Monday Reads: Hillary Clinton is Every Woman
Posted: October 10, 2016 Filed under: 2016 elections, Afternoon Reads, Donald Trump, just because | Tags: Hillary Clinton, misogyny, Objectification of women, Second Presidential Debate 2016 54 CommentsGood Afternoon!
Donald Trump should come with trigger warnings. I believe that every person I know whose experience includes abuse from the archetypal domineering abusive boss, family member or love interest spent last evening into this morning with PTSD anxiety. While a few men believe that Trump held his own during the debate, the supermajority of women saw Hillary Clinton experiencing interaction with every awful man that’s ever crossed their path.
He was the unwanted sexual predator that stalks you and violates your personal space to intimidate you. He was that boss that mansplains and lies on topics he knows nothing about to you while completely ignoring your credentials and experience. He was that teacher, that clerk, that waiter, that person who insists you’re crazy when you correct his lies and errors. He’s the one that wants you institutionalized just because you inconvenience him.
I am still anxious and shaking this morning. Jessica Samikow summed up a series of tweets from women during the debate with this pithy analysis.
Clinton showed up prepared to act how women are taught we need to in order to prove ourselves in male-dominated space: She came armed with facts, kept her composure as to not seem emotional, and forced a smile when there was nothing to smile about. The democratic nominee was met by a man (if you could call him that) who interrupted her constantly to mansplain topics he knows nothing about, lost his temper when his ego was bruised, made light of his own rape-y comments, and lurked behind her intimidatingly as to imply: This is a man’s world, you’re just livin’ in it.
Last night, she was us in our continual struggle to be seen as moral agents, something other than property, and intelligent respect-worthy human beings. Women’s tweets weren’t the only ones crying out for respect to humanity. #MuslimReportStuff was highly enlightening.
https://twitter.com/DrissTemsamani/status/785330598613282816
Asked about the issue of Islamophobia, Trump said that while it is an issue, he said Muslims who come into the country must “report when they see something going on.”
The FBI says Muslims already do report what they see. This summer, the FBI’s director said “some of our most productive relationships are with people who see things and tell us things who happen to be Muslim,” according to Reuters.
In response to Trump’s suggestion that Muslims report what’s going on, several Muslims began to follow his suggestion. First, the following tweet went viral:
Those of us that watched were horrified. First there was a parade of women that had accused Bill Clinton decades ago of some form of sexual harassment or assault. The three women’s cases had been investigated and dealt with during his presidency. They were used like a human shield at the debate to intimidate and shame Hillary Clinton. It was positively inhumane on all fronts.
There’s an episode of the dystopian TV series Black Mirror in which terrorists force the British prime minister to fuck a pig on live television. As people gather to gawk at the spectacle, rambunctious prurience gives way to funereal sadness; the humiliation soils everyone who watches it. That’s what it felt like going into the second presidential debate on Sunday. Before it even started, Donald Trump had held a press conference with three women who’ve accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault and one woman, Kathy Shelton, who loathes Hillary Clinton because, as a young attorney, Clinton was assigned to defend Shelton’s indigent alleged rapist. Apparently hoping to get under Clinton’s skin, Trump put the women in the debate audience, and his campaign signaled that he intended to go nuclear on the Clintons’ marriage. In the moments before the debate started, the camera panned the members of the two candidates’ families, their faces strained and sad. There was a sense that something unprecedented and unspeakable was about to happen.
Clinton, despite rumors to the contrary, is a human being. She had to speak fluently about policy while being flayed for her husband’s sins before an audience of tens of millions. She had to appear unruffled while Trump, stewing and pacing, loomed behind her, physically menacing her with his bulk. He threatened to have her imprisoned if elected; she betrayed not a hint of rage or shock. She made, I think, a strategic decision not to fully engage with him, even if that meant letting some of his outrageous assertions hang there unchallenged. To me, she seemed a model of grace and poise, smiling through a disgusting ordeal.
Trump’s goal was to publicly humiliate Hillary Clinton. There are those that are saying that he failed including Greg Sargent at the Plum Line (WAPO).
It’s obvious that the Clinton campaign grasped that Trump’s paramount goal here was to drag Hillary down into the pig slop with him. Thus, she declined to respond directly to the claims about the 1990s, and instead immediately pivoted to a discussion of all of the other targets of Trump’s abuse and bigotry (she referenced his birtherism, his ridicule of a disabled reporter, his attacks on the Khan family and the Mexican-American judge, and his affection for belittling women). The message was that this isn’t about Clinton herself; it’s just another piece of evidence in the broader case that someone who is so bigoted, misogynist, hateful, and pathologically abusive is unfit for the presidency.
Perhaps the most ground breaking event was when the autocratic Trump suggested he’d order his AG to arrest Clinton. This was something one sees in the Democratic Republic of Congo, not the United States Of America. While women are focused on all the overt brutal misogyny of last night, the men seem focused on the clear and present threat to the rule of law, the Constitution, and to U.S. Democracy as we know it.
There is no way to sugarcoat this: At Sunday night’s presidential debate, Donald Trump threatened to throw Hillary Clinton in jail if he wins the presidency. This — threatening to jail one’s political opponents — is how democratic norms die.
The exchange happened during a discussion of the controversy over Hillary Clinton’s private email server. Trump began by decrying Clinton’s conduct — which, according to the FBI, was quite bad but not illegal. He then proposed appointing a special prosecutor to investigate her, and warned Clinton that, if he were president now, “you’d be in jail”:
TRUMP: I’ll tell you what. I didn’t think I’d say this, and I’m going to say it, and hate to say it: If I win, I’m going to instruct the attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation because there’s never been so many lies, so much deception … A very expensive process, so we’re going to get a special prosecutor because people have been, their lives have been destroyed for doing one-fifth of what you’ve done. And it’s a disgrace, and honestly, you ought to be ashamed.
CLINTON: Let me just talk about emails, because everything he just said is absolutely false. But I’m not surprised … It’s just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law of our country.
DT: Because you’d be in jail.
This is so far beyond normal that it’s hard to even know where to start.
In democracies, we respect people’s rights to disagree with each other. When one candidate wins a presidential election, the loser returns to private life or another government position. In some cases, former rivals become close friends. George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, who defeated Bush in the 1992 election, travel together and have spent decades jointly raising money to aid the victims of natural disasters.
They don’t get sent to jail, because we believe that political disagreement should be legal.
Donald Trump doesn’t seem to care about all that.
In his last line — “you’d be in jail” — he is outright saying that he would imprison Hillary Clinton in office (if he could). This comes despite the fact that there is no evidence Clinton committed a crime in her handling of the email servers, despite lengthy investigations that found evidence of carelessness and dishonesty. That would be a politically motivated prosecution — retribution for daring to run against Trump and attack him during the campaign.
A fact checked transcript is available from WBUR. Trump spewed an avalanche of lies last night. Hillary Clinton noted it
seemed beyond his usual 70% rate and fact-checkers assured us it was. He spent an inordinate amount of time last night sniffing and yelling at Martha Radditz about how every one was unfair to him on the time. Yet, at the end of the time count, he came out ahead by almost two minutes.
Still, the interesting thing was that the media appeared reading to declare Trump as having held his own or “winning” the debate until the female correspondents–like Joy Reid–pointed out the appalling visual of Trump stalking and intimidating Clinton around the stage. I’m not sure how that Trump debate performance exceeded any one’s expectations. It was like watching something from the Hunger Games to me it was so dark and dystopian. It included a run on advertisement for a Trump Hotel at the old DC Post office. The content was straight out of Alt-Right fever dreams.
Here’s David Gergen’s take for what it’s worth. It includes one of the few scientific post-debate poll results.
Whatever chance Donald Trump still had of capturing the White House largely evaporated Sunday night in his second debate with Hillary Clinton.
Coming off the worst 10 days of any campaign in recent history, Trump desperately needed a win in order to reverse his slide in the polls. He was indeed better than in the first debate and she was not as commanding. Even so, he blew his opportunity for victory in the first 20 minutes and could never fully recover. CNN’s poll found that by 57-34%, a majority of voters watching them thought she got the best of him.
His loss came through a series of bizarre moments. The first was his surprise pre-debate appearance with four female accusers of Bill Clinton. While a case can be made for re-hearing their claims of long ago, the event seemed like a stunt and Trump never made real use of it in the debate.
But more damning still was the way he handled the disgusting video from 11 years ago in which he made vulgar sexual remarks. Trump could possibly have achieved a measure of forgiveness if he had issued a sincere, thoughtful apology about his past as well as some ugly incidents in this campaign. But his apology was limited in scope, seemed slightly dismissive, and went off track when he mixed ISIS into the conversation.
On behalf of women every where … 
and Delete your Damn Life.
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
Mama Lopez
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/poll-after-trump-tape-revelation-clinton-s-lead-double-digits-n663691?cid=sm_tw
Poll: After Trump Tape Revelation, Clinton’s Lead Up to Double Digits
Seriously, we need another finger gesture.
Yeah, I know. But I couldn’t resist.
A good synthesis, Dak.
What did you think about Melania Trump wearing a “pussy-bow” blouse to the debate? I think there are three possibilities:
1) Nice passive-agressive move on her part.
2) Wanted to provide an excuse for Donald (“He meant grab them by their blouse tie”).
3) As a former fashion model, she is completely unaware of the name of a classic style that was introduced nearly 100 years ago and has enjoyed periodic resurgences in fashion.
I’m voting for number one, or at least hoping. And I hope that, after this fiasco is over, she gets herself and her child far away from that abusive bastard, even though she will most likely not see one penny for her long nightmare.
That’s is, she needs to distance herself, and she will, just like the other women before her.
I believe that’s a 2 day poll that is likely a bit on the high side, but I’ll take it.
And I totally agree with your post Dak. I had a very difficult time going to sleep last night after watching Trump stalk Hillary all over the stage. I feel certain that most women saw and heard exactly what we saw and heard. A dangerous man whose only regard for women is how much sexual gratification they can bring into his life. I truly pity the women in his life because they’re likely emotionally abused by him and he probably uses his money and his power to keep them under his thumb.
After the last debate Trump was in some sort of verbal confrontation with his son-in-law, Ivanka’s husband and it was obvious by watching the video that both Ivanka and Melania were recoiling from Trump. His son-in-law basically tucked his tail and got into the Limo. All the money in the world couldn’t keep me in that environment.
I saw Ivanka talk to Chelsea. I wonder if she apologized secretly. I thought Melania looked like she could chew nails. I think she was dragged into it.
Did you notice Tiffany Trump? They didn’t have her sitting with the other children in the Family Box, they had her sitting with the women accusers in the audience. After the debate she came onto the stage and Donald tried to kiss her and she turned her face away from him. It was definitely a refusal to kiss him.
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/tiffany-trump-ducked-a-kiss-from-donald-trump-at-second-debate-watch-w444089
Yes, it was. A little revenge for being ignored by her father for most of her life.
Looked like Donald Jr. saw that and was angry at her.
Thank you, I keep thinking of acceptance, and of love of our daughters, and granddaughters and our Mothers, and those who fought for our rights as women. I am having a difficult time with Trump and the conservative Christians stance, and the way they responded. My resentment is building. But my understanding and love of Hillary Clinton carries me forward, because she does not have the ugly personhood that Trump has. She lifts all of us up, she makes her case, and she continues to work for all Americans.
And yes, when you are a victim of abuse, you know it altogether, and all so well.
dak, you are so right.
I think most of you saw this comment I posted last night:
And that was merely from listening to the audio on NPR. When I later saw video clips of that looming, stalking bully, it felt even worse.
Every woman reporter I listened to last night made that comment. The only man that picked up on it immediately and said so was James Carville.
We know.
Trump’s lost the remaining Republican women last night, except for the terminally brainwashed.
Remembered the blanket Hillary was given by the Puyallup tribe on her visit earlier this year, during the ceremony when she was given the name “Strong Woman.” I hope she wrapped the blanket around her for a few minutes to recharge and protect before and after the debate.
Lovely image.
I love that kind gift of a blanket to warm and console herself by the Indian tribe. They can identify her strength. They must wonder at forked-tongue Trump…maybe a gift of a muzzle.
I hope that was it – not interested in another debate here. I don’t think either one has anything to gain from a third debate, unless Trump just makes an even bigger ass of himself. Clinton has this locked up so I just hope they spare us the pain of another one.
Has anyone asked Trump directly what is up with his sniffing problem? It only happens when he’s debating Hillary? I think it’s a nervous tic, but it could be coke I guess. What a wuss.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/09/presidential-debate-reactions-trump-clinton
But don’t both with the last commentator, who thought Trump won the debate “before the first question” [sic] with that pre-debate charade attempt to blame Hillary.
It is long past time for one of these pundits, talking heads, and political experts to openly say what the rest of us know that this man is extremely dangerous and quite possibly insane. Enough of trying to normalize his behavior when it is quite apparent that there is something majorly wrong.
I did not think he could go any lower or continue to expose his ignorance at such a level but he manages to fool me every time. He is a repulsive human being who has no business as a presidential candidate. He is a stain on the public and lacks the moral maturity to lead a nation
as diverse as ours.
The joke is having to watch an experienced, intelligent, poised woman “debate” a middle schooler with a pout. Incredible!
Well, it’s world mental health day and I’m treating my students gently and hugging on my animals. I can’t wait to see my girls next week. Will be rid of him by my birthday next month!!!
Have you guys seen this yet? I got it from First Draft:
Keith Olbermann on Trump’s weirdness about dogs. It’s a little long (5 minutes) but pretty interesting,
t’s a good thing he’s soulless enough to have never had a dog or any other companion animal. Animals know an abuser when they smell one.
Keeping with the animal theme and apologies if this was posted earlier! From Wonkette:
http://wonkette.com/607361/little-girl-hillary-clinton-punched-a-kid-in-the-nose-for-endangering-baby-bunnies-impeach
The commentators are side-splitting hilarious.
Loved that!
There should be new rules, post-Trump, that debaters will debate not bully and intimidate presidential party challengers, that their mica will be cut off after 2 minutes, and that, if it becomes too nasty, the culprit will be banished from the debate and the challenger can choose to go on to answer the questions or give a closing summary. I would have kicked Trump out after 40 minutes, and I’m being generous.
The Republican pair and the party scare me with their tough talk on Syria. They’re dying to send troops in and take Assad out. Please let’s don’t.
Trump angered me to the point that I hope more individuals anonymously send in truck-loads of tapes.
Hillary is carrying the load for all of us and I’m hoping she wins by double digits on the 8th. I felt so badly for Bill and Chelsea having to walk into T’s pre-debate shenanigans. T’s children left quickly and looked grim. I vote in 24 days.
I also wanted to clarify, a la VOX, the fuzziness around Juanita Broaddrick. She was not raped by Bill. Hillary was the uneager prosecutor and the rapist received a light sentence.
Excuse my mistake . The rape victim was Kathy Shelton. I’m still shaken up and distracted by Trump’s attacks on Hillary.
https://thinkprogress.org/the-truth-about-kathy-shelton-the-12-year-old-rape-victim-trump-used-to-attack-hillary-clinton-72158e3c41cb#.ben0j7sp3
It was after this case that Hillary Clinton opened the first Rape Crisis Telephone Center.
Just saw this link, maybe it’s already been posted here- but it’s a novel way of looking at Trump’s lying.
http://www.vox.com/2016/9/29/13086236/trump-beliefs-category-error
“Social and moral norms regarding honesty mostly have to do with the semantic form of communication. One’s words are supposed to correspond with, or at least not mislead about, the facts as one understands them. But Trump simply doesn’t view what he’s engaged in as an exercise in articulating and defending beliefs about factual states of affairs. He is as blind to that function of communication as human eyes are to infrared light.
What he’s doing is trying to establish dominance — to win, in his words. That’s what he uses words for. That’s how he sees every interaction in which he is involved. He is attuned only to what the words are doing, whether they are winning or losing, not to what they mean.”
So calling him a loser is the strongest weapon- he only sees the world in terms of win or lose.
Saw this in an analysis of why Trump pivoted from his apology to ISIS.
Trump ally paid sexual assault victim critical of Clinton
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/10/10/trump-ally-paid-sexual-assault-victim-critical-clinton/RDQwVbW6tUbDQcZ6luXYvK/story.html
I suppose Hillary and other attorneys should take cushy, well-paid jobs representing rich white-collar criminals. Everyone else who is poor and needs a court-appointed attorney should be just shit out of luck.
This rape victim of Thomas Alfred Taylor, has been in and out the doors of drug addiction, and a terrible upbringing and lifestyle, that reeks of mental problem. And Trump is taking advantage of her.
Yes. I think that what his campaign is doing to her is awful.
Trump in his rally today made more “quips” about Hillary being in jail, and about a special prosecutor. Of course, the crowd screamed, “lock her up.” This will go on for another month, or longer. Just appalling. Meanwhile, Foreign Policy magazine gave her a glowing endorsement, saying that she is one of the most knowledgeable candidates in the international era that they have seen in many years.
Your first two sentences pretty well explain to me why no talking heads are flat out stating the obvious about Donald. His supporters are scary. Some reporters have received death threats at the mildest suggestion that Donald might be wrong about something. I think the monster the press created is holding them hostage now.
Why does he (Wemple) even bother? When I read this article I understood a conversation I had earlier today with an evangelical RWNJ. It’s all a conspiracy. And since so many have come out to endorse Hillary and warn about Trump, that tells him that he should vote for Trump. I tried telling this person that he needed to get some variety in his news sources, because the “liberal” media was certainly not all pro Clinton, like he is being told. Baby steps. I’m sure the RWNJ will never read the Post article, and if, by chance they did, would not get the sarcasm.
I didn’t participate on the live blog during the debate, but I watched every bit of it. It scares me that I work with people who can watch that debate, see the crap that went down this past week, and still be casting a vote for Trump. Heck, I’m even related to people who are going to vote for him!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/10/10/fox-newss-bill-oreilly-is-about-to-expose-an-unprecedented-american-media-conspiracy/?tid=pm_opinions_pop_b&utm_term=.b2b36519684a
I’m sure a few of my relatives are going to vote for him. Those are the relatives I don’t see any more. They behave like Trump — they in effect stiffed me on a family matter. Also lied one too many times. Feels so much better not seeing them! I should have cut ties earlier.
At the end of the first debate, Trump slammed HRC for having no stamina.
Last night, he said the thing he respects about her is that she never gives up, that when she gets knocked down, she gets right back up and never gives up.
I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere… am I the only person “confused” by this?
Yes and Trump had to lean on his chair toward the end. He looked exhausted.
Have I said today how much I loathe this man? Can’t say it often enough.
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Thanks for the link! Love our girl!
Yay, go Hillary Clinton……….she’s up in the polls.
Heard 18,500 est. for the crowd from the Secret Service. Oh, but there’s no enthusiasm for Hillary….. (snort!)
I just ADORE this and posted it on Twitter, FB and a friend’s blog. It’s an anthem and may it spread far and wide. Pussy Grabs Back – expect us on November 8th.
Rock it!
Voter registration in my state soared after the debate!
http://www.opb.org/news/series/election-2016/washington-single-day-voter-registration-record-smashed-debate-sunday/
Wonder if this surge happened in all the states?
Did you see this endorsement? http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/hillary-clinton/article107265182.html
It’s extremely smart for Hillary to bring in Al Gore to speak on climate change now in Miami. She is working on the best future for us all.