And We Should Listen To Her Because?
First off, while she hasn’t shown any competence at anything she has done in this administration, the media should at least show her the minimal respect of using her last name, you know, like all of the incompetent guys. Clinton isn’t the only one who has to put up with this misogynist crap.
The Associated Press tells us that: Jimmy Carter Draws Criticism From Condi
(AP) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticized former President Carter on Friday for his reported plans to meet the exiled leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas during a visit to Syria.
Carter has not confirmed the plans to meet Khaled Mashaal, but Hamas has said the former Democratic president sent an envoy to Damascus requesting a meeting with the militant group’s officials.
“I find it hard to understand what is going to be gained by having discussions with Hamas about peace when Hamas is, in fact, the impediment to peace,” Rice said at a press event with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Rice was responding to a question about Carter’s plans but did not mention him by name.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization,” she said, repeating the Bush administration’s explanation for why it will not meet with members of the group.
Hamas was elected by the Palestinian people in an open and fair election to represent them. If you don’t talk to them, you are the problem. Hamas hasn’t been given the opportunity to impede anything, because they were locked out of discussions by the US and Israel immediately. The Hedgemony refused to talk to North Korea and we have a new member of nuclear club as a result. Not talking doesn’t seem to be working out all that well.
Let’s get real here – every political party in the Middle East started life blowing things up and killing people, including the Israeli political parties. Talking is how you ween them from their violent pasts. Carter was able to get two former terrorists named Begin and Sadat to sign a peace deal that has lasted for almost three decades, so why not try going with ideas that have been proven to work, rather than ideas that have only produced failure?
4 comments
In fairness, Hillary campaigns as Hillary, presumably to avoid confusion with her better-known husband who often misspeaks. I noticed the first-name/last-name asymmetry between the Dem candidates immediately, but felt (and still feel) compelled to go with what the candidates themselves use in their campaign publicity.
Condi should be grateful when someone calls her Condi. I know at least one person who calls her KindaSleazy. If she hadn’t caused so many people so much grief (literally), I’d be more inclined to object.
Face it: from Hamas to Hugo Chavez to Al Gore to John Kerry, the Bushists have shown themselves not to respect elections they do not directly control, or those which have results they personally disagree with. Paraphrasing Kris Kristofferson, democracy’s just another word for nothin’ left to choose…
It is Clinton’s choice, and as a private person it makes me uncomfortable, but I have never heard Ms. Rice expressing her desire to be referred to by a nickname, and don’t remember the Media saying “Dick was being a dick again” or “Al lied to Congress about the Justice Department” or “Donnie has gone all psuedo-Zen at another briefing”.
General of the Army and later President Dwight David Eisenhower, may have used “Ike” on the campaign trail, but the media went formal after the campaign.
This is just another of many forms of misogyny out there, and my main point on that front, is that Senator Clinton isn’t alone in being dissed. It happens to every woman in an important position.
i wish they would just call condi on the carpet for her lies, misstatements and overall general incompetence
They talk about her as a possible running mate for McCain, when she should be a defendant in the Hague.