Free Downloads False Choices: The Faux Feminism Of Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton is one of the most powerful women in world politics, and the irrational right-wing hatred of Clinton has fed her progressive appeal, helping turn her into a feminist icon. To get a woman in the White House, it’s thought, would be an achievement for all women everywhere, a kind of trickle-down feminism. In the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, the mantle of feminist elect has descended on Hillary Clinton, as a thousand viral memes applaud her, and most mainstream feminist leaders, thinkers, and organizations endorse her. In this atmosphere, dissent seems tantamount to political betrayal. In False Choices, an all-star lineup of feminists contests this simplistic reading of the candidate. A detailed look at Hillary Clinton’s track record on welfare, Wall Street, criminal justice, education, and war reveals that she has advanced laws and policies that have done real harm to the lives of women and children across the country and the globe. This well-researched collection of essays restores to feminism its revolutionary meaning, and outlines how it could transform the United States and its relation to the world. Includes essays from prominent feminist writers Liza Featherstone, Laura Flanders, Moe Tkacik, Medea Benjamin, Frances Fox Piven and Fred Block, Donna Murch, Kathleen Geier, Yasmin Nair, Megan Erickson, Tressie McMillan Cottom, Catherine Liu, Amber A’Lee Frost, Margaret Corvid, Belén Fernández, Zillah Eisenstein, and others.
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Verso (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1784784613
ISBN-13: 978-1784784614
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #86,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #17 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Specific Topics > Women in Politics #113 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Elections & Political Process > General #144 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Elections & Political Process > Elections
For anyone who has become increasingly uneasy with the entire political landscape during the last few decades, the careful analysis presented by the essays in âFalse Choices: The Faux Feminism of Hillary Rodham Clintonâ, edited by Liza Featherstone, is less a breath of fresh air than a cyclone of honest critique. The overall point is extremely well stated: Clinton is a woman, but not a feminist by any meaningful definition of the term. She is an advocate for the white-male-dominated, wealth-saturated power structure, and has been at least since her early days of involvement with Wal-Mart and other corporations whose hiring practices are a major contributor to poverty in general and the poverty of women in particular.The 2016 national election will in fact be the 14th presidential contest in which Iâve voted (my first was 1960, and yes, I voted for JFK). Further, I have not missed any mid-term elections in that time frame. I have not been actively involved in partisan politics, however, because of an awareness that the major political parties at the national level are not where the real action for social justice is taking place. In addition, since Vietnam, Iâve become increasingly disenchanted with the ongoing imperialistic militarism that has pervaded our cultural ethos. I have become convinced that âjust warâ is an oxymoron, and that all of the US interventions since WWII are greed-and/or-fear-motivated adventurism.Still, since the turn of the millennium and the abominations of the Bush-Cheney regime, it has been impossible to avoid increasing alarm at the resurgence of fascism as the right-wing extremists have taken over Congress. The dim hope that Obama would somehow not only avoid assassination, but also be able to actually reverse that neocon militaristic adventurism, make meaningful changes in economic injustices, and counteract massive environmental rape perpetrated by the greed of the fossil fuel oligarchs, has of course been dashed. It seems that the price for not only continuing to live, but to gain a second term, has indeed been to not expose the neocon military-industrial complex for what it is.This brings me to the current race, and this book of essays. Most â I would probably be correct in saying all â of the authors, despite Clintonâs well-documented lack of authentic feminist credentials, would prefer to see her elected than the potential GOP opponent. There is a clear understanding that at this moment in history, actual fascism is a real possibility. However, if Clinton DOES succeed in achieving the Democratic nomination, it is the consensus that those who may vote for her if only because âitâs timeâ for the US to at last elect a female chief executive dare not rest on their laurels and assume that somehow a female Commander in Chief will in any way support a genuine feminist agenda of peace, ecological responsibility, and economic justice.One other thing, I believe, makes this book extremely valuable. Rather than relying on the mass media, sound-bite criticisms being put forward by Clintonâs opponents (what she should have done about Benghazi, what was really in those e-mails), most of which are of the dog-whistle, red-herring variety, it deals explicitly and in detail with the facts of public record concerning policies she has supported or opposed from the time she was First Lady of Arkansas up through her stint as Secretary of State. For those much younger than I, this provides a valuable historical perspective. Even for me, it serves as a cogent reminder of how extensive Clintonâs involvement in the imperialist stance of the ruling oligarchy of the US was, is, and is likely to remain.
I have long been on the Hillary-isnât-really-a-feminist bandwagon, so I was happy to see this book come out (although I really wish it could have come out sooner â Bernieâs chances are, as of this writing, somewhere between slim and fat, and weâre now well into Hillary-is-better-than-Trump season). Sure, Hillary is all about breaking the glass ceiling and getting more women into power and that is a sort of feminism. And she talks a good game about various womenâs issues like reproductive rights, equal pay and work-life balance issues (although Iâm harder pressed to find what sheâs actually done about these things). But Hillaryâs brand of glass ceiling feminism overlooks the women (and men, children and families) who have no chance of breaking any ceilings because they are stuck to the floor (or the basement).This book was written by several different authors at different times for different purposes, so it really is a mixed bag. The essays werenât necessarily coordinated in advance, so there is some repeated information, and some of the writers seem to meander around their topic without really getting to the point of connecting Hillary to the issues they are writing about (the one on Hillary and abortion, for instance could have been much clearer). But overall the essays are well written and deliver their message, but, as I said, Iâm already singing in the choir. Iâm not sure how convincing any skeptical readers would find this book as a whole, although certain topics are devastating.The book opens with a fictionalized play of two lesbian partners watching a Sanders-Clinton debate. While itâs not exactly high-quality literature, it is probably the most succinct place to find all the supporting information for why Hillary isnât really a feminist from pro-Bernie partner Laura.Following a brief introduction and overview, there are thirteen chapters covering various aspects of Hillaryâs career, her populist persona and her policies and actions in office. The various essays focus on everything from Hillaryâs support for Billâs policies like welfare âreformâ to her own role in pushing for intervention in Libya. The first part of the book focuses on Hillary at home and how her domestic policies (and her husbandâs policies, which, for all practical purposes, are her policies) have been, at best, tepid for women and children, including a look at her relationship with the Childrenâs Defense Fund, her belief in the power of the market to end poverty, her on-going war on teachers, the carceral state and the war on drugs. The second section focuses on Hillary and foreign policy, such as her failure to support sex workers (despite her rhetoric), a detailed look at her disastrous support for a right-wing coup in Honduras and her general warmongering.This is an important book for the historical record, but I donât know how much it will accomplish this election season. As noted, itâs a bit late to get it into enough hands to make a difference before primary season ends. As things stand now, Hillary is the likely Democratic nominee. Assuming she can beat Trump, I donât know how much we can do to stop her once sheâs in the Oval Office. Sheâs not exactly known for her willingness to listen, plus sheâll be amply defended by her leagues of supporters who insist that she is indeed a progressive and a feminist.As a final note, I read an advanced readers copy of this book and there are a couple of rather glaring issues that I hope will be corrected in the final. In one place Gramm-Leach-Bliley gets mixed up with Glass-Steagall (Gramm-Leach-Bliley was the law that repealed the part of the Glass-Steagall Act that separated commercial banks from investment firms). At another place Temporary Assistance for Needy Children gets mixed up with Aid for Dependent Children (again, TANF is what replaced actual welfare, which was AFDC). And finally there is a misspelling of Frederick Douglassâ name. It would be most unfortunate if these errors made it into the final version as it might seem that the authors donât know what theyâre talking about.
If you continue to think of Hillary Clinton as a feminist, as a strong advocate for women, you need to read this book. This is the type of privileged, imperialist feminism that is not feminism. You will be floored and outraged at the information in this book, at least, I hope you will be. And then I hope we can, finally, put to bed the myth that Hillary is even a progressive, let alone a feminist.
I've long NOT been a fan of HRC but her actions in the past year further turned me away from her. I'm still open-minded to learn more, that's where False Choices came in. The essays were startling. I honestly had no idea HRC was a voice behind so many negative situations. No spoiler alerts, but this book False Choices is a must read for ALL and I do mean ALL Bernie delegates, both state and national. I hope Democratic Superdelegates will read False Choices with an open mind, as well. I've already repeatedly mentioned False Choices to hundreds of Bernie delegates across Missouri.
This is an excellent book to be reading in this election year, especially as once again Hillary Clinton seems to be poised to be the Democratic candidate. I have been watching her since 1990 and have frequently questioned her status as a feminist icon only to be told that I have no idea of what I am talking about. I believe that the various authors whose essays are included in the book have sufficient street cred that the book should be required reading by Hillary supporters, who frequently see her as a victim.
False Choices: The Faux Feminism of Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born to Lead Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight A WOMAN IN CHARGE: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton The Hillary Clinton Coloring Book: The Ultimate Tribute to the Next President of the United States Who Is Hillary Clinton? (Who Was...?) Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich The Shadow Party: How George Soros, Hillary Clinton, and Sixties Radicals Seized Control of the Democratic Party The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy's Dossier on Hillary Clinton The Secretary: A Journey with Hillary Clinton from Beirut to the Heart of American Power Alter Egos: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and the Twilight Struggle over American Power Female Force: Hillary Clinton Faux Paw: A Bear's Story Health Smarts: How to Eat Right, Stay Fit, Make Positive Choices, and More (USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Lifestyle Choices) The Showdown: Trump vs. Hillary: An Adult Coloring Book on the Presidential Election Because....WTF? Armageddon: How Trump Can Beat Hillary Crisis of Character: A White House Secret Service Officer Discloses His Firsthand Experience with Hillary, Bill, and How They Operate Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party Summary of Hillary's America: By Dinesh D'Souza Includes Analysis
