Clinton's comments on sexism ring hollow

The real upsetting thing about this is not that she didn't attempt a "major speech" on race, class and gender like Obama did.

CNN - Clinton chastises press for ignoring sexism: "There should be equal treatment of the sexism and the racism when it raises its ugly head," Clinton told the Washington Post in an article published in the paper's Tuesday edition. "It does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by the comments by people who are nothing but misogynists."

"…I believe this campaign has been a groundbreaker in a lot of ways. But it certainly has been challenging given some of the attitudes in the press."

And then tonight in her speech following Kentucky primary results:

I'm paraphrasing, but: 'I want you to join me to break the hardest glass ceiling.'

It's that it's a mixed message. If it's the hardest glass ceiling to break, then how to you square the other argument that Obama's "unelectable" because he can't win white working class voters in the "big" swing states?

Smacks of yet more pandering, not raising the issue or suggesting solutions.

As the story plays itself out, I think we’ll find that Obama’s nomination and ultimate presidency (and the primary race itself with Clinton) will only shine a spotlight on the well documented race, gender and class disparities and inequalities - what I call *democracy divides* - that exist, and force folks to really have a debate about solutions.

If you take Jesse Jackson's generalization in the Sun Times today and, yes maybe overly simplistic, narrative to it’s end, the solutions are still the same. Bridging the democracy divides of race, class, region, religion, gender, access to public space, institutions and airwaves, etc. is about correcting the disparities and (this is a little yucky, cause I know it ain’t true) continuing the arc of justice that is (yes, it’s been an ebb and flow of setbacks and victories and it’s more f-ed up than ever right now, but…) "perfecting the union."

The point is racial, gender and economic justice solutions have been the driving force behind what Jackson called “…an America that keeps growing, keeps renewing itself, keeps getting better.”

That’s the framing that needs to happen. Well, that and who’s responsible and what role civil society and government have to play in those solutions.