presidential campaign raised eyebrows and elicited snickers Friday when it unveiled the Obamamania version of the presidential seal. At a meeting with Democratic governors in Chicago, Obama sat behind a rostrum with a seal that looked not-so-coincidentally like the official seal of the President of the United States. . Snarked John McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds, "I think we can all agree that we need presidential candidates that are serious enough not to play make-believe on the campaign trail."

The Caucus : At a discussion with a dozen Democratic governors in Chicago on Friday morning, each of the governors was identified with a small name plate but Senator Barack Obama sat behind a low rostrum to which was attached an official-looking seal no one had seen before. It is emblazoned with a fierce-looking eagle clutching an olive branch in one claw and arrows in the other and is deliberately reminiscent of the official seal of the president of the United States. Just above the eagle’s head are the words “Vero Possumus,” roughly translated “Yes we can.” Not exactly E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One), the motto on the presidential seal and the dollar bill. Then again, Mr. Obama is not the president.


Time - The Page: E Pluribus Obama: The Democrat’s campaign unveils a curious, presidential looking seal on Friday.

Weekly Standard: In Obama We Trust - Behold the Great Seal of the United States of Obamaland

National Review: Audacity defined: Changing the seal of the United States of America and inserting the "O" logo for the American flag and as well as changing "E PLURIBUS UNUM" to "VERO POSSUMUS." (Loosely translated, "yes we can!") I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of Obamerica...

LA Times Blog: Obama now has his own Great Seal already. And it is really, really big. It's big like the tires on those elevated pickups in the parking lot at NASCAR races where you look out the car window and see nothing but fist-sized lugnuts. . . Some people might be inclined to make fun of a grown candidate who's against an imperial presidency but needs a really Great Seal before he even gets the official nomination. Maybe they'd suggest that as good as things look now from the city of big winds, maybe he's counting his eagles before they hatch.

New Politics News Barack Obama Polarizing Democratic Primary Presidential Great Seal Obamanation