The Ageist Attack on Hillary

[Freeper]

DonViejo (4,744 posts)

The Ageist Attack on Hillary


 

by Michael Tomasky Jul 1, 2013 4:45 AM EDT

Republicans are preparing to attack Clinton for being old. Michael Tomasky on why it will probably backfire.

So now the Republicans, having tried sexism against Hillary Clinton for two decades, say they’re ditching that and going for ageism. Of course whether the party of Todd Akin and involuntary vaginal probes really can ditch sexism remains doubtful, so let’s amend the above to say simply that they’re adding ageism to the list of indictments. They actually have a bit of a point. If Clinton seeks the presidency in 2016, she’ll be old enough for her age to be an issue—Ronald Reagan turned 70 just three weeks into his presidency, and Clinton would do so nine months into her first year as president. Where the planned attack melts into comedy, though, is in the idea that Republicans can springboard from the simple actuarial question of her age to selling young voters on the idea that it is they, not the Democrats, who are with it. Here, they’ll make the same pathetic mistake they always make of assuming that X voting bloc is stupid enough to fall for symbolism.

The story appeared in yesterday’s Times, if you missed it, with several GOP operatives telling Jonathan Martin the message would be that it’s time for Clinton’s generation to step off the stage. The comparative youth of many of the GOP’s leading candidates—Marco Rubio is 42, Paul Ryan is 43, Rand Paul is 50—renders the theme all the more tempting. Karl Rove told Martin: “The idea that we’re at the end of her generation and that it’s time for another to step forward is certainly going to be compelling.”

The Rove quote suggests a war that will be waged on two fronts. First, her age and physical condition; second, the question of which candidate can better “relate” to young voters. On the first point, there will be questions Clinton will need to answer. That fainting spell and concussion last year saw to that. And she probably can’t quip the issue away. Reagan famously said in a debate with Walter Mondale, when the issue of his age came up, that he wouldn’t hold Mondale’s relative “youth and inexperience” against him. Ho ho ho, end of issue.

It won’t work that way for Clinton for two reasons. First, in 1984, a handful of middle-aged male pundits could decide that that one line put the issue to rest. Our current reality is rather different. The right-wing press will traffic in all kinds of sleazy rumors the instant she catches cold. And second, she is something Reagan was not. A woman. She’ll face more questions than he did, and far more criticism. Rush Limbaugh asked his listeners if Americans want to “watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis.” If he has the reach we’re told he has, he creates 10 new Clinton voters every time he opens his fat mouth.

full article
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/01/the-ageist-attack-on-hillary.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251313729

So in addition to being sexist if we dare oppose the Queen we also hate old people. The left is a bunch of whiny bitches.

[Chris_]

Hillary Clinton is no Ronald Reagan.

[thundley4]

All those attacks on John McCain for being old were just in my imagination, I suppose.

[98ZJUSMC]

All those attacks on John McCain for being old were just in my imagination, I suppose.

Oh.  Those?

Nah, never happened.  You wiNgNutZ just imagine those things.

If he has the reach we’re told he has, he creates 10 new Clinton voters every time he opens his fat mouth.

You know he does.  FU and you wish.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

So now the Republicans, having tried sexism against Hillary Clinton for two decades...

Has anyone warned Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, etc. that the GOP is sexist?

[miskie]

Has anyone warned Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, etc. that the GOP is sexist?

Looking at that list of ladies, I would think the GOP isn't 'sexist' but 'sexy'

[BlueStateSaint]

Looking at that list of ladies, I would think the GOP isn't 'sexist' but 'sexy'

And therin lies the problem.  Being angry at everything and everyone makes you ugly as Hell, and a liberal/leftist/progdolyte.

[JohnnyReb]

Republican Party: The party of Lincoln.

Democrat Party: The party of fat, ugly, bitter, lesbians.

[Karin]

Personally, I think Rush is on to something.  And I think Tomaskey underestimates how vastly shallow this country is.  4-8 years of an ageing, shrieking, scowling harpie is too much to bear for a lot of people.  We demand our women be beautiful if we have to look at them.

All of a sudden, I'm recalling "I ain't no-where's taaaard"   That should be enough to sink a campaign. 

[FiddyBeowulf]

Personally, I think Rush is on to something.  And I think Tomaskey underestimates how vastly shallow this country is.  4-8 years of an ageing, shrieking, scowling harpie is too much to bear for a lot of people.  We demand our women be beautiful if we have to look at them.

All of a sudden, I'm recalling "I ain't no-where's taaaard"   That should be enough to sink a campaign. 

She sounded more authentic using that accent then Obama ever did.

[JohnnyReb]

"I ain't no-where's taaaard"...We know bitch....first you have to do something to be taaaard.