Sexist to Call Hillary “Hillary”

According to a new article on McClatchy DC, there is a growing controversy over how we should refer to presumed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Some think it’s disrespectful and sexist to refer to her by her Christian name alone. This, despite the fact that Hillary herself uses her first name prominently in campaign materials.

“I think it generally cheapens the image of the candidate,” says one 67-year-old man from NYC.

A Georgetown linguistics professor insists that “there is no denying that the result is that the person does not get as much respect.”

A Duke history professor says it is part of a bigger cultural problem regarding gender. “All this gets to the point that women had no public identities of their own. And we’re still living with the implications of that.”

No, that’s not it. The point is that Democrats are already trying to build walls around Hillary to shield her from criticism. They were so satisfied with themselves after using this technique to protect Barack Obama that they see no reason not to use it again. For the last six years, we’ve heard that anyone who disagrees with the president is a closet racist. Now we’re going to be told that anyone who dares to criticize Hillary Clinton actually wants to put women back in the kitchen where they belong.

Hillary’s supporters want us to believe that she is battling not only Republicans but years of gender oppression. In doing so, they’re ignoring some obvious advantages she will enjoy on her way to the general election.

Consider a new book making the rounds, written by White House employees. In the book, it is said that Hillary sent her husband to the hospital for stitches after the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke. Think about what that would mean for her aspirations if the genders were reversed. Her candidacy would be finished. Point blank. As it stands, it’s good for late-night jokes and maybe an “atta-girl” or two from her female supporters.

Consider the fact that she gets to run on the premise of setting a historical precedent. Is there any doubt that Obama lured voters who simply wanted to make history? She will benefit from the same excitement. People may very well flock to the voting booths just to say they were there when women broke the final glass ceiling.

Of course, Hillary’s biggest advantage comes not from her gender but from her party affiliation. When it comes to the media spotlight, no privilege is as powerful as Democrat privilege. There may be a million reasons why she would make a terrible president, but most of them will only be mentioned in conservative outlets. She has the full protection of the press for the next year and a half, and that may be all she needs to make the Oval Office hers.

And whether you call her President Clinton or President Hillary, it sounds just as scary.