August 25, 2008
It seems ironic to be saying this upon the closing of the Summer Olympics. The Democratic and Republican Conventions run through back-to-back weeks, with Labor Day Weekend in the middle. As the Democratic Party’s show begins, there is a healthy bit of attention focused on those disgruntled supporters of Hillary Clinton and how they plan to entertain us for the next week. Of course, nearly all of them are women. Their rallying call is to decry the sexually-harassing coverage of Hillary’s candidacy. (The bulk of it was provided by the right-wing media, such as: Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.) I saw one of Hillary’s die-hard supporters on one of the news-related talk shows last week. Her point that Obama “can’t close the deal” was a flashback to the Primary season rhetoric, exhibiting some sexual double-entendre, usually indicative of the commentator’s own sexual issues. As I pondered this, I began to wonder whether some of these outraged women might have experienced some workplace-related gender harassment or bias, themselves. Taking action on their own behalf to assert such a claim before the EEOC or in court, could result in retaliatory discharge from employment. Although actionable, such illegal employer conduct is conveniently facilitated during a recession with a poor job market. I began to wonder to what extent Hillary Clinton became a hero for those women with workplace-related gender bias experiences and to what extent that issue had become an emotional motivator in the Democratic nomination race.
It appears as though Obama may have a way to win the support of some of these voters. Perhaps by acknowledging that this was indeed a close nomination race, with an obvious element of sexist harassment directed against Hillary Clinton from certain quarters and that we can understand the indignation of those people who fought so hard in the Clinton campaign. Accordingly, some pro-active remedial steps could be taken by Barack as the nominee. I began to envision Obama healing this rift in the party with his acceptance speech:
We all saw how Hillary Clinton was sexually harassed and degraded by some in the right-wing media such as the Fox News, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh during the Primaries. By the way: What is Rush Limbaugh doing — sexually harassing someone, when he’s sitting there with that long, tube-like, golden microphone up against his mouth? We need to ask a psychologist to explain that golden, phallic microphone up against Rush Limbaugh’s mouth. Did you ever see that thing? He’s talking on the public airwaves. The use of those airwaves is licensed by the FCC. That’s why people can’t say curse words on the public airwaves like they can on cable. If people can’t say curse words on the airwaves, then they shouldn’t be able to sexually harass female politicians or political spouses, especially during election campaigns. This is why, if elected President, I will introduce my Presidential Initiative for Gender Harassment Sanctions – or: PIGHS. If someone starts up with the kind of nasty talk we heard from Rush Limbaugh about Hillary Clinton or even Elizabeth Edwards, the FCC will fine any broadcast radio station or TV station airing this offensive conduct.
I wouldn’t expect this strategy to win over every disgruntled Clinton supporter for the Obama – Biden ticket, although it could have an effect. There is always the possibility that some of those vocal, anti-Obama, pro-Clinton die-hards might just close the curtain of the voting booth, realize that no one else is looking … and vote for Obama – Biden.
In the mean time, we have the real Democratic Convention ahead of us … with some entertaining fights and at least two interesting speeches. The McCain camp is promising some good “attack” ads for the commercial breaks. The Olympics may be over … but the most important games that will control our society’s well-being for the next four years are going on right now. Don’t let yourself get “played”.