Reasoned debate over policy is palatable. I just saw Condoleeza Rice on 360 with Anderson Cooper. I often disagreed with her administration’s foreign policy, but she is reasonable, and I do not always disagree with her. I respect her knowledge, intelligence and restraint. We sit on different sides of the table, but I find her admirable.
Clearly Ann Coulter does not share my willingness to view a woman “on the other side,” as it were, with any kind of objective depth of assessment at all. On the contrary. She attacks 9/11 widows like a dragon, and her latest target is our Head Homegirl, not for any particular policy position, not even for anything she has said, but for her ankles. Yes, you read that right. Her ankles! (Seen here – well, one of them, anyway – in a photo from Sunday, May 1, 2011. It was taken in the White House, presumably after Operation Neptune Spear succeeded.)
First a disclaimer, I happen to think Hillary Clinton is beautiful. Her ankles are part of her, and I think they are pretty. Remember when “Cinderella” lost her slipper on the steps of the Elysee Palace? Whatever ankle is above that foot cannot possibly be as offensive as Coulter implies. (Anyway, we were all looking at the Jimmy Choo’s or whatever they were, with severe shoe-envy).
That said, here is my beef. Sexism, like racism, is an equal opportunity offender. Some of the sexism directed at our Head Homegirl during the primaries of 2008 and even before that (Robin Givhan and her “Cleavagegate”) came from women. Men were excoriated for it, but women participated as well. In this particular case, a woman generates it which is exponentially more offensive than going along with it.
Now I could take the shallow route here as I have been known to do with Coulter. I am slender, but she looks hungry. When I was a growing pre-teen and got crabby, my mom used to tell me I was out of sorts because I was hungry (usually true). I could say that someone needs to take Coulter to Blimpie’s, and maybe she will calm down. But it is more than that.
Sexism is a virus hidden deep within our culture. Viruses are tricky creatures. They dig deep into the soil and hide for centuries. AIDS is thought to be a resurgence of something buried for many centuries and freed by deforestation. We are enculturated with the sexism virus. We gain resistance if we are raised by parents who inoculate us by their guidance. But in today’s society, we also know via research, the deleterious effects of sexism on communities. Coulter, purportedly educated, should know this.
So, Ann Coulter, you have crossed the line. If you have a problem with Hillary Clinton’s policies, by all means voice them (try to eat a sandwich before you do). But if you are going to make a remark about a body part, be warned, skeletal is not a look to be envied, either. Women have curves. Hillary does, and she is beautiful. Furthermore, I do not hear anybody making remarks about his ankles.
I would argue that they must be at least three or four times times the circumference of the ankles on our pretty Head Homegirl, and it seems that nobody cares!
Homegirls and Homeboys, the offending comment can be found here.
Seriously, I’ve never gotten what the big deal is with ankles. Maybe it’s because I have think ones that go with the rest of my more robust self or maybe it’s the whole “people in glass houses thing” which I really do try to observe. If I didn’t I’d go on for a paragraph about her long, rather horse-like face, but I will refrain from doing so because I’m such a sweetheart. 😉 In all honesty, just as blonde hair or large breasts don’t make someone stupid and a more ample derriere or stomach doesn’t make someone lazy, thicker ankles don’t make a person somehow incapable of being a decent public servant. Besides that, why are we discussing her legs to begin with? She’s 63 for Pete’s sake! What age does she have to reach before people leave her physical attributes alone. It was a long time ago and I was very young, but I don’t remember talk of Barbara Bush’s legs making the news or Laura Bush’s either, for that matter and that is as it should be.
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BTW, the person I was calling a horse face was Ms. Coulter. I didn’t want anyone to misinterperate my unidentified pronouns.
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I knew exactly who you meant.
O/T After Barbaro, I cannot watch the Derby or any Triple Crown races. We race vulnerable babies. I am against it. Three-year-olds are too young. Their musculo-skeletal systems are not developed enough.
Just my thought.
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They seem like pretty normal ankles to me. *shrug*
I think Hillary is pretty, and I don’t think it matters that she is. People judge me sometimes because I have big hair and big boobs. I have guys telling me, “for a girl, you’re pretty good at conversing. It’s kind of impressive.”
I don’t see what’s so impressive about me be able to have an intellectual conversation, but because I’m apparently good looking its a shock. And just FYI, a lot of people are intimidated by a woman who has brains and beauty. Hillary has both, which may explain some of the vitriol against her. I say Hill listens to some Lady G and Trina. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc3e6fTL72g And thats all she wrote!
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As you get older that will change. I grew up when Hillary did. My prom date warned me not to discuss politics in front of his buddy (our double date) because he didn’t like girls discussing politics.
Where I work I am respected for my head. But I pay attention to how I look. Not everyone does. So I get compliments on that. I like it. But they respect me for me head. You will get there. The youth culture is transitional.
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What bugs me about this whole ankle business is that it’s one of those things that can’t really be changed. If you don’t like your teeth you can get them fixed. Stomachs can be toned with a healthy dose of crunches and some dietary changes or you can get lipo. Faces, breasts, butts, and many other features can be surgically inhanced, reduced, or reshaped to your specifications. To my knowledge, there isn’t anything to be done to slim down ankles, so I think getting bitchy about them is particularly unfair.
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It’s why this issue is so idiotic. Umm… have a tough SOS willing to take out OBL … what are her ankles like?
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Remember what Hillary told us about people who criticize others? Whatever the criticism is, it has more to do with the criticizer than the criticized.
One last reminder: If ankles are all that can be found to condemn about Hillary Clinton we are in good shape as a country!
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True. Coulter clearly has body-image issues.
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Wow,what a very lovely photo from Hillary`s lovely foot sole!
I would like to kiss this very soft smooth silky white foot sole from Hillary,but the
foot sole must naked and not with Nylons!
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Hmmmmm… a man with a thing for feet!
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LOL! Bring anyone else to mind?
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OMG!! I didn’t even MAKE that connection! Yes!
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😀
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I’m lost. Who else has a thing for feet?
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Dick Morris, the toe-sucker.
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Oh, I had forgotten about that pric*………. LOL!!!
The guy is a pig. The hooker said that he told her that he fantasized about Hillary. Ewwwwww!!!! Only in his dreams!!!!!
The man is disgusting.
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Bea, one day, before too long I hope, we will have a meet up in NY and I will tell you the WORST part of that whole situation for me. Actually, if we PLAN a meet-up, you will already know what it is.
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I would love to, it would be fun to meet other Hillary supporters.
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OK! When we plan something, I’ll let you know. 🙂
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Coulter looks like a horse’s ass, and that’s an insult to horses. Who the heck is she to criticize another woman’s appearance????
Nasty
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Excuse me for not participating lately due to other things that have interfered!
However, I CANNOT let this Coulter thing pass without reminding everyone of Richard Hofstadter’s book, “The Paranoid Style in American Politics.”
This author declares that to the paranoid politician the enemy is always a projection of his own self! (I say his because few women were in politics at the time.)
The paranoid pol sees in his/her enemy either the ideal self or the unacceptable aspects of the accuser’s/projector’s self! If it is the ideal self of the finger pointer, then the target becomes an idol. If it is the unacceptable aspects of the accuser’s self, then the target becomes an enemy.
Simply stated, Coulter is jealous.
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Missed you, Julia, and was thinking of you when I posted the Tim Gunn comment last night.
Your comment abut the paranoid pol echos the Hillary quote in the side bar that I am looking at right next to what I am typing! And, yes, Coulter is jealous. Hillary has it all!
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Glad to be back online but do not know how long I can do this! Numerous things going on with my life right now and am trying to stay in touch…be patient until fall!!!
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We’re here for you, Julia! 🙂
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