How the Democrats can Blow It…In six easy steps

I was reading Rolling Stone the other day, when an article by Michael Moore caught my eye.

How the Democrats can Blow it…In Six Easy Steps

The whole thing is definitely worth reading (It’s actually an excerpt from his new book: Mike’s Election Guide ), but it’s step 4 that I really wanted to bring attention to:

4. Forget that this was a historic year for women.
Obama should be making a speech about gender like the brilliant one he gave on race back in March. Millions of people, especially women, had high hopes for the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. Attention must be paid. And you don’t pay attention to it by having your advisers run your wife through the makeover machine, trying to soften her up and pipe her down. Michelle Obama has been one of the most refreshing things about this election year. But within weeks of the end of the primary season, the handlers stepped in to deal with the "Michelle problem."

What problem? She speaks her mind? She wears what she wants? Her biggest sin, according to the punditocracy, was to say that, as a black woman, this may be the first time in her adult life she’s been really proud of her country. Shock! Surprise! Outrage! But not from any of the black women I know.

You have to be white and stupid to not know what she was really saying. If you don’t understand, let me ask you this: Have you been proud of what this country has been doing in the past few years? Are you proud your neighbors had their house taken from them? Are you proud to be sending a good chunk of your paycheck to the oil companies so they can post record profits? Are you proud to know your vice president outed one of our spies and put her life and the lives of others at risk?

That’s all she was saying — what we are all feeling.

Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both lost the white-male vote but won the White House. They did so by winning the black, Hispanic and female vote. That HAS to be Obama’s strategy to win. Otherwise, Cindy McCain will be our new First Lady. (emphasis added)

The entire exerpt was really refreshing, witty, and…well…true. This truly should be "the most winnable election in American history," but we thought that four years ago when Kerry was running against Bush. I can only hope we aren’t left, yet again, scratching our heads and wondering how we elected Pinky instead of the Brain.

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

Join the Conversation