There has been a message sent to women in this election.

Yes, Hillary and her supporters have been denigrated by the left during the campaign, but it is that it continued, even esclated after she lost that drove it home to me.

Gail Collins addresses it a bit in the Times: Here’s where the sexism does come in. If Barack had failed in his attempt to make history by becoming the first African-American presidential nominee, you can bet we’d have treated his defeat with the dignity it deserved. Even if he went over the deep end at the finale and found it hard to get around to a graceful concession.

Many women who have been hurt and dissapointed by the party that they have given their time, money and resources to for years and years. We have thought that this was the way to get our voices heard. The message from the left that they expect us to do the grunt work, but not dare to ask for a seat at the table is disheartening.

I believe it is time to send a message back. Let the party know that you are writing in Hillary to send them the message that we will no longer accept the status quo. If we just quietly vote for Obama, we will be like the women who said they didn't want to worry their pretty little heads about politics during the Suffrage movement.

If enough of us do this, the party will get the message.

I would say you are right, one must make a stand not just accept the status quo.

because it's true: <link>

The media certainly bears some of the responsibility for the way they disparaged Hillary using gender-related put-downs ("she's being the man"). Watching that made evident to us the real obstacles to <i>any</i> woman seeking high political office.

If women leave the DNC and refuse to support Obama, the media should not hesitate to blame themselves, including Dalhia Lithwick, Emily Bazelon, the other XX Factor bloggers, and Slate management, in general.

What idiots.

bite:

why would you pass quietly ino the night? If I insulted you, would you pass quietly? I doubt it. So do not pass quietly if you must vote for Obama. Acknowledge the smell of no alternatives.

Like Dawn had said one time, the Repubs will rape you outright on a date. The Dems will do it after a bottle of wine. Don't let them silence the disappointment or the outrage.

I'm disappointed in my fellow feminists. Quitting is not how we were raised.

Writing in Senator Clinton is the same as voting for McCain. A vote for McCain is a vote for four more years of death in Iraq and most likely Iran. It's a vote for an end to freedom of choice. It's a vote for a culture of war.

Women will find their place and time but you've placed your desires above the lives of innocent people in Iraq. I know we've been waiting a long time but we are not being bombed, executed, nor occupied as the Iraqi women are.

It's a good thing Senator Clinton is tougher than her supporters. She won't just slink off and pout but will fight for a place in the next administration. She won a great deal for herself and for women by persevering. I hope all you disappointed feminists will follow her excellent lead.

Yes, there has been a message sent.

Perhaps it is this one twinged with sexism:

<link>

Or how this one were the candidate plays off the prejudice that has been dogging the other candidate the whole race

<link>

Or maybe this one where a candidate starts to whine about the unfair way they have been treated by the other who was then in the lead in the polls

<link>

Or perhaps this one in which a candidate had a chance to discount the way the press had been covering the other candidate

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And how about that endorsement.

<link>

This seems to be hitting home with most of the Clinton supporters who are tired of the treatment that has been heaped on a candidate this year.

You got the message all right.

Did you watch her speech today? She was great! You should heed her words.

Certainly, Hillary faced ugly misogyny from many directions (including many women!), perhaps most egregiously from the boys' club at NBC/MSNBC. I railed against it in real time with the best of you.

But the notion that this was a sin of "the left" for which the Dem party must be punished by enabling the ascension of Preznit McCain -- sorry, but that's just nuts.

Good luck with that.

I hope that you get the sense of satisfaction that you need from writing in Hillary's name.

I hope that such an action brings home to you all the power and strength available to you, and to all women.

I hope that encouraging others to do the same stirs in you, and in others, the connection and loyalty that a cohort can bring to national decisions.

In my experience we have an imperfect system of government here in the United States. If George W. Bush can be the Commander in Chief for 8 years I need explain that imperfection no further.

But in the grand scheme of things - global issues of poverty, health, education, wealth and energy - it's a helluva lot better place to live, work and vote than most anywhere else.

I'm not in any way dismissing your decision to use your voice and your vote however you want. And, I sincerely hope that in doing so you truly do GET the sense of power and satisfaction that you're seeking. You're right, it is not about Hillary.... it is about what happened afterwards.

I'm a bit sorry that you feel you can only make a statement or stand on your ballot in November. I fear it will not bring the change (personally and politically) you are seeking. But that is not mine to choose for you.

So do what you must to recover your sense of empowerment and ability. We need you.

Dawn - you wrote: "The media certainly bears some of the responsibility for the way they disparaged Hillary using gender-related put-downs ("she's being the man"). Watching that made evident to us the real obstacles to any woman seeking high political office."

Can I ask you, in all seriousness and with no irony or malicious intent, what was your reaction when James Carville - who as you know was one of her most inside insiders - said "If Hillary gave him one of her cojones they'd both have two"?

Wasn't that a "gender-related put-down" as well?

I'm asking this because I am honestly confused. That was, to me, one of the most offensive comments. Not because of the attempted slap at Obama's manhood ... but because of the not-so-subtle implication that a woman would have to have balls in order to be strong.

But I never hear about this comment? Am I really that off the mark? Was it not offensive to any other women?

Honest to god I am not trying to start an argument or to be offensive in any way. I am hoping for some clarity here.

But if I am attacked, I want it to be by someone who is upfront about it. Democrats have used the labor of women for too long without payment.

chastizing the media for their misogyny.

So clearly they (DNC) condones it.

I have a semblance of a plan. Thought about it all the way to the city today. (got kind of excited after you gave me the idea) We don't need all women, we don't even need women in every state. I think we could pull it off by just going after women in a few key swing states.

You are one of the most powerful writers on here. I can come up with the marketing plan, but my writing sucks.

to the democrats fearmongering. They say: We don't support you, but the Republicans will be worse! Vote for us, because otherwise, the shit you are sitting in will get even higher!

Shit is shit.

That is what they are giving us. A message needs to be sent to the Democrats that we are no longer willing to clean up their shit.

I believe you are so right, biteoftheweek and run75441, since being women you know that using metaphors such as rape and white slavery so clearly conveys the message that we lost a candidate today. It IS that outrageous.

But writing in Hillary's name? That's what they expect you to do. And they will be there with their little erasers. I say this from experience since I have seen those little erasers being brandished like branding irons, ready to mark us as so much cattle.

So, If a vote for Hillary is for McCain which can we never do, vote for him, how about a vote for Bob Barr. That way, tall of us who have been so violated can really make our voice heard and not elect the establishement candidates. That would really send a message.

I know he's no Lyndon LaRouche, but what choice do we have? It's so since his prison memoir was titled the same as your post, biteoftheweek.

because I had an appointment. But when I got home, before I had to leave to go to a party in the city, I turned on CNN.

I heard 5 minutes. Jerks were saying how her speech was job application or resume or some such crap.

Turned it off, disgusted by the media who just won't let up.

I understand the fear of having another republican president. That is the fear the democrats use to excuse their abuse of the women of this party. If we vote on that fear alone, we will never get true change within the party. Women need to send the message that fearmongering alone will no longer get our vote.

dawncoyote@gmail.com