The Difference...

Between how the Republicans deal with sexism in this election, and how the Democrats have dealt with sexism is mighty telling. The latter were mum, until after Hillary conceded the race then they made some noise about how things weren't so great on the whole woman thing. The one exception was Geraldine Ferraro standing up for Hillary. She got labeled a racist for her trouble. I should add, not only did the DNC not speak up, they actually got in a few digs, too.

Not so the Republicans. I take NO credit for these next two pieces at all - they came from alert readers at No Quarter. The first one is from "Hope Floats," who posted the following article:

September 3, 2008
GOP Women Call Palin Critics Sexist
Posted by BLAKE DVORAK

ST. PAUL — Top Republican women held a fiery press conference today to denounce what they consider to be sexist smears from the Obama campaign and the media against Gov. Sarah Palin.

“We want to call attention to the outrageous smear campaign against Sarah Palin,” said former Mass. Gov. Jane Swift. “With her years of executive experience and legislative accomplishments, she is more experienced than Sen. Barack Obama” to become president.

“Gov. Palin’s experience is in running a state,” added Swift. “Barack Obama’s experience, as he himself has said, is in running a campaign.”

Joining Swift in her denunciations were senior McCain aide Carly Fiorina, Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin and Renee Amore, Deputy Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.

“The Republican Party will not stand by while Gov. Palin is subjected to sexist attacks,” said Fiorina, who explained that all the women on stage had experienced sexism in their careers. “I don’t believe American women are going to stand for it either.”

Palin critics have questioned whether it’s wise for the Alaskan governor to seek the vice presidency while she has a baby with Down Syndrome. A charge to which Marin said: “No one has asked Barack Obama [this question] when he has two children at home.”

“I am outraged; I am insulted; I am offended,” said Marin. Directing her anger toward liberal bloggers who have questioned the maternity of Palin’s youngest daughter, Trig, Marin said, “Shame on them.”

Blackburn answered critics who have also pointed to Palin’s 20 months as governor as less experience than Obama’s years in the Senate.

“It is quite interesting that Gov. Palin has managed the state of Alaska with 24,000 employees and a $10 billion budget,” said Blackburn. “How many men have done that?”

Amore was more direct. Referring to the media, she said, “You never talk about that Barack Obama hasn’t run anything.”

“These smears are meant to distract from the fact that Gov. Palin has more experience than Barack Obama,” said Amore. She then issued a humorous, if also serious, challenge: “Let me use some ebonics … We will get with you, if you keep messing with us.”

There wasn't a link to the post, but here is a VIDEO you can watch.

And then, frequent commenter Paul Villareal has several YouTube videos up, particularly this one in which Newt Gingrich (I know - I am as surprised by this as anybody) lays into a MSNBC reporter on the differences between Governor Palin and Barack Obama (again, she's second on the ticket, Obama is first - and HE STILL COMES UP SHORT IN THE COMPARISON!!!). Anyway, take a look The end is a hoot:



And this one, also from Paul:



And get this - John McCain, in the middle of a campaign season, pulled out of an HOUR of free air time on Larry King Live because of the way Campbell Brown treated Tucker Bounds on the issue of whether Governor Palin had ever called in the National Guard or not (thanks, LindaA1!). He would not dignify the network after the way demeaning and belittling way one of their main anchors treated his running mate. Even more, check out this story by Stephen Hayes on McCain's response to this sexist treatment:
Feisty McCain Tells Staff He's Indignant Over Palin Treatment

John McCain spoke to staff and advisers working in the campaign War Room at the Minneapolis Hilton this afternoon, and forcefully vowed to fight hard to defend his running mate Sarah Palin against attacks from the media and Democrats. "They’re not doing right by our vice president, they’re not doing right by the American people," McCain said, according to a source in the room. "We’re gonna fight back, we’re gonna get ‘em.” McCain pounded his fist into his hand as he spoke, the source said, and made clear that he would be aggressively challenging those who are attacking Palin.

McCain advisers expect that he will address the issue in his speech to the convention tomorrow evening. McCain's campaign has increasingly turned its sights on the media in recent days as journalists continue to probe Palin's personal life and discuss her performance as a mother. McCain is personally offended by the controversy.

Earlier Wednesday, campaign chief Steve Schmidt blasted the media for its treatment of Palin. "Governor Sarah Palin is an exceptional governor with a record of accomplishment that exceeds, by far, the governing accomplishments of Senator Obama," Schmidt said it a statement. He added: "This vetting controversy is a faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States who has never been a part of the old boys’ network that has come to dominate the news establishment in this country."

And late Wednesday afternoon, Schmidt made a second statement threatening legal action against the National Enquirer for its report that Palin had an extramarital affair.

"The smearing of the Palin family must end. The allegations contained on the cover of the National Enquirer insinuating that Governor Palin had an extramarital affair are categorically false. It is a vicious lie. Governor Palin is the most popular governor in the country. She is a proven leader, an accomplished executive, a champion for ethics reform, and a fighter against corruption. The efforts of the media and tabloids to destroy this fine and accomplished public servant are a disgrace. The American people will reject it.

Senator McCain and Governor Palin look forward to discussing the issues that Americans care about, fixing broken government, creating jobs, making our country energy independent and securing the peace for the next generation by bringing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to a victorious end. Legal action will be considered with regard to this disgraceful smear."

Congressman Ed Royce, a conservative from California, says that the attacks on Palin will backfire. “Senator McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin not only energized and excited the Republican base, it sent the liberal media into making-panic-induced personal attacks on her family that are beyond the pale. The more they attack, the more they reinforce her image as an outsider and a reformer and the more attractive she is to independent voters who rightfully mistrust the mainstream media.”

Posted by Stephen F. Hayes on September 3, 2008 04:20 PM Permalink

Wow. Can you imagine how different this past year would have been had the DEMOCRATS taken this kind of approach to Senator Clinton? Standing up for her against the likes of Chris Matthews, Tucker Carlson, Mike Barnacle, KEITH OLBERMANN (special mention there for ya, Keith), Tim Russert, and all of those other "journalists"? Stood up and said this was unacceptable - that it was unacceptable to treat ANY woman like that, much less the Former First Lady of Arkansas, the Former First Lady of the United States, and a two-term siting US Senator? It would have been a whole new ballgame, I think. Hell, a whole new ballgame and ballpark (ok, ok, so I'm watching the Yankees already!).

I know some people are very cynical about WHY the Republicans are doing this, but the act remains: they are standing up against sexist attacks, and that counts for something. Not just John McCain, but influential Republicans are speaking out against this sexist treatment. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it sure would be nice if the Democrats had acted more like the Republicans on this issue with Senator Clinton, and STOPPED acting in such a sexist manner toward Governor Palin. It is not too late, either - and frankly, it is way, way past enough being enough. Stop the hate against women, Democrats. Seriously.