Stop the presses! A new Rasmussen report shows that more Americans think that racism is a bigger problem than sexism. Ya think?
Rasmussen found:
CBS News’ beleaguered anchor Katie Couric says sexism is more common and more acceptable in society than racism, but voters do not agree.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% believe African-Americans face more discrimination, while only 28% say it’s worse for women. Thirty-six percent (36%) are not sure.
Hillary Clinton supporters agree with Couric. They think Clinton was manhandled by the mainstream media and Democratic Party leaders. In a San Francisco Chronicle op-ed, UC Berkeley Prof. Robin Lakoff wrote:
While I and many other women in my demographic (older, professional, liberal) are likely to vote for Obama in November, our feelings about his party (and ours) are not so clear. We remember the perpetual misogyny and sexism of the media during the primary campaign - misogyny aimed less at Hillary Rodham Clinton herself than at "uppity women" (like ourselves) in general. And many of us feel that the Democratic Party is even more to blame than the media.
Indeed, WomenCount wants to "stop the silence." Clinton supporters were encouraged to crash the listening meetings for the "Democratic Platform for Change" that were held around the country. They want the National Platform, which will be adopted in Denver, to deal with sexism and include the following plank:
Our Party is committed to achieving gender equality in all aspects of American life. Therefore, we will not tolerate sexism targeted against our candidates or their spouses in the media or anywhere else in the political arena.
We acknowledge that the 2008 Democratic primary election exposed pervasive gender bias in the media during the campaign. From now on, when we see examples of this behavior, our Party leadership will take immediate and public steps to condemn it.
By doing so, we will establish that our Party recognizes that gender bias is a violation of Civil Rights and that men and women should be treated equally in the media and in all facets of our society.
In the meantime, some of Clinton’s die-hard supporters, members of P.U.M.A., say, "No deal." They refuse to walk the plank. Instead, they will meet in D.C. next week to plot strategy for Denver.
Their message to Obama and party leaders: I am a cougar woman, hear me roar.
