Two Feminist Perspectives by Peggy Cooper Davis and Carol Gilligan

Finding a Feminist Voice
We are an African-American feminist and a Jewish-American feminist. Each of us
believes that the ongoing presidential campaign is of monumental significance. National polls, the Iowa and Nevada caucuses and the New Hampshire primary all suggest that racial and sexual domination have been sufficiently overcome that an African-American man and a woman are both electable presidential candidates. Will one of them prevail?

Or will they be divided and conquered?

When blacks and white feminists divided famously in the Nineteenth Century, the issue
was whether to support giving the vote to black men but not to women. In that context, we think Sojourner Truth had good reason to argue for “keeping the thing. . . stirring” until the vote was given to all. But this is not a one-or-both affair (at least not now).

Only one person can be the Democratic nominee. What does a good feminist do?
The election of a woman president would do much to unseat the stereotypes that make it
hard for us to imagine women at the center of political power – and hard for us to vote to put them there. And it would help us lift the veil of impossibility that clouds the vision of too many women and girls. Perhaps, then, we should support Hillary Clinton.

But perhaps it is wrong to stand against gender bias without standing against other
equally unjustifiable forms of bias. Knowing too well the evils of gender prejudice,
feminists have also been critical of other forms of prejudice. We condemn racism,
xenophobia and homophobia just as we condemn sexism.

Perhaps we should take a stand against racism and xenophobia by supporting Barack
Obama. Were his the face of the United States, it would be easier for us to interact with other nations as a multicultural democracy rather than as a behemoth. And his election would do much to help us lift the veil of impossibility that clouds the vision of too many children of color.

How do we choose which form of prejudice to oppose?

Some argue that feminists should support Clinton for the simple reason that sexual
stereotypes are more potent than racial stereotypes. This reasoning is too simple. We agree that sexual stereotypes are more potent than racial stereotypes; they are engrained from infancy and engrained in ways that give them special psychological power. But sexism is not only about the perpetuation of stereotypes. It is also about a gender-based corruption of public life.

Little boys are encouraged, on pain of Oedipal tragedy, to separate from their mothers
and compete in public worlds that seem more about survival than care. Little girls are encouraged to be nurturers in domestic realms. In public realms, women and girls get mixed signals: we are expected to accept a nurturing role, to toughen up and compete, or to invent ourselves as hybrids. In this patriarchal story, love and care come to be thought of as feminine, domestic qualities, and detached calculation and competitive assertion come to be thought of as masculine, public qualities.
Sexism is double barreled. It inures us to stereotypes that empower men and limit
women, and it also inures us to a public culture of detachment and competition. As
feminists, we are sensitive not only to the evils of gender stereotyping but also to the human tragedies that result when detached competitiveness is the principal strategy for addressing public issues. Yes, feminism should be about challenging gender stereotypes.

And, yes, gender stereotypes are uniquely potent. But feminism should also be about
bringing human concern and relational intelligence to bear in public life. The capacity for dispassionate judgment and the will to survive are important to all human endeavors. But so are the capacity for empathy and the ability to cooperate. When we choose between Clinton and Obama, it is not enough to ask which choice shatters the more potent stereotype. We must ask which choice best combines the opportunity to shatter stereotypes and the opportunity to bring empathy and cooperation to public
decisionmaking.

Where does this leave us? It leaves us with the realization that furthering feminist values is not as simple as voting invariably for female candidates. Our feminism causes us to appreciate rather than denigrate Hillary Clinton for bringing a new and less detached voice to politics. But our feminism also causes us to appreciate rather than denigrate Barack Obama’s message of cooperation and common purpose. It causes us to lean differently in this election, but it counsels us not to let disagreement make us disagreeable.
Peggy Cooper Davis is the Shad Professor of Lawyering and Ethics at New York University. She is editing a book about Carol Gilligan’s relational psychology. Carol Gilligan is a University Professor at New York University. She is the author of In a Different Voice, The Birth of Pleasure and Kira.

Obama and the Kennedys

Anyone see Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Obama yesterday? It was something. Here's David Brooks' assessment from the NYT...

Don't Mess with the Devil

Hillary Clinton's strategic calculations are sometimes so off the mark. Refusing to be shot for Vogue? That's like, not done.

Best Description of Mitt—Ever!

It's never easy reading about Romney, but this quote from Time.com writers Michael Duffy and Karen Tumulty is absolutely genius:

"The former Massachusetts governor at times seemed less like a real person than a strange, inauthentic collection of market research, body parts and DNA that had been borrowed from past GOP campaigns and assembled in a lab by the party's mad scientists."

Sidelining Race to Win

Interesting opinion piece from Timothy Egan about whether or not race keeps Obama from winning.

35 Years of Experience

Hilary Clinton routinely mentions her "35 years of experience" and my friend Doug finds it interesting that there hasn't been much discussion among the media and the public of what that means exactly (heaven forbid the media looks at a candidate's history rather than the reporting the latest worthless national poll...). Doug asks: "What is the experience that HRC has from '35 years'? 35 years of what better suits her as candidate for President? Of being the wife of a politician? Of being a lawyer? Of being a mother?"

"Let's Never Forget, We're The Real Story, Not Them"

The New York Observer's nauseating profile of ABC's Jake Tapper (the man who once wrote about dating Monica Lewinsky to make a name for himself. Ick.), TV news' "most-used" correspondent . Skip to the end where quotes Broadcast News in the most disgusting way. Double ick.

A peak behind the curtain...

Mediabistro's regular column, "So What Do You Do...?" focuses on the New York Times' political reporter Matt Bai this week. He likens blogging to an interactive column and discusses his narrative approach to political journalism. He comes off as a bit full of himself, but then, who doesn't?

Hillary's New Playbook?

Came across this review of a book being published next week about media bias in women's presidential campaigns. Interesting reading, for sure.

Romney Wins Michigan; Republican Race Wide Open

I'm so glad it's 11pm, and I can go to bed.

Poor Kucinich

It didn't work in New Hampshire when he tried to get a judge make ABC let him participate in the debate, but it seems to be working in Nevada. MSNBC fights to keep Kucinich away from the podium.

Republicans duke it out in Michigan; Dems do Vegas

Bummed that the Dems are not participating in today's Michigan primary, but we'll get an eye-and-ear-full at tonight's Vegas debate on MSNBC.

Claudia will never leave the house!

Taking advantage of the Big Networks' lack of original programming in primetime, CNN introduces a nightly, hour-long, election-specific newscast that will run through Super Tuesday, February 5. I know at least three untapped correspondents they could be using...

Las Vegas as an unexpectedly fertile ground for talks about misogyny..

Bob Herbert's latest piece from NYT.

Does he watch BET?

We should listen to Mr. Johnson, he who has personally lifted African-Americans through his cable channel of booty videos and 227 reruns? The man should keep his mouth shut in my humble opinion.

Obama doesn't want to talk about it anymore, either...

At last!

Let's talk about it all: Race! Gender! Next, maybe we'll get the candidates to answer my favorite online dating question: _____is sexy; _____is sexier.

And now for something REALLY important

After the abysmal Golden Globes fiasco last night, I thought we should start the week with a little bit of celebrity fun! Did you know Hank Azaria donated $2,300 to the John Edwards campaign? For the full list of celebrity donors and their chosen candidates, click heah.

Election 2008...the new 'prime time'...

David Carr on how the fervor around the election (coverage) has changed the game for the WGA strike.
Brekke, just like you said...

Erica Jong on Sexism and the Presidency

from Rachel Greene, Texas Native and Tokyo Resident

re: Huffington's call against polling...

I had not heard of Huffington's call. As a former pollster myself, I actually agree with her. In Texas, I worked part-time for a friend's polling firm for 3 years. We polled during several important Texas state and national elections. I was young, and my brain was young, but over time I began to see that the questions we were asking were slanted. (My friend is one of the staunchest Republicans you'll ever meet.) Then I realized frequently that the way I read the question could sometimes lead the person being polled to answer a certain way. :-) Little theatre artist trying out her interpretive muscles... As much as I enjoyed the calling because I got to "meet" all kinds of interesting people in their homes and hear their views, I quit. The polling science was too fuzzy even if they did pay me well. I was working for the Dark Side, and I didn't like it. My friend's polling firm is still doing booming business and reinforcing the Republican way of life in Texas through its harvesting of "reliable" data. Too many people do base their opinions on that crap. I'm down with Huffington and will join her no poll call. What do you think? Do you agree?

FOR NORA...FROM NADER

FROM MSNBC:

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg could be the first modern independent candidate to break the stranglehold the two major parties have on the White House, two-time candidate Ralph Nader said Thursday.

More on Bloomberg's potential run

The suggestion in this Washington Post piece is that Bloomberg would announce his candidacy with a running mate already in tow...

OMG...Bob Herbert totally likes Barack....pass it on...

Herbert's latest from the NYT. I like Herbert's writing, but his barely concealed desire to do everything short of giving Obama a sponge bath is..a lot. Meanwhile, he does touch on the inevitable issue of the expectation game, as well as advocating for Obama to take the high ground, even as the Clinton's get nasty. (And probably do the nasty, all speculation to the contrary.)

A question to readers and contributors: this MLK comment that everyone's abuzz about: It struck me as a pretty nasty attack on Obama, but totally benign re: MLK. But Herbert references it, and it's everywhere. Is it just more 'story' generation or was it actually over the line?

Is Rove confused?

Why is Karl Rove spending so much time discussing the DEMOCRATIC candidates?

To poll or not to poll...

Arianna Huffington is advocating a strict no-polling rule, meaning that she is calling for all of us, the people, to JUST SAY NO when the pollsters call. My only problem: I've literally never met anyone who's received one of those calls. Worth a look...

Las Vegas Debate

MSNBC will host a Democratic candidates debate on January 15. Questions can be posted here. I want to go. And stay at the Four Seasons.

The Bloomberg Factor

Everybody's talking about it, including his staff. But what effect would a Bloomberg Independent ticket have on this already impossible-to-follow election cycle? Here, the latest from the New York Times.

The (E)motion of Hillary...

Another piece from the NYT on the 'big moment'. But this one by Judith Warner turns it around and worries that women might have actually voted for her for emotional reasons. While I get Warner's concern, it seems really naive to assume voters don't usually do just that. And I will echo HRC's acceptance speech from Tuesday, in which she applauded the young voters for asking questions (and ultimately voting) with their hearts and minds. Whatevs....

Just ran across this blog...

...while following up on the Dowd piece from Wednesday (apparently, Mo was nowhere near the HRC victory event. Her lithe assistant, who we saw at an HRC event in Des Moines, appparently did the reporting that ended up in her column). Anyhoo, a fellow blogger watching the watchdogs deserves a shout out.

The Speculation Game

The venerable Tom Brokaw, out of the grind of the nightly news and thusly free to express his opinion on the subject, has spoken to the TVNewser about the networks and cable news outfits reporting speculation and opinion with regard to election results, rather than sitting tight and waiting for the actual results.

Crying shame

CJR takes on the ridiculously shameful coverage of Hillary's potential tears. Some of my office colleagues liken this quiet, honest moment with Howard Dean's famous angry outburst. You know, the one the ended his campaign. HRC's "moment," seemingly, has had the opposite effect in the short term.

I second Claudia's questioning of how the U.S. press conducts itself in this most important and vital hour, especially when I can hear the networks clamoring for any kind of ratings in the absence of actual programming. I fear that the writer's strike may have far more deleterious, reaching implications than not seeing George Clooney in a tux on Sunday. Which, incidentally, blows.

No shame...

There are so many things to which the above phrase applies these days, but never more so than to so many members of the US Press, who described the inevitability of Hillary floating on a barge to nowhereland in advance of the FIRST primary in the nation. And then when she actually won, called it "one of the biggest upsets in political history." Are you kidding me? It's pathetic. Meanwhile, we have ourselves a real race, which is probably the best thing for the country and the party, even if it does require the press to invent things to say other than "he's got it in the bag" and "she's done." Or simply to flip the pronouns...

I'm attaching a link to Maureen Dowd's column this morning.I often think "no shame" is the perfect phrase for her, as she seems only driven to celebrate herself and her own glib cleverness. And never more so than this morning....

Don't be such a girl!

If I read or see one more news item on Hillary's near-crying incident in New Hampshire, I'm going to have to take a Sleeping Beauty-caliber nap. Wake me in 2010, you know? Anyway, this opinion piece by Gloria Steinem made me feel a little better, in that she's actually talking about the very real gender bias in this country and it's very real ramifications on the election. As Claudia said so eloquently, "Go, Gloria!" And go HRC.

Mitt's a Mormon? Really?

Despite my clear misgivings about the Mormon faith and those who follow it, owed almost entirely to Under the Banner of Heaven, I include a link to this piece on religious bias and bigotry against Mormons from the Times Sunday Magazine.

A lot of good quotes, but this one stood out to me:

"If anything, the systematic overrepresentation of Mormons among top businesspeople and lawyers affords LDS affiliation a certain cachet — rather like being Jewish, but taller."

Apropos of nothing...

Nagourns got to fly the corporate jet home...

Primary Issues

The NYT published a pretty powerful editorial about the dysfunctional nature of the primary process itself. Worth reading and considering as we rush into the NH primary-- having already said goodbye (seemingly in an instant) to two viable and accomplished candidates.

Last Gasp

It's not, as I'd thought it might be, guilt that has inspired me to FINALLY contribute here. Surprising nobody more than myself, it's inspiration. It is not an exaggeration to say that this trip to Iowa has forever changed my relationship to the political process. I am still, as ever, alternatingly unnerved, nauseated, angered, and fascinated by different aspects of the process. What I can no longer deny, is the extraordinary nature of each one of these people running this amazing race. I could never before wrap my brain around the idea of the caucus. Seeing so many Iowans of different ages and stages, many undecided, get out in the cold (which cannot be overstated,) to question, learn, and make informed decisions- to this jaded New Yorker, was truly amazing. 

I went there undecided, but leaning in a certain direction- surprised by the practicality of my reasons for doing so. I left, still undecided, but leaning in a different direction, now surprised that this process actually penetrated my skepticism, and inspired me. 

Now I've posted. 

Obama's viability

An article from Newsweek post-last night's victory.

Nothing like an 80s movie reference to clarify everything...

Reason’s Jesse Walker on the fall of Mitt Romney: “I have to confess I’m enjoying Mike Huckabee’s victory, even though I disagree with virtually all of his platform. Mitt Romney represents everything Americans hate about politicians: the empty man hungry for power and willing to say anything to get it, the privileged man who thinks he can buy an election without actually standing for anything. Intellectually I know I should prefer him to Huckabee. I’d rather my rulers be driven by personal ambition than by ideology, except in those rare cases where their principles bear some resemblance to mine. But for now I’m happy to let my visceral reaction to Romney rule my mood. If I can’t have optimism, then at least I can have schadenfreude. If politics were a 1980s teen gross-out comedy, Mitt would be the Alpha Beta frat and the Iowa caucuses would be the revenge of the nerds.”

FROM THE OPINIONATOR, NYT, 1/4/08

It's Barack, Fuckabee Victorious in Iowa Caucus

Change and religion rule the day. Let's hear it for Barack! He ran a great campaign, he's been pitch-perfect, magnetic and brilliant—and not many people thought a black man would ever win in Iowa. I feel like America's growing. Except for the Huckabee part. Next up, New Hampshire. Why do I have to have a job?

All of us at Barack event in Perry

Three amorphous blobs in last row of bleachers, left. Ali wears light sweater, then it's Claude and Brek to the right.

Brekke captured in Ames

Brekke in furthest upper right-hand corner. For showww....

Young celebs who make endorsements...

...make me not want to vote for their candidates. Scarlett "These Lips Are Made for Felating" Johansson is the latest to jump on Obama train. I believe the Brandon Routh incident from Sunday should have stopped that insanity. But no...

Proof of our witnessing Biden with Baby

from the NYT...an embarrassment of riches?

take a look at this article-- it echoes everything we've been hearing (and feeling) about the number of excellent Dem candidates and also references Biden's amazing ability to calm a little boy, which happened at our Ames Library event!

More news bits from the Hawkeye State from Nagourns and others...

Adam "Nagourns" Nagourney's latest on the scene in Iowa, reporting on something us girls certainly noticed at the events we attended: Lots of Iowans think the economy sucks more than Iraq.

Maureen "Not So Dowdie" Dowd, our SRO neighbor at the Hill event in Ames, IA, asks whether it will be Hillary or Obama in today's column. No doubt another attempt at regaining her first Clinton administration relevance, as well as a demonstration of her great gift for rhyme (yes, yes, some of the time). As an aside, this woman looks AMAZING at 56, what she'll turn on January 14. Happy Birthday, Dowdie!

One more day...

And then there was John Edwards....

With minutes to spare, we raced across Ames to see John Edwards on campus at Iowa State. We got a good spot near the front, and we met an amazing older lady (lifelong Republican, from a farming family, amateur painter, voting for Edwards). Elizabeth Edwards introduced John, with her two seriously cute young children in tow. SEE PIC. We did not get to see all of Edwards' speech, because we had to get to the airport. However, we saw some of it, and he was impressive in his power and connection to the people. I thought that, demographically, he seemed to appeal to the most traditional IA voters. But what do I know?

MORE HILLARY PICS...plus candy crowley of cnn

Candy preps her report.














Governer Vilsack introduces Senator Clinton










Hillary addresses Iowans of Ames.

HILLARY IN AMES, IA

Last day. We hurled ourselves out of bed and raced to Ames IA-- where Iowa State is located. We got to the event and there were already 500 people there. The staff was shuffling people into a second enormous convention room, which did not make us happy.
SEE FIRST PICTURE.
We ended up convincing them to let us in, and we stood in the back with the press. I mean, we're sort of press, right? We stood next to Candy Crowley as she did her openers, and I got shoved (not on purpose) by Maureen Dowd. The crowd was enormous and there was an almost corporate quality to the event. The location influenced that, but also the awareness of the enormous machine behind HRC. It was impressively organized and executed, but also a little cold. Sound familiar?
Chelsea and Hillary's mother were also both in attendance. Very exciting all the way around...

CAUCUS TOURISTS PIECE

Here's a link to a piece from abc.com in which I was interviewed about our trip! It's seems like there were many tourists, but very few from outside IA.