Echidne uses the following Glenn Beck quote as an example of anti-Hillary misogyny.
From the March 15 edition of Premiere Radio Networks’ The Glenn Beck Program:
BECK: I don’t want to sound like the old ball-and-chain guy, but Hillary Clinton cannot be elected president because — am I wrong in feeling, am I the only one in America that feels this way? — that there’s something about her vocal range. There’s something about her voice that just drives me — it’s not what she says, it’s how she says it. She is like the stereotypical — excuse the expression, but this is the way to — she’s the stereotypical bitch, you know what I mean? She’s that stereotypical, nagging, [unintelligible], you know what I mean? And she doesn’t have to be saying — she could be saying happy things, but after four years, don’t you think every man in America will go insane? Is it just me? I mean, I know this is horrible to say, but I mean it not — I would say this if she were Condi Rice and she sounded like that. Condi Rice doesn’t have that grate to her voice. You know what I need to do? I need to talk to a vocal expert, because there is a range in women’s voices that experts say is just the chalk, I mean, the fingernails on the blackboard. And I don’t know if she’s using that range or what it is, but I’ve heard her in speeches where I can’t take it.
I actually feel the same way about Hillary’s voice. And it’s not misogyny to point out that Hillary’s speech/rally voice sounds way too much like my mother’s when I haven’t cleaned my room or shoveled the snow. It’s a nagging tone that grates on me in a very disturbing, psychic, probably even Freudian way. Once I hear that voice I will do almost anything to make it stop. And it really is her vocal range, too, because I can’t think of anyone else except Roseanne Barr that has the same effect on me. It has nothing to do with what Hillary or Roseanne are saying, if they say it loud enough I am going to run for cover.
This isn’t misogyny, this is my own psychological problem that I appear to share with the truly awful Glenn Beck. I’ve talked to some men that feel the same way and others that don’t know what I’m talking about. I don’t think this is something that makes Hillary Clinton unelectable. I don’t think it makes her a ‘stereotypical bitch’. I don’t think observing this is a substitute for debating her policy positions and qualifications for the job. And on the scale of things that annoy me, the fact that Glenn Beck has a platform on CNN to spew his hatred ranks much higher than my idiosyncratic distaste for Hillary Clinton’s voice.
Also, in the interest of gender equality, I think Dennis Kucinich has the most annoying voice in politics.
of how little Hillary cares about voters, she came to Austin for a fund raiser but no pulic events at all. She wants our money and votes but could care less about us.
Host: $4,600
Sponsor: $2,300
Friend $1,000
Guest: $500
she was playing to her (corporate) base.
If what BooMan above rings true for a significant part of the electorate, shouldn’t she not speak in public? Don’t you want a pragmatic president?
I think she’s mostly fine, especially in interviews. I’ve attended one of her speeches and she was amazingly good. Seriously, go see her speak somewhere. I think that sometimes the sound bites we see on TV and hear on radio don’t portray her at her best.
Also, one small thing. If a woman has to raise her voice to be heard, she’s being a bitch. If a man does it, he’s making himself heard. Sadly, when people with higher voices (usually women) raise the volume, things can get a little screechy. I’m absolutely guilty of it myself. I also think that the ponderous political speech generally suit the way women normally talk, and I don’t know why. The same goes for men, but we’re more used to hearing them.
Frankly, I’d rather hear Sen. Clinton for four years than another idiot like the one we have now. At least she can put together a coherent sentance and express and idea. And she doen’t smirk.
I’d definitely rather hear her than Bush.
I’d been to Hillary speeches. One of them was really excellent. She actually can give really good speeches in a kind of academic setting. Political rallies? I’m heading for the hills.
It’s not really very important, actually. I think there is a small minority of men that feel the way I do, and even a smaller minority of men that would base their vote on it (consciously or unconsciously).
I think it makes it a little more difficult for her to win, but it’s minor. Far more of a problem for her are the prejudices that all women must overcome to win power in this country.
And the fact that they want to Thatcherize her to make her seem tough enough is worrisome. Image is one thing, but we don’t need a Maggie Thatcher in this country.
Mrs. K.P. and I both have this reaction to Hillary – she’s fine on interviews, but when she tries to give a podium-pounding speech she just grates.on.our.nerves.
Maybe you had to have a certain (not real great) relationship with your mother as a young adult to feel this way?
Hmm, interesting point. I think my mother is the most wonderful woman in the world, so I probably don’t have the same bristling reaction to a good hectoring tone. I probably secretly assume that whatever’s being said is for my own good!
to large groups that I’ve heard in many people going back to the anti-Vietnam rallies. Folks raise their voices as though the microphone had never been invented. There are speeches that look very good on paper but heard live they make you look around for ear plugs.
about glenn beck’s voice.
did you see him weeping on CNN the other day talking about how ashamed he was that he used to do bong-hits?
is that true?
What a waste of good weed.
Glenn Beck is actually the product of a secret Air Force program in the 1970s where they took Rush Limbaugh’s long-lost twin brother, sent him into space with aliens for a trip to epsilon eridani at relativistic speeds, causing him to age more slowly compared to his twin on earth.
He had now returned, ensuring us a supply of bombast and vituperation into the next generation, as if we needed it.
I’ve thought that too, well not the Secret Air Force Program..ha.. although that certainly does explain a few things-but the fact that Limbaugh/Beck were somehow twins even though Beck ‘seems’ younger. I think he has Dorian Gray type picture and he’s not sharing that secret with Rush.
If John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson, were not running then Ms. Clinton wouldn’t be that annoying.
OK, I didn’t want to go there. I’ve been trying to come up with rational reasons why I’m uncomfortable with Hillary as a candidate. There are plenty of handy rationalizations, her blatant triangulation being merely the most obvious. But still, I really don’t like to listen to her speak. I don’t even like to hear the sound bites. I’ve always had a non-rational dislike for whatever she had to say, even before she was anointed as the corporate media’s unquestioned front runner and presumptive nominee. I hadn’t thought a lot about that until you mentioned Roseanne Barr.
Click. I have the same sort of visceral, nails on the chalkboard reaction to Roseanne’s voice that Beck has about Hillary’s. I really, really don’t like the sound of Roseanne Barr’s voice. I couldn’t watch her show. Not that I care much for network sitcoms anyway, but I might have made an exception for John Goodman. If anyone else had been the female lead. Or if Roseanne had had a different voice. Now I’m wondering how many other men are having the same reaction to Hillary and/or her voice, Roseanne and/or her voice. And I’m wondering how much that says about their voices and how much it says about us.
Oh, and I dismissed Beck the first time I heard him flap his jaws. I stopped watching HNN altogether when they put him on.
I believe that Beck was misogynistic because of the way in which he criticized Clinton’s voice.
I think she has a horrible speaking voice. I agree that Kucinich does as well. Perhaps the worst I ever heard was Scott Lazare (sp?) who came before Patrick Fitzgerald as Federal Attorney in Chicago. Then, of course, there are the annoying tones of Joe Lieberman’s voice — even when the content isn’t annoying.
There are public figures who could benefit greatly from some serious vocal coaching — and Clinton is one of them. But Beck’s calling it the “stereotypical bitch” voice is where he crosses into misogyny. As is his comment that there is a range in “women’s voices that is just chalk.”
When women started being “journalists” on television they were all required to speak in the very lowest parts of their register. They sounded phoney and strained. But they sounded less like “women.” They supposedly sounded more authoritative.
Form my point of view Clinton has a bad speaking voice and Beck is a bigot when it comes to women (and many other groups.)
I also think it is a subtle form of misogyny that everyone refers to “Hillary” while all the male candidates are referred to by their surnames.
all Hillary’s campaign signs and literature refer to her merely as Hillary. It’s the way she wants it.
I keep hearing people suggest that it is a subtle form of sexism to refer to her by only her first name, but it just isn’t supportable because she is the primary driver of that convention.
It’s also very hard to write about Hillary Clinton without discussing her husband, or possibly confusing the reader about which one is being discussed.
I can write Ms. Clinton or Hillary Clinton, but just referring to her as Clinton is potentially confusing.
The same goes for Liddy Dole, although to a lesser degree.
Now, what about Condi? That convention might be sexist. On the other hand, her first name is so much more distinctive than her last name…the exact opposite of Cheney and Rumsfeld.
And then there is Bush, who shares a name with his Dad and has many nicknames.
Fair enough that Hillary Clinton’s campaign promoted the first name thing. That doesn’t mean it isn’t sexist. Many, many women have played sexist games to get ahead in this patriarchal society.
Also I can’t really believe that it is very hard to write about Hillary Clinton without writing about Bill, too.
As far as Condi being an exception because it is unusual, I don’t hear Obama being referred to as Barak.
With the Bushes you couldn’t have referred to the current President as just George, because it was his dad’s name as well.
I know you sincerely believe the “Hillary” thing is not sexist, and I just as sincerely believe it is. Just one of those things we disagree about.
It’s hard to write about Hillary Clinton without writing about the Clintons, Clintonism, New Democrats, the Clinton presidency, etc.
Plenty of people write Barack, but that isn’t a good comparison because both of his names are totally unique in American society.
As for your last point, I just don’t know what to say. Hillary is sexist against herself?
Remember that she didn’t even adopt the name Clinton until after Bill was defeated for re-election as governor and they blamed it in part on her calling herself Rodham. Using Clinton is therefore kind of a concession to sexism in he first place.
As for your last point, I just don’t know what to say. Hillary is sexist against herself?
Why is that surprising to you. As I said, lots of women engage in sexist behavior to exist in a sexist world. Boob jobs, high heels, letting their boyfriends refer to them as bitch, being “given away” at their marriage. The list goes on and on.
By the way, I hope you feel better.
I’m off to a peace rally and won’t be checking back until much later.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy the rally and it does some good. It is being covered on CSPAN at 2pm (now).
I agree with what you’ve said except the last para. Hillary’s campaign has promoted her first name in order to distinguish her from her husband and the media has followed suit. There would, after all, be some confusion resulting from “Today Clinton said this.” Which Clinton? Bill or Hillary?
It was also most likely focus group tested that using her first name made her “more personable” or “approachable” or whatever. I think, too, from a verbal standpoint it’s easier to say Hillary (three syllables) than Senator Clinton (five syllables). Her first name rolls off your tongue while her title and surname don’t. Imagine being at a rally and chanting, “Senator Clinton! Senator Clinton!” LOL! Just doesn’t work.
FWIW, I agree completely here. I was appalled by what BooMan posted. I’ve never thought about H. Clinton’s voice, but to start comparing her voice to the stereotypical bitch and nagging wife just crosses the line.
I do understand, however, that voices can be important. As BooMan said, Kucinich is just too much for me to bear. I would take him over Bush anyday, but egads.
Oh dag nab it, on re-reading, I want to clarify that was appalled by the excerpt BooMan posted, not about his own views.
She sounds strident to me. I don’t like her voice either, but it hadn’t occurred to me to mention that. There are so many other things I dislike about her.
Oh, and Glenn Beck is a tool.
I have the saame problem with Bush’s voice. Even if he were to say “Effective immediately, I am resigning, repealing all the horrible attacks on civil liberties, withdrawing from Iraq, and repealing the tax cuts” the tenor and timbre of his voice would STILL make my hair stand on end.
Oh, and Glenn Beck is a douchebag. A major douchebag, and probably closeted.
Well Glenn baby, you’re a fine one to talk with your supercilious, I know better than anyone tone and to happen to bring in Condi to your little Hillary bashing is pretty funny…her voice drives me nuts..the sort of quavery plus chalkboard voice plus knowing if her lips are moving she’s lying makes it impossible for me to barely look at her with the sound off much less on. As for Hillary’s voice, personally I’m neutral, it’s neither good or bad for me, it’s just there.
Olberman had Beck as ‘Worst Person in the World’ by the way for those remarks about Hillary…and KO does have a nice voice.
People’s voices are funny things aren’t they and the impression you get from people or the impression they make on you rightly or wrongly simply from the sound of their voice. I’ve spent my whole life battling the impression that I can’t stand up for myself simply because I have a very low/soft(and it runs in the family, men included) voice therefore people assume because I don’t ever scream and holler or even ever hardly raise my voice that I can’t speak up for myself.
Now if John Edwards sounded like Sean Connery I’d be willing to bet he’d win in a landslide.
GWB sounds like a whiny little snob…wait, he is a whiny little snob…
Olbermann had Beck as “Worst Person” last night for the comments about Sen. Clinton — and for the fact that Beck likely wouldn’t make the same statement about a Republican female, say, Condi…
Hillary has been called a scold more than once, but coming from Beck the criticism means little if he doesn’t contrast her with the current White House model. Bush sounds like the man he is: a bully and a liar.
Politics is a beauty contest. Obama has “the voice” and his gift has nothing to do with sex or race. Is it the result of confidence or emotional intelligence? I don’t know. But I’ll listen to him even when I disagree with him.
Hillary is the sorority president nagging me to come to a dorm meeting. Like Bush, she coasts on privilege with a strong sense of entitlement. Her diction is just better than his.