A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Christine Bowman

There's one thing that's undeniable about this unique 2008 Democratic primary. It puts sexism and racism front and center. Hopefully, in the long run, that will be a good thing. In the short run, it's downright divisive.

Most Democrats have strong feelings about both "isms," and not just because of any liberal leanings philosophically. It's personal and it's visceral. That's why many just can't let it go, or get over it, or not notice, whenever sexism or racism surfaces on the campaign trail.

Activist Democrats have been battling against the sexist, racist right their whole lives long. They fought for civil rights for blacks in the Fifties and Sixties (and ever since), and they sweat bullets in the Seventies trying to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to guarantee the civil rights of women. But it goes deeper than that. People have a personal history of hurt.

If Barack Obama is going to mend rifts in the Democratic Party and go on to be the party's nominee for president -- with all Democrats forcefully behind him -- he'll need to prove to the die-hard Hillary supporters that he feels their pain. I'm referring to the pain of gender discrimination, and sexual harassment, and second class status in the workplace. The hurt is very real for many women voters, especially among those tough, brave, older ones who truly had to battle it out in American society to get ahead or to simply survive.

Politics being what it is, Obama's opponents, along with media outlets that serve their own interests by stoking the fires of disunity, jumped to attention earlier this week when Obama slipped up and called a female reporter "Sweetie." Never mind that he quickly apologized and acknowledged that he was in the wrong: "That's a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect and so I am duly chastened on that front." And we should note that the reporter herself took no offense.

Still, a remark like that is news because it opened old wounds for women who've been the targets of paternalistic and intentionally hurtful men in their own pasts. I'm not saying every woman would or should object to being called "Sweetie." But I'm quite certain those who do mind are, by and large, supporters of Hillary Clinton. Among them are women who've been propositioned by their bosses. Women who lost a job or a promotion or a raise in favor of an up-and-coming, male, possibly black, often young, upstart. Women whose families saw to it that their sons went to college, but not necessarily their daughters. Women who aren't content with making 77 cents for every dollar that a white man makes (and that number drops to 64 cents for a black woman, and to 52 cents for a Hispanic woman) [1].

Barack Obama is no sexist in his policy positions or his personal life. In what should have been a bigger news story this week, Obama won the strong endorsement of the NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC, [1] and the Chicago NOW president [2] who worked side by side with Obama lobbying for pro-choice legislation in Illinois endorsed Obama right after the New Hampshire primary. Obama has lots of committed feminists supporting him. [3]

On the personal side, Obama was raised by women who personified feminism, [4] hard work, and strength. He chose to marry another strong and opinionated woman [5] who, when all is said and done, likely will prove to be a powerful role model for ambitious and accomplished women.

But voters don't always think about endorsements and the contours of a candidate's personal history. They go with their gut.

Obama needs to address the gut reactions of Hillary voters -- not least of all the deep feelings of her activist, feminist voters. He needs to acknowledge what drives them and he needs to bring them into the fold, if he is to lead the whole Democratic Party. Feminist women need hope, too.

And the Democratic Party needs to heal.

* * * 

Sweetiegate: [6]Barack Obama Says 'Sorry For The Sexist Name-Calling' [7] (Wonkette)

Obama Apologizes to WXYZ Reporter [8] (WXYZ-TV Detroit)

Peggy Agar Talks About Obama Apology [9]

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

Technorati Tags: Analysis [14] Obama [15] Sweetie [16] Clinton [17] Sexism [18] Racism [19] 2008 Race [20] Peggy Agar [21]