Re: Christine O'Donnell thrust into pit of identity politics: We're crying sexism where it doesn't exist

I wonder how the author would look at the rampant race card playing by the obama
defenders
 
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 10:06 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [DADL-OT] Christine O'Donnell thrust into pit of identity politics:
We're crying sexism where it doesn't exist
 
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/09/22/2010-09-22_christine_odonnell_thr
ust_into_pit_of_identity_politics_were_crying_sexism_where.html

O'Donnell thrust into pit of identity politics: We're crying sexism where it
doesn't exist
 
SE Cupp
 
Back in 2008, when  <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Sarah+Palin> Sarah Palin
first exploded onto the national stage, I wrote a column in this space answering
allegations that she was just a cheap attempt by the
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/U.S.+Republican+Party> GOP at winning women
over. To do this, I asked that readers pretend her name were not Sarah, but Sam.
 
It was an exercise in reversing the identity politics that many of her
detractors were using to dismiss her as incompetent. She was, to me, a wholly
acceptable and, in fact, laudable vice presidential pick - but not because she
was a woman. Of course, if her name were Sam, the idea of a popular governor,
former city councilman and mayor running for higher office wouldn't be much of a
scandal. For me, her anatomy had nothing to do with her successes; however, for
her critics, it had everything to do with her perceived failures.
 
Now another woman has been thrust into the fiery pit of crass identity politics,
and Christine O'Donnell, the Republican nominee for senator from
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Delaware> Delaware, is being slammed from all
sides for her record, her values and her questionable electability.
 
But something else is happening - or isn't happening. Perhaps, post-Palin,
conservatives are hypersensitive to the kind of rank sexism that she endured and
continues to endure, but we're now crying sexism where it simply doesn't exist.
 
Leading up to her surprising primary win against
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Mike+Castle> Rep. Mike Castle, nervous GOPers
and decidedly honest analysts -  <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Karl+Rove>
Karl Rove, even - questioned whether or not she had the stuff to go all the way.
And as crude as that may sound, an ability to go all the way is important when
you're picking candidates. An ability to go all the way is kind of all that
matters.
 
Otherwise, elections are merely theater - self-indulgent passion plays staged
every now and then to showcase principled stands and symbolic gestures. See
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Ralph+Nader> Ralph Nader,
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Ron+Paul> Ron Paul and
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Al+Sharpton> Al Sharpton. Symbolism is what
the arts are for. Elections, on the other hand, have pragmatic and meaningful
consequences. And O'Donnell's critics know this.
 
They know, for example, that if her name were Christopher instead of Christine,
allegations of campaign fraud, theft of services at a nonprofit and lying about
her education would make her a very problematic candidate, even if all proven
untrue in the end.
 
When Rove said that "This is not a race we're going to win," he was being
nothing but honest and pragmatic. But for some of O'Donnell's fans, like radio
host  <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Jeri+Thompson> Jeri Thompson - who
bashed the "political elites" for questioning O'Donnell when they "stood by
their men" - such criticisms amount to sexism. The New Agenda's
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Anna+Belle+Pfau> Anna Belle Pfau seems to
like O'Donnell primarily because "Delaware has never elected a female senator,"
and suggests she is "being targeted because of her gender."
 
No, she's being "targeted" because she has a cargo hull full of baggage that
includes a lack of political experience and a questionable relationship with the
truth. It's the kind of baggage that conservatives used against
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Barack+Obama> Barack Obama -
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/William+Ayers> Bill Ayers,
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Tony+Rezko> Tony Rezko,
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Jeremiah+Wright> Jeremiah Wright, etc. - when
he first catapulted onto the national stage.
 
Moreover, it's the kind of baggage that conservatives have used against other
conservative candidates in the past few years, questioning at varying times the
electability of, among others,  <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Rand+Paul>
Rand Paul,  <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/J.D.+Hayworth> J.D. Hayworth -
and even  <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Newt+Gingrich> Newt Gingrich and
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Mike+Huckabee> Mike Huckabee.
 
Maybe  O'Donnell will get elected. Beating Castle was no small feat, after all.
But conservatives who throw the "sexism" charge around to scare off scrutiny are
doing considerable damage to the cause. And by cause I don't mean women's
rights, I mean political self-interest. It's not in our best interest to act
like liberals, who use racism and virtually every other "ism" to ward off
opposition and silence debate.
 
And when genuine sexism occurs, it is self-evident, and thus requires no real
effort to illuminate. The sexist attacks on  Palin - a despicable
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Newsweek+Inc.> Newsweek cover of the governor
in running shorts, the comedian
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Sandra+Bernhard> Sandra Bernhard warning that
Palin would be gang-raped,  <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Gloria+Steinem>
Gloria Steinem saying she's the "wrong woman" for the job - were genuine and
disturbing, and revealed the hypocrisy of the far-left feminists who find
themselves increasingly irrelevant.
 
O'Donnell is running for office. And good for her. But criticism and skepticism
come with the territory, and ducking out of interviews with
<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/FOX+News+Network+LLC> Fox News or any other
major news outlet looks weak and, frankly, guilty. Someone should tell her that
if she can't stand the heat, she'd better get out of the kitchen.


Read more:
<http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/09/22/2010-09-22_christine_odonnell_th
rust_into_pit_of_identity_politics_were_crying_sexism_where.html?page=1#ixzz12pE
WlZcX>
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/09/22/2010-09-22_christine_odonnell_thr
ust_into_pit_of_identity_politics_were_crying_sexism_where.html?page=1#ixzz12pEW
lZcX
 
Thom
http://thomwade.wordpress.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/Thomwade
http://www.in-one-ear.com
_______________________________________
"I have seen the future brother: It is murder."~Leonard Cohen

"We live as though the world were as it should be. To show it what it can
be."~Angel, Deep Down

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