That's ridiculous. Why doesn't she just go all the way and get Ann Coulter campaigning for her? Also, as much as I don't love keeping things PC sometimes, shouldn't Gloria Steinhem be championing that - a secretary, really? Wow.

I think both statements were a little off. No, McCain's time as a POW by itself doesn't qualify him to be president, but he's also been in the Senate for quite some time now. It's odd because I've heard people disagree with McCain's politics, but I've never heard anyone say he's not qualified to be president based on past experiences.

I love the word Secretary in connection with Hils

I was wondering when Citizen would put this ignorant woman and her stupid comments up because I am outraged what she said about McCain and I really do not like McCain! I think it is an outrage how she made what McCain went through seem so trivial. I am also outraged that the media has not called her out on this. I think that being a POW for eight years even after he was given the choice to leave and come home but he would not leave without his men and then he was tortured because he refused to leave. I honestly would not mind if she just disappeared and I never had to hear her voice or see her face again. SHAME ON YOU GLORIA!!!!! Sorry, all her comments have just made me so angry at her.

Steinhem is stuck in the wrong era of feminism. I understand that back when 9 to 5 was made (maybe, I'm just picking something from the era I don't remember) and when she was breaking down barriers, women probably were moving from secretary to boss. When my grandma bought her company at 50, I think she was essentially the administrative assisstant who took over when the boss died and no one else knew how to run the company (I like to think of this as inspiration that I can do anything for the next 20 years and still be able to do anything). I also think of Working Girl, where secys were glorified and the women busting balls to get where they were had to be witches. But that was an era when so many women didn't work when they had kids, and those that did were in secy jobs, only a rare, hardened few were out getting MBAs and law degrees - things my generation doesn't think twice about. I didn't start in a secy job, and none of my friends did - because we had every advantage growing up in the world and high school guidance didn't give us the nurse/secy pamphlet, they helped us get into schools to put us on more equal footing. We also didn't have to get tough the way women had to to work in a 'man's world' since it no longer is totally. Her statement is just ridiculous in today's world.

I don't count Hillary's First Lady experience as secretarial, I don't count it as experience for a leadership position, and I don't respect how she is both claiming credit and experience but also distancing from her husband's legacy.

She won't win against McCain running on experience - and I think Obama is right to take the other tactic of running on better judgment. Who do Americans want answering the phone? The answer would be McCain over Hillary if both are running on military and foreign affairs experience. It isn't that he's a POW, it is the decades of service he has given his country and the leadership and integrity he has shown in that time. What is she going to do, shift to change when the general election comes?

I am really ready for this primary stuff to be over with so I can shift gears and just like whomever it is I like, and not deal with the party sniping at itself.

She looks old and haggard. I guess being pissed off all the time is hard on the looks.

And another thing about Ms. Steinem, why is she endorsing a woman who stayed with her cheating womanizing husband? I don't get it.

I agree, piper! There's an interesting book called the Hillary Trap. It's much more complex than I can explain in a CitizenSugar comment, but the gist of the book is that Hillary is actually the anti-feminist because she could have been very successful on her own, but instead she used a man to get her to the top and then stayed with him simply to advance her career. It's like she sends the message that the only/easiest way for a woman to get to the top of her field is to ride a man's coattails. I agree with some things in the book and disagree with others, but it's definitely an interesting read.

why is "secretary" a bad word again? i guess i missed that...

excellent point piper!

This reminds me of that award acceptance speech some actress gave, and thanked "the _late_ Gloria Steinem" for her groundwork in feminism or whatever. Hee hee. That has to suck.

She apparently put out a news item the next day that she was still alive.

I was wondering the same thing, cabaker. I have a college education; I graduated at the top of my class; I am starting graduate school in the fall. And I am a secretary. For the field I want to get in to (politics), it's a good stepping stone to meet people and prove to people that I am a hard worker.

I was wondering the same thing Cabaker!

Gawd Gloria go home you freaking socialist. Sorry your all alone in the world and not relevant anymore.

She is such a great example of feminism. I mean she was one of the first in her movement to have the courage to marry a wealthy man and then never do anything again.

I think she did so so much for feminism years ago, but the problem with the modern feminsts is that they haven't evolved with the rest of society. Her statement on McCain was ridiculous...obviously just being a POW doesn't make you presidential material, but there's a lot more to him than that. Besides, his experiences as a POW certainly say a lot about his character and I think it's childish to attack him that way.

As for her secretary statements, I think she was trying to make the point that women who work as Admins are just as smart as their bosses. Speaking from my personal experince and the industry I started working in, there were far more women, but it was the men who were always at the top. Why that was, is a whole other topic, but I just think she was trying to get feministy comments in there.

So, yes I think her views are oudated.

Of course there's nothing wrong with being a secretary. I was commenting more on the fact that term seems to have fallen out of fashion in favor of other titles like administrative assistant — also that I wasn't sure that Hillary considered what she did in the White House as administrative support to Bill. That's all. Sorry for any confusion

Citizen - No no, I wasn't directing that at you, I just mean in general why did the term secretary get thrown out? I don't understand what was wrong with that word to begin with. She uses the word secretary and feminists gasp... why? Thats what I don't get...

Wow. The hatred for Steinem is incredible.

I wouldn't call Hillary's time in the White House "secretarial," but she did definitely have much more of a supportive function than a leadership one IMO--even when she was allowed to take a "leadership" stand, one has to admit that she did have to reflect the White House and promote its agenda and interests. She was the First Lady, not the Co-President, after all.

I'm a secretary as well BTW, and I actually like that term better than "administrative assistant."

i get what she's saying, but there is definitely a better way to say it. makes sense, you learn by observing and example, from bill's experience, and even her own. like her failure with health care reform while she was first lady.

Citizen, I wasn't directing my comments at you, either. (I guess I was being unclear, not you!) I just hate when people say things like, "I didn't have to take a secretary job because I was shown other career paths." In a lot of fields, a secretarial/support staff job is the first step in a career path. Just because someone's a secretary, it doesn't mean that person doesn't have a good education, etc.

And Bella, I agree! While I don't agree with Steinem on this (or a lot of other things), I do think she made a significant difference in the history and course of feminism, and continues to do so.

Lastly, polarbear, I agree with you, as well. I kind of see the point behind what she's saying with the secretary comment, but it's poorly worded and doesn't really get her point across. I thought the McCain comments were much worse than the secretary ones!

lilkimbo and others:I can say with absolute certainty that the only person that knows why Hillary stayed with Bill is Hillary herself. Any speculation that it was for political reasons or anything else is just that...speculation.

Harmonyfrance, if you read my comment a bit more carefully, you will see that I am stating what the book says, not my own thoughts. In fact, I explicitly state that I agree with some things in the book and not with others.

And, while no one knows her motives, it would be difficult (if not impossible) to argue that Hillary's success isn't due in part to Bill's success. Could she have achieved the same success on her own? Maybe, but we'll never know.

When talking about a REAL secretary, she might have a point. But in regards to being President, she is so far off! The Clinton's could release the records that would show how she was involved in Bill's presidency, but they don't. That says so much to me. That could help her so much, so they must be hiding something.

Also, her first job after college she got because of Bill. They literally called for Bill, and he turned it down and said you should talk to my girlfriend Hillary. The amount that she has accomplished with out the aid of her husband is TINY. I think it is the antithesis of feminism to ride your husband's coattails.

Also, on the biography I saw, which could have been biased, it said that she knew he was cheating on her before they even got married! I just don't see how people could think that Hillary was a figurehead for the feminist movement.

"She won't win against McCain running on experience - and I think Obama is right to take the other tactic of running on better judgment."

Great point!

It's not good to speculate on the lives of other people. BUT if I had been in her shoes I would have kicked Bill's a## to the curb. That's one of the main reasons why I do not respect her. So in that respect I think lilkimbo is onto something. Otherwise why would such a brilliant woman stay with a slimeball like Bill Clinton?

Gloria Steinem is a total B*tch!!!!

Now, I will say that I am not one that usually backs John McCain, but I will sure as hell defend him here. Her attacks on him and what he went through were totally unnecessary.

If she wants to say that being in the military has no bearing on being Commander in Chief, that is one thing, but to come out and make jokes, to belittle the barbaric treatment that he went through for five years, that is completely unacceptable.

And seriously, what does Gloria Steinem know about being Commander in Chief? Being a supporter of feminism, and a candidate that supports everything but feminism in this race, does nothing to make her an expert in that area. Sorry, but that's just my view.

This is brutal - I admire Gloria Steinem and she has done a lot for woman around the world. I do understand her point she just did not communicate it well but it certainly does not deserve all the hostility that has been posted. She will always be controversial. That is what is great abot her as well.

Citizen, sometimes with these article reaction polls there isn't an option for the opposing viewpoint. All of the options given included some semblence of disatisfaction with the comment. I, on the other hand, believe that Hillary served as a sort of secretary to the president as First Lady and that this experience prepared her well.

A lot of modern feminists believe that taking credit for what are traditionally female positions and careers and demonstrating teir inherent value does more for womens rights than telling women that they deserve better than that. Being a secretary is a hard and demanding job. On the ohter hand, if you take being compared to a secretary as an insult that means that it is a lowly job that does not warrant respect. What does that say to the hard working, intelligent women who contribute a lot to businnes, politics, etc as secretaries.

I heard this remark on the radio yesterday afternoon. I'm staggered by how strenuously the feminist brigade defends the Clintons. I consider Bill one of the most misogynistic men in public life.

As for her remarks, being a POW may not make you a better candidate for president, but it shows that you have strength, fortitude, principles, integrity, and tenacity: all excellent qualifications. What has Hillary done that can compare?

Anyone who thinks a secretary can easily assume the bosses' job is just delusional--and I have been a secretary. For that matter, if I were Hillary, I would be ticked off at the comparison of my legal career and tenure as First Lady to secretarial work.

Much of what the "women's lib" movement of the seventies did has proved (IMO) to be damaging to women's social roles and credibility. I bought in to it: was a card-carrying member of NOW and attended a few pickets in the '90's pushing a stroller. To the best of my knowledge, Steinem did not marry until she was 66, and never had children. So how can she relate to most of us?

Wow. Thanks Blondie99.