McCain is a moron
This is so stupid I’m having trouble believing he really said it. It’s on CNN, so I guess he did, but Jesus Horatio Christ:
“She has excited and energized our base. She is a direct counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda for America. She has a wonderful family. She’s a reformer. She’s a conservative. She’s the best thing that could have happened to my campaign and to America,” he said.
Bear in mind that Sarah Palin herself is adamant that she is a feminist (read this and this and this). So apparently what McCain is objecting to is liberal feminism. And what, exactly, does he think that is? Is it perhaps the Pat Robertson version of feminism, the one where we kill our children, become lesbians, and practice witchcraft?
Elsewhere in the interview McCain says, “You know, every time that I’ve gotten ahead, somehow I’ve messed it up.”
Gee, ya think? Mac, let me give you a little tip on what that “somehow” might involve: it’s because you’re a fucking moron, you goddamn tool.
The thoughtful women in this country are in Scylla and Charybdis mode, bouncing between two evils, trying to calculate which is the lesser. This comment from McCain is exactly the kind of thing to make some women decide that Opossum, as bad as he is, might still be preferable to John “Yes, I Am A Brain-Dead Freakazoid” McCain.
God, I need an alpaca picture.
33 Responses to “McCain is a moron”
-
Anna Belle says:
Wow, that is stupid. And I say that as a person who understands McCain is not Bush and am planning to vote for him because I want to vote for Palin. But that is god-awful stupid. Too bad.
October 19th, 2008 at 10:06 pm EST -
Kiuku says:
I am a direct counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda in a lot of ways as well. I use the term Neo-Feminism.
I would think what he said is offensive and something to stand against if I didn’t think so low of new wave, or neo-feminists and anti feminists.
-
Violet says:
Kiuku, what are you thinking of as the “liberal feminist agenda?”
-
Kiuku says:
Radical Feminism is the only true Feminism in my opinion. I don’t think Palin is a radical feminist, but she isn’t a neo feminist, abortion bot, either. That will probably offend some. But she IS a Feminist. That much McCain got wrong, or could have articulated better. It is probably good rhetoric for the Conservative vote which he needs to court, and since Palin is already getting attacked viciously (sexist attacks misogynist attacks) by so-called Feminists already, to say he chose her because she is a direct counterpoint to their agenda, can only help. He can’t possibly try to unite her with them, to tell them she is a Feminist, or make them see any different when even we can’t make neo feminists stop.
-
Kiuku says:
Violet,
When I think of the liberal feminist agenda, I think of women and men who think that women can attain equality through equal rights. I think of people who discuss men’s rights, often more so than women’s rights. I think of people who equate abortion rights as women’s equality as if our specific reproductive organs are what hinder our equal footing with men, instead of the society constructed by men wherein healthy reproduction is a burden. I see women’s fundamental right to control her reproduction a cause for action, but I also think that healthy reproduction, and contraceptives are really only necessary for women’s equality because the economic system and the systems men have set up are designed to make women’s normal reproduction something which needs to be controlled.
When I think of the liberal Feminist Agenda I think of “Pink is powerful” and I think of people who believe Porn stars, dominatrixes, and strippers are empowered. When I think of the Liberal Feminist Agenda I see women and men who believe Evolutionary Psychology but think somehow that women can find power in their “ability to multitask better” or ability to “emphasize better” and people who believe men are unemotive walking apes. I see people who read Men are from Mars and women are from Venus and find it insightful.
I see people who name themselves “grrrll” in their handles.
I see opinions and beliefs which border dangerously on Anti-Feminism as it was defined years ago.
-
Kiuku says:
I see women who laugh alongside men in misogynist jokes because “they can do it too”
-
Charity says:
I’m pretty sure that’s not what McCain meant, Kiuku.
-
Kiuku says:
Charity I’ve got some other posts in the moderation queue better explaining what I think the liberal feminist agenda is. I am disappointed in women and modern feminism. I don’t think McCain stands anything to gain by trying to appeal to us, women at this point. They are too far turned.
-
Kiuku says:
Whatever McCain or any politician says, he DID something feminist. He did something revolutionary. He picked a woman. He treats people fairly and plans to pick women. He may be pissed at the Feminists attacking Palin. He was pissed at the t shirts and brought that up in the debate. That’s probably why he said it. He may not realize what he did was Feminists. Hell even feminists don’t.
-
myiq2xu says:
Kiuku:
Just out of curiousity, where do men fit into your radical feminist vision?
-
Kiuku says:
Your IQ 2x Me,
Men fit into my radical feminist vision by getting the hell out of the way. Men’s place in Feminism is to get out of the way, by being pro-feminist. There may, arguably, be some Feminist men, like Jackson Katz, but they call themselves pro-Feminists because they understand that women are oppressed, and an oppressed woman, any oppressed woman is in a better position to tell them about the patriarchy, or to tell another woman about the patriarchy than a man so men really, imo, have no place in the discussion and the arguments between Feminists.
I have a separatist vision wherein women who want to live with men, can, but men as a general rule leave women the hell alone.
-
Tim J. says:
To a conservative such as myself, his comment sounds basically like a conservative equivalent of what you said in your previous post. The Democratic Party, which has long trumpeted itself as the sole owner of all that is feminist, has been showing its true colors lately in its reaction to Palin. These are the people we think of when we think of “liberal feminists.” Hell, until Palin came along and started demonstrating a conservative feminism, I think a lot of people would have considered “liberal feminist” to be redundant.
While I appreciate that there are liberal feminists such as yourself who have not taken part in the mysogyny-fest, I’m sad to say that you don’t seem to be in the majority. You yourself have amply documented the derangement which has been directed at Palin from so-called feminists, including many in the current feminist establishment.
I think the example in your previous post of the self-proclaimed feminist who accused you of betraying feminism for defending Palin illustrates it perfectly (Marilyn Fitterman’s reaction to “Kitty Genovese and Sarah Palin” will also work well, since she’s a more significant figure). Clearly, there is something out there that calls itself “feminism” that sees Palin as a direct counterpoint. McCain is doing the service of at least distinguishing it as being “liberal feminism” and not merely “feminism.” Until more of the leaders of the liberal contingent of feminists step forward to repudiate the hate directed toward Palin, what would you have him call them?
-
Violet says:
But Tim, what I’m documenting is the failure of feminists to live up to feminism. Women who are bashing Palin in the name of feminism are completely ignoring the basic tenets of feminist philosophy. What they’re doing isn’t “liberal feminism”; it’s not feminism at all. That’s the point I keep trying to make.
-
octogalore says:
I think one can better understand what he meant by looking at what he said afterwards: “She has a wonderful family. She’s a reformer. She’s a conservative.”
So he seems to be saying that liberal feminists are anti-family, not interested in reform, and not conservative.
The main problem I have with what he said is the anti-family portion. This clearly goes to choice and possibly gay marriage. While those are Palin’s positions, I certainly have a problem with any suggestion that pro choice and pro gay marriage feminists are “anti family.”
As to the not-interested-in-reform suggestion — well, I’m not all that sure that the third wave is, so that doesn’t bother me all that much.
And the mention of “conservative” — well, it’s opposite “liberal,” so seems fair to say that a conservative view is opposite a liberal view.
So I think his issue was with “liberal” and not “feminist” — as he isn’t taking issue with any of the aspects of Palin that are feminist in what he says afterwards. I have a bit problem with the “anti-family” stuff, but we’ve heard that from him before. I’m not sure this is anything new.
-
Kiuku says:
Maybe he had in mind a distinction between Liberal Feminist and Feminist or conservative Feminist as pointed out. Because I find it particularly strange that a man who has more senior level female staff, who has appointed women, plans to appoint more women, and who has said the following regarding the sexist treatment of Hillary Clinton:
““I respect her and I think that kind of language and that kind of treatment of Senator Clinton is unwarranted, uncalled for and disgraceful.”
would claim he picked Palin because she is a counterpoint to liberal feminist (agenda for America), as defined by her having a family, etc.
I agree that she is a counterpoint to Liberal Feminists in -some ways-.
The Republicans and old school Feminist democrats were the only ones to call out Sexism in this election.
I really, truly believe that the attacks against Palin by so-called Feminists prompted McCain to de-authenticate them. I think this was just a political stunt. He is just trying to give women and conservatives a reason why women are hating on Palin. It must be because they are Liberal Feminists with an Agenda and Palin is a direct counterpoint to them.
GOP speaks out against sexism:
-
Kiuku says:
But to be absolutely clear though, we all understand that the hatred for Palin is the same hatred expressed toward Clinton: Misogyny, pure and simple.
-
wethepeople says:
dear violet, just lately discovered your wonderful site. I live within miles of several alpaca farms and shower the little guys with adoration at every opportunity, so really enjoy your alpaca pictures. Thank you for exposing that comment by McCain. I have my Washington ballot all filled out except for the top positions and can’t quite bring myself to vote for him. I’m taking it one day at a time but am definitely NOBAMA.
-
roofingbird says:
I don’t know what more can be added to a thread like this, except an expression of gratitude. Thanks to all of you that spend your time and spread these thoughts!
-
slythwolf says:
Here is an alpaca picture for you, Violet.
-
Lisa says:
Kiuku,
I’m with you on this. Especially posts 5 and 9.
-
PGH says:
Are you sure he actually said it?? CNN has been so full of BS & is so far in the tank for the big O that I’d have to actually see him say it on video before I’d take CNN’s word….It’s been a long hard campaign and every politician sticks his or her foot in it sometime, even Hillary…..
-
goesh says:
Tell your daughters they too in another 40-50 years could be the 3rd woman VP candidate ever! Tell them men are dumb for voting on single issues like skin color and veteran status. McCain is a moron all right, what chance could he have with a woman VP?
-
madamab says:
I agree with Tim J. Liberals who are feminists are not the same as “liberal feminists” to a conservative like McCain.
McCain is denouncing the “liberal feminists” like Robin Morgan, who deliberately spread lies about Sarah Palin and her record and positions; like Gloria Steinem, Susan Sarandon and so many others who think Palin’s conservatism is an excuse to savage her.
I don’t think we should blame conservatives for thinking liberal feminists are massive hypocrites. To a very large degree, it’s true. All we can do is try to highlight the fair and non-partisan feminists that do exist out there in America, and work towards the implementation of the 30% solution.
-
CoolAunt says:
kiuku, I totally get what you’re saying in the comments here and I agree. Remember, McCain didn’t say that Palin isn’t a feminist; he said that she’s the counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda. I agree with you, kiuku, that the feminist agenda has been hijacked by liberals, the Democratic party by name.
-
Kiuku says:
CoolAunt exactly. It’s not like McCain is saying Palin should stay at home and raise her kids. Infuriatingly this idea of Palin not being able to handle the responsibility because she had familial obligations was perpetuated by the liberal media, women in the liberal media who undoubtedly consider themselves feminists.
I don’t know how Anti Feminism hijacked feminism from us but it is clear that we need a total resurgence of Feminism, and we need to bring back Patriarchal analysis to Feminism in order to reclaim the movement and stop this madness.
It’s dangerous. This just goes to show how stalwart misogyny is, how delicate Feminist progress is, and how men won’t let up until we stop them.
Has anything changed?
-
Kiuku says:
I want to go back to the days when Feminists, when women all came home, crowded around their tv’s to watch the match between Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King. I want to go back to when no one cried for Billy Jean King to be stoned. Where no one, and definitely not women joked about raping her. Where simulations of her getting beaten were not comedy and where women, Feminists didn’t call her a cunt or question her views on abortion in order to cheer for her. Where cheering and supporting a woman was about telling the world that, yes, women can do it and not vagina voting.
Funny not voting for Obama is racist, but not voting for Clinton was smart and rational.
-
Violet says:
I want to go back to the days when Feminists, when women all came home, crowded around their tv’s to watch the match between Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King.
I remember that. I remember all of us being thrilled out of our minds when she won.
Guess what’s not in the news today, again? The sexist attacks on Palin. Not in the news today, not in the news yesterday, not in the news at all. The media keeps spinning the story of one fruitcake into “masses” of racists for McCain, but all year long they’ve done their best to ignore the relentless woman-bashing. On the rare occasions they mention it, they put “sexist” in scare quotes and pose it as an open question as to whether this bizarre unknown phenomenon of “sexism” is actually happening.
-
Kiuku says:
Violet when did sexism become such a dirty unapproachable word. Men cringe at it. Can’t even say it. Is it the idea of taking a woman seriously?
-
Branjor says:
***I want to go back to the days when Feminists, when women all came home, crowded around their tv’s to watch the match between Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King. I want to go back to when no one cried for Billy Jean King to be stoned. Where no one, and definitely not women joked about raping her. Where simulations of her getting beaten were not comedy and where women, Feminists didn’t call her a cunt or question her views on abortion in order to cheer for her. Where cheering and supporting a woman was about telling the world that, yes, women can do it and not vagina voting.***
Yes, I remember those days. It’s like society has made a steep descent into barbarianism since then. The most hateful stuff was confined to pornography back then, not in your face everywhere. It’s like porn has taken over as mainstream.
It also reminds me that there were 3 “Battle of the Sexes” matches back then and women only won one of them (the Riggs-King match), First was Riggs against tennis pro Margaret Court. Riggs won. Then Riggs against King and King won. The most heartbreaking was the filly Ruffian against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure, billed as a “Battle of the Sexes” in which Ruffian broke down and had to be euthanized (she was ahead at the time.) I have never gotten over the last one. :(
-
Alwaysthinking says:
All I know is that some men, not all, get angry when the issue of sexism is brought up and tend to believe that women should just be good humored about it even if it “actually” exists.
I also think sometimes what we see is a kind of jealousy from men, an unwillingness to give a woman credit for her brains, so they have to belittle us or ignore us. Many women have faced such situations in the workplace or in public committees when they offer new ideas or solutions to a problem. It is ridiculed or there is no response, and when the next man repeats what the woman said, he is instantly commended for “his” idea. We saw that with Hillary and Obama.
I have seen it even between physicians when the female docs were demeaned. As one young woman doctor asked me once, “What am I supposed to do with this brain?” In other words, just because she had a fantastic brain, she wasn’t supposed to embarrass anyone by revealing it publicly. Or, perhaps she should have known her place and never attempted to enter the medical profession. I know also that some young lawyers have run into this. Perhaps it goes back to the high school era when young women were told by other girls they shouldn’t let the boys know they made good grades or they’d never get a date.
Sarah and Hillary obviously have gotten dates. They are both attractive and have families and they have had the gall to run for the highest offices in the land. It is tragic that they and their supporters are receiving the worst treatment I have seen in my lifetime. It’s hard to believe that we look back with fond memories to the time that Billie Jean King won the match with Bobby as a better time. However, even during that time I believe some pretty nasty words were used by men around the elevators, theoretically out of the ear-shot of women, just as they were overheard in my office building about Anita Hill.
-
Yanni Znaio says:
goesh says:
Tell your daughters they too in another 40-50 years could be the 3rd woman VP candidate ever! Tell them men are dumb for voting on single issues like skin color and veteran status. McCain is a moron all right, what chance could he have with a woman VP?
Stupidity is not linked to gender (although some times, when observing behavior of my fellow males, I am really forced to wonder about that…)
Best regards,
YZ
-
Violet says:
slythwolf, bless your heart.
-
TheOtherDelphyne says:
Alwaysthinking says:
All I know is that some men, not all, get angry when the issue of sexism is brought up and tend to believe that women should just be good humored about it even if it “actually” exists.
They act like a bunch of 2 year olds who don’t want Mommy to pay attention to anyone but them, the 2 year old, who is the center of the universe.
Now we see the adolescent boys acting out by punishing Mommy for being separate from the boy; Mommy must be punished and hurt, just like she has done to the boy. The adolescent boy is now strong enough, physically, to do just that - and that is what I see happening in those Terry Tate abominations.
Grow the eff up already! It’s been 5+ thousand years of this behavior and we’ve had more than enough of your insanity.
