USA Presidential Politics - 2008

[Mr Cancun]

I had a lot of catching up to do here, really didn't know that pic would cause major discussion here( at least being sexists or racists). I think a can of "lighten up" is needed.

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Sorry but I assumed you'd read my reaction (reactions, actually) before you called them absurd. You may want to try doing that in the future before harshly criticizing people. Those are the things I talked about, and you said my reaction was absurd, so I was just summarizing your view of what was absurd.

Steve

now that is the pot calling the kettle black.

I am still waiting where he harshly criticized me..for something I never said.

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Mr Cancun

I had a lot of catching up to do here, really didn't know that pic would cause major discussion here( at least being sexists or racists). I think a can of "lighten up" is needed.

I was thinkin........CHILL OUT

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by sctx

I was thinkin........CHILL OUT

why not a lock and a moratorium on the spooners always starting these types of threads?

[MikeW]

Originally Posted by Seakony

why not a lock and a moratorium on the spooners always starting these types of threads?

Who'd be left?

[Sol]

Making fun of women's bodies is a tired old joke. It's simple to justify it because men get ridiculed because of their bodies. Either way it's wrong. Its sends a wrong message to kids and that perpetuates illness such as anorexia and bulimia. It keeps the diet industry rich and plastic surgeons making the big bucks. Most likely Hillary and other candidates can handle this type of joking but it is the general public that views these jokes as well. They send the message that people can be made fun of because of their appearance whether they are fat, disabled, and/or old.

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by MikeW

Who'd be left?

no,,, who'd be Right? Then there would be no more political threads started.

[MikeW]

Originally Posted by Seakony

no,,, who'd be Right? Then there would be no more political threads started.

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by PlayadelSoul

Read the speech he made, in its entirety. The major combat he was referring to, was over. Saddam had left and Baghdad had fallen. Insurgency aside, he was thanking the seamen on that ship for their service. Their mission had been accomplished and they were on their way home.

So, you decided to use the KFC joke to rant about the unfair treatment of Clinton? Just who is it that is being unfair? Essentially, you want affirmative action in the political process. Any aspect of a candidates life is up for scrutiny. Hillary is a woman, so those aspects may differ from the scrutiny given a man. So what? No matter who becomes President, they all have to go through the same process. Don't claim you are for equal rights and then ask for special treatment.

This emboldened sentence is, as I see it, the problem. Female candiates are getting "special treatment" when the press is frequently talking about their bodies. Yes one can see a mention of a male politicians belly etc occassionally. I don't see men's choice of suit color or chest size mentioned frequently in the press.

When I vote I vote the issues not whether some one has the "correct" appearance. Even that Mareen Dowd hatchet piece on Senator Clinton didn't really discuss her political positions (which is why I personally prefer another candiate) but rather was simple character assassination. We as a nation shouldn't have to put up with this kind of coverage.

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

This emboldened sentence is, as I see it, the problem. Female candiates are getting "special treatment" when the press is frequently talking about their bodies. Yes one can see a mention of a male politicians belly etc occassionally. I don't see men's choice of suit color or chest size mentioned frequently in the press.

When I vote I vote the issues not whether some one has the "correct" appearance. Even that Mareen Dowd hatchet piece on Senator Clinton didn't really discuss her political positions (which is why I personally prefer another candiate) but rather was simple character assassination. We as a nation shouldn't have to put up with this kind of coverage.

Please post some links to examples of this, and how it falls into the category of "frequently." One article that I know of. One in which the candidate's people played a part.

The idea that we can't talk about weight because it may cause some teenagers to develop bulimia or anorexia is counterproductive. Far more people die from diseases caused by obesity than they do from those eating disorders. It may be politically correct to not use terms, such as "fat" or "obesese", but not using them doesn't make the problem of obesity in the US go away. People are dying. You don't put a sock in it and just let it happen.

All one has to do is look at political cartoons to see that political candidates "looks" are commented on, constantly. Men and women, included.

Notice the ears.


Ears and chubby cheeks.



The belly.

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by roni

John Edwards has.

If John Edwardswere to win, but he won't. He could actually be considerred the first woman President. I mean how many guys actually commit so much time to their hair.

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by BonnyW

I hope peeps can see past this...Please try to see it from a different perspective... I have to fight everyday of my professional life to show that I am as good as a guy...no kidding.

This means I have to do twice as much work, and try twice as hard... it is really frustrating for me as a woman to consistently have to prove that I am as good as a male...and that I should be looked upon as an equal.

Many people will say that that the US is an equal society between genders...it isn't. Sometimes us womyn-folk get frustrated hearing about someone else and how they too have to fight the process...

When someone is or a group of people are trying to fit into an area in which was originaly dominated by a different group. It is a natural occurance in which the group trying to get into the targeted group would have to work a bit harder to prove themselves to the interested area.

So even though you are probably just as capable or maybe evenmore capable then some of the people in your targeted group, you do have to prove yourself.

I being in the truucking industry cringe at the sight of a woman truck driver. Specially when I realize when she may be a better driver then I am.

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by roni

Kirby,

You have a least one daughter, doncha? What do you think, as a father, about this obssesion with the bodies of female political candidates (and most women have to deal with that kind of stuff on the job)?

IN the first election between GWB and AL it was a woman's magazine that air brushed AL Gores pants to make him look a little bigger in some area the he actually was. So it does go both ways here.

Again you have your do as we say not as we do attitude, dude.

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by kirbyfan

I dont find comments about a persons physical characteristics any more or less offensive than calling him or her an idiot, moron, murderer, ect... Our current President has been compared physically to a monkey on many occasions and even one of our own posters here has an avatar that does just that. Maybe if George were to wear really tight pants to accentuate his "package", there would be more jokes about that...kinda like showing off your cleavage. Hillarys fat thighs? How many fat Rush Limbaugh jokes have we heard in this very forum? You guys are really riding a fine line of hypocrisy now IMO. I can guarantee you that were Bush overwieght, he wouldnt just be an idiot, moron and a murderer, he would be a fat idiot, fat moron and fat murderer.

Maybe if our President were to dye his hair blonde, he'd be more acceptable to the Californians.

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by Jacko

He IS right about that....WOW

I even agree with Kirby. Hey lets make this a agree with Kirby day.