Barack, Hillary, and Obama on the WWE

These Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lookalikes took part in a WWE Raw match on Monday. John McCain and Bill Clinton lookalikes were also there. All three actual candidates taped a message for the show:



This could be useful for a discussion about the effort to appeal to the much-discussed blue-collar voter. The WWE crowd--and probably the need to appear "non-elitist"--has become so important that every candidate felt it necessary to take part in this.

Also, Barack Obama just wasn't funny. I'm just sayin'.

Thanks to Larry H. from The Daily Mirror (an L.A. Times blog) for sending this one along!

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Blatant Sexist Anti-Hillary Clinton Product at popular store

You may have seen this Hillary Clinton nutcracker around, but did you know they are selling it at the super popular Urban Outfitters?


Analiese M. said that when she "ran across this item in Urban Outfitters online store... [she] emptied [her] shopping cart." Awesome, Analiese!

More sexism and racism in the 2008 elections: sexist anti-Hillary propaganda, comparing sexism and racism, and "How do we beat the bitch?"

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Conservative T-Shirts

These t-shirts are all available here. The site has the following definition:


Presumably the fact that I'm posting these means I don't understand humor. Of course, these could also be useful for a discussion of what is "funny" and who gets to decide that.



Liberals are emasculated sissies; conservatives are real men:



Torture is funny:

So is lynching:

Some about guns:



Thanks to Breck C. for sending us the link!

Obama: "Articulate and Clean"

One of the frames for Obama and his candidacy that Wendy's post didn't cover involved the extent to which he does whiteness (and the degree to which we approve). This t-shirt, available on CafePress, riffs on his whiteness and the common compliment/insult about black people's ability to be articulate:



Thanks to Jenny S. for sending along this image!

Commentary On Obama's Speech And Racial Relations

This commentary by Dan Charnas on Obama's speech and the public reaction (found here) might inspire an interesting class discussion on race, politics, and getting along:


White People, Get Over Yourselves from Dantrification on Vimeo.

Thanks to Lawgeek for sending this our way!

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Blatent racism and sexism: is one more acceptable than the other?

While we're on the topic of the current presidential campaign...

I've noticed something interesting about the images and phrases used to criticize Clinton and Obama. Why does the majority of anti-Clinton rhetoric use sexist images and language? And how prevelant is the (expected?) matching racism in the anti-Obama rhetoric and images? Why, instead, does Obama's national allegiance and patriotism come into question? I think this would make for a great class discussion on intersectionality, an what prejudices are perceived to be "socially acceptable."

Some possible questions for discussion:

• Is it more socially acceptable to be overtly sexist than overtly racist? Why?
• Why might it seem to be more okay to question someone's patriotism/nationalism than to be overtly racist? What is the difference?
  
• What is really racist that doesn't immediately appear racist?

And the images-- again these come from Facebook groups with tens of thousands of members. See also previous images of Hillary Clinton here and here.

above "stop mad cow"


And now for Obama...




And here are some attacking Barack Obama's nationality and patriotism:




And the infamous image above (more info from snopes.com)

Reducing Clinton, Again, To Her Sex

Thanks Ali V!

More on Hilary Clinton here, here, here, and here.

"Bitch Is The New Black"

an Urban Dictionary look at campaign politics

These aren't images... but I think they're interesting enough in terms of race, gender and sexuality to count. And they'd make for a great class discussion on the power of words and names and how they are re/defined in ways that perpetuate stereotypes and inequality.

I'm not sure if I want to thank Gwen for turning me on to the Urban Dictionary. I think I was better off not knowing what the kids are saying these days.

So, here is some of the Hillary Clinton-related slang. And there is more that was actually too replusive for my slightly-prudish self to publish here.

hillary:

1. Describes a bull form of lesbian. The manly one of the couple.

Did you she that lesbian? What a hillary! She got bigger balls than Bill.

2. pulling a "Hillary"....when a woman lets her man, or baby's daddy, do whatever the fuck he wants, specifically when they are married...if not, what the fuck she cares. ie. a weak woman

That lady pulled a Hillary, and now she's screaming at him for it.

hillaryus: Hillary Clinton... a chick... president of the U.S.? Hillary + U.S. = hilarious.

"It'll be hillaryus if Hillary's the president."

Hillareeza Clinton: The version of presidential wannabe Hillary Clinton when she is speaking to a black audience.

Hillary Clinton "In America I believe it is important that we reconsider the health care issues of our time"

Hillareeza Clinton "In America, all y'alls need health benefits and shit, no what I'm sayin? That's what I'm talking about,, hollaah"

Hillary Clit'on: Bill's private nickname for the 21st century's Eleanor Roosevelt.

Bill: Hey Hillary Clit'on, wanna make another Chelsea?
Hillary: Why don't you go find Monica? I've got some campaigning to do!

And for Barack Obama:

1. Obama:

1. A zealous cry of political victory over one's contemporary political adversary.

2. To win the spoils in a bureaucratically oriented competition; victory over one's campaign competitor.

3."To 0wn", "to win", "to be the victor", "to brag about one's sexual exploits", "to claim victory" (especially in the area of sexual gratification)

I Obama'd yo mama last night!

OBAMA!!!

2. obama: A unit for measuring awesome.

I just decreased my carbon footprint! My awesome level just went up a few obamas.

3. Obama: Synonymous with Hope and a Belief that Change is Possible. Being also unwilling to stoop to attacks from other candidates.

This is an Obama moment: Our community is jumping out of its skins to go turn out voters this election.

4. An Obama: Someone who can pass for a black person, but in fact is only a small part black and not even a descendant of african american slaves. These fakes are usually the ones who expect and even seek out special treatment because of their self declared "race".

or

Someone who white people befriend or vote for to seem less racist, only to prove it instead.

"Damn, Cletus, what the fuck is powder doing here? I thought this was a black only church!"

"Nope, thats not powder, its Senator Barrack Obama", said Cletus

or

"Yeah she invited me to her work party to make it look like she is not racist, I feel like a fuckin Obama!"

I tried to find some interesting slang for the republicans (I didn't want to make them feel left out) but I couldn't find anything...

Axe Body Spray Ad: Hillary as a Besotted Schoolgirl

Axe body spray is so powerful, a woman will give up all her dreams and become putty in your hands if you wear it.

Axe and Dove are owned by the same company, so keep that in mind when you encounter the "pro-woman" Dove ad campaigns.

anti-Hillary Clinton sexist images

Despite all kinds of "truces" and "promises" in the media lately about "leaving race and gender out" of the democratic primaries, gender and race are obviously a part of this presidential election cycle.

But, here's a newsflash: even when the candidates are all white men, gender and race are STILL a part of the decisions made about who should be president.

Think back to 2004 for a moment-- remember all those political cartoons criticizing Kerry for being too "French" (as opposed to American Cowboy) and generally feminizing his image (feminine = bad for politics) in political cartoons. Here are 2 examples:


I'm fascinated by the anti-Hillary Clinton facebook groups. There are dozens of these groups, but four groups have the most members.

• Stop Running for President and Make Me a Sandwich-- 30,000+ members
• Anti Hillary Clinton for President '08-- 65,000+ members
• Stop Hillary Clinton: One Million Strong AGAINST Hillary-- 700,000+ members
• Life's a Bitch, Why Vote for One?-- 14,000+ members
  

So this morning I spent some time looking at the images that dominate these groups. The images these groups use to criticize Clinton as a presidential candidate make it pretty clear that sexism is alive and well (beyond the protesters asking Clinton to iron their shirts)-- and that gendered ways to talk about politics are as cogent as ever! Here's a smattering for you-- there are so many I couldn't possibly post them all!













And the intersection of race and gender...