Hillary Clinton's Language

Listen closely. Listen to Hillary Clinton's words.

Clinton has accused Barack Obama of giving a great speech, but lacking substance. This sounds like the same garbage white people say when they talk about any educated black person of prominence. "Oh, he's so articulate!"

In Clinton's Ohio victory speech, she said that Ohio deserves a president who will work hard for them. On the surface, it's a harmless statement. But the implication is that Obama wouldn't work hard for Ohio. It's a subtle play on the subconscious prejudices we all have. Of course, the stereotype of black people being lazy is a bit outdated compared to the positive-but-condescending remark saying a black person running for president is "articulate" but not substanitive. She has covered different generations of biases!

Clinton's play on the ugly side of our subconscious is quite intentional. The Clinton's did the same thing when they made those subtle but offensive comments before the South Carolina primary. But they seem to have perfected it now. And the media can't call her out on it because, to the average person, her comments seem innocuous. People would react harshly to calling out her subtle racism, when they themselves can't or don't want to see it. We would have to admit that we have subconscious prejudices in order to recognize that she is attempting to appeal to them.

The media has picked apart Clinton's appearance and certain other aspects, only because she is a woman. But I don't believe Obama has played on our hidden fears of a woman in charge. This is one reason why I support Obama. He has raised the level of political discourse in this campaign, whereas Hillary Clinton has not.