Attention Must Be Paid

Senator? Senator! I have gray hair and crow's feet and a lifetime of being underestimated. I'm nobody's sweetie. And I vote.

By Anna Quindlen | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Jun 23, 2008

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  • Posted By: paulte @ 07/09/2008 1:49:22 PM

    Don't hold your breath waiting for Obama to be the white middle aged women's advocate! This over the hill self-centered Woodstock generation shows what happens to a society when women are not much better than the men! And don't worry, I'm sure that "sweetie" is the last thing to come into the mind of Obama when he surveys the Hillary set, more like wicked witch of the west!

  • Posted By: SCRIP @ 07/05/2008 10:43:03 PM


    The Last Word Anna Quindlen Attention Must Be Paid Newsweek June 23, 2008


    Anna Quindlen is very funny! And so desperate to tutor Obama in ways to win the election that she openly describes herself as an older woman complete with crow???s feet and grey hair! Now there???s a sacrifice! Could we have a larger picture with the next column?

    But no price is too high to pay in order to underscore the importance of her finger-wagging rant. After all, she is speaking for millions of straw women who must fold their arms and keep their collective mouths shut to please millions of powerful, faceless men. Many of these men are younger, which seemingly adds to their crimes of success in Anna???s self-admitted older mind. The RASCALS!

    Anna makes a case for the women of America, however. It is they who ???carry America in their arms??? and apparently, they are pretty sick of it! They want some help from the government, and Obama better secure it, or at least promise it, if he wants the vote of Anna???s annoyed army of underpaid malcontents!

    They want ???reproductive rights???; gee, I wonder what that means? Is it the freedom to be responsible to raise their own children from conception on? That would take care of their next demand (universal child care), so it must mean something else since they (supposedly) desperately want the government to be monetarily involved in their lives. Anna shrills that women also want equal pay but then describes the purses of the working class in America as ???empty???. Aside from the potential oxymoron aspect of these statements, I see no problem in delivering such equal pay.

    Anna implies that ???what it???s like to be female in America??? is an unspoken horror. She can hardly be speaking as a victim. Grey hair, crow???s feet and liberal crotchetiness are not the best qualifications for determining the state of America???s women. Perhaps Obama will at least be wise enough to pull his grandmother from under the bus and get her opinion. She has all of Anna???s supposed physical advantages as well as some recent experiences that should prove helpful in winning Obama???s ear on behalf of repressed women. in America.

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 07/01/2008 10:31:05 AM

    KOOL-AID??????..From the kitchen of the obama sheeple!! take one heaping spoonful of an inexperienced elitist white male seeking self validation through exploitation of his african-american genetics. Combine two parts black liberation theology clerics spewing intolerance! With two parts of unrepentant intellectuals committed to the destruction of America. Stir in one cup of militant black wife harboring the overwhelming desire to stick it to whitey and one spoonful of typical white person grandmother mix well. Pour a gallon of anti-patriotism into tall glasses and sprinkle with naïve foreign policy ideations. Serve on a platter of meaningless oratorical hyperbole with a generous dollop of wealth re-distribution. Sprinkle liberally with zest of white guilt flip it and flop it till it tastes right. Serve large portions to the undiscerning and spellbound masses convinced that the Second Coming is upon America and now you have a complete recipe for disaster!

  • Posted By: Jo Chicago @ 06/17/2008 12:01:19 PM

    Still no chance I will vote for him out of protest for the way the democratic party fixed this entire election. I think that is the more important principle here. I will not be taken for granted. I will not vote for a candidate who I think is less qualified than others in the primary race, and specifically Hillary. So I am done with the Democrats.

    • Posted By: dreffein @ 06/17/2008 12:50:01 PM

      Jo Chicago - what's interesting to me is that for years, the DNC took the black vote for granted and blacks were very angry about it. Now that women are recognizing they have received the same treatment, it seems we're not entitled to complain or protest. What type of double standard is that?

      • Posted By: anon1234 @ 06/17/2008 4:06:16 PM

        I respectfully disagree with your assertion. The difference between blacks who were disenchanted and felt taken for granted and women like you who now feel taken for granted is this. For years, blacks voted democrats by a majority irrespective of the fact that the candidate they voted was white. They did not complain about the ethnicity, gender, experience of the candidate that was thrust upon them.They helped Bill Clinton win. They did not hold their voting bloc as a threat against the democratic party candidate nor did they threaten to vote Republican or write in the name of a canddate who lost the primary in the general election. Sen. Clinton's rabid supporters do. Not all, but some. They threaten to vote for Sen.McCain not because he they think he is the better candidate or write in Sen. Clinton's name in the ballot in Nov. All this is done out of spite. And interestingly, to defeat a black candidate, not just any, but a historic first one.
        You and women like you can say you have decided to vote for Sen.McCain for a host of reasons, but bottom line is that, it comes across as racist given the age, sex and ethnicity of most of you. I am stereotyping here. No one is denying your right to protest, but you can also not deny my right to judge you as bitter, emotionally stunted racist women who behave like a child who has been denied its favorite toy.

        • Posted By: dreffein @ 06/17/2008 6:12:22 PM

          Anon - actually -what you're missing is the turnout factor. Don't you think black turnout this year will be far greater than in previous years? I'm thinking the same thing will happen with women voters (fewer will turnout).

          • Posted By: anon1234 @ 06/17/2008 8:11:53 PM

            I disagree with you again because I have spoken to lot of Sen.Clinton supporters, many of them women and to them it is more important to defeat Sen.McCain mostly because of his position on Roe V Wade and other women issues. I am sorry to bring age and race in, but most of the people who insist they will vote for Sen.McCain because of being disappointed because Sen.Clinton is not the nominee are women of a certain age and mostly white. What is most surprising to me is that these women have bonafide claims to be feminists. A true measure of a person's character by most accounts is how they handle failure and disappointments. By that token, these women's actions are petulant and childish. If they are true supporters of Sen.McCain why did they not support him in the first place instead of Sen.Clinton ? And why are we not supposed to call them the dreaded 'R' word and nutcases etc.
            To answer your question, I believe more women will come out this time, more minority women like me who are immigrants. They will come because Sen.Obama's story and his wife's resonates with them. Like him, they are the people who have funny names and strange actions. Like him, they are the people who inspite of choosing to become citizens of this country instead of being born to it have to prove how 'American' and patriotic they are. And they remember where they came from and why they came here and why it is so important to vote this year. And they will more than make up for the votes of petulant,older women who inspite of having it better than most in this world if only they will acknowledge it refuse to let their anger and disappointment at having lost, bring back a third term of Pres. Bush for all of us. I have hope in the American people that they will not allow it to happen.

            • Posted By: anon1234 @ 06/17/2008 8:15:37 PM

              Should be funny name and strange accent. But then because of my ethnicity my actions could be strange to some people too :)

              • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 06/18/2008 12:08:39 AM

                Sen. Obama has no 'strange' accent nor is he an immigrant. He's a decent man who will be a terrific president for everyone, regardless their accent and origin.

                • Posted By: anon1234 @ 06/18/2008 12:14:37 AM

                  Well he may not have one today, but chances are, he did have one when he came back from Indonesia. I do not claim that he is an immigrant, but he is a son of one just like my children are and that resonates with me.

                  • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 06/18/2008 2:22:09 AM

                    Sen. Obama does not have an accent. You are an immigrant and he isn't. Stop your foolishness.

                    • Posted By: anon1234 @ 06/18/2008 9:48:03 PM

                      We can go on and on which is an exercise in futility. Sen.Obama's background makes him appeal to a different people in differeny ways. The fact that he is a SON of an immigrant from Africa who was born here and thus a citizen, notice the emphasis on son, like my children are and the fact that such a person can have a shot at the presidency is a great thing for immigrants like me. I come from a country which was colonized by Europeans. While it is not the same as slavery, my ancestors were also considered inferior because of the color of their skin. Coming from such a background and being a first generationimmigrant, I could never tell my children that 'you could be president of America' even if they were born here because no one had ever been president who was not male or white before.
                      Because of Sen.Obama's story, first generation immigrants flike me rom Asia and Africa particularly in European countries like France, Germany, UK etc whose children have been born and are citizens of the new countries from birth find his story amazing. It shows us that we too can have a piece of the complete American dream.
                      As for his accent, I can still see some traces of his years abroad. I come from that part of the world. That is my opinion and you are entitled to disagree with me. As for his religion, any one with half a brain after the way Sen.Obama was attacked during the Rev. Wright controversy will know that he is Christian.
                      My life experiences make me see parts of my story in Sen.Obama's through his father's side. That is one of the several reasons why he is popular with a lot of minority immigrants like me.

                      • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 06/22/2008 8:54:13 PM

                        Was Sen. Obama's father an immigrant or was he allowed into the USA on a student visa? Let's not forget that Sen. Obama's mother was born in the USA. Sen. Obama was raised by her and his American grandmother and he speaks perfect English. If some immigrants identify more with Sen. Obama because of his Kenyan father, fine.

                        • Posted By: AmeriKhan Lobo @ 06/27/2008 7:58:31 PM

                          I've noticed that on occasion, Obama does pronounce a word or 2 with a slight trace of an accent. I can't place what kind or from where though. No one can deny he speaks very intelligently. I don't care if he has an accent or not. I like that he has lived in many different places(outside our country) because it gives him a wider perspective on things. You can't expect someone to have a broad scope of America and the world if they lived in a small town with the same type of people their whole life. They would probably be biased for people just like themselves and neighbors.

                  • Posted By: HDavidson @ 06/18/2008 2:24:51 PM

                    Look we get it, you can't just openly say the "N" word and it's not cool to hate him for being black, plus you're just too chicken sh!t to admit anyway, So what you have done is, you found something that at least 28% of Americans will accept, you call him "Muslim", that is you're substitute word for the "N" word. With ALL of the FACTS showing EVERYBODY Obama is NOT "Muslim", after months of hearing about his 20yr involvement with a CHRISTIAN church and it's angry pastor, you 13% still hate him for being "Muslim" (we know why you really hate him).
                    Funny, but that's the only thing that makes sense, I mean do you still think the world is flat?

                    He is NOT muslim, he IS BLACK, and THAT is why you hate, no other reason.

                    As far as the "terrorist" connection, Ayers? lmao, was never convicted of ANYTHING, and the ones who were convicted were pardoned by....OMG! Bill Clinton...

                    So how ever you want to try and paint him, your (all of you) issue with Obama is not Muslim, terrorist, gay, what ever else you want to try to "cling" to...it's the he is BLACK and you can't admit that that is your reason, to me, that's REAL CHANGE because there was a time in this country when you would have just said it, you were the majority, now you are not, and you are too afraid to say it, and that makes you angry...you need a hug ;)

          • Posted By: anon1234 @ 06/17/2008 8:11:51 PM

            I disagree with you again because I have spoken to lot of Sen.Clinton supporters, many of them women and to them it is more important to defeat Sen.McCain mostly because of his position on Roe V Wade and other women issues. I am sorry to bring age and race in, but most of the people who insist they will vote for Sen.McCain because of being disappointed because Sen.Clinton is not the nominee are women of a certain age and mostly white. What is most surprising to me is that these women have bonafide claims to be feminists. A true measure of a person's character by most accounts is how they handle failure and disappointments. By that token, these women's actions are petulant and childish. If they are true supporters of Sen.McCain why did they not support him in the first place instead of Sen.Clinton ? And why are we not supposed to call them the dreaded 'R' word and nutcases etc.
            To answer your question, I believe more women will come out this time, more minority women like me who are immigrants. They will come because Sen.Obama's story and his wife's resonates with them. Like him, they are the people who have funny names and strange actions. Like him, they are the people who inspite of choosing to become citizens of this country instead of being born to it have to prove how 'American' and patriotic they are. And they remember where they came from and why they came here and why it is so important to vote this year. And they will more than make up for the votes of petulant,older women who inspite of having it better than most in this world if only they will acknowledge it refuse to let their anger and disappointment at having lost, bring back a third term of Pres. Bush for all of us. I have hope in the American people that they will not allow it to happen.

    • Posted By: anon1234 @ 06/17/2008 3:46:25 PM

      How exactly is Sen. Clinton more qualified? More of the 35 years experience falsehood again? Just because she is older does not make her more experienced. She was a governor and president's wife for most of those years. Just because she was a Governor's wife does not make her experience the same as a Sarah Palin, Ruth Ann Miner, Janet Napolitano etc who are actual female governors. Sen. Clinton's experience of being married to a governor is not the same. WIl you women accept Laura Bush as our next president then ? Please be honest and say you want a woman, any woman in the white house and to achieve that you do not care about credentials, character or anything. As for Sen. Obama, one more woman who says he is young are those I am going to stereotype as post menopausal, angry, bitter women. Why shouldn't I ? Bill Clinton was 46 when he became President. Pres.Kennedy was younger. Check your history books ladies.

      • Posted By: hotstuff @ 06/17/2008 5:17:28 PM

        " What Senator Obama and I share
        is so much greater than our differences;
        and no matter who wins this nomination,
        I will do everything I can to bring us together
        and move forward!"
        Hillary Clinton

    • Posted By: anon1234 @ 06/17/2008 3:46:29 PM

      How exactly is Sen. Clinton more qualified? More of the 35 years experience falsehood again? Just because she is older does not make her more experienced. She was a governor and president's wife for most of those years. Just because she was a Governor's wife does not make her experience the same as a Sarah Palin, Ruth Ann Miner, Janet Napolitano etc who are actual female governors. Sen. Clinton's experience of being married to a governor is not the same. WIl you women accept Laura Bush as our next president then ? Please be honest and say you want a woman, any woman in the white house and to achieve that you do not care about credentials, character or anything. As for Sen. Obama, one more woman who says he is young are those I am going to stereotype as post menopausal, angry, bitter women. Why shouldn't I ? Bill Clinton was 46 when he became President. Pres.Kennedy was younger. Check your history books ladies.

    • Posted By: pcooney @ 06/17/2008 1:39:30 PM

      "Vote for McCain out of protest" to your own demise.

  • Posted By: Picara @ 06/30/2008 3:04:51 PM

    I remember hearing that the Black man and the White woman have a powerful bond through their common oppressor -- the White man.

  • Posted By: Picara @ 06/30/2008 3:04:22 PM

    I remember hearing that the Black man and the White woman have a powerful bond through their common oppressor -- the White man.

  • Posted By: Picara @ 06/30/2008 3:01:49 PM

    I remember hearing that the Black man and the White woman have a powerful bond through their common oppressor -- the White man.

  • Posted By: Nicky6571@att.net @ 06/29/2008 8:57:07 AM

    Hmm ...

    I really do believe that the very large chasm between older women and younger women needs to be explored in more depth by the media. It is the dirty little secret that no one wants to discuss ... and became even more apparent during this election cycle..

    This piece just emphasizes for me - a woman under 40 - how VERY little I have in common with women such as Quindlen and Steiman ... people I have admired for so many years.

    How depressing ...

  • Posted By: Nicky6571@att.net @ 06/29/2008 8:54:43 AM

    Hmm ...

    I really do believe that the very large chasm between older women and younger women needs to be explored in more depth by the media. It is the dirty little secret that no one wants to discuss ... apparently.

    This piece just emphasizes for me - a woman under 40 - how VERY little I have in common with women such as Quindlen and Steiman ... people I have admired for so many years.

    How depressing ...

  • Posted By: ahel66 @ 06/28/2008 5:26:08 PM

    This column is better than the first rush of "they're picking on me" comments that came out, and are still dribbling in, but unfortunately it still buys into the notion that Obama somehow "owes" women whose feelings have been hurt.

    Quindlen is a good reporter, so she knows that Obama already espouses the policy positions she is endorsing. So what does she really want? Apologies? Fawning?

    I trust a little thought will bring her to the realization that 1) no single presidential candidate is going to bring about the social changes we all know are needed, and 2) the people who bring about those changes are all of us, but most particularly the press.

    You need to turn these tables, and think about why intelligent feminists could even briefly flirt with the idea of voting for McCain. You've been a wonderful voice over the years for many things that needed to be said. They make sense because folks need reminders we are all in this together; we need to do so many important things -- in spite of your indignation, "sweetie" is hardly a fighting word.

  • Posted By: cheerios @ 06/27/2008 8:06:20 PM

    So Republicans are going to show their "true colors" by "attacking" Michelle Obama. Well, one need only wander around the Web a bit to see the way liberal/left/progressive media/bloggers treat Cindy McCain and it's not a pretty thing to behold. And I certainly hope I'm reading too much into AQ's comments on the "hands-folded, mouth-shut standard of female behavior" as being an attack on CM.

  • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 06/17/2008 9:31:01 AM

    TODAY LIMO RIDIN', ROCK SMOKIN', MAN LOVIN', GOOD BUDDY LARRY, GET'S HIS AUDIENCE.........at the NATIONAL PRESS CLUB...........

    For the obamamohammeds who don't want to believe that the BarackStar's NASTY reputation will be aired. Here is the National Press Clubs calendar for Wed. 6/18. Start crying, cause this is just getting started. Check the 3:00 booking. Gonna be hilarious.

    ......DAYBOOK: June 18, 2008

    All Events Meetings
    Luncheons Newsmakers News Confs


    8:00 AM Government Executive
    Meeting Ballroom

    9:00 AM CSCMP's State Report
    Meeting Holeman Lounge

    9:30 AM Research on Boomers
    News Conf First Amendment Lounge

    10:00 AM Quinnipiac Univ. Poll
    News Conf Zenger Room

    10:00 AM Climate / Health Patterns
    News Conf Murrow Room

    12:00 PM WAPA
    Lunch Zenger Room

    12:00 PM American Antitrust
    Meeting Ballroom

    12:00 PM Sergey Stanishev
    NPC Newsmaker Broadcast Center Studio A

    12:00 PM History Committee
    NPC Meeting Mezzanine

    2:30 PM Is McCain Accountable
    News Conf Murrow Room

    3:00 PM Larry Sinclair on Obama
    News Conf Holeman Lounge

    NOBAMA!!!

    • Posted By: AmeriKhan Lobo @ 06/27/2008 8:02:55 PM

      It's gonna be entertaining for you to hear a career criminal talk smack about Obama. It's entertaining to me that some idiots will actually believe his lies

    • Posted By: HDavidson @ 06/18/2008 2:26:10 PM

      Look we get it, you can't just openly say the "N" word and it's not cool to hate him for being black, plus you're just too chicken sh!t to admit anyway, So what you have done is, you found something that at least 28% of Americans will accept, you call him "Muslim", that is you're substitute word for the "N" word. With ALL of the FACTS showing EVERYBODY Obama is NOT "Muslim", after months of hearing about his 20yr involvement with a CHRISTIAN church and it's angry pastor, you 13% still hate him for being "Muslim" (we know why you really hate him).
      Funny, but that's the only thing that makes sense, I mean do you still think the world is flat?

      He is NOT muslim, he IS BLACK, and THAT is why you hate, no other reason.

      As far as the "terrorist" connection, Ayers? lmao, was never convicted of ANYTHING, and the ones who were convicted were pardoned by....OMG! Bill Clinton...

      So how ever you want to try and paint him, your (all of you) issue with Obama is not Muslim, terrorist, gay, what ever else you want to try to "cling" to...it's the he is BLACK and you can't admit that that is your reason, to me, that's REAL CHANGE because there was a time in this country when you would have just said it, you were the majority, now you are not, and you are too afraid to say it, and that makes you angry...you need a hug ;)

  • Posted By: just jerry @ 06/20/2008 4:34:10 PM

    I'm sorry so few people took the time to respond to your article. I thought it might bring about a much needed discussion and expand the discussion among thoughtful people who are not only women, but people who respect and honor women.
    It is sad that so few men, and sadly women, really took notice of how dismissively and negatively a woman was treated. It isn't about party, or candidates, it is about a man choosing to take the tactics used by the republicans in the 1990's and using them as if they were facts to undermine another democrat, and in the process creating a two-headed candidate called "the Clinton's" as if Hillary was a puppet rather than a human being.
    As a man I was saddened by this process and I was shocked by how easily media people like Bill Moyers completely missed what was happening. They still don't get it to this day. They pretend this is just about people being upset their candidate lost.

    • Posted By: Nancy G. @ 06/26/2008 1:08:51 PM

      Talk about republican tactics---it was Hillary who in her quest to show how tough she was attacked Obama in real Rove like style. Now we can watch them replay them on the McCain ads. You can bet they will use all of her snarly comments she made regarding his inexperience and Rev. Wright. Rest assured we will be seeing this during the rest of the campaign. Frankly, I'm glad I won't be seeing her dirty old man of a husband anymore!

  • Posted By: RCocalaFL @ 06/16/2008 11:12:00 AM

    I am tired of being referred to as an Hillary angry woman supporter. I am not going to vote for Obama because I am a proud democrat who fees that he does not in my opinion, which you continue to devalue, have enough experience to be President of the United States of America.

    • Posted By: O8AMA @ 06/16/2008 1:27:31 PM

      Huh?? No, really, did you read the article? You embody everything that has sabotaged women in this country! You say 'democrat' and won't vote for the democratic nominee, not because of issues (which he shares completely with Hillary) because of experience? I want you to name one qualification universally held to be necessary to be President, other than being born in the United States. Name one.

      The article basically states "I don't believe women are stupid enough to give a spite vote to McCain--that is an overblown media hype." Yet you say, "nope! You got it right! I will either not vote, or God forbid vote republican because the celebrity that I wanted to win didn't. So to H*ll with issues, and women for that matter."
      I hope this wave of childish behavior ends by November, or our kids are in trouble.

      • Posted By: bellcalif @ 06/16/2008 2:46:31 PM

        Enter Your Comment Obama just copied Clintons' issues! If you noticed every time she would come out with a new one he would come out with the same one two days later. He had no ideas of his own! He ran on Clintons' pantsuit tails and then stabed her in the back with not allowing FL. and MI. to revote. WE Don't need a President like that. Write her in when ever you can!

        • Posted By: rzarbldrnnr @ 06/23/2008 10:09:32 AM

          This is just not true! Sen. Obama never copied Hillary. If you'd been really paying attention to the candidates you would have RAN from Sen. Clinton. My dear, Clinton is the one who kept Morphing, Shift-changing, and Xeroxing Obama! That is why I changed my mind about her. Sen. Obama has not changed his issues. Please do your research. Clinton even copied the word CHANGE!! I got away from her soooo fast! Especially when she was campaigning in Texas and would not denounce a racist Hispanic supporter. She has hurt me personally. She (her camp), fanned the flames of racism. And for the people of color that didn't notice what was going on then they were not paying attention. Also, Sen. Clinton should really work on healing her supporters mentality against color. Supporters, followers, Bushites, whatever, when she made the statement about working, hard-working whites...that really did it for me. It should not have been said, regardless if it was a quote! It was so insensitive. I for one, as a human being of color, would love to see the whole world change, grow, etc., to realize our (woman/man) true spiritual, human potential. We as human beings, are a disgrace to God's universiality.

        • Posted By: mystic88 @ 06/16/2008 11:02:06 PM

          Like copying her gas tax holiday? Oh wait, that was McCain! My bad!

      • Posted By: SPORTLOCK09 @ 06/16/2008 1:32:31 PM

        Try driving by the house of the authors of NEWSWEEk. Notice anything weird? How about the OBAMA signs in their front yards. An article is useless if you cannot get an unbiased point of view. And Newsweek is the most biased Pro Obama of them all...

        • Posted By: EveryoneHasBias @ 06/16/2008 1:47:33 PM

          What does this have to do with this particular article? It's an opinion piece by a woman who openly states that she's a democrat. She even gives reasons for her democratic leanings. Whether Newsweek as a whole is biased or not is a separate issue, but I think it's pretty safe to say that if you want unbiased reporting you should probably stay away from opinion columns.

    • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 06/16/2008 10:28:19 PM

      You feel that Sen. Obama does not have enough experience to be President of the United States of America.
      Funny, but top-ranking and proud Democrats(Nunn, Kennedy, Richardson, Kerry, Gore, Carter, Sebelius, McAskill, even rival Clinton) believe that Sen. Obama has the right stuff to be president.

      What experience is Sen. Obama lacking? By the way, a relatively unknown guy beat the Clinton machine.
      Did you think he could do it? Do not underestimate Sen. Obama.

    • Posted By: Core Democrat in Texas @ 06/16/2008 1:23:08 PM

      I agree.

  • Posted By: Nancy G. @ 06/22/2008 10:28:44 PM

    I am an old white middle class woman who supported Sen. Obama since he announced his candidacy for president. Just because I am a woman, does not mean Hillary Clinton was or should be my preference---I am an independent thinker and my choice to support Obama was based on the future of the democratic party and not entitlement . Stop shaking your finger at Barack--he is an intelligent grown man, not a boy!

  • Posted By: gcparee @ 06/17/2008 3:08:08 PM

    I hope he really listens to you my wife cryed the day he got enough delates not for herself but grandmother and mother I personlly think he a bum and democrat party a trader to america .I am willing to lose my vote propbly my last(68years old) I will vote for ron paul

    • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 06/17/2008 11:55:13 PM

      To the millions of women who preferred Sen. Clinton, just remember that Sen. Clinton wants the Democrats to win the White House in November.

      • Posted By: Core Democrat in Texas @ 06/18/2008 4:35:38 PM

        What Obama "wants" may matter to you; but what Clinton "wants" does not matter to me. Obama has followers; Clinton had supporters. We did not support her because whe wanted her to be happy nor because of our "feelings" about her. We supported her because we think she's the most qualified to be president. So now that she's out of the race, we then choose the next most qualified person.

        • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 06/22/2008 8:57:48 PM

          If you don't care what Sen. Clinton wants, fine, you don't speak for the millions who do care.

        • Posted By: HDavidson @ 06/18/2008 5:43:45 PM

          WTF does that mean, "what she wants does not matter", yeah sounds like support to me...lol. If what she wanted did not matter, how was she the "best candidate? Oh yeah, my bad I forgot, the Vagina...sorry.

          So you would kill 75,000 more americans by voting for McCain?

          Look we get it, you can't just openly say the "N" word and it's not cool to hate him for being black, plus you're just too chicken sh!t to admit anyway, So what you have done is, you found something that at least 28% of Americans will accept, you call him "Muslim", that is you're substitute word for the "N" word. With ALL of the FACTS showing EVERYBODY Obama is NOT "Muslim", after months of hearing about his 20yr involvement with a CHRISTIAN church and it's angry pastor, you 13% still hate him for being "Muslim" (we know why you really hate him).
          Funny, but that's the only thing that makes sense, I mean do you still think the world is flat?

          He is NOT muslim, he IS BLACK, and THAT is why you hate, no other reason.

          As far as the "terrorist" connection, Ayers? lmao, was never convicted of ANYTHING, and the ones who were convicted were pardoned by....OMG! Bill Clinton...

          So how ever you want to try and paint him, your (all of you) issue with Obama is not Muslim, terrorist, gay, what ever else you want to try to "cling" to...it's the he is BLACK and you can't admit that that is your reason, to me, that's REAL CHANGE because there was a time in this country when you would have just said it, you were the majority, now you are not, and you are too afraid to say it, and that makes you angry...you need a hug ;)

    • Posted By: hotstuff @ 06/17/2008 5:20:43 PM

      " What Senator Obama and I share
      is so much greater than our differences;
      and no matter who wins this nomination,
      I will do everything I can to bring us together
      and move forward!"
      Hillary Clinton

    • Posted By: Core Democrat in Texas @ 06/17/2008 3:28:01 PM

      You are so compassionate and caring. I was really touched by your post. You and your wife and family will be in my prayers.

  • Posted By: LuLuBelle @ 06/16/2008 2:11:00 PM

    The writer of this article is sadly mistaken if she thinks Hillary supporters are going over to Obama. It is just not happening. There are over 50 sites for former Democrats who are going to be voting for McCain. Somebody is really out of touch if they think Obama will be our second choice. It is just not going to happen. We will be voting for McCain come November.

    • Posted By: mgw@abmac.com @ 06/16/2008 3:25:32 PM

      LuluBelle, you can use words like "we" as often as you want to, but the facts are that you are in a minority of people who choose to hate Obama or want to get back at him and the DNC. Anyone with an 8th grade reading level, a sense of objectivity and a willingness to check up facts to base their opinions on, would see that Obama did nothing to to "take" Hillary's "promotion".

      Another poster asked you to list valid reasons for voting for a candidate who's ideals differ so greatly from your own party, but I doubt you will do so.

      • Posted By: cookiegramma @ 06/16/2008 4:01:44 PM

        Then allow me to do so. I cannot vote for a man who could refer to a baby as being unfortunate or a mistake. When Obama took this position to one of his daughters having a baby as a teen, that was against all that most Catholics beleive in. Children are gifts and since there are numerous adoption groups around I am certain that a wonderful family would thank God for the gift of such a child.
        There is a real reason that McCain will get my vote too. I am really sick of the democratic liberal position on refusing to drill for oil here in the Us. This country is sitting on numerous untapped oil reserves, yet our failure to explore these is driving fuel prices to astronomical heights. Obama supports clean coal, but having seen the results of the rape of the land and dangers presented to coal miners, no thank you. The coal mine accidents of the past several years should offer proof enough that this is not a well thought out solution.

        • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 06/16/2008 5:09:09 PM

          Now why would any woman not thank God for the gift of a baby? Perhaps when she's facing nine months of pregnancy and childbirth at a too-young age, or when she has no husband or family to help her, or when she hasn't the emotional capacity to love and care for a baby. Adoption is available but it too can be very emotionally painful not only to the mother but to the child who often feels 'abandoned' by its 'real' mother.

          Sen. Obama is concerned about young women and their babies who are in 'unfortunate' circumstances.
          Don't cynically try to twist his meaning.

          • Posted By: cookiegramma @ 06/16/2008 5:33:45 PM

            you need to refer to when he made the comment. It most definately did not come across in the manner you took it. He was referring to his own children. For your information not everyone is so inexperienced with children born out of wedlock. There are many people I know who did have these children and they are well loved and cared for. I suggest that to support your own thesis you are the cynical one here.

            • Posted By: hotstuff @ 06/16/2008 8:09:22 PM

              cookie, you´re wrong.
              Elisabeth got it right!
              Imagine your daughter was raped and impregnated by an HIV patient!!
              Would you want her to have the baby?

              • Posted By: loriw @ 06/21/2008 9:22:33 PM

                Most HIV patients don't have the strength to rape and impregnate, would have to say it happens very, very rarely. Let's talk about kid who get in over their heads with passion and immaturity or who have lowered their inhabitions with alcohol or drugs. Now were talking statistics with significance.

            • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 06/16/2008 7:06:03 PM

              If you think Sen. Obama was referring to his own children, please stop thinking.

              The number of abortions every year in the USA support Sen. Obama's position that unwanted pregnancies are a 'burden' for those women who did not want that baby. Sen. Obama wants men and women to behave more responsibly because every child should be well-loved and cared for and too many are not getting a fair shake.

        • Posted By: mgw@abmac.com @ 06/16/2008 4:34:07 PM

          Enter Your Comment
          cookiegramma, I actually respect you listing your unique reasons, however, if you are concerned about Christians going against most Christian ideals, then how come McCain is getting your vote after he committed adultry against his first wife? You see, John was a womanizer who cozied up to the bombshells. His wife faithfully waited for him while he was a POW, but because she was no longer the beauty he married due to a car accident, he engaged in an affair with a rich bombshell, and then subsequently divorced his wife. How's that for "til death us do part"? One way or another (age, injury, sickness) we will not be the beauties we were in our youth. I would hope that my spouse doesn't use that as a reason to abandon me. It seems that adultry is listed in the 10 Commanments as well.

          Secondly, most Dems are against drilling for oil in ecologically challenged areas. We have already seen the results to wildlife and the environment when yet another oil spill occurs. Republicans have fought on behalf of agressive fuel economy standards that would have lowered our countries dependancy on foreign oil. Now that gas is over $4.00/gallon, the auto industry is doing exactly what they fought against for so many years. Downsizing inefficient vehicles and engines, and developing hybrids. Welcome to the party. The problem is that while we were fighting better standards, the Japanese were developing alternative energy sources for their cars. That's why Nissan and Honda sales are growing while GM and Ford are down.

          So when all is said and done, your positions don't sound like those of a traditional democratic voter or even a Hillary supporter. In fact, in my mind that leaves one reason for your Hillary support... the fact that you are both women. If there had been a female republican candidate, I doubt Hillary would have received your support either.

          • Posted By: cookiegramma @ 06/16/2008 5:30:11 PM

            Thank you for being respectful. I no more judge something between a man and his wife in McCain's situation than I did between the Clinton's. Accepting of late term abortion is however going into the public sphere and I do not agree with late term abortion. That is what I heard in the speech by Obama.
            Respectfully about the damage done to the ecology, I do not place that above human life. In my opinion supporting coal as a reasonaable alternative is choosing the sanctuaries for animals above the value of human life. Excuse me but the disasters of the last years in coal mines have not left my mind. I have not heard anyone discuss real ways of making the mines safe. I believe that it would be possible for oil exploration to co exist with wildlife santuaries.
            About your thinking that I supported Clinton simply because she is a woman, that is garbage. Obama in my opinion does not have experience in national politics, and the more I learned about his past associations the more uncomfortable I became with the man. He was never a consideration above Clinton or McCain. Both have been in the public eye for a long time and I know what they stand for. With McCain, how much damage would he be able to do with a democratic house and senate? In the case of Obama, the man's actual values and beliefs are not well known and he would have a democratic house and senate rubber stamping everything. This country got into enough throuble when the tepublicans had that advantage, I do not wish to see this mistake rerun with a man this little known.

            • Posted By: mgw@abmac.com @ 06/16/2008 5:57:13 PM

              I don't think anyone wants to see the mistakes of the past 8 years repeated. You should also know that while I support Roe vs Wade and a woman's right to choose, I am also against late term abortion or partial birth abortion. This is one of those issues where 1/2 the country feels one way and the other 1/2 feels another. We'll never convince 50% of the population to see things our way, so what's best? Try reaching a compromise just like husbands and wifes of successful marriages try to do when they disagree. Obama states a willingness to work across party lines to find these types of compromises, rather than have every 4 years be an example of political stalemate.

              I think we should not be exposing coalminers to the dangers of collapse, trapment and suffocation. We need to harness new and clean energy sources, wind, water solar... maybe even nuclear if we can devise a safe cradle to grave strategy for the waste products.

              Oil harvesting coexisting with wildlife sanctuaries? I'm increasing doubtful. What about these sabotaged pipelines that were bombed in Alaska and caused a messy leak? The tanker captain that recently crashed his ship into a bridge pillar? How many days must you read advisories about the mercury content of the fish we eat? Pregnant women being advised to avoid some of the healtiest meat we can eat, because it's tainted and could harm the fetus. Nope, it's time to change how we do things. I admired McCain back in 2000. But the 2008 version is echoing the policies of the man he fought against 8 years prior. McCain has morphed to cinch the party's nomination, and frankly, I no longer know what McCain stands for, or if he will toe the line to win the vote. And foreign policy experiece (or the lack thereof) did not stop Bush from reaching the White House.

              Another thing... I don't value human life above all. Other animals have basically lived their lives the same way for millions of years. Only human activity is altering our planet in a noticeable way.

    • Posted By: nicsea @ 06/16/2008 2:15:15 PM

      This is interesting. What would make a "democrat" vote for McCain? Please elaborate.

      • Posted By: colonelb @ 06/16/2008 2:35:41 PM

        I'm quite sure this will drive you further into the McCain camp, but I really do wish that you and all those who feel like you do would go ahead and vote against your own interest. I know you will live to regrest it. You anger against Obama is unfounded so your brrf with him quite silly. They were both running to win and he did. Get over it! There may have been things said in the heat of battle, yet I cannot find anything so egregious said of Mrs. Clinton by Mr. Obama that could cause someone like you to feeel the way you do. It them comes down to this, were you one of those who believed that the nomination belong to Hillary, just because? Did you believe that the contest was just a formality? I'm yet to understand what your argument is for going to McCain, please state this clearly so those like myself may finally see it. Maybe then me may also change our minds and agree with you. However, until then, if this is just sour grapes then a psychologist may be of better help than going to McCain, bacause should he win you will find that you remain empty.

        • Posted By: tracyruns262@netscape.net @ 06/16/2008 4:23:43 PM

          I have no personal issue with Obama - just don't see him as qualified to be President...That SHOULD be the criteria that folks use to determine whether or not to vote for someone - not all the ancillary stuff...

          signed Well-educated African American woman

          • Posted By: colonelb @ 06/16/2008 5:39:56 PM

            Where is Hillary's qualification? Judging by the way they manage their campaigns, Obama seems like a far better manager, and more personable too. Neither of them have really managed anything significant prior to their campaigns.

  • Posted By: None of the Above @ 06/21/2008 2:04:53 AM

    Here's a newsflash for Quindlen: My wife and I have, at turns, taken to calling each other "sweetie" since our first date 23 years ago. My mom and I have also exchanged that term of endearment regularly for a lifetime. There are no two people -- male or female -- whose judgment and spirit I admire more. There is nothing I wouldn't do for the mother of my children and the one, true love of my life. As for the college-educated, Forgotten Generation "Republican" woman who gave me life -- and much wisdom -- well, I've worked tirelessly to repay my debt, seeing her thrice reelected to countywide office here in our home state in the process.

    My point? Quindlen is right to call attention to her gray her. It is, after all, at the root of her distorted political worldview. Her chip-on-my-shoulder Jurassic Feminism is wearing thin on a Gen X and Y Americans who long ago learned to look past gender and color and see people simply as people, all of whom deserve their full measure of dignity and Human Rights. Also tiresome is Quindlen's self-loathing Pro-Choice-Catholic pose, which seems to make a perfunctory guest appearance in every third column she writes. In fairness, I tend to really enjoy reading her other two. And yet, I can help taunting Newsweek's resident kneejerk lefty with this question: Is it possible to be supportive of women's rights without being for a pregnant female's right to choose abortion in any and every situation? I'm as Pro Gun Control as they come, yet I can't help but notice the NRA seems more tolerant of limits on 2nd Amendment rights than Quindlen is of accepting abortion limits, this even though the latter "right" is nowhere explicitly granted in our Constitution.

    I'm not an Obama or a McCain man. I was, in fact, inclined to vote for Ms. Clinton as the least of three evils, until she was grudgingly shown the door. My political predilection was not based on considerations of candidate gender, race or age. Nor was I swayed by my views of Presidents Clinton or Bush II, both of whom I first voted to elect, but not to reelect. (Live and learn.) Hillary was my first choice not because I'm a Cracker who shudders at the thought of a black president, or who is dumb enough to think McCain represents a defacto third Bush term. Believe it or not, I was drawn to Hillary as the candidate "most likely to govern from the middle." That's where I live, in the middle. Middleclass. Middle age. Middling between wishful optimism for my three sons' future and disaffection for the dysfunctional partisanship of the recent past. Middling between "white male" and a colorless, genderless mutt mix of Western, Southern and Central European blood.

    Strangely enough, for non Kool-Aid drinking voters like me (and there are a lot of us) Hillary was our sensible "surrogate," too, although I doubt she ever knew it. Could we have used a better stand-in in 2008? Sure. Will we get one? Not this year.

  • Posted By: None of the Above @ 06/21/2008 1:50:48 AM

    Here???s a newsflash for Quindlen: My wife and I have, at turns, taken to calling each other "sweetie" since our first date 23 years ago. My mom and I have also exchanged that term of endearment regularly for a lifetime. There are no two people -- male or female -- whose judgment and spirit I admire more. There is nothing I wouldn't do for the mother of my children and the one, true love of my life. As for the college-educated, Forgotten Generation "Republican" woman who gave me life -- and much wisdom -- well, I???ve worked tirelessly to repay my debt, seeing her thrice reelected to countywide office here in our home state in the process.

    My point? Quindlen is right to call attention to her gray her. It is, after all, at the root of her distorted political worldview. Her chip-on-my-shoulder Jurassic Feminism is wearing thin on a Generation X and Y Americans who long ago learned to look past gender and color and see people simply as people, all of whom deserve their full measure of dignity and Human Rights. Also tiresome is Quindlen???s self-loathing Pro-Choice-Catholic pose, which seems to make a perfunctory guest appearance in every third column she writes. In fairness, I tend to really enjoy reading her other two. And yet, I can help taunting Newsweek???s resident kneejerk lefty with this question: Is it possible to be supportive of women???s rights without being for a pregnant female???s right to choose abortion in any and every situation? I???m as Pro Gun Control as they come, yet I can help but notice that the NRA seems more tolerant of limits on 2nd Amendment rights than Quindlen is of accepting limits on abortion, this even though the latter ???right??? is nowhere explicitly granted in our Constitution.

    I???m not an Obama or a McCain man. I was, in fact, inclined to vote for Ms. Clinton as the least of three evils, until she was grudgingly shown the door. My political predilection was not based on considerations of candidate gender, race or age. Nor was I swayed by my views of Presidents Clinton or Bush II, both of whom I first voted to elect, but not to reelect. (Live and learn.) Hillary was my first choice not because I???m a redneck Cracker who shudders at the thought of a black president, or who dumb enough to think McCain represents a defacto third Bush term. Believe it or not, I was drawn to Hillary as the candidate ???most likely to govern from the middle.??? That???s where I live, in the middle. Middleclass. Middle age. Middling between wishful optimism for my three sons??? future and disaffection for the dysfunctional partisanship of the recent past. Middling between ???white male??? and a colorless, genderless mix of Western, Southern and Central European blood.

    Strangely enough, for non Kool-Aid drinking voters like me (and there are a lot of us) Hillary was our sensible "surrogate," too, though I doubt she ever knew it. Could we have used a better stand-in in 2008? Sure. Will we get one? N

  • Posted By: readyfornewleadership @ 06/20/2008 5:19:26 PM

    You need to tone down the implication that you speak for older women. You don't.

    (54 yr old white woman for Obama from the start.)

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