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January 2009 
Chauvinism seems to be alive and well
Posted on Jan 19th, 2008
by 
Allison
Allison
I don't leap on my feminist horse all too often, but i must say giddy-up pony here i go!
I have been quite disappointed by the recent behavior of former President Clinton. Now it should be noted I am a good democrat and have happily raised him to saintly status in recent years. I enjoyed his book "Giving" and his wonderful philanthropic spirit. I was thrilled in the speech i heard him drop Ken Wilber's name. And he often speaks in an incredibly inspirational manner of recognizing the differences in people while honoring the commonalities among all people as the way we should view humanity to move forward, and he does so in a post-pluralistic way that has brought me to tears before.
So to feel the need to offer a harsh criticism of this man, is not easy for me to do.
That being said. Can someone shut him up, he is embarrassing himself, and certainly not acting in a respectful way for a former president to behave. The way he is campaigning on his wife's behalf and totally inappropriately smearing Barack Obama is completely immature.
Now does anyone remember former President George Bush Sr. rushing to his son's aid in such a way. Hell no! And as Americans we wouldn't have stood for that! It would have been viewed as George W. as a wimp and very unbecoming of his father, a former president to behave in such a manner.
So why is it that a former president is able to act this way with very little criticism? In my mind it is solely because he is "protecting" his wife. And so we all just allow it and understand it. Even applaud it on the 10 year anniversary of this same president stepping out on his wife.
Now i totally accept the difference in genders and can even understand that i like a little male protection now and again, but for shit's sake she running for President of the United States. She is a strong, viable candidate and does not need, or in my mind benefit from Bill jumping to her defense, in a very unbecoming manner at every turn.
As a leader, i want her to be in control and right now controlling her husband should be priority number 1.
I have been quite disappointed by the recent behavior of former President Clinton. Now it should be noted I am a good democrat and have happily raised him to saintly status in recent years. I enjoyed his book "Giving" and his wonderful philanthropic spirit. I was thrilled in the speech i heard him drop Ken Wilber's name. And he often speaks in an incredibly inspirational manner of recognizing the differences in people while honoring the commonalities among all people as the way we should view humanity to move forward, and he does so in a post-pluralistic way that has brought me to tears before.
So to feel the need to offer a harsh criticism of this man, is not easy for me to do.
That being said. Can someone shut him up, he is embarrassing himself, and certainly not acting in a respectful way for a former president to behave. The way he is campaigning on his wife's behalf and totally inappropriately smearing Barack Obama is completely immature.
Now does anyone remember former President George Bush Sr. rushing to his son's aid in such a way. Hell no! And as Americans we wouldn't have stood for that! It would have been viewed as George W. as a wimp and very unbecoming of his father, a former president to behave in such a manner.
So why is it that a former president is able to act this way with very little criticism? In my mind it is solely because he is "protecting" his wife. And so we all just allow it and understand it. Even applaud it on the 10 year anniversary of this same president stepping out on his wife.
Now i totally accept the difference in genders and can even understand that i like a little male protection now and again, but for shit's sake she running for President of the United States. She is a strong, viable candidate and does not need, or in my mind benefit from Bill jumping to her defense, in a very unbecoming manner at every turn.
As a leader, i want her to be in control and right now controlling her husband should be priority number 1.
Access: Public
You're not the only one that's noticed:
“[M]ark on your calendar Jan. 25 for an outburst by Bill Clinton somewhere in South Carolina. He has launched a tirade the day before each of his wife's victories in Nevada and New Hampshire, claiming the process was unfairly stacked against her. If this keeps up, he's going to require a stretcher by the last primary in Oregon come May.”
http://slate.com/id/2182355/
Part of this is, I think, just a spouse defending a candidate, which isn't a new phenomenon. I do agree gender's playing a role in the level that he gets away with. A popular ex-president openly campaigning is a new phenomenon, though, and I personally am quite disappointed that we're forced to try to tease apart spouse Bill Clinton (who of course is campaigning for his wife, but whose opinion is grossly self-interested and should carry little weight) from ex-president Bill Clinton (who probably shouldn't be campaigning at all, but whose opinion might appropriately be valued).
Just remember they are a team, with the same goal….. “Back to the White House”
:)