December 2, 2008 4:48:03 AM CST
(Newser) – Like strong women before her, Michelle Obama has been “demonized” in the press—so why aren’t feminists coming to her aid? asks Mary C. Curtis in the Washington Post. Feminists spoke out when Hillary Clinton faced sexism in her campaign—but the cause hasn’t embraced women of color. “In America, there's seldom a cost for disrespecting black women,” Curtis notes, adding that the anti-Michelle campaign "has not caused a rift between black and white women so much as it has exposed it."
“Just as you didn't have to be for Clinton to decry the sexism” in her press coverage, “you don't have to be an Obama supporter to defend Michelle” from racial and sexist stereotypes, Curtis writes. “I get it: Your candidate lost. You're angry," she says to Clinton supporters. But that’s no reason to stay quiet.
Source Washington Post
51 minutes ago Hillary Clinton's formal acceptance of her upcoming role as secretary of state yesterday looked to many like the moment she conceded the election for real, Alessandra Stanley writes in the New York Times. She told the audience that she would find it hard to leave the Senate, but it was apparent she was "also forswearing her independent campaign identity," Stanley writes. More »
Dec 1, 08 10:31 AM CST Barack Obama officially announced his national-security team today, a group including primary rival Hillary Clinton as secretary of state and Bush holdover Robert Gates as defense secretary, the AP reports. “One of the dangers in a White House, is that you get wrapped up in group-think,” Obama said, explaining his potentially clashing picks. “So I am going to be welcoming a vigorous debate.” More »
Dec 1, 08 8:50 AM CST No surprises are expected as Barack Obama formally nominates his national security team today, leading with Hillary Clinton, Gen. James Jones, and Robert Gates. But the president-elect is having trouble with intelligence positions, the Wall Street Journal reports, as he looks for experienced hands not tainted by service in the Bush administration. Obama's pick for CIA head, a 25-year agency veteran, was dumped because of his role at the agency when controversial interrogation tactics were developed and implemented. More »
Nov 30, 08 12:48 PM CST Despite failing to muster 50% of the vote Nov. 4, Sen. Saxby Chambliss said he would prevail in Tuesday’s runoff against Democrat Jim Martin. “We’ll win again,” the Georgia Republican declared on Fox News Sunday. But Chambliss declined to say he would benefit from the lower black voter turnout predicted by polls, Politico reports. Bipartisanship prevailed elsewhere around the dial: More »
Nov 29, 08 10:10 AM CST Samantha Power will have plenty of time to tell Hillary Clinton how she really feels. The former Obama foreign policy adviser, who was forced to resign during the campaign after calling Clinton “a monster,” is now working on the State Department’s transition team, Politico reports. With Clinton expected to be named secretary of state any day now, things could get awkward. More »
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Michelle Obama • feminism • black women
