The subtitle to this Salon article about Hilary and Obama reads “In the Democratic presidential pack, the leading man is a woman and the leading woman is a man” (via Keith Burgess-Jackson). The article contrasts Obama’s appeal to female voters and Clinton’s perceived masculinity.
Clara Oleson, an Iowa Democrat and former labor lawyer, explained all these distinctions on a riverbank in Iowa City last week, while waiting to hear Clinton speak to a crowd of about 1,000. “Obama is the female candidate. Obama is the woman,” she said, after admitting that she was one of his supporters. “He is the warm candidate, self-deprecating, soft, tender, sad eyes, great smile.”
So what does that make Hillary Clinton? “She is the male candidate — in your face, authoritative, know-it-all.”
Articles like this make me doubt the merits of democracy. I can’t believe actually choosing a candidate based on who has “sad eyes.” What a pathetic reflection on our culture.