http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcdnlNZg2iM

Please – before calling everything said about Hillary as sexist and before saying everything about Barack is racist. In fact, let’s try to be objective.

I believe what we are seeing is the amazing power of the Clinton brand in this primary cycle. If we are bbeing honest and if Hillary were the frontrunner, Barack would have been run off in the past couple of months. Clinton’s standing and influence in the democratic party have been very valuable. Being a woman and First Lady, if anything, has benefitted her.

Frankly, “sexism” has been used as an excuse. This is sad and counterproductive to women. The tossing around of this term has hurt, not helped women in this country.

Barack has really taken the biggest hits and had the most negative coverage. iif looked at objectively, racism and talk of “white working class” voters has been far more offensive.

I don’t believe that 20 million in debt is sexist reporting. I don’t believe laying out the math and the delegate count agreed to prior to the primary season’s beginning is sexist. I don’t see the delegate count as sexism. I cannot see how denying Florida and Michigan delegates a seat at the convention is a cause and effect of Hillary being female.

Can anyone point to a specific case of sexism – don’t throw the word around like a baseball”

All this to say that Clinton’s campaign experience is a specific (though very public) example of the more general truth that many of us live with every day: It’s a Man’s World. When a woman “takes” success, she’s a bitch. When she “asks” for it, she’s dismissed — though more likeable. Navigating the middle ground requires thick skin, bullheaded persistence, and many, many costume changes.

Who will be America’s first female president? Probably not Hillary Clinton. But I’m so grateful to her for provoking the public conversation that so many of us have been having privately for decades. She’s done a tremendous service for the woman who does succeed as Madame President; indeed, for all of us.

This isn’t about Hillary — she’s just the high profile example. How would any of us feel if that was our daughter out there running for president and being dismissed as Annie Oakley or if she was being questioned about whether she could function during those ‘few days a month?’

I am not saying Clinton’s anticipated loss is due to sexism, though I know some believe that. I just worry about whether voters and the media will find reasons to do the same thing to the next women who follow her. Someday, it will be one of our daughters. Then how will we feel??