New Hampshire Primaries: You Say Bitch Like It's A Bad Thing

Jane Becker — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:43:05 -0600

We all need role models. My mother, who parented six children (four of whom were adolescents at the same time) says her role model was St. Jane Frances de Chantal. In the 17th century St. Jane married and bore ten children, at which point she discovered her calling as a nun and – this was my mom’s favorite part – stepped over the wailing bodies of her children on her way out the door to the convent. For this the Catholic Church elevated her to sainthood.

Amen to that.

When I was in junior high my role model was Scarlett O’Hara, a woman who ran a successful business, rebuilt the family farm, bore three children and maintained her tiny waist. She took over her husband’s business and made it a successful operation – and refused to give it up even when she married Rhett Butler. The doyennes of her Atlanta neighborhood may have thought her a bitch and a hussy, but then again all they did sit around all day gossiping and drinking tea – while Scarlett ran her empire. I embraced Scarlett so fervently that I used to stare into the mirror, willing my eyes to turn green.

When I got older, I found a new role model: Eleanor of Aquitaine, a 12th century French Duchess who later became both Queen of France and Queen of England. At 15 she was married off to the King of France – but negotiated a deal to hold onto her own vast territories in the South of France. Eleanor eventually tired of Louis (he wasn’t much in bed), divorced him and quickly wed the younger Henri of Angers, who shortly thereafter became King of England. But it gets better. When she tired of Henri she marshaled several of her sons and declared war on him.

And you thought your divorce was nasty.

Eleanor lost the battle but won the war: Henri imprisoned her for a decade in retaliation, but died several years later. Eleanor took up the reigns of power, this time in the name of her son Richard, who left to fight another Crusade. She ruled England in his absence, and still managed her own lands in the South of France.

Ironically, 800 years ago no one disputed Eleanor’s right to rule based on her experience as a political wife. But in our sophisticated 21st century era, many have problems with Hillary talking about the experience she gained as a political spouse in the White House. www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/opinion/05howley.html?ex=1200200400&en=e5de1d...

Is it somehow more acceptable experience to be a son or a cousin than a wife? George Bush, Robert Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt, Al Gore and John Q. Adams have all run on their family’s name and no one complained. Hillary has as much – or more – experience than any of them when they launched their campaigns. Whether you agree with her positions or not (and I don’t) Hillary is a smart, qualified candidate.

She’s also a hell of a role model. When her husband handed her lemons, she grabbed some salt and tequila and made a heady cocktail: she became a successful Senator and is now a serious candidate for the White House. Like Eleanor, she waged war and came out still standing.

Right now a lot of the media are behaving like the gossips in Scarlett’s neighborhood (http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/01/04/mitchell_clinton/index... http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/opinion/06dowd.html?em&ex=1199854800&e... ). They call her shrill. They imply that she’s a Bitch (like it’s a bad word). So far, none of it has stopped Hillary from getting up every morning and trying to be president.

Then again, well behaved ladies don’t make history or role models. Just remember St. Jane :)

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New Hampshire Primaries: You Say Bitch Like It's A Bad Thing