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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2008

Don't Be So Bitter

Regarding "Dishing On Hillary" (Commentary, June 15):

I understand what Pat Frank, Doris Weatherford and Sandy Freedman are saying. I mostly understand because I remember how I felt in 1956 when in high school trying out for cheerleading; everyone knew the selection committee would only pick one black girl, and she better not look too black. I was the one.

I know what it feels like to be hurt by others because of my gender or race. My vote for Barack Obama had nothing to do with gender or white woman vs. black man. I voted for Obama because I am not a woman scorned. I voted for Obama because the change I want for my country is much greater than woman vs. man. I want the country united and I think Obama has the best chance to do that.

The anger displayed by these women is playing right into the stereotypical "woman scorned." What's more important - a united country, a united party or continuing to cry foul and accuse the media and those who thought differently as sexist and racist? Come on, be a woman, get up, brush yourself off and continue to fight. I did in the past and still do today.

JOYCE HENDRICKS

Valrico

Keep Up Good Work

On first read of this article, all I could think was, "Come on, ladies, your horse lost." After rereading all the commentary, I am reminded of when I worked for a soft drink company in Endicott, N.Y.

This goes back to the 1970s era, when many men joked about women in charge. The company general manager was Joan Sinclair, one of maybe three in the entire Northeast. Sinclair was very good at managing people and the only times I thought of her as a "woman" was when sales accounts we called upon made the statement, "What does it feel like to work for a woman?" To me, she was the boss and a good one, regardless of gender. It is unfortunate that the "Archie Bunker" attitude still exists to this day.

Some of the quotes you published under "What Commentators Said" show exactly this mentality. In this day and age of Fortune 500 CEOs of the female gender, it makes me wonder about some of the media people.

I would like for the two campaigners to strongly consider ladies as running mates. In this very high profile position, I would consider Condoleezza Rice or Hillary Clinton.

To all the ladies, please continue the great work that you all do.

STAN FUNDOCK

Lakeland

Just Not Hillary

Regarding the feminists decrying sexism in the Clinton primary campaign, I think that they are missing the point. I would never vote for Hillary or Bill Clinton, who like it or not would have a strong influence on a Hillary presidency, but I would eagerly vote for an honorable, qualified lady for president.

She and Bill both lie with such ease. Neither can be trusted to act in the country's best interest, only in their own self-interest. I don't think that she is honorable or a lady. I reject the idea that because she lived in the White House with such an embarrassment as Bill Clinton she has some distinctly credible experience to be president.

The right female candidate will be nominated and elected in the near future. Let's hope that it is not Hillary Clinton.

DANIEL M. NORRIS

Wesley Chapel

Time To Move On

Concerning the articles on "Dishing On Hillary," the writers forgot that that personal responsibility plays a larger role in her demise than any of their supposed sexism during the campaign.

Remember that Clinton entered the race as the inevitable nominee and she surely played to the role. Her campaign staff distanced themselves from the caucus states, which turned out to be a very big mistake. She started the campaign as a person running for office who happened to be a woman, not a woman running for office.

Her big blunder of remembering landing in Bosnia under sniper fire was repeated numerous times before it was found to be false. There is a reason why she has such high national unfavorable ratings.

Bottom line is she was out-campaigned by a relative newcomer whose mantle was "change." He was about the people; she was about being ready on day one. The people and delegates have spoken. Time to move on.

FRANK POPELESKI

Seffner

Character, Not Sexism

To Sandy Freedman: I did not vote for Hillary Clinton because she lied. I did not vote for Clinton because she tried to cheat - Michigan and Florida. I did not vote for her because if she can't balance her books running for office, how could she be trusted to balance the budget. I was also concerned about the different planet her advisers seemed to be on.

A better candidate ran a much better campaign so he won the nomination. It had nothing to do with sexism; it was all about character.

SCOTT WILKES

Tampa

Not The Right Day

"What Commentators Said" was an overview of Hillary Clinton being called unflattering names, sexist male commentators, double standards and younger women not respecting the efforts of an older generation of women.

There is no doubt that many more opportunities for women exist today in regard to education, jobs, wages, athletics, etc. Let's also not forget what younger women got to experience while their mothers were fighting for these new opportunities.

Many got to experience eight hours of day care, multiple fathers, expanded recreational drug use, abortion without parental consent and, most relevant to these articles, the beginning of the "I am a victim" generation. The women of today are a much more polished version of their mothers. That being said, Fathers Day was not the day to debate it!

DEAN L. WALTERS

Ruskin

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