Get it Right Elton John
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Posted April 11, 2008 – What am I missing here? A British pop singer, Elton John, tells a cheering audience at a fund-raiser for Sen. Hillary Clinton that the only reason Clinton is trailing her opponent is because Americans hate women.
I think I’m put off by those comments.
John said he’s amazed at the “misogyny” of some Americans. “Having said that, I never cease to be amazed at the misogynistic attitude of some people in this country – and I say to hell with them,” he said. “There is no-one more qualified to lead America.
“The reason I’m here tonight is to play music, but more importantly as someone who comes from abroad, is in America quite a lot of the time [and] is extremely interested in the political process, because it effects the whole world.”
So my question to John is: “To hell with who?” Is he implying that those who are not supporting Clinton “hate” women.”
Get real, Sir John.
No one can deny sexism exists in this country, but couldn’t the reason that Clinton is trailing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama be that he is running a better campaign?
It’s difficult to give credence to gender bias when race in American politics has been so pervasive. And that’s provable by looking at just a few telling statistics: In the history of the United States, there have been only three African Americans elected to the U.S. Senate, and there have been only two Black elected governors. And while only a fool would argue that sexism is not a real problem, it is also true that women outnumber Blacks in Congress by double digits.
I doubt that any honest, intelligent student of history would suggest that Whites – in states like Idaho, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Utah, Wyoming and Mississippi, to name a few – poured out in droves to pick Obama because they hate women. History would also suggest that it wasn’t because they love African Americans either.
Let me proffer another argument. Perhaps there is a growing number of Americans who have come to realization that, at the end of the day, it’s more about who they trust to end the political shenanigans that deny them opportunities and who they believe will guarantee a better life for them and their families.
And, just perhaps, they realize that it really doesn’t matter whether that deliverer is a woman or a Black man. Just as Obama has attracted voters who would have scoffed at the idea of choosing a Black man just a few years ago, so has Clinton drawn voters who in the recent past would never have chosen a woman.
If John’s point – that Americans are vicious women-haters – how did Clinton outlast a battalion of gifted male politicians in this nominating process?
So the mere fact that Clinton is a woman is hardly the reason she’s trailing Obama in the race for the Democratic nomination.
Sir John should stick to what he does best: raising money. Clinton’s campaign said the event at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan raised $2.5 million, so we know he’s good at it.
He’s also spun a serious hit or two. In fact, Clinton borrowed one of the singer’s songs as a theme for her campaign: “I’m still standing.”
She’s still standing because she’s smart, talented and a political tiger. Her gender has nothing to do with it.
I remember growing up in the ghettos of Cleveland in the early 70s. This was true ghetto–and everyone for blocks around was black. The postman was black, the teacher was black, and the music was black, black, black. It was revolutionary at the time when people started playing Elton John’s hit “Bennie and the Jets” because he was a white guy. In my neighborhood’s insular world that was our definition of “integration.” It was really cutting edge just to be listening to that stuff in the age of “black power.”
Applause to Pamela Gentry! A very well-written and insightful commentary! I couldn’t agree with you more!
What I find amusing with Elton’s comment is that he was very critical of Margaret Thatcher when she was running for the office of Prime Minister in Britain partly because of her gender and he has a nerve to come to our country and label us as women haters.Being a frequent visitor to this country does not give you the right to interfere in our politics just like being a guest to someone’s house does not give you the right to tell them how to run their household.If you are going to interfere Mr John GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT!!
Say what you will but there is some truth in what elton is saying I have seen and heard it for myself from every day people to people that work on tv all men saying that they dont want a women in the white house ever! In america they do act like they hate women I see it every day.
If people hated Hillary coz she is a woman would she have outstayed some of the most influential men on the democratic ticket who have since drop out,she is not still there coz men hate her so much they keep voting for her to stay on.This is a myth and those who do not stop to analyze the situation and make informed conclusion are gullible and just parrot whatever the media puts out there as gospel.You can not generalise, coz some people at work say certain things therefore every man feels the same,that is stereotyping!!
I see BET is selecting which posts they will allow again. sad!
I say to hell with Elton John.
me too the hell with miss john