Justin Webb's America

Race and gender

• Justin Webb
• 14 Jan 08, 10:42 PM GMT

I have in my possession a car bumper sticker that I cannot quote here in full. It uses a particular word to refer to Hillary Clinton, and goes on to describe her as "shaped like a pear". The first amendment is a wonderful thing but is this going too far?

This from Alison Pearson, a respected columnist, in the British newpaper the Daily Mail:

"Reporting from America on the shaky Clinton campaign, BBC correspondent Justin Webb joked that some men think Hillary's problem is 'she reminds them of their first wife'.

"Do you think Justin would have reported that voters thought Barack Obama's problem is 'he reminds them of their pool boy'?

"No, I don't think so either. Taking a pop at a 60-year-old woman for her age and stature is considered fair game. But you won't get any schoolboy sniggering at the black male candidate. No, Siree. That would get you fired, wouldn't it?"

My defence in this case is that I was quoting from Sally Bedell Smith's recent book on the Clinton marriage to make the point that these slurs (or truths) are out there. But, being honest, I would not have used it if I did not think it had a certain power and veracity - and, of course, I would never have used such a slur (or truth) associated with Obama's race.

But hold on: maybe I would. More important, maybe many media outlets already have - what about the suggestion that he is "not black enough", which at one early stage in the campaign we heard repeatedly and which he and his people have been forced to address?

It is tricky, this female thing, as tricky as race. I think I agree with the New York Daily News columnist, that tearing up in New Hampshire was itself a low blow - and a hugely difficult one to counter...

UPDATE:

Two contributions worth adding to this discussion. First Bob Herbert in the New York Times today - and secondly my friend Punditmom in DC, who is hardly a classic downtrodden Hillary Clinton voter but seems to be coming round to the former first lady in what we might call the classic New Hampshire model...

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Promising change

• Justin Webb
• 14 Jan 08, 03:44 AM GMT

Thanks to all those who pointed out that the Hillary line on poetry and prose (as slightly altered by me) came from Mario Cuomo - I had not realised. In fact, I was with Steve Tilley in thinking its provenance was The West Wing...

Seriously, on the subject of accuracy, while we make every effort etc, I must admit that I sometimes write this from memory with no immediate access even to Google so do forgive me the odd error in precise quotation.

Perhaps I should promise change. That calms the crowd. But does this slogan of 2008 have any meaning? A few pieces over the weekend capture the oddness of the campaign so far: my favourite was Mark Steyn simply pointing out that in America Washington is not where change traditionally comes from.

But perhaps more important is the question of whether "change" as bandied about at the moment, has any real meaning.

Here's what change means - at my children's school a sweet and much-loved man who helps direct the traffic in the morning is very ill and we are asked to give our good wishes, our prayers, and money. Money? He has no proper insurance. Either you think that is OK or you don't (I offer no opinion - the British NHS has its faults just as the US system does), and either you have a plan to change that aspect of American life or you do not.

The main Democratic party candidates all say they do - but that is the point; it should surely come down in the end to the quality of the plan, not the attractiveness of the packaging. The change brand - like all brands - needs substance to work.

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