I posted it. It's so not funny, it's funny.
47
And imagine if Trump had endangered national security, then repeatedly lied about it. Would a Republican man have gotten such a free ride from the FBI and the media in the teeth of overwhelming evidence of a felony?
68
All about imagination. Like i tweeted some days ago, America should look forward to tomorrow instead of pining over someone's past. Besides America is not Asia to be over scrupulous about sex.
16
Regardless of who wins the election, Hillary may end up as just another very wealthy woman who surrounds herself with boy toys. Hillary campaigns on gender equality.
23
Great article but you’re basically preaching to the choir. Are there really a meaningful number of people who, on October 16, are still planning to vote for Trump and yet are still reading the NT Times op-ed page and taking advise from Nicholas Kristof…and…have enough nominal respect for Hillary Clinton to make the switch get out of bed on election day, and vote for her?
101
There is an irony that Trump supporters want "change" so badly, yet resist change when gender roles are concerned.
126
The photographer of this Playboy Mansion photo must have had quick reflexes. Not easy to catch Donald Trump with his hands at his side while standing next to all of those pretty women. Maybe Melania at his side cramped his style.
The Playboy Mansion. What a perfect place for Donald Trump to be.
The Playboy Mansion. What a perfect place for Donald Trump to be.
53
Good questions. But they beg the obvious counterpart questions:
Imagine Trump doing each of the questionable things variously charged against Clinton as conniving, ambitious, power-hungry, abusive, mendacious, etc.
Would Trump be criticized as much as she has been? Or would they be viewed as accepted behavior because a man did them? You decide....
Imagine Trump doing each of the questionable things variously charged against Clinton as conniving, ambitious, power-hungry, abusive, mendacious, etc.
Would Trump be criticized as much as she has been? Or would they be viewed as accepted behavior because a man did them? You decide....
91
Thank you. Just thank you for your plain, stark words. As a woman, I have become so disillusioned with our Republican leaders for continuing to support this man in the face of common decency.
232
I learned in the rice paddies of Vietnam (where was Mr. Trump then?) that self delusion and wishful thinking were dangerous. I know that there are systemic issues in America that require action. I would ask those who blindly follow Trump: "What has he done in his entire life that would make any rational human being believe anything he says?" He claims to be a successful businessman, but he's a a real estate and self promoter who would be wealthier if he'd simply invested the money, his father gave him, in indexed funds.
There is absolutely nothing in his record that suggests he cares about anything but himself. His father taught him that there are only "killers" and losers and that he came from a "superior" gene pool. He has spent his entire life gaming the system. He wouldn't understand a higher purpose if it bit him on the nose. He is a charlatan and a liar. His claims that if he loses the election had to be rigged are deeply harmful to the nation and further emphasize his unfitness as a man and a candidate. As a 4th-generation Republican, I've washed my hands of a party that would inflict such an dangerous candidate on America.
There is absolutely nothing in his record that suggests he cares about anything but himself. His father taught him that there are only "killers" and losers and that he came from a "superior" gene pool. He has spent his entire life gaming the system. He wouldn't understand a higher purpose if it bit him on the nose. He is a charlatan and a liar. His claims that if he loses the election had to be rigged are deeply harmful to the nation and further emphasize his unfitness as a man and a candidate. As a 4th-generation Republican, I've washed my hands of a party that would inflict such an dangerous candidate on America.
415
Brock Allan Turner. Imagine if the media reported daily that women are assaulted and raped but their attackers are given a slap on the wrist by a patriarchal justice system. Imagine if the media reported daily about the misogynistic treatment of women in music videos,video games, and advertising. Imagine if the media's litany that only one party is responsible for this vulgar,demeaning atmosphere in America, would remember that it takes a village to raise all their children. imagine if we would denounce the mistreatment of women,children,the poor,the mentally ill,regularly not only when we find it convenient to promote our interests.As repugnant as Trump's words and action are,at least he has crystallized the hellish choice facing America:you can vote either for the liars or for the hypocrites.
49
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, Mr. Kristof! You knocked it out of the park!!!
268
Imagine if Trump was being continually pursued for the email scandal: "This is just ANOTHER example of the left-leaning press trying to, you know, they are just, they are soooo controlled, back to telling lies and more lies. That's all they do is lie. Soooo many lies. Getting rid of some emails? Well, that is just good business! It's good policy!!!! People just don't understand that sometimes emails are just words, only words. One of the problems when you become successful is that jealousy and envy inevitably follow. There are people—I categorize them as life’s losers—who get their sense of accomplishment and achievement from trying to stop others. As far as I’m concerned, if the FBI had any real ability they wouldn’t be investigating me, they’d be doing something constructive. Their agency is a disgrace!"
55
Great column! Thank you for this. I now have something to forward to people who would otherwise leave me speechless.
56
Thank you Nicholas. What is truly incredulous is that this rant only covered some of Mr. Trump's atrocities; but point well made just the same.
75
Of course there's a double standard. That's why Trump has tried to use the "locker room talk" excuse. Too many think that it's OK to degrade women with words.
81
The only problem I see with this article is that the people who absolutely should see it can't read. Deplorable!
164
The double-standard unfortunately is entrenched in our culture, in religion, politics, male-dominated professions, and sexually. I think we women have had enough of this patriarchy. I don't know how to tame the human animal. The aggressive male seems to be filled with testosterone, lust and power. Generally speaking woman are filled with estrogen, nurturing hormones, to ensure to continuation of the human. Hillary wouldn't want to act like Donald or Bill. Sex for most women is very complicated. Not to mention we are equipped with fat and men are fitted with muscles, hence they are usually physically stronger, very scary for we wee women.
Double-standard forever? Don't know. It is time for women everywhere to stand up for equal rights. Don't let men take away your choice to control your bodies. Please vote for the FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT!!!
Double-standard forever? Don't know. It is time for women everywhere to stand up for equal rights. Don't let men take away your choice to control your bodies. Please vote for the FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT!!!
112
To quote HRC, "Whatever." And that is for a dead American Ambassador. Did any BHO administration attend that funeral? And isn't the Clinton Foundation in Canada? Who says it's a man's world. Have you ever heard some of the stuff in female locker rooms? I think not. So let's move on.
12
Double standard? Yes, but its getting much less so, but not without lots of Struggle.
Clearly a majority of Americans regardless of gender are repulsed by DJT for lots of in-you-face reasons (your litany covered most).
There is however a sizable, dedicated constituency wed to Trump, who care little for any of the glaring negatives of their imagined champion and obviously tarnished standard bearer.
That almost manic sentiment will be broadly present after the election and an almost certain HRC win. This is representative of one of the most seminal problems facing America.
Unfortunately this season of ugly political theater has surfaced little from either camp to rationally acknowledge this or present workable remedies.
Clearly a majority of Americans regardless of gender are repulsed by DJT for lots of in-you-face reasons (your litany covered most).
There is however a sizable, dedicated constituency wed to Trump, who care little for any of the glaring negatives of their imagined champion and obviously tarnished standard bearer.
That almost manic sentiment will be broadly present after the election and an almost certain HRC win. This is representative of one of the most seminal problems facing America.
Unfortunately this season of ugly political theater has surfaced little from either camp to rationally acknowledge this or present workable remedies.
19
The fact that you put double standard in the form a of a question instead of a statement tells me we women have a long way to go.
27
I have thought about this same topic for several weeks now. Thank you for writing a column about it. All around us, every day, the double standard exists. Women wear thin dresses to show their bodies, while men wear warm suits that hide their "flaws." Women wear hideous shoes that contort their bodies and hurt their feet, while men ...don't. Men interrupt and noisily exhort, while the interrupted women keep their thoughts inside, wondering why men are such assholes. Poor Hillary has to toe the line, but be assertive. She must not brag too much and she should show warmth without being sugary. And to face down Trump, she must heroically bite her tongue at all times. If she did just one awful thing as Trump has done (an affair while being married, groping younger men, etc) she would not have made it through the primaries.
99
Indeed - she would be called a pervert and may be stoned to death
47
This is brilliant. You have laid bare the double standard for women in a way that cannot be denied. Bravo!
76
At least the lady on the right and possibly the the second lady on the left is only wearing paint on her chest.
13
Imagine this all happened in France where the principals focused on the issues and let the scandals ride Imagine candidates discussing their vision for this country and the greater world. that's how we should decide.
10
Ok, Mr. Kristof, you made clear that you would rather have Clinton than Trump to lead your church congregation. Now explain to us why we should get enthusiastic about a war monger like Clinton becoming president.
5
Thank you for pointing out so clearly how outrageous the double standard is.
18
If Hillary Clinton groped men ?
The humorous part of that question is -- "If".
Why don't women hit back at the abuser -- smack, kick wherever, spray, or even taser ? That beats whining after 20 years.
This is 2016, with that comes the upgraded Girl Power v2016 -- Just Use It.
The humorous part of that question is -- "If".
Why don't women hit back at the abuser -- smack, kick wherever, spray, or even taser ? That beats whining after 20 years.
This is 2016, with that comes the upgraded Girl Power v2016 -- Just Use It.
5
Bravo. Thank you.
29
Pretty much sums it up. The psychology books on why millions are voting for Trump, and that Republican leaders value their misbegotten political beliefs over civic responsibility, could fill a library.
28
Imagine if any other candidate could get away with any of this. The answer? No one.
20
Let us here remember Howard Dean, a fine man and excellent presidential candidate, whose hopes were dashed because he screamed at a loud rally. Michael Dukakis looked silly in a tank.
Yes, there is a double standard, but politics is a capricious and unpredictable game. Maybe there is something off about our focus, and maybe, ominously, there is no standard at all.
Yes, there is a double standard, but politics is a capricious and unpredictable game. Maybe there is something off about our focus, and maybe, ominously, there is no standard at all.
23
If ever Hillary ever groped men !
Trump is now like a wounded animal who is very dangerous at this point, but Trumps wounds are self induced wounds. He is getting exposed and it is the fault of the Republicans and the Media so he was able to come this far.
Media spend 24/7 cycle on Trump what he says only for ratings where Trump did not have to spend a dime. Republican in the house are fleeing but most of his die-hard supporters are angry and are equally unhinged to anyone who challenges them.
OH is turning blue at this stage but I feel like I live in Trump town, in the main street a house with two Hillary posters one is gone , the other one was torn apart but now that brave coupe have posted another new one.
Go Hillary !
Trump is now like a wounded animal who is very dangerous at this point, but Trumps wounds are self induced wounds. He is getting exposed and it is the fault of the Republicans and the Media so he was able to come this far.
Media spend 24/7 cycle on Trump what he says only for ratings where Trump did not have to spend a dime. Republican in the house are fleeing but most of his die-hard supporters are angry and are equally unhinged to anyone who challenges them.
OH is turning blue at this stage but I feel like I live in Trump town, in the main street a house with two Hillary posters one is gone , the other one was torn apart but now that brave coupe have posted another new one.
Go Hillary !
45
I think this column show how stupid Kristof and the rest of the Times staff and the main stream media think the hayseeds out in the countryside (or anyplace not NY or LA) must be. Here is Kristof, progressive mouthpiece, blasting away at Trump for sins already committed by the Clinton's -- even darker sins.
We all --- except for those in the tank for Hill -- know about Bill's crimes and misdemeanors with women.
Again, we all know (except for the MM) that HRC and Bill have built a fortune by running a pay for play scam.
We know they tried to leave the WH with furniture that wasn't theirs.
We know about all the shady dealings in Arkansas including Hillary's cattle futures trading adventure (can anyone say bribe?).
We know Bill and Hillary lie as much as they tell the truth and will do anything to protect their power.
So don't insult my intelligence with this drivel -- unless you're going to give HRC and her spouse equal treatment.
We all --- except for those in the tank for Hill -- know about Bill's crimes and misdemeanors with women.
Again, we all know (except for the MM) that HRC and Bill have built a fortune by running a pay for play scam.
We know they tried to leave the WH with furniture that wasn't theirs.
We know about all the shady dealings in Arkansas including Hillary's cattle futures trading adventure (can anyone say bribe?).
We know Bill and Hillary lie as much as they tell the truth and will do anything to protect their power.
So don't insult my intelligence with this drivel -- unless you're going to give HRC and her spouse equal treatment.
18
The Donald gropes women. Hillary gropes wallets.
8
Imagine if Hillary was like Catherine the Great? I would be happy if Cooper also posed her the same question. Had she ever sexually assaulted women? I wonder if any would come out of the woodwork?
2
I wasn't going to take the time to comment after reading your essay yesterday, but can't stop thinking about how clearly you illustrate the 'double standard' that has been in play for entire campaign. Thank you!
My hope is that we continue this conversation well beyond election day. I want to put a silver lining on this very dark cloud that is Trump and his 'ilk. Enough is enough.
My hope is that we continue this conversation well beyond election day. I want to put a silver lining on this very dark cloud that is Trump and his 'ilk. Enough is enough.
28
Imagine if HRC had stalked Conald around that debate stage for 90 minutes while sniffing 93 times
34
Unimaginable.
6
The double standards and blind support for Dom Trump (dirty old man) are shocking and terribly offensive. This isn't confined to a fringe element of our society, but to nearly a half of it. It shows to what depths our society has descended. Perhaps, it had always been there, and this abhorent candidate has uncovered them for the rest of us. Shame!
28
It's the hypocrisy, stupid. The same people who justify Trump's repellent treatment of women were those screaming the loudest for Bill Clinton's impeachment following his admissions to consensual, extra-marital sex.
41
I'm waiting for the final straw that will plummet Trump's numbers. I imagine that there is a woman out there who was not able to get away from Trump's unwanted advances and may have been a victim of rape but is afraid or embarrassed to announce it publicly (which is understandable). It's sad to see the female Trump supporters not being able to see Trump's oppressive tactics. Trump did not have the morals or insight to tell Howard Stern to NOT talk about his daughter in sexual terms and then should have walked off his radio program. If Trump somehow wins the presidency, Canada could be overwhelmed by an influx of migrating US citizens declaring political asylum.
18
I just heard Joy Reid on TV make a point that isn't made often enough: When Trump made his Access Hollywood comments, he was all miked-up and, apparently, on the job. This wasn't an inadvertent recording of a private conversation. If Trump would say all these things while he knew he was being recorded, what kind of responsible, statesman-like, careful, disciplined leader would he be? The answer, I think we all know, is: He'd be, as he always says, a disaster!
39
What if?!
If Mrs. Clinton were a Republican and Mr. Trump a Democrat, it might not be so terribly different. The Republican hate machine would have long ago demonized Mr. Trump, and Republican voters would nevertheless support and vote for Mrs. Clinton in spite her actions. The true double standard here is not so much male-female as it is conservative-liberal.
If Mrs. Clinton were a Republican and Mr. Trump a Democrat, it might not be so terribly different. The Republican hate machine would have long ago demonized Mr. Trump, and Republican voters would nevertheless support and vote for Mrs. Clinton in spite her actions. The true double standard here is not so much male-female as it is conservative-liberal.
10
Best. Column. Ever.
13
I believe the tag line is: I don't know, you tell me.
Brilliant.
It is amazing what the right chooses to overlook, isn't it. They are all hat and no cattle. They listen to Fox, to Limbaugh, to Ingheram, Hannity, O'Reilly and think they are informed They go for Party over the nation.
Donald Trump is a person that is unfit to be a dog catcher. And yet the supporters of Trump can't see it. Double standard and crazy collide and they can't or won't acknowledge it.
It boggles the mind.
It is amazing what the right chooses to overlook, isn't it. They are all hat and no cattle. They listen to Fox, to Limbaugh, to Ingheram, Hannity, O'Reilly and think they are informed They go for Party over the nation.
Donald Trump is a person that is unfit to be a dog catcher. And yet the supporters of Trump can't see it. Double standard and crazy collide and they can't or won't acknowledge it.
It boggles the mind.
32
Mr. Kristof, I understand where you are coming from, and I empathize, but in this case I think that you are off base. To make your point you are pretending that gender is the only difference between Clinton and Trump. Of course, there is a vast difference in their characters also. We would need to find a woman who is an equally bombastic narcissist to effectively isolate the double standard.
4
Sarah Palin was only married once, but she did have five children. I don't recall the number of her children being a significant reason why liberals hated her.
A heck of a lot of Americans have been divorced twice. It is not a crime. It's weird to see liberals be such pearl clutchers! They were the ones who started "no fault divorce". Now divorce is common! So you don't get to go all moralistic on it. Trump was legally divorced, twice. Big deal.
He also never "bragged about his genitals". He respondedto a very crude and pathetic joke by SENATOR Marco Rubio who claimed Trump had small genitalia because he "has small hands".
That was bad enough for the juvenile Rubio...but I have read the "small hands" meme on these lefty forums now for months. So...it is OK for liberals to mock Trump's manhood. But if he responds....he's "evil".
Mr. Kristof: it's a dumb analogy because Hillary is not just a woman, she's a overweight, plain looking, post menopausal 69 yr old woman. Women like that just don't get to be "players" in our society -- not if they are rich, not if they are powerful, not if they are famous. They just don't. And we all know it. An older woman who hit on a young man, would not be just be rejected ASAP but treated as bizarre -- even mentally ill.
It's one of the huge remaining biases of our culture. It is all too easy to see these embittered ex-beauty pageant contestants being angry, years later, at the rich famous guy who hit on them. But it doesn't cut both ways.
A heck of a lot of Americans have been divorced twice. It is not a crime. It's weird to see liberals be such pearl clutchers! They were the ones who started "no fault divorce". Now divorce is common! So you don't get to go all moralistic on it. Trump was legally divorced, twice. Big deal.
He also never "bragged about his genitals". He respondedto a very crude and pathetic joke by SENATOR Marco Rubio who claimed Trump had small genitalia because he "has small hands".
That was bad enough for the juvenile Rubio...but I have read the "small hands" meme on these lefty forums now for months. So...it is OK for liberals to mock Trump's manhood. But if he responds....he's "evil".
Mr. Kristof: it's a dumb analogy because Hillary is not just a woman, she's a overweight, plain looking, post menopausal 69 yr old woman. Women like that just don't get to be "players" in our society -- not if they are rich, not if they are powerful, not if they are famous. They just don't. And we all know it. An older woman who hit on a young man, would not be just be rejected ASAP but treated as bizarre -- even mentally ill.
It's one of the huge remaining biases of our culture. It is all too easy to see these embittered ex-beauty pageant contestants being angry, years later, at the rich famous guy who hit on them. But it doesn't cut both ways.
16
Couldn't have said it better myself. Hopefully, anyone thinking about sitting out this election will read this and vote!
10
Most of us in the trenches KNOW there are double-standards, plural. Being in the trenches of real life proves it day after day.
We all know that men like Trump, celebrities and the uber-rich, get all sorts of passes in life. We KNOW that having money, even if its only perceived money like Trump, is the only metric by which America judges peoples true worth.
American women know all too well that their male associates are all making more money, while not having to work as hard, or as long. Know all too well that sexism and sexual predation is still rampant, and not being addressed in any real ways. (And don't think the predators don't recognize how the system works in their favor.)
Yes, Mr Kristoff, there is now and always has been double standards. Plural.
But readers, think about this. IF women did these things in real numbers, and the males rebuffed them - their male compatriots would not hold their hands, and coo over it. Instead they'd ridicule the guy, and seriously question his manhood and gender preferences. "What do you mean you didnt 'do her'...? Are you a f-g, or what?"
Think about how much men/boys are indoctrinated into the beliefs that sex is about taking advantage of opportunity, any opportunity, even when its a bad one. That their sexuality is under constant male scrutiny. Doing the right thing in these cases would be seen as not being a "real man."
Trump takes advantage because he's told he should, in order to be a "real man." And so it goes.
We all know that men like Trump, celebrities and the uber-rich, get all sorts of passes in life. We KNOW that having money, even if its only perceived money like Trump, is the only metric by which America judges peoples true worth.
American women know all too well that their male associates are all making more money, while not having to work as hard, or as long. Know all too well that sexism and sexual predation is still rampant, and not being addressed in any real ways. (And don't think the predators don't recognize how the system works in their favor.)
Yes, Mr Kristoff, there is now and always has been double standards. Plural.
But readers, think about this. IF women did these things in real numbers, and the males rebuffed them - their male compatriots would not hold their hands, and coo over it. Instead they'd ridicule the guy, and seriously question his manhood and gender preferences. "What do you mean you didnt 'do her'...? Are you a f-g, or what?"
Think about how much men/boys are indoctrinated into the beliefs that sex is about taking advantage of opportunity, any opportunity, even when its a bad one. That their sexuality is under constant male scrutiny. Doing the right thing in these cases would be seen as not being a "real man."
Trump takes advantage because he's told he should, in order to be a "real man." And so it goes.
8
I don't always agree with Mr. Kristof, but he's right on point in this column. The gropers of both political parties have been called out (Weiner, Akins, et.al.), but it seems to have taken more than a year for Trumpet be fully exposed (by someone other than himself).
9
one more: suppose Hillary's latest husband was a much younger hunk who posed nekkid in gay magazines. Would he welcome Queen Elizabeth to a state dinner?
and suppose the media treated her political history like a man's. that is, he gets the benefit of the doubt, when she never does.
Hillary has been issuing new policy statements this past week. who knows it? She will make a fine president.
and suppose the media treated her political history like a man's. that is, he gets the benefit of the doubt, when she never does.
Hillary has been issuing new policy statements this past week. who knows it? She will make a fine president.
19
Unfortunately I am imagining Trump as president. That is scary.
8
Yeah, it would be awful if Hillary groped men. It would mean, for me, that she was unfit to be President. If Trump's wife forcibly raped a man or sexually predated upon a very young man, say, the age of her son in the White House and Trump verbally abused the youngster, it would mean that he was unfit to be President.
1
in 1975, in allowing a plea bargain of mere 'fondling of a child' for a man she knew had forcefully, violently and non-consensually penetrated a twelve-year-old, Hillary Rodham broke the Oath she had sworn as an Officer of the Court of the State of Arkansas to uphold justice before the interests of her client, viz
'I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM:
I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, and I will faithfully perform the duties of attorney at law.
I will, to the best of my ability, abide by the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct and any other standards of ethics proclaimed by the courts, and in doubtful cases I will attempt to abide by the spirit of those ethical rules and precepts of honor and fair play.
To opposing parties and their counsel, I pledge fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral communications.
I will not reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the impoverished, the defenseless, or the oppressed.
I will endeavor always to advance the cause of justice and to defend and to keep inviolate the rights of all persons whose trust is conferred upon me as an attorney at law.'
In November 2016, Clinton, not her far more odious adversary, will be almost certainly be the next POTUS. For that the entire planet will breathe a sigh of relief.
Clinton, nonetheless, is not a good or virtuous person.
Clinton is not to be trusted.
'I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM:
I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, and I will faithfully perform the duties of attorney at law.
I will, to the best of my ability, abide by the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct and any other standards of ethics proclaimed by the courts, and in doubtful cases I will attempt to abide by the spirit of those ethical rules and precepts of honor and fair play.
To opposing parties and their counsel, I pledge fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral communications.
I will not reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the impoverished, the defenseless, or the oppressed.
I will endeavor always to advance the cause of justice and to defend and to keep inviolate the rights of all persons whose trust is conferred upon me as an attorney at law.'
In November 2016, Clinton, not her far more odious adversary, will be almost certainly be the next POTUS. For that the entire planet will breathe a sigh of relief.
Clinton, nonetheless, is not a good or virtuous person.
Clinton is not to be trusted.
10
My wife and I have had this "what if...." conversation so many times. The danger her here? ...The "Conspiracy Conglomerate" will turn around and claim to have actually seen these words "somewhere" and that they are actually true allegations! Just like when Obama said, in his speech defending the ACA, "It's not that insurance CEOs are evil, greedy people....but they have to take care of their stockholders" and Sean Hannity turned it around, 5 minutes after the conclusion of Obama's speech in his fake-bewildered way..."Did anyone else hear what I heard our President say....that insurance company CEO's are evil greedy people?!"
11
I would love to see Hillary Clinton observe Trump's rear end and say, "I'm not impressed."
21
"Yeah but Clinton's comin' to take our guns away!!!!"
The rallying cry of Trump supporters along with "Jail Hillary" or the vague suggestion that she be assassinated.
Please, writers for the NYT, logic, truth and fairness are not part of this campaign, at least on one side.
And if "Hillary Groped Men" were a headline, she would, of course, be hung out to dry as the double standard is quite alive and well, enthusiastically cheered on by the Trump minions who support him no matter what.
The rallying cry of Trump supporters along with "Jail Hillary" or the vague suggestion that she be assassinated.
Please, writers for the NYT, logic, truth and fairness are not part of this campaign, at least on one side.
And if "Hillary Groped Men" were a headline, she would, of course, be hung out to dry as the double standard is quite alive and well, enthusiastically cheered on by the Trump minions who support him no matter what.
10
Great column, Nick.
6
There's a terrible double standard -- actually, there's a quadruple standard. One that applies to women, one that applies to democratic men, a much looser one that applies to Republican men, and then a fourth one that, I think, only applies to Trump, for some very strange reason.
Side note to the NY Times editors: The best abbreviation for microphone is mic, not mike.
Side note to the NY Times editors: The best abbreviation for microphone is mic, not mike.
12
Imagine if these things were said of Mr. Obama, or another nonwhite candidate for high office.
9
Weak minded people need a Rich Daddy to manipulate them. They find comfort in it. So SAD.
4
Imagine if Donald Trump was the first man to run for president. He would not be my first choice, that I can tell you.
3
Imagine if Hillary Clinton had a series of public policy positions that had been altered to defeat Bernie Sanders, her opponent for the Democratic Party nomination for President, and she had private policy positions on these same issues that many voters would have rejected had they known the truth.
No need to imagine. This was the true Hillary Clinton.
Thank you, Wikileaks.
No need to imagine. This was the true Hillary Clinton.
Thank you, Wikileaks.
13
Kudos to you, Nick. Surely any single one of the items you mentioned would have disqualified Hillary - and Barack as well. Neither would have gotten past an early primary run.
13
I take your point, but wait: what if Madonna had decided to go political and was now running for President? If her policies were what Democrats believed, would they not be able to explain away her past as an uber celebrity and entertainer? Think about it; she or someone like her are now probably in the future. After Trump things will never be the same.
4
Bravo Nicholas Kristof for telling it as it is. Just yesterday, Charles Blow wrote a lauding piece on Michelle Obama and had to include a catty comment about Hillary Clinton. Way back when, Arianna Huffington pointed out the double standard, she was a lone voice in the media. Since then every article about this apology for a candidate reminds us: "Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims ― 1.6 billion members of an entire religion ― from entering the U.S." – Huffington Post.
15
This is the single best article that I have read during this entire political season; And I stay current on all of it. End of story!
12
Bravo, Nick, and thank you.
Mick and Lois
Mick and Lois
3
Could you imagine the level of scrutiny she would have received over the years if this was true? Congress would have spent tens of millions of dollars investigating every single issue. Government prosecutors would have been named. Hundreds of people would have been dragged in front of government attorneys and special committees to testify.
What? She's already been scrutinized by Republican males for 25 years? And they found what level of guilt? Say it ain't so!
What? She's already been scrutinized by Republican males for 25 years? And they found what level of guilt? Say it ain't so!
3
Why hasn't the NY Times or other major newspapers published the fact that Trump is going to court in December for allegedly tying up, assaulting and raping a 15 year old girl, along with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein?
15
Imagine slandering a Gold Star family!
11
Yes, there is a double standard between the sexes. Women have always had an up hill climb to fulfill their endeavors.This remains a man’s society,& men are reluctant to give up their power.However, the tide is going against Men's dominance, it will start with Hillary, who will open every door that has been locked by men. At last we will have use of half of our population, in every field of endeavor.The future is exciting as women have become Doctors, Scientists , Engineers, & Air Force Fighter Pilots.Rosie the riveter is back, & better than ever.
6
I can't get my mind around +40% of our friends and neighbors ready to turn this country over to a Trump.
Every accusation and each woman who comes forth confirming Trump's bragging gives his supporters more reason to adore him.
Imagine that. I just can't.
Every accusation and each woman who comes forth confirming Trump's bragging gives his supporters more reason to adore him.
Imagine that. I just can't.
13
Superbly done Mr. Kristof!
3
We have seen what happens when a woman gropes a man.
We have seen it over and over in the light sentences that female teachers get for doing it to male children.
We see it in the lack of outrage generated by the media when these female teachers trusted with educating our youth.
We have seen it over and over in the light sentences that female teachers get for doing it to male children.
We see it in the lack of outrage generated by the media when these female teachers trusted with educating our youth.
6
Yes, there's a double standard for Trump and Clinton. And gender is undoubtedly a factor. But other male candidates would ALSO be subjected to far greater scrutiny than Trump. I think it's fair to say that there's a double standard for Trump and pretty much anybody else, and being a woman makes the disparity even worse.
7
You forgot to add, "imagine if Hillary Clinton urged her 2nd Amendment folks to do something about" her rival. "Imagine if Hillary Clinton denigrated our military, calling it a 'disaster,' while praising the strongman Putin." "Imagine if Hillary Clinton had called up Russia to hack her rival's e-mails, and to hack the RNC's e-mails."
Those statements aren't just disgusting, they're bordering on treason if they're not already there yet. The GOP would be launching investigations hourly if Hillary Clinton had made any statements like the ones Donald Trump made threatening an opponent or requesting foreign interference in a U.S. election.
Those statements aren't just disgusting, they're bordering on treason if they're not already there yet. The GOP would be launching investigations hourly if Hillary Clinton had made any statements like the ones Donald Trump made threatening an opponent or requesting foreign interference in a U.S. election.
22
Mr. Kristof, Thank You! Amen!!
2
Or if Hillary aborted the love child she had with Vince Foster after she killed him? Wait maybe she was on drugs when she did it. But would she have the stamina to do it? Inquiring minds!!
6
For too much of the country, such things are sins only if done by a Democrat.
8
The thought of Hillary doing any of this is stomach turning.
1
When I lived in Hawaii, my female friends and I had a problem: a male neighbor who groped us when we were swimming at the beach. He would grab at us underwater and laugh as we struggled to get ashore. We soon solved this problem: when he grabbed any one of us, all of us would swim to the rescue, seizing his genitals tightly and holding on while he thrashed to free himself, then limped to shore, obviously in male pain. We only had to do this once, for he disappeared from our Kahala beach, and we doubted that he ever groped again. I have since used this technique when a man tries to take liberties with me; rather than allowing him to be dominant, I quickly grab his man-parts, squeezing long enough to say, get your damn hands off me. This reverses the dominance, and it works like a charm.
19
And imagine if Hillary Clinton ultimately defeats the Twitter twit on November 8 by a respectable margin (thereby giving us SOMEthing to call respectable in this grotesque election).
6
You forgot the big dodges: taxes and the draft.
8
I would love to see one day in the NYT with no Trump coverage or opinion pieces - just a headline stating that "He has done/said nothing tasteful or substantial today, again. If he talks about real policy, we'll write an article."
When will we stop being barraged with the garbage?
When will we stop being barraged with the garbage?
6
Okay,
But people are saying, I'm hearing from friends, my sources tell me...
But people are saying, I'm hearing from friends, my sources tell me...
4
Hillary Clinton would be seen as a creep (just as Donald is). The only difference is people will realize this MUCH, MUCH earlier, and she wouldn't have even MADE it to the convention.
6
Of course there is a double standard, no laundry lists required.
There are double standards for everything in this world, but that's beside the point.
Trump is singularly unfit for high office, yet a solid 40% this country will continue to support him, no matter what he says, does, or has said or done.
He is not an aberration, but the unabridged embodiment of things that we have strove mightily as a nation to rid ourselves of since our founding.
He is giving everybody a chance to wipe the slate clean, to "Make America Great Again".
You should be asking yourselves, "Great for who?"
Other than Donald J. Trump, I can't come up with one.
There are double standards for everything in this world, but that's beside the point.
Trump is singularly unfit for high office, yet a solid 40% this country will continue to support him, no matter what he says, does, or has said or done.
He is not an aberration, but the unabridged embodiment of things that we have strove mightily as a nation to rid ourselves of since our founding.
He is giving everybody a chance to wipe the slate clean, to "Make America Great Again".
You should be asking yourselves, "Great for who?"
Other than Donald J. Trump, I can't come up with one.
12
For all of Hilary's faults, she was incredibly pretty once she took off her glasses. And she is still beautiful (I do not say this as a supporter of course).
I cannot imagine very many men objecting to Hillary making a sexual overture, but another good thing about her, she does seem to be very loyal to Bill.
But her main advantage is that the NYT says only a few negative things about her, and they are a subset of what is true. The NYT says many more negative things about Trump, which include all the things which are true and many which are not.
I cannot imagine very many men objecting to Hillary making a sexual overture, but another good thing about her, she does seem to be very loyal to Bill.
But her main advantage is that the NYT says only a few negative things about her, and they are a subset of what is true. The NYT says many more negative things about Trump, which include all the things which are true and many which are not.
7
Imagine if an immigrant, a black man or a muslim had done what Trump has done. He would be locked up in prison-- 25 to life. More than just double standards between men and women.
15
Imagine if our first black president had said or done anything like Donald Trump?!!
14
Well done, Mr. Kristof!
I just read this article aloud to my husband, who could only laugh and shake his head in disbelief. What a fabulous way to make an incredibly important point: the double standard is absurd.
I just read this article aloud to my husband, who could only laugh and shake his head in disbelief. What a fabulous way to make an incredibly important point: the double standard is absurd.
8
this has been a campaign of remarkably no substance. voters have been dragged through the swamp and told "if you want to know about policy instead of soap opera go to my website." that's insulting, while billions are spent to wallow in this muck.
imagine if trump had simply said that these women accusing him of groping were just another a "bimbo eruption" and "narcissistic loony tunes." wait, hillary said that: denying that their stories were believable while bullying and disparaging by gender and class. and these comment boards have shamefully ridiculed the entire trump family for their looks.
did anybody watch bill maher last night? maher couldn't get over ann coulter's miniskirt and said so, twice, and wouldn't let her finish a sentence about anything except sex, when she repeatedly said she didn't want to talk about just sex. bernie was so refreshing: he actually spoke about ISSUES and is out there working for change. (america missed out on bernie. but the democratic leadership conspired and maneuvered to get him out of their way, as emails now reveal.) then maher (the howard stern of political shock jock comedy) used a toy assault weapon to shoot the most vile insulting and offensive t shirts into the audience because you know, "when they go low, we go lower." and the anti-trumps cheered.
we're a long way from the high road. both sides. gonna be hard to find it again.
imagine if trump had simply said that these women accusing him of groping were just another a "bimbo eruption" and "narcissistic loony tunes." wait, hillary said that: denying that their stories were believable while bullying and disparaging by gender and class. and these comment boards have shamefully ridiculed the entire trump family for their looks.
did anybody watch bill maher last night? maher couldn't get over ann coulter's miniskirt and said so, twice, and wouldn't let her finish a sentence about anything except sex, when she repeatedly said she didn't want to talk about just sex. bernie was so refreshing: he actually spoke about ISSUES and is out there working for change. (america missed out on bernie. but the democratic leadership conspired and maneuvered to get him out of their way, as emails now reveal.) then maher (the howard stern of political shock jock comedy) used a toy assault weapon to shoot the most vile insulting and offensive t shirts into the audience because you know, "when they go low, we go lower." and the anti-trumps cheered.
we're a long way from the high road. both sides. gonna be hard to find it again.
5
Feminism didn't end sexist behavior, it just made it deplorable.
14
Brilliant! Imagine a President Trump deciding to unleash a drone attack on citizens who mocked his hair or his morals. Or a nuclear attack on a city in a fit of angry insanity?
5
Bravo! Very well said!
2
Yes, there does appear to be a clear double standard, Mr. Kristof. One would think that Trump would be crawling back into that sewer hole that he crawled out of in the face of such facts about his personal life...(And you didn't mention the many who lost their life savings as a result of enrolling in that fraudulent "Trump University")...Apparently, some of that Trump history is beginning to hit home with the electorate -- finally. In the latest poll, Hillary enjoys an 11% point lead.
Now what I would prefer to believe -- given all that has been revealed about Mr. Trump -- is that Donald Trump will get soundly thrashed by Hillary in the general election and the Republicans will lose the Senate and a good number of seats in the House...Now that would be something to celebrate for sure!
Now what I would prefer to believe -- given all that has been revealed about Mr. Trump -- is that Donald Trump will get soundly thrashed by Hillary in the general election and the Republicans will lose the Senate and a good number of seats in the House...Now that would be something to celebrate for sure!
5
Imagine if Hillary Clinton proclaimed she was going to round up every Trump supporter after the election and send them to reeducation camps....
2
Brilliant. Kristof exposes the fault line in this appalling election.
3
Imagine that Donald Trump relased his tax returns.
Warren Buffett hasn't even though he is under audit by the IRS.
Warren Buffett hasn't even though he is under audit by the IRS.
1
I don't usually like Nicholas Kristof's columns, but this one was superb.
6
There really is only one way to blast "The Donald" into oblivion. Stop buying or supporting anything which the brand name Trump is affiliated with.
-Harald,Norway
-Harald,Norway
9
Thank you!
4
Trump is a pig, but the trumpoholics don't care.
9
Fire. Bravo.
We created Donald Trump as we have accepted the daily rantings of the Rush Limbaugh and his ilk as well as the sexual immaturity of Howard Stern Stop blaming the media and then devour the mindless slop each morning with our egg Mcmuffins and coffee.
7
It's nothing we don't see every day in the halls of power. It's de rigueur. Ask the millions of women trying to get ahead in fields where men dominate. And it's not going to change even when we have a woman president. In fact I'm betting it will be worse for quite a while.
But I commend HRC for shining light on this festering corner of society. She done it by suffering it. And in her behavior you see what women are expected to tolerate to work in male dominated fields. Head down, she doesn't complain, suffering odious commentary and hurricane force headwinds, she soldiers on getting the job done. There are millions of women like her in the work force. Just the fact that we are having a national dialog is light years ahead of where we were a month ago. She's done us all a great service.
But I commend HRC for shining light on this festering corner of society. She done it by suffering it. And in her behavior you see what women are expected to tolerate to work in male dominated fields. Head down, she doesn't complain, suffering odious commentary and hurricane force headwinds, she soldiers on getting the job done. There are millions of women like her in the work force. Just the fact that we are having a national dialog is light years ahead of where we were a month ago. She's done us all a great service.
9
NK - you earned your pay today, for sure; Nero Wolfe gold book mark
3
What really angers me in this election cycle is that it is now a given that Hillary clinton is as flawed candidate as Trump. It is not a basic truth, now repeated in international news shows and newspapers as well as here. How she gets out of bed every morning amazes me. What resilience. She is my hero.
8
It's more complicated it seems. At least for some, it's not just that there's a double standard. Rather, with regard to the Republican pervert, there are no standards whatsoever.
5
wow! How well said. Thank you. A vote for him sadly affirms your comments and ,yes, the standards are frightfully uneven. But these imbalances on standards exist for every member of our society who is not a white male. Pity
2
Hillary is married to a serial female groper. And Hillary slammed and blamed the victims of her Arkansas big boss razorback hog. Hillary Clinton is no super model nor courtesan nor beauty pageant contestant. Donald Trump is not a Mr. Universe nor Mister America reincarnation of Arnold.
No Clinton nor Gingrich nor Giuliani nor Trump nor McCain should talk about adultery nor sexual harassment nor rape nor sexual assault. They all repeatedly stalked and sought women for reasons unrelated to their moral character, their intelligence or education or wisdom. Hillary bringing up a foreign beauty pageant winner being called Miss Piggy or Miss Housekeeping was really silly to a man who has married two foreign supermodels.
No Clinton nor Gingrich nor Giuliani nor Trump nor McCain should talk about adultery nor sexual harassment nor rape nor sexual assault. They all repeatedly stalked and sought women for reasons unrelated to their moral character, their intelligence or education or wisdom. Hillary bringing up a foreign beauty pageant winner being called Miss Piggy or Miss Housekeeping was really silly to a man who has married two foreign supermodels.
4
To move from one specific female candidate to a hypothetical other; now imagine Michelle in the political arena with 'The Donald.'
2
Best ever. I needed a laugh, even if it was a very cynical one.
1
I can't imagine Secretary Clinton doing these things, of course. But what is astonishing to me is despite all of these negatives, the race is still close. You can explain this away by the "deplorables" argument, but there is a also an undeniable truth: she is a very flawed candidate. The idiocy of giving paid speeches to GS when you know you're running for president as the DEMOCRATIC nominee is mind-boggling, her inability to connect with folks is really puzzling for someone who chose to be a politician and her invariable attempts to take politically expedient positions is beyond the pale even for a politician. She and the DNC ensured her path to the nomination by early coronation. This leaves us with the binary choice of madman v deeply corrupt. No matter how extensive the assists she gets from the media and her unhinged opponent, hopefully successfully, we need to ask ourselves: how did we get here?
6
You have a great imagination. Women are from Venus and men are from Mars. Remember that? Your article is silly. Women are just different in a nice way. I get the gist of your article but we do not need it spelled out for us just how awful Trump is. He is as transparent in awfulness as can be.
Vote early. Go vote today... we are going after breakfast.
Even if voting here is harder than it is in many states, go vote anyway. Don't let anything stand in your way, including frustration that Hillary isn't completely perfect. She has character, integrity, intelligence, experience, and, goodness knows, resilience.
As you vote for president, make your mark to overcome the bullies who humiliated you or groped you, made your path harder, made it harder for our society by generating distrust and lies, prejudice and fear.
A vote for Trump-- or no vote for anyone-- is a vote to take our country backwards. Go vote. Do not let this obligation pass by. The future depends on you.
Even if voting here is harder than it is in many states, go vote anyway. Don't let anything stand in your way, including frustration that Hillary isn't completely perfect. She has character, integrity, intelligence, experience, and, goodness knows, resilience.
As you vote for president, make your mark to overcome the bullies who humiliated you or groped you, made your path harder, made it harder for our society by generating distrust and lies, prejudice and fear.
A vote for Trump-- or no vote for anyone-- is a vote to take our country backwards. Go vote. Do not let this obligation pass by. The future depends on you.
12
If I were HER, I would refuse to debate this churlish idiot a 3rd time. He is not worth her wasting the energy. He has no interest or ability to discuss policy. He just lies, insults and makes grandiose and absurd promises. Why sit there and be insulted repeatedly by a moron not fit to clean her toilet.
6
Mr. Donald Trump is the first real fascist in American Politics. He needs to be rejected at all costs.
3
Imagine if HRC had called a tortured POW a "loser" for having gotten captured; imagine if HRC had used the slogan, "Make America Great Again"; imagine if HRC had a knee-jerk defensive reaction at every criticism of Vladimir Putin; Imagine if HRC was more defensive toward Putin than the US president; imagine if HRC had said Putin was a great leader and the US President is weak; imagine if HRC believed Putin's denials regarding the email hacking over US intelligence; imagine if HRC had called on Putin to hack US email systems; imagine if HRC had attacked a Gold Star family....
The list is endless and doesn't even include Trump's psychotic way of speaking.
The list is endless and doesn't even include Trump's psychotic way of speaking.
6
Imagine if the NYT turned into the National Enquirer.
Imagine if Hillary C. admitted to having two positions on any issue, one for the people and her private real position. Might explain why she is so shy of press conferences too likely her real position will emerge.
Imagine if Hillary C. admitted to having two positions on any issue, one for the people and her private real position. Might explain why she is so shy of press conferences too likely her real position will emerge.
3
Well, Donald Trump and George Bush founded ISIS, they founded it!
Donald Trump is the worst developer in history; he should be locked up. He lies all the time. Crooked Donald.
Considering all these men who claimed they were groped by Hillary, look at them. None of those men would be her first choice. No way.
So Hillary said Bernie Sanders is a fat ugly pig? He deserves it.
Melania Trump is horrible, the worst abuser of men in political history.
BTW, Hillary Clinton is ahead of Donald Trump by 78 points in all polls. She is doing very very well with uneducated white male who are white supremacists.
Donald Trump is the worst developer in history; he should be locked up. He lies all the time. Crooked Donald.
Considering all these men who claimed they were groped by Hillary, look at them. None of those men would be her first choice. No way.
So Hillary said Bernie Sanders is a fat ugly pig? He deserves it.
Melania Trump is horrible, the worst abuser of men in political history.
BTW, Hillary Clinton is ahead of Donald Trump by 78 points in all polls. She is doing very very well with uneducated white male who are white supremacists.
4
Outstanding article. Such clarity. Double standards on Hillary Clinton and women anyone? You bet! Big time.
The real question is what kind of American and what kind of State supports Donald Trump. We talk about the Russians being backwards and it is true, but what about Americans?
The real question is what kind of American and what kind of State supports Donald Trump. We talk about the Russians being backwards and it is true, but what about Americans?
7
Now, sing this version of "Imagine" matched to John Lennon's music.
Imagine all the people living as if Donald never entered their lives. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I am not the only one.
I'm with her.
Imagine all the people living as if Donald never entered their lives. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I am not the only one.
I'm with her.
7
If Sen. Clinton did all of these things would she be the Republican presidential candidate?
4
Thank you Mr. Kristof for your article. I am not American and therefore American politics are not my concern - though I must admit there is fear concerning Mr. Trump's attitude towards Muslims... But I am a woman and I think if people started using the same standards towards men and women in politics, in recruitment or simply in social acceptance, life would be better for all men and women. In poor countries, this will make not only a thorough change but upheavals toward development. In fact, a person , faithful to his wife, and caring about his family is someone who has more chance not to be corrupt... Yet in many places in the world disrespect of women and unfaithfulness (or polygamy) are not only accepted but considered a question of bragging and joking....
11
Excellent essay.
In his defense of Donald Trump's indefensible behavior, Newt Gingrich dismissed Jessica Leeds' account of being groped by Trump on an airplane as the tale of "a woman who had a bad airline flight".
Newt may want to start buying the seat next to him when flies because there are a few million women in the US who aren't going to forget those words.
In his defense of Donald Trump's indefensible behavior, Newt Gingrich dismissed Jessica Leeds' account of being groped by Trump on an airplane as the tale of "a woman who had a bad airline flight".
Newt may want to start buying the seat next to him when flies because there are a few million women in the US who aren't going to forget those words.
1
Imagine if the public could be provided with evidence that the GOP nominee is a racist, a xenophobe, seditious, a sex criminal, and a fraud? Imagine that the "religious right" still supported him and so did the Republican Party? Imagine what would happen if an experienced elected official, a former Senator, a former Secretary of State were running against him?
1
Christopher Hitchens already delivered the litany of crimes and indiscretions that we don't even have to "imagine" the Clintons have committed over the years. The issue isn't that Trump is horrible candidate. He is. The issue is that Democrats ran the worst possible candidate against him.
Secondly, the current regressive left seems blind to the ways in which it is pushing traditional liberals away in recent years with what has literally become a newspeak agenda of social engineering intended to shut down anyone who doesn't agree with its narrative. In so doing it has so disparaged so many ordinary people that it has made the rise of Trump possible. Blame yourselves, snowflakes.
Secondly, the current regressive left seems blind to the ways in which it is pushing traditional liberals away in recent years with what has literally become a newspeak agenda of social engineering intended to shut down anyone who doesn't agree with its narrative. In so doing it has so disparaged so many ordinary people that it has made the rise of Trump possible. Blame yourselves, snowflakes.
3
Thank you. This is the most succinct summary of the difference between the two candidates yet. As a woman of more than a certain age ( an immigrant too) I have spent a career observing the crassness of men in power and the societal demand that women uphold a different standard. Well America, you have the chance now to elect a woman who will rise to the level of your expectations by behaving like a "lady", thinking like "a man", leading like the true leader she is.
"Boys will only be boys" as long as we stand by, snicker, shake our head and turn a blind eye. Enough. Eschew this horrible man and all he stands for. Embrace the vision, experience, courage of Hillary Clinton.
"Boys will only be boys" as long as we stand by, snicker, shake our head and turn a blind eye. Enough. Eschew this horrible man and all he stands for. Embrace the vision, experience, courage of Hillary Clinton.
4
Imagine the media had not given Trump free reign for two years?
3
Everything you say is true--but whom are you trying to convince, Bill? Trump's base of unwaveringly supportive voters are not about to believe literally anything written in the NYT.
As for the people who are unenthusiastic about HRC and want to vote their principled candidate on the right or left--there is a higher principle they must consider: a united joining of hands with people with whom they disagree with the goal of creating a 50 state landslide that buries Trumpism decisively and finally. This higher principle is putting the country and Constitution first.
Imagine a joint press conference where Jill Stein and Gary Johnson and other candidates implore their supporters to vote for HRC, citing the crisis and catastrophe of Trump.
The extraordinary circumstance of uniting with their opponents for the purpose of bringing the country together around emphatically expelling Trump from the national polity would lift Jill Stein and Gary Johnson in the esteem of the entire country. It would give them a more effective voice in promoting their agendas; it would provide them with leverage in the new administration, perhaps even a position in the administration.
"Never Trump" is not a weak or craven call to Libertarians and Socialists and even Republican conservatives to abandon their principles in favor of support for HRC's platform and agenda. It is a call to save the country from drowning.
As for the people who are unenthusiastic about HRC and want to vote their principled candidate on the right or left--there is a higher principle they must consider: a united joining of hands with people with whom they disagree with the goal of creating a 50 state landslide that buries Trumpism decisively and finally. This higher principle is putting the country and Constitution first.
Imagine a joint press conference where Jill Stein and Gary Johnson and other candidates implore their supporters to vote for HRC, citing the crisis and catastrophe of Trump.
The extraordinary circumstance of uniting with their opponents for the purpose of bringing the country together around emphatically expelling Trump from the national polity would lift Jill Stein and Gary Johnson in the esteem of the entire country. It would give them a more effective voice in promoting their agendas; it would provide them with leverage in the new administration, perhaps even a position in the administration.
"Never Trump" is not a weak or craven call to Libertarians and Socialists and even Republican conservatives to abandon their principles in favor of support for HRC's platform and agenda. It is a call to save the country from drowning.
3
Imagine if Trump had brokered a peace deal capping Iran's aggressive nuclear gambit. Imagine if Trump had spent his lifetime championing the welfare of children. Imagine if Trump had dedicated his life to the good of the American people. How's that for fantasy?
11
Imagine if Hillary Clinton had even gone ON the Howard Stern show, & she discussed benign or important topics. The Republican "family values" party would have been outraged!
6
Double standard hell there is a triple standard. Men, Women and Donald Trump and the latter is a much, much lower standard than for men in general. Barak Obama snd Trump are not in the same category.
There is a single personal consistency about Donald Trump which is that the rules of civil society do not apply to him, as far as he is concerned. His guiding principle is his personal entitlement to anything he can get away with in his private and business life which always seem to blend together.
It is not for nothing that he always has a bodyguard, and a law firm in his hip pocket. The irony is he is a braggart and he blew the whistle on himself before an open mike. Sometimes the truth just slips out. Now as angry women come forward the denials of a serial and addicted liar are unconvincing.
Trump should not be confused with men in general, that is an insult to decent men everywhere. You don't think of Mussolini, or Putin in gender terms:they are something else and so is Trump.
There is a single personal consistency about Donald Trump which is that the rules of civil society do not apply to him, as far as he is concerned. His guiding principle is his personal entitlement to anything he can get away with in his private and business life which always seem to blend together.
It is not for nothing that he always has a bodyguard, and a law firm in his hip pocket. The irony is he is a braggart and he blew the whistle on himself before an open mike. Sometimes the truth just slips out. Now as angry women come forward the denials of a serial and addicted liar are unconvincing.
Trump should not be confused with men in general, that is an insult to decent men everywhere. You don't think of Mussolini, or Putin in gender terms:they are something else and so is Trump.
3
When a man feels the need to publicly measure himself by the size of his penis as often as Trump does, I suspect he comes up short in every aspect of his pathetic life. He's a child pretending to be a man and when thwarted lashes out whining about a media conspiracy and blaming faulty equipment and seeking ways to strike back after every perceived slight -- exactly as a child might behave. What kind of man is Trump? Why no man at all.
11
Welcome to 2016. Now explain how so many people, regardless of their complaints (mostly based on untrue allegations) about Hillary Clinton, still plan to vote for Trump????????
3
Just as I'm thinking that I can't wait for this election to be over, in part so I can pull myself away from the editorials, I just read the best one yet. Kudos Mr. Kristof!
8
Excellent column Nick. My wife, daughters, and granddaughters are exposed to this double standard on a daily basis. They remain strong in spite of it but I can see the effect still.
Ridicule seems to help in this difficult election so I offer a couple of examples:
http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/10/hillary-clintons-locker-room-talk.html (re: Pence - "“Your butt cheeks look like two wet apple pies, governor,” Hillary said.“You’re a six, tops.") Hilarious.
But, not so hilarious: Trump says he could shoot someone on Fifth Ave and would not lose a vote. What if, instead, he strolled down Fifth naked, huge stomach, spindly legs, chunky butt cheeks, tiny genitals, and without his top - shouting "you know you want it babe". Truth would prevail? Maybe, but the idea is disgusting.
He is the buffoon Ryan and McConnell are depending on to help turn the US into a fascist state. Will they control him? Nope.
Ridicule seems to help in this difficult election so I offer a couple of examples:
http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/10/hillary-clintons-locker-room-talk.html (re: Pence - "“Your butt cheeks look like two wet apple pies, governor,” Hillary said.“You’re a six, tops.") Hilarious.
But, not so hilarious: Trump says he could shoot someone on Fifth Ave and would not lose a vote. What if, instead, he strolled down Fifth naked, huge stomach, spindly legs, chunky butt cheeks, tiny genitals, and without his top - shouting "you know you want it babe". Truth would prevail? Maybe, but the idea is disgusting.
He is the buffoon Ryan and McConnell are depending on to help turn the US into a fascist state. Will they control him? Nope.
6
Was wondering which media-type would come up with this first. You win, Nick. Of course, the fallacy (no pun intended) is that males and females are exactly alike except for their sexual organs. That's the absurdity that reasonable folks quickly see and move along from this stuff.
5
Trump supporter: I think she is in my neighborhood.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-supporters-angry-media_...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-supporters-angry-media_...
1
Power is the best aphrodisiac. Hillary Clinton can grab my crotch any time she likes.
If she won't brag about it on talk radio, I sure will.
If she won't brag about it on talk radio, I sure will.
We all now know that Hillary Clinton is one of the most transparent politicians in America's history,who adores deplorables, severely backwards"Catholics", needy Hispanics, and superpredator" blacks", thanks to Wikileaks. Yes, we're truly Stronger Together just as long as we're all rich, white,and irreligious.
3
Thank you Nicholas Kristof for writing an article that I've been waiting for. To imagine that Hilary Clinton could get away with any one of these allegations and continue to run for president shows just how absurd the GOP and its supporters of Donald Trump have become. I am embarrassed for America.
6
Where will they be and what will they be doing six months after the election?
President Hillary Clinton -- Opens branch office of the White House in New York City where she says the shopping, restaurants and plays are better. Often seen in the company of Paul Ryan planning her next moves in the revival of the American economy.
First Gentleman Bill Clinton -- Appointed Special Ambassador to Hollywood with responsibility for relating to the stars.
Donald J. Trump -- Currently residing In the section of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base reserved for serious tax evaders who have lost their mental grasp on things.
KellyAnne Conway -- Experiencing difficulty finding work of the type she has been accustomed to. Now writing a book tentatively entitled “Why Are They Following Me Around Washington and Always Towing My Car Away?”
Chris Christie -- Following trial for his role in Bridgegate, he is sentenced to a lifetime of service as a toll collector
on the George Washington Bridge.
Huma Abedin -- Appointed Secretary for Getting Even with subpoena powers and an unlimited budget.
Mayor Giuliani -- Working the 3AM to 4AM slot on Fox News competing against porn movies and reruns of I Love Lucy.
The Trump family -- Trump Tower is taken over by the U.S. Government for unpaid taxes. Melania is working on a book with Billy Bush entitled “Everything You Want To Know About Donald.” The Trump children are experiencing difficulty getting their children into good day care programs.
President Hillary Clinton -- Opens branch office of the White House in New York City where she says the shopping, restaurants and plays are better. Often seen in the company of Paul Ryan planning her next moves in the revival of the American economy.
First Gentleman Bill Clinton -- Appointed Special Ambassador to Hollywood with responsibility for relating to the stars.
Donald J. Trump -- Currently residing In the section of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base reserved for serious tax evaders who have lost their mental grasp on things.
KellyAnne Conway -- Experiencing difficulty finding work of the type she has been accustomed to. Now writing a book tentatively entitled “Why Are They Following Me Around Washington and Always Towing My Car Away?”
Chris Christie -- Following trial for his role in Bridgegate, he is sentenced to a lifetime of service as a toll collector
on the George Washington Bridge.
Huma Abedin -- Appointed Secretary for Getting Even with subpoena powers and an unlimited budget.
Mayor Giuliani -- Working the 3AM to 4AM slot on Fox News competing against porn movies and reruns of I Love Lucy.
The Trump family -- Trump Tower is taken over by the U.S. Government for unpaid taxes. Melania is working on a book with Billy Bush entitled “Everything You Want To Know About Donald.” The Trump children are experiencing difficulty getting their children into good day care programs.
5
Compare Donald Trump's groping of and vulgar and insulting views of women, with the very long list of Presidents of the United States, senators, even Supreme Court justices that may be found under the heading "sex offenders" in Wikipedia, and draw your conclusion about "morals" at the highest level of government all over the world, even involving the two "great" European female rulers, Catherine the Great and Marie Theresa ... not to forget to mention Catherine de Medici as well as several Popes
1
Imagine if any other man had done and said the things that the Trumpster has done and said ...
6
What this IMAGINATION-Laundry-List shows is that we are a country of LOW-CLASS, BIASED people. We have no NOBILITY to look up to, to set higher societal standards, and no manners, no food culture, and no excellence in governance nor ethics in law. The "American Exceptionalism" was just a ruse. a Bad Ruse at that, and "Natural Born" was not the Founders Seal of Quality.
6
You have compiled a very comprehensive "Worst of Donald" list but where's the double standard?
The NY Times has probably written 100 articles about his outrageous behavior, and nothing positive, because there is little or nothing good to say.
In the meantime, your paper has defended every criticism of Hillary.
So where's the double standard again?
The NY Times has probably written 100 articles about his outrageous behavior, and nothing positive, because there is little or nothing good to say.
In the meantime, your paper has defended every criticism of Hillary.
So where's the double standard again?
2
When asked what his father would say about him running for president, The Donald said "I think my father would let me do it."
Don't let Trump do it to you.
Don't let Trump do it to you.
3
Imagine if any of this actually mattered to the millions of our fellow Americans who will still, proudly, vote for Trump. We're at a dangerous national nodal point.
7
It is apparent to the Progressives that the election runs through the NYT. After all it must be absolute truth.
"He lifted the armrest", when in first class, the arm rests are fixed into position. Now we have a witness that has come forward, sat across the aisle, and saw or heard none of that, front page news.
An illegal copy of Trump's '95 tax return is obtained, the NYT analyzed it for days declaring he has paid no income taxes, for years.
The comments section is very poignant: Trump is a sociopath! Great article! Trump and his supporters lie!
Meanwhile, composed and transmitted e-mails, illegally obtained, but authentic, disparaging millions pass under their noses. They don't even flinch.
Latinos are "needy". Young Black men are "predators", and Black people in general make "bad immigrants". Catholics have a "backward" religion. Those are just the highlights, it's a very long list.
But for some reason... that is totally acceptable.
Let's face it, the Progressives don't like HRC either. How do I know? For one thing she would already be the President, and a nobody from VT would not have on 22 states.
The Progressives would rather vote for Obama.
"He lifted the armrest", when in first class, the arm rests are fixed into position. Now we have a witness that has come forward, sat across the aisle, and saw or heard none of that, front page news.
An illegal copy of Trump's '95 tax return is obtained, the NYT analyzed it for days declaring he has paid no income taxes, for years.
The comments section is very poignant: Trump is a sociopath! Great article! Trump and his supporters lie!
Meanwhile, composed and transmitted e-mails, illegally obtained, but authentic, disparaging millions pass under their noses. They don't even flinch.
Latinos are "needy". Young Black men are "predators", and Black people in general make "bad immigrants". Catholics have a "backward" religion. Those are just the highlights, it's a very long list.
But for some reason... that is totally acceptable.
Let's face it, the Progressives don't like HRC either. How do I know? For one thing she would already be the President, and a nobody from VT would not have on 22 states.
The Progressives would rather vote for Obama.
2
We know how it would be handled if Hillary groped men. The same way it was handled when Bill groped women.
BTW: in the many pictures of Bill Clinton with adult stars, his wife is not in attendance. Trump's picture here was clearly business related. Bill's meetings with adult stars were "social".
Typical liberal hypocrisy on display. The one thing in which the NYT is consistent.
BTW: in the many pictures of Bill Clinton with adult stars, his wife is not in attendance. Trump's picture here was clearly business related. Bill's meetings with adult stars were "social".
Typical liberal hypocrisy on display. The one thing in which the NYT is consistent.
1
Imagine an accused bank robber offering this defense: "I admit that I have bragged about robbing banks. You have videotapes of me doing so, but that was just to impress the guys at the bar over a few beers. But how can you possibly believe that I actually robbed that bank? I have great architectural taste and would never rob a bank like that! Have you ever been inside that bank's tawdry and merely functional lobby!"
I have seen Donald Trump, videotaped at his political rallies, offer the analogous defense to accusations that he is a sexual predator, guilty of sexual assault. His crowds of supporters have responded with cheers and laughter.
The Donald and his fans are certainly a class act!
I have seen Donald Trump, videotaped at his political rallies, offer the analogous defense to accusations that he is a sexual predator, guilty of sexual assault. His crowds of supporters have responded with cheers and laughter.
The Donald and his fans are certainly a class act!
7
Imagine if Trump supporters actually read this column, and then change their minds and vote for Clinton.
The data we are mining from this election supports the awful realization that 40% of American voters would STILL vote for this "person". I actually pity the Republican Party: their base has no concept of philosophy, policy, or interpretation of the Constitution.
The data we are mining from this election supports the awful realization that 40% of American voters would STILL vote for this "person". I actually pity the Republican Party: their base has no concept of philosophy, policy, or interpretation of the Constitution.
2
Double standards are not necessarily bad. There's a lot to be appreciated in differentiation of the sexes.
The answer is yes and thank you for driving the point home. Unfortunately, pointing out this double standard never seems to erase it.
8
Women are well aware of this double standard but it is great to have it all listed. Seeing it cataloged is a "wow" moment. Remember when some really fat Republican congressman criticized Michelle Obama's hips because she was trying to promote healthy eating and exercise. Women notice and don't forget this kind of stupidity. Remember the "family values" party! And now they give us Trump. Some "family values." Thank you Nicholas Kristof!
8
There is evidently a double standard, but the real questions are: how come so much americans follow him? How come so many american endorse all this?
5
A new poll showed most people are not moved by Trump's attitude and actions towards women. What a sad commentary on women's rights and equality with men! Trump is making this race competitive because an all-too-large segment of our population has the same attitude about women as he does. Regardless of the outcome of this election, these Neanderthal -like views represent a greater threat to our country than (in my opinion) any other issue facing the American people, including terrorism.
6
All the Clinton-haters can say in defense of Trump is "Hillary lies"
American ignorance and hatred has reached bottomless lows. I have otherwise sensible Republican friends who will vote for Trump despite all.
American ignorance and hatred has reached bottomless lows. I have otherwise sensible Republican friends who will vote for Trump despite all.
3
What a devastating, surrealistic rap sheet. Well done Nicholas Kristof!
May the USA dodge catastrophe in November.
May the USA dodge catastrophe in November.
4
Not only are women held to a different standard, so are Democrats.
If the media focused on the extremism that is today's GOP over the
last 8 years, we would have seen Trump coming. But the media
plays it down the middle.
If the media focused on the extremism that is today's GOP over the
last 8 years, we would have seen Trump coming. But the media
plays it down the middle.
6
Most men couldn't come close to "getting away" with being Donald Trump, either , although a Bridget Bardot or Mae West possibly could, with relevant other experience. Anthony Wiener's career was ended by seemingly consensual and so lawful sexting.Trump gets away with it because he is a good salesman and completely comfortable with who he is, not because he is a male.
5
Imagine if Obama had done all these things. The hypocrisy of the Christian Family Values Party is sickening. But then again for Southern Evangelicals that make up the base of the GOP, the Bible is not a set of values to live by. Rather is a weapon to attack your opponents with and a means of making money.
5
Shack.
Right on target.
Right on target.
2
Point very well made.
It would be very fun if Clinton would simply read lines from TRUMP's repertoire. Just read them stone-cold... no inflection. That might make a good campaign add. It would be funny and scary. Not those stupid "friend of the people" ads with the kindly, WWII-grandpa voice telling the viewer patently stupid stuff like, "Hillary Clinton loves puppies and is in favor of higher incomes." But what do I know. These ads are apparently aimed at "undecideds." People who are so disconnected from the world that they might actually be impressed by a candidate who loves puppies. As usual, the fate of the nation is in the hands of a bunch of people who look at a red-hot stove and wonder if they should sit down on it or not.
Time to vent. I have a feeling that what I'm about to type is how a lot of people feel. Here goes. I absolutely hate the undecided. Hate them. Abhor. Despise. Look down upon them like they are maggots. They are all what's-in-it-for-me types. They are People Magazine reading, SUV-driving, suburban, fearful, sheeple. I totally get Plato's hatred for democracy when every presidential election comes down to them.
It would be very fun if Clinton would simply read lines from TRUMP's repertoire. Just read them stone-cold... no inflection. That might make a good campaign add. It would be funny and scary. Not those stupid "friend of the people" ads with the kindly, WWII-grandpa voice telling the viewer patently stupid stuff like, "Hillary Clinton loves puppies and is in favor of higher incomes." But what do I know. These ads are apparently aimed at "undecideds." People who are so disconnected from the world that they might actually be impressed by a candidate who loves puppies. As usual, the fate of the nation is in the hands of a bunch of people who look at a red-hot stove and wonder if they should sit down on it or not.
Time to vent. I have a feeling that what I'm about to type is how a lot of people feel. Here goes. I absolutely hate the undecided. Hate them. Abhor. Despise. Look down upon them like they are maggots. They are all what's-in-it-for-me types. They are People Magazine reading, SUV-driving, suburban, fearful, sheeple. I totally get Plato's hatred for democracy when every presidential election comes down to them.
6
Imagine what would happen if President Obama said or did even one of the things Mr. Kristof mentions. Double standards indeed.
7
This article would have been more effective at half the length..
..or at the very least, less imagining. I'd hope the majority of us don't have to..
..or at the very least, less imagining. I'd hope the majority of us don't have to..
1
It's not just a gender issue. Hillary supporters find such behavior abhorrent in any candidate. Trump supporters, not so much. Who doesn't like to grab a little, eh? Did somebody say deplorable?
5
Excellent. This being said, lots of other male candidates have held to a higher standard, the current occupant of the White house being one
Trump seems to have had the dubious talent of eliciting the right to a personal and (very very) low standard
Trump seems to have had the dubious talent of eliciting the right to a personal and (very very) low standard
5
Imagine if the media had done their job and shunned Trump when he announced his candidacy rather than milk his awful behavior for ratings.
2
Outstanding and important column! I wish every voter in America would read this. The double standard is very apparent to anyone who reads this column. Thanks for writing it.
4
It is dangerous to assume that everyone who votes for Trump on November 8th is in fact a supporter of his moral values and actions. These people have been backed into a corner. They will not vote for Clinton because of their abhorrence of abortion, their want to protect their gun rights, and their objection to the transfer of wealth from their pockets to those whom they feel do not deserve support.
1
Imagine if Hillary's last name was anything other than Clinton, the FBI and DOJ would have thrown the book at her for her private email server. You are pointing out that the wealth and powerful are not judged by the same standard as normal people, but we all already knew that.
2
Doesn't matter. He's taller and has nicer hair,
2
Nick:
Double standard is probably incorrect, unless you're referring to the parties. Democrats simply would have thrown this candidate to the curb 2 minutes after she came down an escalator and disparaged Mexicans. Simple as that!
Double standard is probably incorrect, unless you're referring to the parties. Democrats simply would have thrown this candidate to the curb 2 minutes after she came down an escalator and disparaged Mexicans. Simple as that!
6
You ask what if?
She would need a reality show, and it would be immensely popular.
She would need a reality show, and it would be immensely popular.
1
Imagine if Trump took $100 million dollars from the guy that sold 20% of US uranium to Russia and had an unsecured server w classified material on it in his basement
3
As much sexual harassment as I've seen, I've never had a man grope me or have any of my friends experienced it.
I have tried rapists, and they of course groped and grabbed. Trump is just one step behind them, and he's admitted on video his sexual assaults on women.
I have tried rapists, and they of course groped and grabbed. Trump is just one step behind them, and he's admitted on video his sexual assaults on women.
3
The double standard is fully supported by the GOP. Of the large field of GOP presidential candidates, only Kasich and Fiorina have walked away from the perp. And where are the GOP congresswomen on this? As usual, their silence is deafening.
6
What if Trump falsely claimed that ""We are now, for the first time ever, energy independent?
What if Trump claimed that he "never received nor sent any material that was marked classified" on his private, illegal email server? What if he ignored a Congressional suppoena and bleached the same server? What if Trump told Congress under oath he had turned over all work-related emails, but hadn't? What if Trump used a state department flunky to negotiate with the FBI and offer resources in exchange for having a classified email unclassified so that these earlier lies could be maintained? What if Trump falsely claimed such practices were "allowed" and smeared his predecessors?
Imagine that Trump gave an "idealistic" speech as a college student that really was a character assassination of the first black Senator in U.S. history? Imagine Trump giggled in recounting how he got a 12-year-old girl's rapist off on a technicality? What if Trump falsely recalled dodging bullets on a tarmac?
Imagine Trump's campaign manager sought to attack the Catholic church and mocked the beliefs of the tens of millions of Americans who follow the faith? What if Trump's wife, after numerous affairs, sexual predations, and even rape, could count on Trump to squelch the "bimbo eruptions?"
Has Trump been "accused" (without evidence) of groping women? Ms. Clinton has been "accused" (without evidence) of Vince Foster's death.
Sorry. I don't have to love Trump to find you a hypocrite.
What if Trump claimed that he "never received nor sent any material that was marked classified" on his private, illegal email server? What if he ignored a Congressional suppoena and bleached the same server? What if Trump told Congress under oath he had turned over all work-related emails, but hadn't? What if Trump used a state department flunky to negotiate with the FBI and offer resources in exchange for having a classified email unclassified so that these earlier lies could be maintained? What if Trump falsely claimed such practices were "allowed" and smeared his predecessors?
Imagine that Trump gave an "idealistic" speech as a college student that really was a character assassination of the first black Senator in U.S. history? Imagine Trump giggled in recounting how he got a 12-year-old girl's rapist off on a technicality? What if Trump falsely recalled dodging bullets on a tarmac?
Imagine Trump's campaign manager sought to attack the Catholic church and mocked the beliefs of the tens of millions of Americans who follow the faith? What if Trump's wife, after numerous affairs, sexual predations, and even rape, could count on Trump to squelch the "bimbo eruptions?"
Has Trump been "accused" (without evidence) of groping women? Ms. Clinton has been "accused" (without evidence) of Vince Foster's death.
Sorry. I don't have to love Trump to find you a hypocrite.
4
I would like for every Republican leader who is supporting Trump to read this and realize their own name will go down in history in infamy. The men and women who know better have given approval to hate and bigotry. There has been no insult, no lie, no appeal to base thoughts that was low enough to make them put country over party and their own ambition. Shame, shame, shame.
2
Anyone who still backs Donald or votes for him, is on the same level as he is! I don't plan to associate myself with either.
4
A recent article on voters at a diner somewhere in Ohio was depressing. They exhibited no quality of thought; everything was seen at face value, and most still loved Trump.
It reminded me of Reagan earning the vote of the working man even as it was obvious they would get stabbed in the back.
Has no one learned anything from experience?
It reminded me of Reagan earning the vote of the working man even as it was obvious they would get stabbed in the back.
Has no one learned anything from experience?
7
The premise of this is incorrect because the double-standard Trump maintains is why women continue to be oppressed by men who often face zero consequences and get defended for heinous actions simply because they are men and "that's how men are."
As a woman, I don't want to play your silly game of pretend. I want you to write about the real issues that affect my life. I want you to write about the reality of Trump's candidacy and what it means for my life as somone who is not a straight white male.
As a woman, I don't want to play your silly game of pretend. I want you to write about the real issues that affect my life. I want you to write about the reality of Trump's candidacy and what it means for my life as somone who is not a straight white male.
4
And still this complete moron of a man, this totally unfit, unqualified, unprofessional, baboon is within a few percentage point of being the POTUS. I mean how completely stupid are these so called Americans? Donald Trump’s army of brainless zombies who cannot be cured are too close to taking over this country! They need to be stopped by all means!
9
Or imagine if Hillary had said her "personal Vietnam" was her battles with sexually transmitted diseases? Or that a man who was underdeveloped down below couldn't possibly be a "ten"? Or wonder who would vote for Chris Christie? Look at that face!" Really good point, Nicholas Kristof.
5
What if Trump was black. Let see.. black Trump who also.....
Have five kids by three different women.
Don't pay tax and proud of it.
Has a long history of being sexual predator.
Brags about his penis size.
Would his supporters still make excuses for him bending over backward?
I would guess not.v
Have five kids by three different women.
Don't pay tax and proud of it.
Has a long history of being sexual predator.
Brags about his penis size.
Would his supporters still make excuses for him bending over backward?
I would guess not.v
11
Imagine 2008, and Obama did a single one of those things.
He incurred Republican wrath for having his mother in law move into the White House at taxpayer expense.
Oh, the hypocritical largess of it all!!
He incurred Republican wrath for having his mother in law move into the White House at taxpayer expense.
Oh, the hypocritical largess of it all!!
7
Trump is an ignoramus. Clinton is a criminal. They deserve equal scrutiny. Millions of people are voting for one because they don't want the other to be President. Sad...
1
Bravo! Thank you, Mr. Kristof. I want to remind people that in addition to our votes, we all have the power to reject the Trumps of the world in other ways that might also get the message across that their words and behaviors are unacceptable. That is through the one thing they understand--money. Each of us has the power to refuse to purchase any service or product owned or associated with Trump AND his supporters. But, to make it effective, we have to let the owners and sponsors KNOW what we're doing. Find out the brands of Trump's ties, stemware, etc., and let the companies know you refuse to buy anything connected to Trump, and why. Write to the companies that pay billions of dollars each year to celebrities, star athletes and actors to advertise their products and services and tell them you won't spend your dollars for things sponsored by those who support the heinous words and behaviors of Trump and his ilk. Athletes often lose lucrative contracts if their professional behavior doesn't fit the image the sponsor wants portrayed. Just imagine what tens of millions of women (and men) refusing to buy Uggs or Under Armour for their kids until a Tom Brady (whom I love as a QB) finally stands up to his "friend" and says Enough!
3
And yet GOP voters will seriously froth at the mouth over Hillary's pantsuit.
You couldn't otherwise make this stuff up.
You couldn't otherwise make this stuff up.
6
And then, imagine if she had released a list of her top ten Supreme Court appointees, which included some of the leading liberal voices in the country!
3
Aside from what this says about Donald Trump, think about what this says about today's Republican party and the "basket of deplorables" that make make up a significant part of their membership.
5
Yes, and if I destroyed evidence under subpoena I would be in jail. If I had a co-conspirator or key witness who had a law degree and later made him/her my counsel, to forbid their testimony, it would raise eyebrows.
You cannot appraise Trump without the sad primaries, an object lesson in Game Theory, that allowed 16 lesser known personalities run against a game show host.
We gawk at him, you also, because he is a spectacle. And many of his supporters are desperate. Most of the country abhors him, but most of the country abhors her. That's where your argument falls apart.
You cannot appraise Trump without the sad primaries, an object lesson in Game Theory, that allowed 16 lesser known personalities run against a game show host.
We gawk at him, you also, because he is a spectacle. And many of his supporters are desperate. Most of the country abhors him, but most of the country abhors her. That's where your argument falls apart.
2
Please do not let this column vaporize. Repeat it. Not parts of it - all of it. As a speech, deliver it. As an infographic, illustrate and animate it. Do not let this column blur into the rest if the commentary. It is a streak of gold among mounds of sediment. Please.
13
You could just as easily change the victims' gender and reach a similar conclusion. Does anyone really believe that if Donald Trump were assaulting young men in locker rooms instead of young women in dressing rooms he'd still have the institutional support that he does? Would Rudy Giuliani and co. be out there trying to spin that 15 men who were attesting to being assaulted by Donald Trump in their late teens and early 20s were all liars?
There's an implicit bias against female victims, probably moreso than against female candidates actually.
There's an implicit bias against female victims, probably moreso than against female candidates actually.
7
The "double standard", invented by the corrupt clintons, is simply being turned on its creators. Like Frankenstein. Like 1789 France. Hopefully their very own Robespierre emerges from their clown car to sever the head of their hypocritical form and engulfs their administration in a sea of scandals. Let the scaffold-side knitting begin.
All that matters is that Trump will lose, possibly in a landslide. The GOP deserves this, but as long as it clings to the mantra of tax cuts for the 1%, then this a good result.
2
The saddest part about this whole mess for me is what about the future? What woman would attempt to run for president after this mess? The double standard is so vast. After watching what Hilary has had to deal with her entire career, I am in awe of her tenacity and spirit, but the horror of actually being seriously compared to the current Rep. nominee and the crudeness of it all is just so very sad.
7
I don't know if there is a double standard. But what I do know is that there is absolutely no standard by which we can now measure a candidate for the President of the US. You can be anything you want, sex abuser, racists, felon, uneducated, fraudster, lier to the extent that 70% of what you say is verifiable untrue., need I go on. Since there is no standard I am going to write in for Abraham Lincoln. I know he is dead but everyone would agree that he is the better choice. Having a dead Lincoln in office is better than having a live Trump in office. At least Lincoln can do no wrong and has a great track record. Now, I have to decide on who should be Vice-Pres- maybe A. Hamilton-although he wasn't too good with a firearm-and we don't want another Chaney incident. Nope-a safe bet would be FDR.
3
Imagine if we elected Trump President. Shame on us for abandoning our morals, our values and our founding principles.
7
What leaps to the fore is Trump's braggadocio. He claims he is a great business man, but his return shows he lost a billion dollars in a boom year. He talks a lot about women, gropes them, but can't "close the deal." The "playboy" talks the talk, but can't walk the walk. What's next? one of his playmates coming forward to tell us how short his fingers really are?
6
Thank you Nicholas for writing this opinion piece. It was something that I thought of when people started defending Trump's statements as a boys will be boys.
Among those men who gave Trump a pass for his statements I wondered how many of them, who might have imagined themselves in Trump's position surrounding himself with young beautiful women he feels entitled to touch, gave a moment's thought to what if the roles were reversed where a 60 - 70 year old woman, maybe a grandmother, overweight like Trump, with the same amount of age-related appearance features as Trump grabbed at them. How right would that feel? Would that be excused?
Among those men who gave Trump a pass for his statements I wondered how many of them, who might have imagined themselves in Trump's position surrounding himself with young beautiful women he feels entitled to touch, gave a moment's thought to what if the roles were reversed where a 60 - 70 year old woman, maybe a grandmother, overweight like Trump, with the same amount of age-related appearance features as Trump grabbed at them. How right would that feel? Would that be excused?
3
I am not approving of Trump or his actions and speech. However, at least some of those women who have alleged being "attacked by Trump" still found it important for whatever reason to seek Trump out several years after he attacked them. Some women use their sexuality to get ahead. Like Trump, they will say and do anything to get ahead. And then when Trump outsmarts them they complain.
Having said that, I do not approve and soundly disapprove of Trump's moral behavior. It makes me sick.
Having said that, I do not approve and soundly disapprove of Trump's moral behavior. It makes me sick.
5
I get it, Nick. Hillary, high. Trump. low
If you want to put a political exclamation point behind your article, look tot the speech by Michelle Obama.
If you want to put a political exclamation point behind your article, look tot the speech by Michelle Obama.
2
I'm sorry but this piece is facile nonsense and says nothing about the very real issue of male-female double standards in our society. The real fact is that no other presidential candidate, male or female, could have said or done the things that Trump has and gotten away with it. If Bernie or Jeb or Ted or Marco had said and done these things their candidacies would be over. For whatever reason, it is only Trump who has been able to get away with these crimes and horrible statements and slurs. It says nothing whatsoever about male privilege. A wasted column.
4
This is not a matter of gender. If any Democrat, man or woman, were to have even one of those skeletons in their closet they would be toast.
8
Yes, she is held at a much higher bar than he is. The GOP has been hounding her for the last 30 years but they close their eyes at all Trump does the same as they marched the country off a cliff behind George W Bush. That's why I would never, never vote GOP at any level!!
16
And somebody tell me that there is no basket of deplorables. Those like Senator Thunes, who come crawling back after the great Bully Trump roars, those like the SOTH Ryan, who won't in-endorse Trump and stand up against the bigotry in their own party, and those of the 40% of the supporters who can not see beyond their immense hatred of one person that they are willing to support someone who would otherwise be seen as criminally insane.
8
Ah, but as many Trump supporters would say, "But Trump didn't really mean to do all those things, and I can't imagine him doing any of the horrible things I know did. His "truths" and "lies" don't matter, I just get a good gut feeling about him. "
And Trump supporters about Clinton, "All those liberal news sources, the FBI and congressional hearings all show Hillary has done nothing wrong... I just don't believe it. I've got a bad gut feeling about her. She was married to Bill when he cheated, so she either should have been really nice to the ladies he was with or left Bill. She is just so conniving. "
People's gut feelings also once told them the world was flat and only 6000 years old (oops some still believe that one...)
And Trump supporters about Clinton, "All those liberal news sources, the FBI and congressional hearings all show Hillary has done nothing wrong... I just don't believe it. I've got a bad gut feeling about her. She was married to Bill when he cheated, so she either should have been really nice to the ladies he was with or left Bill. She is just so conniving. "
People's gut feelings also once told them the world was flat and only 6000 years old (oops some still believe that one...)
12
We're being subjected to the first reality TV election of delusions and illusions. It's campaign as Shakespearean theatre.
4
Mr. Kristof - you nailed it once again.
Imagine if millions of Americans actually believed a sociopathic candidate whose lies, hatred and deceit were as plain as day, yet whom they still decide to support based on their own fears and lack of intellectual curiosity to do a little digging into what this candidate is actually saying.
We live in a sound bite society - it is real easy to chant "lock her up" without understanding why, or wanting to learn more.
The danger is, this candidate is tearing apart the heart of America. Most of the free world has looked up to America as a model government, society - now they are wondering -"what is happening to your country" as I was asked yesterday by a pair of Germans traveling throughout Europe- these people are very worried that their beacon has dimmed. One actually made a reference to Hitler - saying America needs to be afraid.
After the election, we need to heal. The GOP needs to focus on what is right, rebuild their party to cater not only to right-wing zealots but to all Americans. They need to work with Hillary - not obstruct her every move. Look what they've created with that approach.
We will get through this - Americans are amazingly resilient and this will be looked on as a very dark period of election politics.
Imagine if millions of Americans actually believed a sociopathic candidate whose lies, hatred and deceit were as plain as day, yet whom they still decide to support based on their own fears and lack of intellectual curiosity to do a little digging into what this candidate is actually saying.
We live in a sound bite society - it is real easy to chant "lock her up" without understanding why, or wanting to learn more.
The danger is, this candidate is tearing apart the heart of America. Most of the free world has looked up to America as a model government, society - now they are wondering -"what is happening to your country" as I was asked yesterday by a pair of Germans traveling throughout Europe- these people are very worried that their beacon has dimmed. One actually made a reference to Hitler - saying America needs to be afraid.
After the election, we need to heal. The GOP needs to focus on what is right, rebuild their party to cater not only to right-wing zealots but to all Americans. They need to work with Hillary - not obstruct her every move. Look what they've created with that approach.
We will get through this - Americans are amazingly resilient and this will be looked on as a very dark period of election politics.
8
I think there are two kinds of voters that remain loyal to Trump despite his proven treatment of women:
- Those who live in a world where it is morally ok to treat women like that and where it is even an attribute a true leader should have
- Those wishing we would still be living in a world like that
- Those who live in a world where it is morally ok to treat women like that and where it is even an attribute a true leader should have
- Those wishing we would still be living in a world like that
9
Imagine if the GOP did not have redneck voters and was required to be truthful. Trump is approaching irrelevance however the segment of the population that is energized by Fox News and GOP propaganda will remain. Trump might get 150 electoral college votes that spells a real rottenness in many States and large segments of society. Even Paul Ryan believes his own marketing propaganda and is indoctrinated to idiot values. America needs to rethink the future of citizen truthfulness and rid itself of GOP lies.
5
Great list, and a fair game. Thank you.
Donald Trump is a practiced and transparent "projectionist," as many people have noted. If he senses he's been justifiably criticized for any behavior, he turns on his heel (in neat shoes, probably made in China) and accuses his opponents of those same transgressions.
So because the Trump Foundation is rotten and Trump University a scam job, he attacks the seriously charitable Clinton Foundation. And because lots of people have wondered why he keeps sniffing during debates and have mused about his drug use (why is he tweeting at 3 am?), he now accuses Hillary of drug use. And because his own history of aggressive behavior with women has been exposed, he calls Hillary the great abuser of women.
It's just occurred to me that he excites and ignites his supporters to chant "Lock her up, lock her up!" at rallies because he knows, in the bottom of his small heart, that he himself ought to be the locked behind bars.
His actions have been criminal.
Donald Trump is a practiced and transparent "projectionist," as many people have noted. If he senses he's been justifiably criticized for any behavior, he turns on his heel (in neat shoes, probably made in China) and accuses his opponents of those same transgressions.
So because the Trump Foundation is rotten and Trump University a scam job, he attacks the seriously charitable Clinton Foundation. And because lots of people have wondered why he keeps sniffing during debates and have mused about his drug use (why is he tweeting at 3 am?), he now accuses Hillary of drug use. And because his own history of aggressive behavior with women has been exposed, he calls Hillary the great abuser of women.
It's just occurred to me that he excites and ignites his supporters to chant "Lock her up, lock her up!" at rallies because he knows, in the bottom of his small heart, that he himself ought to be the locked behind bars.
His actions have been criminal.
19
If Hillary had done even one of the hideous things her opponent has done, she'd be standing in some fast-food joint flipping burgers.
Which just might be where DJT ends up considering the fact that his new DC hotel is tanking along with others that bear his name.
Which just might be where DJT ends up considering the fact that his new DC hotel is tanking along with others that bear his name.
8
Imagine if Hillary had a campaign manager who had connections to Putin and his stooges. Imagine if Hillary expressed admiration for Putin, and said he was a stronger leader than the President of the United States. Imagine if Putin's goons had stolen emails from Trump's campaign manager and leaked them in an effort to help Clinton's campaign. Imagine if Clinton had implored the Russians to do more hacking of emails in the US. Imagine if Clinton said that Putin had not invaded Ukraine. Imagine if Hillary had said that it would be better if other countries developed nuclear weapons and that we should not honor our defense treaties. Imagine if Hillary didn't understand what the nuclear triad is. The list of "imaginables" is endless.
16
No, I really can't imagine. Thankfully,( hopefully?) Hillary Clinton will be elected President.
3
Mr. Trump has suggested drug tests be given preliminary to the final debate. I suggest that in the long tradition of boxing matches and hors eraces, the human contestants be weighed in. At his self-reported weight, just below that where his BMI would be classified as obese, one must wonder what relation a 'Trump pound' has to a pound avoirdupois. Sauce for the gander.
4
I really have nothing to add to what you have said, Mr. Kristof. Bravo for saying all the things I have been ranting about at home.
11
Ridiculous article, you say? After all, Trump's self-acknowledged sexual comments about women do not rise to the level of Hillary Clinton's State Department email poor judgement. Or her entanglement with Wall Street. Or whatever the Real story is behind Benghize. And, heaven help us, her inexcusable, downright stupid labeling of Trump's supporters as "Deplorables."
Trump's description on tape of his sexual philosophy and behavior may be offensive to a large number of people, but, hey, where is the PROOF he groped even one women. I mean, come on, it must be pretty obvious that the women who have recently come out of the woodwork with their claims just want the exciting publicity they are getting. Don't you agree that even a year long investigation by Congress similar to the one Clinton went through, and an investigation by the FBI would judge him, maybe, maybe, as Careless in the Extreme, and end without an indictment of any kind? His description of Mexicans (some) as rapists and murders, and his off-color comments about women are, what the heck, just words, right? Get real, a continuation of Trump's behavior and words that we have seen and heard for over a year, hasn't, and furthermore couldn't, endanger our national security if he becomes our president on November 8th.
Oh, really?
Trump's description on tape of his sexual philosophy and behavior may be offensive to a large number of people, but, hey, where is the PROOF he groped even one women. I mean, come on, it must be pretty obvious that the women who have recently come out of the woodwork with their claims just want the exciting publicity they are getting. Don't you agree that even a year long investigation by Congress similar to the one Clinton went through, and an investigation by the FBI would judge him, maybe, maybe, as Careless in the Extreme, and end without an indictment of any kind? His description of Mexicans (some) as rapists and murders, and his off-color comments about women are, what the heck, just words, right? Get real, a continuation of Trump's behavior and words that we have seen and heard for over a year, hasn't, and furthermore couldn't, endanger our national security if he becomes our president on November 8th.
Oh, really?
1
Imagine if Clinton opens these borders. What a slap in the face to every service man or women who fought and/or died to keep this from happening. I been there and done that and it saddens me to find that a president elect would stoop to the level of bringing our country to it knees.
1
It's, indeed, very hard to imagine a male, GOP candidate with these views and record. Make Richard Nixon look like a boy scout. In another article here in the Times I read that Peter Thiel is doubling down on his support for Mr Trump. Which just goes to show that being a genius and an entrepreneur doesn't necessarily make you very apt when it comes to politics or the greater good of society.
18
The double standard also manifests itself in the disqualifying foibles attributed to Hillary. When I asked a friend of mine why he was going to vote for Trump instead of Hillary, he said without irony, "because she lies."
9
Perhaps, the more important question is: how did the groped women knew that waiting decades to declare their victim hood would be more rewarding?
3
Please to meet you, hope you guess my name. But, what's puzzling you is the nature of my game. - Trump
6
I can totally imagine it, but not ALL or it. By the middle, Mrs Clinton would have been in jail, and even if by some miraculous legal fight she'd be free, her career will be over, and she would have never been able to participate in a Democratic Party primaries.
8
Imagine if Clinton after having said and done all of the above had decided she would run for president, grounding her campaign on denying the legitimacy of the first African American president.
Then imagine if Clinton had campaigned and won the nomination of the party of Lincoln, the party of Judaeo-Christian Family Values, the party of Law and Order, the party of Social Conservatism, the party of Fiscal Responsibility, the party of the Silent Majority. Would you still recognize that party as the GOP? Sad, so sad.
Then imagine if Clinton had campaigned and won the nomination of the party of Lincoln, the party of Judaeo-Christian Family Values, the party of Law and Order, the party of Social Conservatism, the party of Fiscal Responsibility, the party of the Silent Majority. Would you still recognize that party as the GOP? Sad, so sad.
7
The double standard is not just for women (although there is), it is the hypocrisy of the republicans in general.
13
This column is absolutely brilliant. Just turning the tables around and imagining that Hillary Clinton says things that Trump actually says (and does what Trump actually does) makes it crystal clear that something is fundamentally rotten in modern American politics. No wonder the orange-haired monster hates the New York Times! Nicholas Kristof's brilliant argument in this column should be broadcast to the entire nation every hour of every day till the election day. I hope Secretary Clinton's campaign is taking notice.
12
With apologies to Nicholas Kristof, I cannot imagine Hillary Clinton doing or saying any of the listed things which Donald Trump has done and said. It is inconceivable, and I feel sure that any rational person reading Mr. Kristof’s column will feel the same way.
I guess that’s the point.
I guess that’s the point.
17
I don't think any other man could get away with this either. Trump is an anomaly.
3
Brilliant article. I have a good imagination and i never imagined what you described. You really crystalized the situation. That's why you get paid the big bucks! Nice work, truly.
4
Imagine if Trump were a Black man and had 5 children by 3 wives... bragged about assaulting white women, not paying the bills he owed vendors or the taxes he owed the government...
20
Imagine how many Democrats would still supporting her if this would have been their standard bearers m.o...
I don't blame Trump. There have always been unhinged people in this world. I do blame the GOP for fostering such an angry, fact free environment, and for unwaveringly supporting such a dangerous clown.
I don't blame Trump. There have always been unhinged people in this world. I do blame the GOP for fostering such an angry, fact free environment, and for unwaveringly supporting such a dangerous clown.
11
Of course there is a double sexist standard for women in politics as there is everywhere else. In 1988 when Michael Dukakis was running for president,he cried during an emotional speech and many people said how it showed he was a kind caring person,but when Patricia Schroeder was running for president at the same time she also cried during a speech and many people said it showed she was too emotional to be president! When girls and boys women and men do the *same* behaviors they are often perceived,judged and treated very differently!
9
Imagine if Hillary Clinton said, "If it is a Constitutional right, then it, like every other Constitutional right, is subject to reasonable regulations." We'd hear of nothing else, and her political career would be over.
Oh, wait. She did say that, and the silence is deafening and telling.
Oh, wait. She did say that, and the silence is deafening and telling.
4
More gals groped me than I ever came close to gropin' without the proprietary by-your-leave. Who'n the heck do these stories play to? Casting into the mold a country composed of dowdy goody two shoes? Not from my quarter.
4
This is why I have no trouble referring to Trump the candidate and many of his supporters as "deplorable". Supporting this evil man is no less evil simply because you are doing it for the Supreme Court or as a protest against whatever private hurt is motivating you.
13
And what would the world say of Hillary Clinton if she had cut off health care benefits to a deceased brother's very ill grandchild, out of spite, as Trump did?
http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/what-sort-of-man-is-donald-trump
http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/what-sort-of-man-is-donald-trump
12
Bravo, Mr. Kristof. This article gets sent to everyone on my e-mail list. I hope others will post it on facebook and other social media, take tweets virile and do everything else to get this message out.
The truth is this would not be tolerated by ANY serious politician for ANY political office - or job - in America.
The truth is this would not be tolerated by ANY serious politician for ANY political office - or job - in America.
23
The best article I've read in months
8
I read this piece out loud to my husband and we were guffawing. But then the sad truth of it hit us and we groaned.
Now, daily, we are subjected to the rantings and ravings of Trump about the young women who have accused him of sexual assault. And yet, one of his biggest criticisms of HRC has been about how she responded to the women who were purportedly involved with Bill Clinton. A double standard quadrupled, is more like it.
Now, daily, we are subjected to the rantings and ravings of Trump about the young women who have accused him of sexual assault. And yet, one of his biggest criticisms of HRC has been about how she responded to the women who were purportedly involved with Bill Clinton. A double standard quadrupled, is more like it.
11
It is not only if imagine if Hillary had been caught bragging about groping a man, or committing adultery or making body part comments, etc. etc. Imagine if it had been Obama who had said or done these things ... Lynching?
13
It's interesting to see just what impact Trump's attitudes toward half the human race would have in various other venues. How about if he said that he grabbed black people's genitals because he could get away with it? Or perhaps he would say he likes to grab Muslims' genitals because he could get away with it? It's time we face at last what some men's sense of owning women, seeing their lives and bodies as things to judge, grab, or harm, really is and means and does. Trump is, frankly worse than most. He even looks at his own daughter that way. He's not the only one like this, although he is the only one running for president and getting people to support him. I can't believe there's a woman on earth who would. Or a decent man.
8
Really wish this column would go viral. It's smart and paints a very clear picture.
15
Donald Trump is a misogynistic buffoon who should never be allowed to step foot in the Oval. However, as intelligent and qualified as Hillary is for the job, the scandals over the years are real and not imagined. Her bad judgment and entitlement are what truly disqualifies her for the job. I don't blame her for her husbands infidelities; she was as much a victim as Bill's accusers. That said, if she were any other woman, she would be disqualified based on her own shortcomings.
Imagine if Hillary did not have the full weight of the DNC while running for Senator of NY in 2000? The DNC made sure she didn't have any primary challengers. And Bill had to pardon Puerto Rican terrorists to gain the PR vote. As well as pardoning three Hasidic Jews so they could get 20,000 Hasidic votes.
Imagine if any other candidate was able to set up a private email server and transmit Top secret information in violation of several federal statutes, would they be allowed to run in this Presidential race? Would anyone of these people be allowed to hold any security clearances? Five aides were given immunity which only feeds the argument that laws were broken. Yet the FBI and Justice Dept's cleared her of wrongdoing. A Navy Sailor was recently sentenced to one year in prison for taking pictures of a nuclear submarine, yet Hillary is innocent?
Donald Trump represents everything that is wrong with our culture of institutionalized misogyny. Hillary represents everything wrong with govt
Imagine if Hillary did not have the full weight of the DNC while running for Senator of NY in 2000? The DNC made sure she didn't have any primary challengers. And Bill had to pardon Puerto Rican terrorists to gain the PR vote. As well as pardoning three Hasidic Jews so they could get 20,000 Hasidic votes.
Imagine if any other candidate was able to set up a private email server and transmit Top secret information in violation of several federal statutes, would they be allowed to run in this Presidential race? Would anyone of these people be allowed to hold any security clearances? Five aides were given immunity which only feeds the argument that laws were broken. Yet the FBI and Justice Dept's cleared her of wrongdoing. A Navy Sailor was recently sentenced to one year in prison for taking pictures of a nuclear submarine, yet Hillary is innocent?
Donald Trump represents everything that is wrong with our culture of institutionalized misogyny. Hillary represents everything wrong with govt
4
I get your point, that a woman couldn't have done any of those things and still be viable candidate. But please don't go so far as to say that the Republican nominee is getting away with those things scott free. He is widely condemned for that conduct. Even his supporters show they know that it's wrong, when instead of saying "I think that conduct is fine," they try to deny most of it. Don't promote the idea that Americans' standards--on either side of the gender cliff--are that low.
4
He did get away with it until he himself bragged on a hot mic. People did know, of course, what kinds of things he did. And his victims were too intimidated, knowing how they would be treated (look how they are treated even now; one woman in her 70s had her address and contact info tweeted by an old man on the right wing). Trump had lawyers and money to spare to make lives a living hell. And what response did he get from the man he confessed it to? Praise and laughter, and that's not the only man who would take it that way. So don't tell yourself that things are fine. The only reason that Trump is being "held accountable" (which, to me, would mean criminal charges) is because he had to brag. And his fans don't care that he did. He still could become your next president, Karen.
4
Imagine Hillary Clinton was guilty of all these offenses. What kind of person would still vote for such a candidate? The very worst kind of person. Someone with a value system that could well be described as...deplorable, no?
16
welcome to the real world of women.
thank you Mr Kristof
thank you Mr Kristof
8
But Hilary commited the worst sin of all: she dared to be powerful.
28
Although there is sexist gender double standard here, it would be very wrong to frame what is happening now as solely that.
I think there are three greater factors intertwining with our social sexism, racism, and Islamaphobia:
1. The Republican Party and the conservative moment in general have for the past decades intentionally and purposefully created and nurtured a social and political environment of deceitful political speech. There were no lies too big and too outrageous to tell.
Such politics have created an electorate that is disenfranchised and disillusioned, and unfortunately, also thoughtless and easily manipulated. The alternative reality bubble of the Right is so complete, facts and truths are irrelevant and obsolete.
2. Politics is irrationally partisan; especially at the highest stake of POTUS, it is completely blind. Once the political dynamics are set in terms of losing and winning, there is no dialogue or open minds. For some, Trump is their man because he is the nominee for the Republican Party. Period.
3. White nationalism is not to be taken lightly. It exists not because it is racist., at least not entirely. Racism helps make their case, but it exists because the whites feel an existential threat in the face of changing demographic, here and globally. When you feel that your culture, jobs, and power are being intruded and chipped away, you are going to fight back, here, in the form of white pride.
So this is not just a case of double standard.
I think there are three greater factors intertwining with our social sexism, racism, and Islamaphobia:
1. The Republican Party and the conservative moment in general have for the past decades intentionally and purposefully created and nurtured a social and political environment of deceitful political speech. There were no lies too big and too outrageous to tell.
Such politics have created an electorate that is disenfranchised and disillusioned, and unfortunately, also thoughtless and easily manipulated. The alternative reality bubble of the Right is so complete, facts and truths are irrelevant and obsolete.
2. Politics is irrationally partisan; especially at the highest stake of POTUS, it is completely blind. Once the political dynamics are set in terms of losing and winning, there is no dialogue or open minds. For some, Trump is their man because he is the nominee for the Republican Party. Period.
3. White nationalism is not to be taken lightly. It exists not because it is racist., at least not entirely. Racism helps make their case, but it exists because the whites feel an existential threat in the face of changing demographic, here and globally. When you feel that your culture, jobs, and power are being intruded and chipped away, you are going to fight back, here, in the form of white pride.
So this is not just a case of double standard.
3
Thank you for pointing out what should be painfully obvious, but is not. Why? We prefer to pretend that our society is not rife with sexism and negative, stereotype-laden messages about women. I now see that millions are OK with unleashing the forces of irrational, seething hatred on a candidate if she is a woman; her attacker will be greeted with roars of approval. By contrast, the loathsome Donald J. Trump is not merely given a pass by his supporters for bragging about being a sexual predator, but allowed to wrap himself in the cloak of victimhood and talk about his opponent's body as if he has a right to put her down if she does not meet his approval and please his discerning male eye. Here's what Trump is telegraphing loud and clear: men are allowed to rate women based on their looks. That's the norm. The absurdity of Trump posing as a victim is utterly lost on those who attend his rallies. His supporters appear to possess a pent-up anger about any change to the status quo in which women must submit to being abused or brush it off as 'boys will be boys' behavior. Given this line of thinking, groping is not sexual assault, as CNN's Anderson Cooper noted, but a man's prerogative. The people who attend Trumps's rallies are eager, even passionate, about championing his upside-down worldview in which male aggressors, once accused, are the aggrieved party, and are justified in defending their age-old right to casually prey on women. Woe to her who stands in his way.
21
Here are a few issues that concern me. Overpopulation, climate change, the environment in general, US national debt, tax structure, income inequity.......
Here are a few that do not concern me. Bill Clinton's sex life, Donald Trump's sex life. But the media cares little about my concerns. Scant attention is given them. A lot of media attention is given to those matters of little concern to me.
Where do I find the candidates positions on issues which, in my mind, are far more important than Trump's alleged groping? I don't now this but I suspect to the rest of the world, this political campaign is a farce.
Here are a few that do not concern me. Bill Clinton's sex life, Donald Trump's sex life. But the media cares little about my concerns. Scant attention is given them. A lot of media attention is given to those matters of little concern to me.
Where do I find the candidates positions on issues which, in my mind, are far more important than Trump's alleged groping? I don't now this but I suspect to the rest of the world, this political campaign is a farce.
6
Well, in the case of Mrs Clinton, her policy positions and proposals are set forth at length and in detail on her website. It's really not seemly to complain that your concerns are being ignored when it appears that you haven't taken the trouble to acquaint yourself with her concerns.
Trump wants to rule the world, and failing that, the USA. Elaboration is nugatory.
Overpopulation is not I think a concern of most Americans, perhaps it should be, though it's hard to know what can be done about it. One more often hears persons of a "conservative" stripe fretting that same-sex marriages are childless, and if this sort of thing keeps up, the human race will disappear. As you hint, the human race is showing no sign of doing any such thing, and anyway same sex couples DO have children, by various means.
Oh, and do yourself (and your friends and relations) a favor and stop fretting about the national debt.
Trump wants to rule the world, and failing that, the USA. Elaboration is nugatory.
Overpopulation is not I think a concern of most Americans, perhaps it should be, though it's hard to know what can be done about it. One more often hears persons of a "conservative" stripe fretting that same-sex marriages are childless, and if this sort of thing keeps up, the human race will disappear. As you hint, the human race is showing no sign of doing any such thing, and anyway same sex couples DO have children, by various means.
Oh, and do yourself (and your friends and relations) a favor and stop fretting about the national debt.
1
You could start by visiting both campaigns' web pages. Their position papers on a number of issues are posted. You'll find that Clinton's position papers are, indeed, position papers with a fair amount of detail. You'll find Trump's are like his speechs---full of sound and fury and signifying nothing.
2
Are you saying that you don't know where to find Hillary Clinton's position on the issues? You must not be trying very hard. https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/
As for Trump's positions, your guess is as good as anyone's.
As for Trump's positions, your guess is as good as anyone's.
2
One thing for sure republicans want to weaken the presidency. Donald will do that. Republicans still feel the bite of Theodore Roosevelt who strengthened the presidency and put the brakes on them. He was a progressive and that's why they are scared of Hillary. Anyone but Hillary for them. They would rather deal with Putin but Hillary is exactly what we need.
Imagine how angry 40% of the US would become if a major political party nominated a mixed-race man for president and followed that eight years later by nominating a women for that office?
31
Boom.
3
The problem is that many Americans do not believe what they read in the media.
For a while it was only the National Enquirer that we didn't believe. Many of the stories were preposterous, many were simply salacious.
Then the respectable media got caught up in unsupported salacious stories.
By the election, Trump may indeed surpass Bill Cosby's record of 60 accusers. The problem is that after 11 or 30 years it is impossible to actually ascertain the truth. A woman wants her 15 minutes of fame, so she changes her mind.
In a murder there is a body. In the case of "unwanted touching" it is all in the unwanting. That is, in the minds of the participants.
Women continually lie when they say that women never lie. Lying is never more common than in the art of love.
Not just that, but there should be proportionality. That is, an unwanted kiss may be bad, but does it warrant the complete destruction of a career? Cosby lost his career, and those who worked with him suffered by guilt by association although they had no knowledge of what Cosby did.
Lovers have always hurt each other. Who was more wronged, Frederic Chopin or George Sand? Liberals seem to claim it is always the woman, and that we must moreover burn all of Chopin's works.
Sorry, I cannot follow that path.
We had courts. We had due process. But liberals have erected a system in which the accused are punished by the media with no trial.
If double standards are bad, destruction of due process is worse.
For a while it was only the National Enquirer that we didn't believe. Many of the stories were preposterous, many were simply salacious.
Then the respectable media got caught up in unsupported salacious stories.
By the election, Trump may indeed surpass Bill Cosby's record of 60 accusers. The problem is that after 11 or 30 years it is impossible to actually ascertain the truth. A woman wants her 15 minutes of fame, so she changes her mind.
In a murder there is a body. In the case of "unwanted touching" it is all in the unwanting. That is, in the minds of the participants.
Women continually lie when they say that women never lie. Lying is never more common than in the art of love.
Not just that, but there should be proportionality. That is, an unwanted kiss may be bad, but does it warrant the complete destruction of a career? Cosby lost his career, and those who worked with him suffered by guilt by association although they had no knowledge of what Cosby did.
Lovers have always hurt each other. Who was more wronged, Frederic Chopin or George Sand? Liberals seem to claim it is always the woman, and that we must moreover burn all of Chopin's works.
Sorry, I cannot follow that path.
We had courts. We had due process. But liberals have erected a system in which the accused are punished by the media with no trial.
If double standards are bad, destruction of due process is worse.
4
So, not wanting to be touched or groped or raped is all in our minds? And for the record, no one advocates burning Chopin's works. A difficult romantic relationship in which one party is wronged has nothing to do with sexual assault. That anyone thinks it does is indicative of how big a problem we have.
4
The funny thing is, after Ken Starr spent $70 million of taxpayer money looking under every Clinton rock for misdeeds, after the release of thousands of her emails, and her campaign manager's and party's being stolen by hackers and dumped on the internet, we have a candidate whose professional and private lives are better known than any candidate for any position in history.
She's a bit tarnished, but she's still standing. Not too many other political figures could accomplish that, male or female. That's the woman Trump calls "crooked" and wants to put in jail.
By the way, Ken Starr had to resign as president of Baylor for being insensitive to sexual assaults.
She's a bit tarnished, but she's still standing. Not too many other political figures could accomplish that, male or female. That's the woman Trump calls "crooked" and wants to put in jail.
By the way, Ken Starr had to resign as president of Baylor for being insensitive to sexual assaults.
71
In reading your list of obvious republican / trump supporter double standards make glaring one significant fact: 43% of the electorate does not understand or care about the importance of who our president is, not just by name, but actions. The integrity with which our current president has fulfilled the office of president, in comparison to how the Donald has lived his life as reflected in your list, is of no consequence to 43% of those polled. They just do not understand the place and position of the Office of the President in national and international political discourse. They would rather have a fool as president.
34
After the IRS completes its audit and Trump publishes his tax returns, Trump will then produce the best evidence, vetted by Mike Pence, on Trump's sexual acts on women who are not his wife. Then you will be so sorry for doubting the Donald
5
Of course there is a double standard in American politics. If Hillary Clinton wins she will have surmounted incredible obstacles. The good news will be that the next woman will certainly not have to put up with nearly as much garbage. Go Hillary!
50
Trump already disingenuously calls out Secretary Clinton for all of his own misdeeds. Why provide his campaign with a roadmap to continue their dishonest approach? This article is in poor taste and reads like a rejected freelance submission to The Onion.
This column *should* have been phrased in a way that unwaveringly keeps Trump as the instigator of his unacceptable behavior and not presented as it is here: in a way that his supporters may read as a critique of Secretary Clinton, after overlooking the set-up and the conjecture in the article's premise.
This column *should* have been phrased in a way that unwaveringly keeps Trump as the instigator of his unacceptable behavior and not presented as it is here: in a way that his supporters may read as a critique of Secretary Clinton, after overlooking the set-up and the conjecture in the article's premise.
4
What if Hillary Clinton hinted that if a President Trump made Supreme Court appointments they did not like, the "Second Amendment people" could take care of it?
27
Imagine if it took the New York Times from when Trump formally announced his candidacy on June 16, 2015 until now to report this information and it spent six months in a prolonged beat down on Sanders. And The Times wonders why it has problems.
15
Thank you Mr. Kristof for reminding us that we are all victims of "Stockholm Syndrome" and that critical thinking is the key to our shackles.
9
Or if Hillary had challenged Trump to get a drug tests before their final debate.
Drug test? DT should take and pass a psychiatric evaluation by a certified, competent medical professional, before he can get on the debate stage on Wednesday night.
Drug test? DT should take and pass a psychiatric evaluation by a certified, competent medical professional, before he can get on the debate stage on Wednesday night.
41
Of four of course Donald Trump is able to get away with groping, while Hillary Clinton would not be. Bill Clinton himself was engaged in consensual affairs. Unfortunate as they were, the operative is consent.
Case in point: This is a country that works as hard as possible to blame women for being raped. Just look at our court system, wherein defense lawyers are permitted to ask women what they were wearing when attacked. I recall a case out of Tallahassee several years ago, and others like it, where juries acquitted accused rapists on the grounds that the accusers were dressed provocatively.
When Jen Bush was governor of Florida, he signed into law the requirement for women who were seeking abortions to contact their former lovers so that those lovers could engage in the decision-making. Never was there a requirement for the male lovers to contact women to say, We had sex. Did you by chance become pregnant?
An so on.
Trump is getting hounded because almost every woman has, at some point, been leered at and much worse, yet we are told to shut up and take it as a compliment, or dress more conservatively, or stop drinking so much, or to take what we can get because with the way we look we are lucky to get any attention at all.
Many men are not like that, of course, but over time, when you go through it enough, you start collecting a sample large enough with which to generalize.
Anyone who thinks this topic isn't a big deal has not begun to hear the roar of women.
Case in point: This is a country that works as hard as possible to blame women for being raped. Just look at our court system, wherein defense lawyers are permitted to ask women what they were wearing when attacked. I recall a case out of Tallahassee several years ago, and others like it, where juries acquitted accused rapists on the grounds that the accusers were dressed provocatively.
When Jen Bush was governor of Florida, he signed into law the requirement for women who were seeking abortions to contact their former lovers so that those lovers could engage in the decision-making. Never was there a requirement for the male lovers to contact women to say, We had sex. Did you by chance become pregnant?
An so on.
Trump is getting hounded because almost every woman has, at some point, been leered at and much worse, yet we are told to shut up and take it as a compliment, or dress more conservatively, or stop drinking so much, or to take what we can get because with the way we look we are lucky to get any attention at all.
Many men are not like that, of course, but over time, when you go through it enough, you start collecting a sample large enough with which to generalize.
Anyone who thinks this topic isn't a big deal has not begun to hear the roar of women.
49
You are so right! It is ludicrous in the extreme to imagine the American public, male or female, embracing such a vile character in a female presidential candidate as you have described. Yet millions have done so for Donald Trump. What insanity is this?
This election has done us a great service - exposing the least among us pretending to be the best, and nearly bringing a great nation to its knees while staring into the chasm of choosing a pedophile, serial sexual assaulter and all around moron as the world's most powerful leader.
Talk about terrorism! This is what it looks like up close America.
This election has done us a great service - exposing the least among us pretending to be the best, and nearly bringing a great nation to its knees while staring into the chasm of choosing a pedophile, serial sexual assaulter and all around moron as the world's most powerful leader.
Talk about terrorism! This is what it looks like up close America.
55
NIcholas Kristof, you don't understand evolutionary differences between male and female mating strategies, and you "rationalize" certain innate sexual differences between the genders. A good book for you to read would be anything by David Buss (an evolutionary psychologist), or Satoshi Kanazawa.
2
It's odd. I met, courted, and married my wife without groping her or any other women. Nor did I find it "evolutionarily" necessary to rape, cat-call, or objectify women. My mother was a woman. My wife and daughter are women. Colleagues and friends as well. And when I hear this "evolution" rationalization from men who actually do use indoor plumbing, wear clothing, and otherwise avoid being animals, I see it as an excuse for very bad behavior. So if your method of finding a mate includes grabbing, groping, or raping, don't turn to me for understanding.
1
So your point is...what? That it's okay?!?
4
Eugene, you don't recognize when someone is trying to make a point.
A good book for you to read would be The Elements of Style, by E. B. White and William Strunk Jr.
PS: I'm a biologist. I do understand what you're saying, but you missed the point.
A good book for you to read would be The Elements of Style, by E. B. White and William Strunk Jr.
PS: I'm a biologist. I do understand what you're saying, but you missed the point.
4
Not just Mrs. Clinton. Can you imagine if Obama had even one of these scandals? The right wing would be calling-rightfully so-for his impeachment. Unbelievable.
73
If Hillary Clinton Groped Men / we would Throw Up
9
You would not throw up if Donald Trump groped women? Your double standard?
If by "we" you mean YOU, then I suppose so.
But I am wondering why you don't find it equally repulsive than an orange, overweight, old man walks into a dressing room when young girls are getting dressed. That makes me sick.
It also makes me sick, visibly sick may I add, that he is being compared to Hillary Clinton. This is like comparing Biff from Back to the Future to Hermione Granger. It is no contest.
Know what else makes me sick?
Reading about all the accounts of women that have been groped because the likes of you don't see fit to call out the ingrained misogyny in our culture but choose instead to reinforce it.
I wrote this elsewhere but it bears repeating. I am the mother of boy-girl twins. When I brought them home from the hospital, one had a pink hat and the other a blue one. Here is an unequivocal truth: the one with the pink hat has never expected less for herself than the one with the blue hat.
As it should be.....
But I am wondering why you don't find it equally repulsive than an orange, overweight, old man walks into a dressing room when young girls are getting dressed. That makes me sick.
It also makes me sick, visibly sick may I add, that he is being compared to Hillary Clinton. This is like comparing Biff from Back to the Future to Hermione Granger. It is no contest.
Know what else makes me sick?
Reading about all the accounts of women that have been groped because the likes of you don't see fit to call out the ingrained misogyny in our culture but choose instead to reinforce it.
I wrote this elsewhere but it bears repeating. I am the mother of boy-girl twins. When I brought them home from the hospital, one had a pink hat and the other a blue one. Here is an unequivocal truth: the one with the pink hat has never expected less for herself than the one with the blue hat.
As it should be.....
3
Please ask thyself -- did you have the same "throw up" feeling when you read/heard about Trump groping women? This is what this article is about.
3
I have a vivid imagination. My current, most favorite daydream includes bottles of champagne popping open on November 8th and toasting to the end of this Trump torture. November 8th has been renamed by me as "Liberated from Trump Day". I am throwing a huge party in Seattle and will be too hung over on November 9th to do anything but savor Trump's defeat. 23 days and counting.
22
We may be rid of Trump on Nov. 9, unfortunately, he will still have over a third of the country who followed him to contend with. They will not go down so easily and will either try to harm Clinton in some way or find a new demagogue to leech onto and blindly lead them into uncritically-thought waters...or both!
3
Trump Tower....filled with Trash, and Tantrums.
There is no standard to define this man that teaches bigotry and falsehoods. He lusts for applause, money and predatory sex. He grows uglier each day. He doesn't entertain. He diminishes us as a people.
There is no standard to define this man that teaches bigotry and falsehoods. He lusts for applause, money and predatory sex. He grows uglier each day. He doesn't entertain. He diminishes us as a people.
40
Imagine if Clinton were a head taller and a hundred pounds heavier than the men she encountered, and then boasted about how easy it was to grope and kiss them at will, with no repercussions.
24
Let's be honest now Nick, speaking of double standards. If Hillary had groped men back in 2004, more than a few would have taken her up on it. And if The Donald was a progressive liberal running for president whose politics had the good housekeeping seal of approval from the NY Times when the same type of tapes were revealed, can you really tell us -- with a straight face now Nick -- the media would be hyperventilating as much as it is at present with a candidate whose politics it despises?
No? A reminder that no matter how vile Trump's comments are, it is Bill Clinton -- not Donald Trump -- who had to pay a $850,000 settlement out of court to end a sexual abuse case: filed by Paula Jones, an Arkansas state employee while Bill was governor, and who Hillary smeared publicly to try and delegitimize her.
And again, talking about double standards here: if it were the Donald paying a $850,000 settlement -- or any right-wing Republican in the example -- to end a sexual abuse court case before it got to trial while Melania smeared his accuser publicly, you'd and the rest of the media would be as apoplectic as you are now over the issue, and Hillary would be waving her feminist flag to the deafening cheers of the sisterhood while defending Paula Jones as yet another example of hapless women victimized by powerful men.
No? A reminder that no matter how vile Trump's comments are, it is Bill Clinton -- not Donald Trump -- who had to pay a $850,000 settlement out of court to end a sexual abuse case: filed by Paula Jones, an Arkansas state employee while Bill was governor, and who Hillary smeared publicly to try and delegitimize her.
And again, talking about double standards here: if it were the Donald paying a $850,000 settlement -- or any right-wing Republican in the example -- to end a sexual abuse court case before it got to trial while Melania smeared his accuser publicly, you'd and the rest of the media would be as apoplectic as you are now over the issue, and Hillary would be waving her feminist flag to the deafening cheers of the sisterhood while defending Paula Jones as yet another example of hapless women victimized by powerful men.
5
The Bill Clinton scandals were indeed covered intensely in the 90's. But he isn't the 2016 nominee.
2
NYT faithfully reported on the Anthony Weiner sexting scandal, even though Weiner's political positions reflected many of those the Times supported.
NYT faithfully reported on Elliott Spitzer's use of public money for sexual encounters with escorts, even though Spitzer was the kind of governor the Times endorsed.
Attacks on the media have been a Republican staple for my entire lifetime - and yet, Fox News is a media outlet, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity are the members of the media. SO get off it, already.
NYT faithfully reported on Elliott Spitzer's use of public money for sexual encounters with escorts, even though Spitzer was the kind of governor the Times endorsed.
Attacks on the media have been a Republican staple for my entire lifetime - and yet, Fox News is a media outlet, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity are the members of the media. SO get off it, already.
4
As someone who hears from people in a town whose Democrats voted 90% for Bernie in the primary, I'd like to tell you that the 3 decade slander of Clintons by the GOP, reinforced by Bernie, has created an indelible aura of mistrust for Hillary. Her work for the Children's Defense League and for education reform in Arkansas are not on the radar of anyone but the political wonks. Hawk, Quid Pro Quo, Elitist (directed toward a woman whose mother was a maid), etc were an easy sell. The work that the foundation has done is ignored. The fact that Colin Powell and Jimmy Carter made similar amounts speaking and writing is ignored. That Hillary was a star before she met Bill is not on their radar. Her wealth was earned.....and pales in comparison to Gates, Buffett, Trump, etc......Look at Tmonk677.......If Hillary had made money selling useless widgets, twitter, Facebook, assault guns, and not giving speeches and writing best sellers related to her government service, she'd pass the sniff test? Baloney. She's a woman. Not in her place. She'd have made more money as a lawyer with her brains, education, and work-ethic, in any place but Arkansas. She's penalized for leaving the Watergate investigation, following Bill, and believing her experience and skill matter.
96
I don't know about Powell, but Jimmy Carter was not in office or about to run for office when he gave paid speeches. THAT is the part that Hillary supporters conveniently forget. It is access and influence that are the drivers here. That is what her financial "friends" are after.
1
Clearly, there is a double standard. However, I'm unwilling to dismiss so many folks for just being ignorant. There are issues.
Clearly emailgate and Benghazi are mostly manufactured political poison pills. I keep hoping NYT might do a special on them, but I realize everybody has bought the t-shirts and signed up for the group chants. Still, a nice infographic might help.
I am disappointed in HRC's choice of tactics, her marketing strategy, and her less than robust policy program. She had years to put this together with access to the best experts.
True, Trump upset the system with his bold demagoguery and the media's fascination with him, but I expected more from HRC.
These single number economic indicators we use are low resolution tools that mask the significant and rapid social and economic changes in the US. Add to that 19.5T in debt; it is physically impossible to pay that down in any near term timeframe.
Meanwhile we've lost 10,000 lives since 911 and taken 50,000 wounded and all everybody wants is more wars fought with more borrowed money.
Sigh.
Clearly emailgate and Benghazi are mostly manufactured political poison pills. I keep hoping NYT might do a special on them, but I realize everybody has bought the t-shirts and signed up for the group chants. Still, a nice infographic might help.
I am disappointed in HRC's choice of tactics, her marketing strategy, and her less than robust policy program. She had years to put this together with access to the best experts.
True, Trump upset the system with his bold demagoguery and the media's fascination with him, but I expected more from HRC.
These single number economic indicators we use are low resolution tools that mask the significant and rapid social and economic changes in the US. Add to that 19.5T in debt; it is physically impossible to pay that down in any near term timeframe.
Meanwhile we've lost 10,000 lives since 911 and taken 50,000 wounded and all everybody wants is more wars fought with more borrowed money.
Sigh.
11
Imagine if even one Trump supporter would read this article and be persuaded to change their mind. "Not happenin' folks. This I can tell you. Not happenin'."
40
And suppose Barack Obama had done or said these things? Same result: if a woman or person of color did or said one tenth of these things, they wouldn't be considered. But if you're a white man of privilege, even an imbalanced and mendacious one, you still get 40% of the vote and 200 Electoral College votes just for showing up.
80
Fantastic article. As a Canadian living next door to this lunacy and being puzzled as to why people hate hillary Clinton so much you have put it very succinctly. I'm worried really worried and so are many of my friends here in Canada. The fact is however Mr Kristof that too much emphasis is being placed on the presidential race with little mention being made of the fact that it is expected that the Republicans will maintain their house majorities. How will it be any different.there nerds to be a complete purge to make things right again. Start writing articles about that
27
You and I know, sadly, that she doesn't have to have done these things. There are people out there who would accuse her of them anyway. The wiksters are probably looking for the evidence in her e-mails right now.
The point is taken, but with the opposition who seems to be some past politician's wastrel love child stealing all the lines and upstaging her to boot, what's a girl going to do?
The point is taken, but with the opposition who seems to be some past politician's wastrel love child stealing all the lines and upstaging her to boot, what's a girl going to do?
2
And imagine if Clinton courted Vladimir Putin. Imagine if Clinton asked Russia to hack Trump. Imagine if Clinton said at a rally "Knock the hell out of them. I promise you I will pay for the legal fees". Imagine if Clinton said “Second Amendment people” might stop Donald Trump’s Supreme Court appointments.
18
I am sure he makes good on his promise to pay the legal fees the same way he made good on his promises to his contractors.
2
Look Trump's an ignorant fool, but really men would think it assuming to be groped by a girl. Of course there is a double standard, that's because men and women are not the same
1
It's all about the age-old double standard: Promiscuous men are hailed as studs. Promiscuous women are vilified as sluts. What's vexing about this election is the total lack of value in what traditionally has been a significant event: the debates. Instead of a valid exchange of ideas regarding vital issues, Trump has played the alpha-male and contaminated the first two by evading substance and launching personal attacks. These are not debates. They are monologues. Kristof's point in moot. Hillary would not have secured the nomination if she talked or acted like Trump.
6
Yes, but imagine if Donald Trump knew how to use email!
4
He prefers the more public tweet, especially in the wee, small hours of the morning. It assures him a place above the fold on the morning news.
1
My guess is that many people who read this will be speechless. Because it's hard to spin when you view Trump's nonsense and worse through Hillary Clinton. Yes imagine if any of us regular middle class citizens behaved this way. We would be unemployable and would have none or very few friends. We would be ostracized in our own neighborhoods. And if Hillary behaved in the manner of Trump she wouldn't be headed for the presidency that's for sure.
16
I keep wondering if the Republicans and their spokes people would be as dismissive if a dozen women made he same claims of President Obama? And what if an open mic recorded him boasting about his conquests? Can you say Emit Till?
8
Brilliant. And spot on.
12
As Jimmy Durante put it, “Everyone wants to get into da act.” So Nicholas Kristof gets into the act on the latest with respect to Donald Trump, as follow-ups to his previous similar vein columns on Mr. Trump, except this time with the nonsensical take that Hillary Clinton is subject to greater scrutiny than Donald Trump because she’s a woman.
It would be nice if Mr. Kristof left off his lame attempt to supposedly turn the table, gender speaking, and came to grips with reality. All of things he itemizes, and more, which come from the playbook on Donald Trump, would have Trump dead in the water were it not for the fact that his Democratic opponent is Hillary Clinton. The “double standard” is in this Kristof column which pretends that the Hillary Clinton scandals, lies, and cover-ups, almost too numerous to mention, don’t exist, and that we should all get out our handkerchiefs as the tears flow for Hillary Clinton..
Hillary Clinton will undoubtedly win the upcoming election in spite of her scandals, lies and cover-ups precisely because those will be outweighed by the Donald Trump itemized list from Mr. Kristof plus all the other Trump negatives. The handkerchief will have to stay out, however, as Mr. Kristof comes up with other reasons why the tears for Hillary Clinton, now in the White House, have to keep flowing.
It would be nice if Mr. Kristof left off his lame attempt to supposedly turn the table, gender speaking, and came to grips with reality. All of things he itemizes, and more, which come from the playbook on Donald Trump, would have Trump dead in the water were it not for the fact that his Democratic opponent is Hillary Clinton. The “double standard” is in this Kristof column which pretends that the Hillary Clinton scandals, lies, and cover-ups, almost too numerous to mention, don’t exist, and that we should all get out our handkerchiefs as the tears flow for Hillary Clinton..
Hillary Clinton will undoubtedly win the upcoming election in spite of her scandals, lies and cover-ups precisely because those will be outweighed by the Donald Trump itemized list from Mr. Kristof plus all the other Trump negatives. The handkerchief will have to stay out, however, as Mr. Kristof comes up with other reasons why the tears for Hillary Clinton, now in the White House, have to keep flowing.
1
"Standards" don't matter as much when your "base" is full of (maybe not entirely, but nevertheless full of) racists who don't care what you say as long as you're going to "put 'those' people in their place."
Nothing Trump says matters (negatively) to his base. And whatever Trump says, at least till recently, the media has ensured is heard and seen through every mechanism possible.
This filthy clown has ridden the "spectacle of Trump," almost right up to the US presidency. The media now claims to be more cautious about how it portrays him (and more balanced in how it covers Hillary Clinton). Let's hope they actually do exercise restraint and evenhandedness, and the danger to the US, that this horrendous man presents, passes by. At least we know now never to laugh at the idiots and delusional serial abusers who other countries elect to their highest office.
Nothing Trump says matters (negatively) to his base. And whatever Trump says, at least till recently, the media has ensured is heard and seen through every mechanism possible.
This filthy clown has ridden the "spectacle of Trump," almost right up to the US presidency. The media now claims to be more cautious about how it portrays him (and more balanced in how it covers Hillary Clinton). Let's hope they actually do exercise restraint and evenhandedness, and the danger to the US, that this horrendous man presents, passes by. At least we know now never to laugh at the idiots and delusional serial abusers who other countries elect to their highest office.
11
The unrelenting beat of depravities drives you to nausea or numbness.
21
Both, sir!
1
Like shooting fish in a barrel - imagine if Hillary couldn't speak into a mike without making sucking noises through her nose that no one's ever heard before or ever wanted to hear - imagine if Hillary was selling herself for her ability to hire nothing but the best people and then went through three campaign managers in four months - imagine if Hillary's idea of waging a campaign included coming up with nasty names for all of her political opponents and then shamelessly using them at every opportunity - imagine if Hillary mused aloud I never do better than when millions are losing their homes...
35
Imagine if she egged on supporters who called for the jailing of her opponent.
4
Imagine if Hillary self-tanned her face orange, got scalp reduction surgery for baldness, and absurdly combed over the peroxided follicular detritus?
13
Of course there is a double standard. It's not just men vs. women though. Suppose Barack Obama had done all of those things; do you think he would have gotten anywhere near the Presidency?
It's those with privilege vs. those without privilege. That's what privilege is: always getting the benefit of the doubt.
It's those with privilege vs. those without privilege. That's what privilege is: always getting the benefit of the doubt.
36
A friend of mine recently told me that a (male) teacher in junior high school used to snap the girls' bra straps. It made the girls uncomfortable, but no one spoke out because he was a teacher, and, hey, it was all in good fun (or so he said). Imagine a female teacher snapping the waistbands of boys' underwear. Creepy, isn't it? Yes, the double standard is very much alive and well. (When boys or men get molested, does anyone ask about their sex lives or what they were wearing?) But I do believe we are finally seeing the signs of change, and it will gradually continue as women gain more power and economic control.
38
Maybe it is a double standard for women, but much of this situation is about a bizarre special exemption for Trump for all kinds of bad behavior, horrible attitude, and ill preparedness.
6
George W. Bush and Sarah Palin preceded him. So yes, the republicans have been going this way for quite some time, appealing to the tantrum-toddler base on the right. That said, the double-standard and sexism still infesting the nation's culture is being exposed, so to speak, in these things as well.
3
At a Trump rally in Portland Maine, the CBC was interviewing supporters and asking them to explain their choice. One young man answered with a grin:"because it scares people". The empowerment thus felt is , I believe, the most plausible explanation for Trump's success.
This is, of course the empowerment of the bully, but when the empowerment of reason and education are absent, it is a siren song.
This is, of course the empowerment of the bully, but when the empowerment of reason and education are absent, it is a siren song.
21
She didn't do any of those things, so we don't know how the press or public would have reacted if she had.
1
Where I worked (in a hormone biology lab) one of the standard jokes was:
What is the difference between a nice, assertive, young man and a pushy bitch?
Answer: A Y chromosome
(For those who don't know enough biology, the Y chromosome is only in males. It is what makes the difference between females and males. For more sophisticated readers, there are also chimeras, but let's not go there here.)
What is the difference between a nice, assertive, young man and a pushy bitch?
Answer: A Y chromosome
(For those who don't know enough biology, the Y chromosome is only in males. It is what makes the difference between females and males. For more sophisticated readers, there are also chimeras, but let's not go there here.)
6
Trump advertised his admiration of his daughter by saying, "If she weren't my daughter, I'd really be trying to date her." For true symmetry, Hillary would have to remark on the sexual desirability of her son and how she would like to date him, if only.
5
I think men don't get it about the impact on women of unwanted sexual advances. If they think of the opposite--unwanted touching from a woman--there is a cultural bias that gives it some positive connotations so it is not seen as a threat, or demeaning. I think the more proper analogy for men would be for the aggressor to be a man--a physically larger and in this case a socially much more powerful man. I don't think even gay men would like a man to give them a big kiss and a grope unasked and unwanted, but for heterosexual men it would be very uncomfortable and maybe shameful and traumatic--like it is for women. Also, given Trumps trumpeted philandering, I wonder why nobody is questioning how many abortions he has paid for or otherwise been party to, especially as he states that so many of his encounters seem to be impulsive. Is he always prepared?
17
Imagine if the deplorables read this column.
On second thought, don't waste your time.
On second thought, don't waste your time.
7
Thank you Mr Kristof. It's indeed hard to imagine any of these things, and they would be similarly unbelievable for the exemplary Obamas.
Yet in lieu of ANY of these, Hillary Derangement Syndrome is epidemic among the (so-called) conservatives. It's certainly hard to imagine them being any more apoplectic than they already are.
Perhaps at least part of that is because they know somewhere inside, underneath layers and layers of denial, that her faults are mole hills compared to their candidates' - please note the plural - mountains of shame and hypocrisy.
I guess when you don't really have anything to offer, it's absolutely necessary to scream about the mote in another's eye to keep from noticing the beam in your own.
Yet in lieu of ANY of these, Hillary Derangement Syndrome is epidemic among the (so-called) conservatives. It's certainly hard to imagine them being any more apoplectic than they already are.
Perhaps at least part of that is because they know somewhere inside, underneath layers and layers of denial, that her faults are mole hills compared to their candidates' - please note the plural - mountains of shame and hypocrisy.
I guess when you don't really have anything to offer, it's absolutely necessary to scream about the mote in another's eye to keep from noticing the beam in your own.
11
What Trump's been doing in denying these allegations reminds me of a quote from Seinfeld: "Remember, it's not a lie if you believe it." It's possible that he actually believes he didn't do anything wrong; he's not lying, he is just so ignorant he doesn't understand the truth.
8
It's quite possible he doesn't remember them. Narcissists have such fractured personalities that they often don't remember things.
I keep trying to tell people, there's no "there," there.
They also believe their own lie and lie to everyone around them, so both are possible.
I keep trying to tell people, there's no "there," there.
They also believe their own lie and lie to everyone around them, so both are possible.
3
Or imagine if the Republican candidate for president did those things. Common sense would say he would be toast. But . . .
11
Of course the treatment of Hillary Clinton in this campaign reflects a double standard and you have outlined it very effectively. But the use of this double standard is only one tool in the Republican slander arsenal. For the past eight years Republicans have denied president Obama legitimacy because he is a black man and a Democrat. Clarence Thomas also a sexual predator but a conservative black man was given a pass because of a double standard . Republicans have shown their true colors using any method to impune the integrity of their opposition regardless of their own ineptness or sins. If GW Bush were a Democrat he would have been impeached. If Bill Clinton were a Republican he would have been given a golden crown.
26
Even worse: Imagine if it was a black man or black woman.
14
Thank you!
Come on, America! Wake up! (How is it that someone like Trump is even in contention? A gross, crude, belligerent, false, and stupid man with no redeemable qualities and zero qualifications.)
Where are the editorials that explain to the American people that running a second tier casino/hotel business is not at all the same thing as running a country (and not just any little country but the country with the biggest GDP on the planet)? (Even putting aside the fact that Trump doesn't run his businesses very well -- they lose money, they go bankrupt, they gyp the investors and workers.)
This article is good, but it's missing a paragraph like "Imagine if Clinton were the CEO of a casino/hotel empire with multiple bankruptcies that left investors holding the bag, recovering 10 cents on the dollar?"
Hillary is smart, experienced, dedicated, and incredibly well prepared. Public service has been her whole life and she has done a ton of good that she should be very proud of! Trump hasn't done anything for anyone -- his entire life.
Hillary may not be the most charismatic or scintillating campaigner we've ever seen, but she's serious and real and she cares about our country and its people. She's not "reality TV". And she's not a lunatic. She was a great senator and she will make a fine president.
There has never been a clearer choice. Vote! Vote! Vote!
Come on, America! Wake up! (How is it that someone like Trump is even in contention? A gross, crude, belligerent, false, and stupid man with no redeemable qualities and zero qualifications.)
Where are the editorials that explain to the American people that running a second tier casino/hotel business is not at all the same thing as running a country (and not just any little country but the country with the biggest GDP on the planet)? (Even putting aside the fact that Trump doesn't run his businesses very well -- they lose money, they go bankrupt, they gyp the investors and workers.)
This article is good, but it's missing a paragraph like "Imagine if Clinton were the CEO of a casino/hotel empire with multiple bankruptcies that left investors holding the bag, recovering 10 cents on the dollar?"
Hillary is smart, experienced, dedicated, and incredibly well prepared. Public service has been her whole life and she has done a ton of good that she should be very proud of! Trump hasn't done anything for anyone -- his entire life.
Hillary may not be the most charismatic or scintillating campaigner we've ever seen, but she's serious and real and she cares about our country and its people. She's not "reality TV". And she's not a lunatic. She was a great senator and she will make a fine president.
There has never been a clearer choice. Vote! Vote! Vote!
20
It must have been soul-curdling to write this column though I am grateful you did it. It makes gruelingly clear the odious quadruple-standard that women are held to in a way almost too vivid to bear.
And it doesn't even mention the anti-black; anti-Mexican; anti-Muslim; anti-GoldStar Mother; anti-disabled; let's do more & worse torture; blow-up gesturing small boat; -- on-plus-gruesomely-on.
Europe/UK look at us aghast. I am ashamed. "What are you people doing?!" I have no answer.
Thank you for this hideous lesson.
And it doesn't even mention the anti-black; anti-Mexican; anti-Muslim; anti-GoldStar Mother; anti-disabled; let's do more & worse torture; blow-up gesturing small boat; -- on-plus-gruesomely-on.
Europe/UK look at us aghast. I am ashamed. "What are you people doing?!" I have no answer.
Thank you for this hideous lesson.
17
For any woman who has worked in t]a male dominated environment, this article is not news--unfortunately. We have lived it all our lives.
When I was younger, women protected themselves by "not getting into certain situations" or if necessary a well placed knee or stiletto heel. Still the best way to avoid males such as Trump is to "not get into certain situations". So study hard ladies so that you don't need to enter beauty contests.
When I was younger, women protected themselves by "not getting into certain situations" or if necessary a well placed knee or stiletto heel. Still the best way to avoid males such as Trump is to "not get into certain situations". So study hard ladies so that you don't need to enter beauty contests.
4
On the other hand thank God we hold women to a higher standard. At least there's one sex we can look up to.
2
In a sane & humane world, it should matter zero about your 'situation' ever. The idea that anyone should have to twist their life to be free of predators is not freedom nor sacred honor. We shouldn't have to cower or duck or evade or avoid.
3
It's an interesting picture. DT standing with his wife as very "manufactured" women "lean in" to gain publicity. Hmmm. Not one of them seem to be intimidated.
Did any of these women claim assault? The impression I have is that they are using DT's celebrity to help advance their appearance agenda.
There is always another side to the agenda and
Did any of these women claim assault? The impression I have is that they are using DT's celebrity to help advance their appearance agenda.
There is always another side to the agenda and
So you think these women - all fifteen of them - are saying these things for publicity? Trust me, I know very few women, myself included, who want to be publicly known for having been groped or sexually assaulted by Donald Trump. These women didn't claim assault at the time because of the humiliation and skepticism, as your comment illustrates, they would have faced. They are coming forward now because they finally have a forum in which they are more likely to be believed, and because they feel compelled to lend support to other women who have been victimized by Mr. Trump. These women are courageous, and your comment belittles and demeans them. My guess is that that are still dozens of women out there who have experienced similar treatment by Mr. Trump who will not subject their private lives to the maelstrom of public scrutiny they would endure by telling their stories.
11
Mr. Kristof, I think you nailed it. Thanks.
Meanwhile, on page 1, Amy Chozick says Mrs. Clinton isn't saying anything about Donald's horrible misogyny because, well, Bill. Now how screwed up is that analysis?
Meanwhile, on page 1, Amy Chozick says Mrs. Clinton isn't saying anything about Donald's horrible misogyny because, well, Bill. Now how screwed up is that analysis?
11
Frankly, the only difference between Bill and Donald is that Bill has more intelligence and charisma.
Hillary Clinton has been thoroughly scourged through the years by both the right and the far left for "standing by her man" because she took her marriage vows seriously enough to do some very hard work, including getting Bill Clinton to do some very hard work, in repairing a marriage largely destroyed by his behavior.
And there are people who have consistently blamed Hillary for her husband's misdeeds. This too is ridiculous, but the fact is she's been attacked as an "enabler" from both the right and the far left over this.
Given how a large number of people have issues with both blaming her for Bill's misbehavior and her decision to work on her marriage instead of just divorcing Bill, it's no wonder that Hillary is not hammering away at the Donald's behavior: Too many people would make the claim that she's the pot calling the kettle black if she did that.
And there are people who have consistently blamed Hillary for her husband's misdeeds. This too is ridiculous, but the fact is she's been attacked as an "enabler" from both the right and the far left over this.
Given how a large number of people have issues with both blaming her for Bill's misbehavior and her decision to work on her marriage instead of just divorcing Bill, it's no wonder that Hillary is not hammering away at the Donald's behavior: Too many people would make the claim that she's the pot calling the kettle black if she did that.
1
You really opened my eyes to the double standard in American politics with your "Imagine..." statements. However I think that the double standard may be a result of the fact-free zone that is at the center of our polarized political process, more than gender-based scrutiny.
If you repeat a lie enough times, people will start to believe it is true. How can people evaluate a candidate if he keeps telling lies? Trump's record of over 70% false or mostly false statements means that the general electorate is evaluating him based on lies, lies, and more lies. And the media has not performed one of its most vital tasks in this election--correcting the vast amount of misinformation that is being passed off as the truth. A new real-time method for separating fact from fiction clearly needs to be developed.
I wish that more Trump supporters could read this column, so that they could really compare "crooked" Hillary with him, but most of them don't read the NYT.
If you repeat a lie enough times, people will start to believe it is true. How can people evaluate a candidate if he keeps telling lies? Trump's record of over 70% false or mostly false statements means that the general electorate is evaluating him based on lies, lies, and more lies. And the media has not performed one of its most vital tasks in this election--correcting the vast amount of misinformation that is being passed off as the truth. A new real-time method for separating fact from fiction clearly needs to be developed.
I wish that more Trump supporters could read this column, so that they could really compare "crooked" Hillary with him, but most of them don't read the NYT.
9
Also imagine if Hillary Clinton was facing charges of tying up and raping a screaming 13 year old girl with a co-defendant who (Jeffrey Epstein) is already a convicted pedophile; and the court hearing is slated to commence in December of 2016.
Let's actually not imagine that - and instead acknowledge that this is what Donald Trump's situation is; and that the preponderance of the indicators regarding his character show how this predicament seems acutely credible and consistent with who he is.
Let's actually not imagine that - and instead acknowledge that this is what Donald Trump's situation is; and that the preponderance of the indicators regarding his character show how this predicament seems acutely credible and consistent with who he is.
11
Why didn't they move the court hearing to October?
2
My guess is he will not last 90 days in office before being impeach for either criminal behavior or improper use of the office. He is all about himself, nothing else.
It would interfere with the election. of course, and Trump would call it politically motivated by a biased judge. His followers would make threats on the judge's life - heaven forbid the judge be a woman or a minority!
1
Thanks for asking us to "imagine" improbable, uncomfortable, outlandish scenarios involving candidates for POTUS.
But the sad fact is: Most of this election has already been unimaginable.
But the sad fact is: Most of this election has already been unimaginable.
11
Hope your op-ed, NK, gets the attention of both the voters and political commentators. You have made a compelling case, via irony, that a double standard prevails, with one candidate, Clinton, being held to a different (higher) standard than her opponent, Trump.
Although we can all hope that a wise verdict by voters will be rendered on November 8, I fear for our country, regardless of who wins. Doubt that Trump or his supporters will peaceably fade away, even if Trump loses. Believe that the double standard that has contributed to poisoning our political discourse will continue to be with us for a long while, unfortunately, even if we put a woman in the White House.
Hope your op-ed, NK, gets the attention of both the voters and political commentators. You have made a compelling case, via irony, that a double standard prevails, with one candidate, Clinton, being held to a different (higher) standard than her opponent, Trump.
Although we can all hope that a wise verdict by voters will be rendered on November 8, I fear for our country, regardless of who wins. Doubt that Trump or his supporters will peaceably fade away, even if Trump loses. Believe that the double standard that has contributed to poisoning our political discourse will continue to be with us for a long while, unfortunately, even if we put a woman in the White House.
In my over 55 years of voting, have never seen politics in America so toxic. We got a problem, voters.
Although we can all hope that a wise verdict by voters will be rendered on November 8, I fear for our country, regardless of who wins. Doubt that Trump or his supporters will peaceably fade away, even if Trump loses. Believe that the double standard that has contributed to poisoning our political discourse will continue to be with us for a long while, unfortunately, even if we put a woman in the White House.
Hope your op-ed, NK, gets the attention of both the voters and political commentators. You have made a compelling case, via irony, that a double standard prevails, with one candidate, Clinton, being held to a different (higher) standard than her opponent, Trump.
Although we can all hope that a wise verdict by voters will be rendered on November 8, I fear for our country, regardless of who wins. Doubt that Trump or his supporters will peaceably fade away, even if Trump loses. Believe that the double standard that has contributed to poisoning our political discourse will continue to be with us for a long while, unfortunately, even if we put a woman in the White House.
In my over 55 years of voting, have never seen politics in America so toxic. We got a problem, voters.
22
Terrific column. The juxtaposition of Trump's comments as coming from a woman accomplishes two things at once: 1. Trump's absolute unsuitability for the Presidency. 2. Why he should never be elected solely based on what he has said.
Thank you!!!
Thank you!!!
4
If Hillary had said and done half of these things she would have been put away as a mad, freaking lunatic. Mind boggling.
27
If she groped men then the nytimes wouldn't report it
Trump is by far the worst but the media is giving hrc a pass.
Trump is by far the worst but the media is giving hrc a pass.
2
That just looks from where I am sitting untrue. The "progressive" press is much more critical of progressives then "conservative" press is of conservatives.
18
Do you see all the articles in the times about Clinton? Keep looking. You just might
If you haven't been keeping up, HRC is indeed getting her share of negative press though the national consensus seems to be that her sins are far less egregious than DJT's. As the column suggests, had she been caught in any one of the many serial embarrassments and crimes that DJT seems to actively pursue, she wouldn't be in the race.
2
I wonder how Saudi Arabia covered the blowback from the Access Hollywood tape and the subsequent allegations. Would have been a bit tricky, I imagine.
3
I laughed my waythrough the absurdities you suggest. But it is sobering. What a double standard. If Trump were a woman he would have never ever had a chance from the get go. Women and African Americans are doing the hard work, working circles around others for a seat at the table even today. It is actually very upsetting to me.
27
Women backing Trump?
Would that be Stockholm Syndrome?
Voter perversion.
Would that be Stockholm Syndrome?
Voter perversion.
11
Sadly women sometimes return to an abusive relationship. Much support is needed in such cases. Hillary's platform encompasses $$ for such support.
2
Home run column. Every American voter should read it.
31
A significant portion of the electorate have gone way past rational thinking as it relates to Trump. I have this feeling (which like Nick this election makes me ill) that if we ran a survey supposing Charles Manson as the Republican candidate, he would capture a surprising amount of votes instead of Hillary Clinton. It is beyond troubling that divisions in our country have become so deep and wide that we simply can't imagine someone who does not agree with our point of view...to the point that we might choose Manson just to make a point. I'd like to see that survey....
11
Imagine if Trump had groped men's genitals. How long would he have lasted as candidate? But because he did what he did to women and he said what he said about women, he's still the Republican candidate. But what is the difference? In both cases, he shows a lack of respect of a person.
53
good point! It's all about respect. Hope we can rediscover it on November 9th but not holding my breath.
2
You are so right! Heck, if he even HINTED at a DESIRE to grope other men, the GOP would drop him like a hot rock. But he brazenly boasts of repeatedly sexually assaulting women and the party is "torn," desperately calculating how to both ride on the coattails of his success with a chunk of the voters while claiming to be so different from him. I'm not naive enough to think the DNC is above deceit and collusion to get their own favorite into office (we all know now how they rigged things against Bernie Sanders--voters-be-damned), but at least the Democratic party is willing to back a woman who calls herself a feminist. In the GOP that's the only F-word they WON'T abide.
2
The entire last year has been a sickening foray into the underbelly of the dichotomy that is the "United States" ...we are as united as oil is with vinegar...and these 2 despicable candidates - both with their own miserable pasts, misogyny and lies- continues to bring down the conversation of this nation to trash-talking reality and Dr Phil level interviews...its pathetic and I think everyone is sick of the pettiness . Its hard to reconcile why this is happening and how these "dormant" attitutes have been conjured up. That said, the last 8 years of do nothing congress and ram-thru legislation should have been harbingers that things could only get worse, and they have. I wonder how any legislation will get passed if Trump or Hillary wins. Good times..
3
Weiner, Condit and countless other male politicians show there isn't necessarily a double standard. Trump might be in a league of his own, but even his poll numbers seem to be falling.
1
As I read, I kept expecting the piece to end, but it kept going on and on. And then at the end I realized you had left out so much.
Excellent job. I hope a couple of years from now you don't write the same piece about the congressional obstruction our first female president gets (as our first African American got) as she tries to accomplish things. Of course, at least that will mean she is president, and Donald Trump is forgotten — and at this point that's all I'm praying for.
Excellent job. I hope a couple of years from now you don't write the same piece about the congressional obstruction our first female president gets (as our first African American got) as she tries to accomplish things. Of course, at least that will mean she is president, and Donald Trump is forgotten — and at this point that's all I'm praying for.
37
Point very well made. Now it's time for Hillary to make it and stand up and with the women who have courageously come forward to challenge this bully and sexual predator.
21
Are you asking Hillary to stand up with the women who came forward about Billy?
Not a Donald Trump fan. Just tired of all the complaints about how easy life is for men. Life is not easy for me. Not for my dad either. Wasn't easy for either of my grandfathers. Maybe it will be easier for my son but I wouldn't trust to luck.
So what if there are SOME double standards that are more lenient on men? There are MANY that are more lenient on women. Less blame for women when they do things wrong, as children and adults. Less responsibility for historical ills like slavery and war, despite enjoying the spoils. Less expectation to be wealthy. Less expectation to be independent. Less expectation to be responsible for the fate of humanity or the world.
More entitled to avoid the consequences of their actions. More entitled to support from others. More entitled to complain if that support is inadequate. More entitled to escape duty. More entitled to kindness and understanding.
The list of female privileges just keeps growing over the centuries, and rarely is anything removed from it.
So now that equal rights is the catch-phrase of the day, I have to wonder: do women really want equal rights, which means giving up all their old privileges? Or do they just want to add to the list?
So what if there are SOME double standards that are more lenient on men? There are MANY that are more lenient on women. Less blame for women when they do things wrong, as children and adults. Less responsibility for historical ills like slavery and war, despite enjoying the spoils. Less expectation to be wealthy. Less expectation to be independent. Less expectation to be responsible for the fate of humanity or the world.
More entitled to avoid the consequences of their actions. More entitled to support from others. More entitled to complain if that support is inadequate. More entitled to escape duty. More entitled to kindness and understanding.
The list of female privileges just keeps growing over the centuries, and rarely is anything removed from it.
So now that equal rights is the catch-phrase of the day, I have to wonder: do women really want equal rights, which means giving up all their old privileges? Or do they just want to add to the list?
3
My goodness, Mr. Hartford; you are describing a workplace, in fact a world, that I don't recognize.
No women I know have enjoyed the "privileges" you describe.
What I have witnessed has been the opposite, that "a woman has to do twice as well as a man to get half as much credit."
No women I know have enjoyed the "privileges" you describe.
What I have witnessed has been the opposite, that "a woman has to do twice as well as a man to get half as much credit."
1
Imagine being paid significantly less as a more qualified person for a job because you're a woman. Imagine not getting a job because you might leave to have a baby. Imagine being asked if you have a boyfriend during a job interview. Imagine not being admitted into law school because the quota for women (3) had been reached. Imagine saying something that is ignored at a meeting only to be repeated by a male colleague to applause (something that every woman I know has experienced). Imagine being expected to work a full day, pick up the kids, get the groceries, cook dinner, clean up, put the kids to bed.
Any man that thinks that women have it easier should walk in our shoes......Ginger Rogers doing what Fred Astaire did only backwards and in high heels! That says it all.
Any man that thinks that women have it easier should walk in our shoes......Ginger Rogers doing what Fred Astaire did only backwards and in high heels! That says it all.
4
My mom said to tell you she is sorry for slavery, sorry for the wars, sorry for climate change.........She's happy to share your white man's burden. Will you in turn just get out of the way when a woman more qualified than you is up for a promotion, offer to get her kids to school on time and clean the house, pick up the laundry, clean the toilets, care for her aging parents, deal with the loss of income with her husband dumps her for a younger model, and do it all in high heels, lipstick, smiling?
2
Yes is the answer of course.
And now, depressingly, I think about what a die hard Trump supporter would say if you read your column to them and asked the same final question. Sadly they would not have the same answer as you or I Mr. Kristof. I can just imagine the ill-formed bluster now...
And now, depressingly, I think about what a die hard Trump supporter would say if you read your column to them and asked the same final question. Sadly they would not have the same answer as you or I Mr. Kristof. I can just imagine the ill-formed bluster now...
6
And then imagine that 40% of likely voters were still vowing that they would still vote for her.
6
Anthony Weiner was dropped like a hot rock when his first set of emails hit the net. His wife stood by him then phase two happened. Enough was enough so now their marriage is history. We can list a number of politicians in both parties who got caught in scandals. And religious leaders like Jim Baker. So how I'd Trump still receiving support? Have we wandered into reality TV land so far we cannot come back?
8
Well, we elected her husband who groped, didn't we? So is Donald Trump held to a different standard?
5
Last time I looked, Bill wasn't running.
When Hillary gropes a man, your comment might then deserve to be considered.
Should we all start dissing Melania for Donald's behavior?
I didn't think so.
When Hillary gropes a man, your comment might then deserve to be considered.
Should we all start dissing Melania for Donald's behavior?
I didn't think so.
3
Actually, your example supports Kristof's point. Both men have likely gotten away with behavior no woman seeking high office could survive. And I've never seen a man held responsible for his wife's sexual misbehavior, though it seems half the country continues to blame Hillary for Bill's indiscretions. That double standard is blindingly obvious.
3
I can't imagine a woman would imagine any of this, but while it may come as a shock I have no trouble imagining a real guy, a rugged man like Mr Trump riffing on even more.
3
Mr. Kristof,
You've given us a different and powerful perspective.
But you left out the most stomach-churning of all:
Imagine if Hillary Clinton had a son and then bragged about how hot he was and said: "If he wasn't my son, I'd be dating him."
You've given us a different and powerful perspective.
But you left out the most stomach-churning of all:
Imagine if Hillary Clinton had a son and then bragged about how hot he was and said: "If he wasn't my son, I'd be dating him."
29
Yuck! The very idea is beyond reprehensible. He is advocating pedophilia. Who thinks like that?
1
Brilliant reprise of Trump's despicable attitides/behavior and how any one of them would sink a female candidate.
21
Mr. Kristof, you perfectly detailed the false equivalence that's been driving me bonkers. Never has there been such a clear cut choice for the office of the President. Never ever?
Never EVER.
Never EVER.
24
Or what if she groped women? Or Donald groped men? Groping is all bad, unless of course it's desired and consensual. Kristof is right yet again, there is only one true standard.
4
A curious 24 days ahead of us and another great column from Mr. Kristof. Interesting, isn't it, that I believe Hillary will win - maybe in a landslide - and yet my stomach still turns.
By the way, the vote in my 4th grade classroom: 27 HRC - 5 T. I may have to flunk the 5 or send them to the counselor!
By the way, the vote in my 4th grade classroom: 27 HRC - 5 T. I may have to flunk the 5 or send them to the counselor!
3
Really! What should we do to the 40% of adults who are apparently going to vote for Trump? We can revoke their citizenship and make them apply all over again. Alternatively, we can send them to Gitmo or places like that for re-education. Kids in school may not be protected but adults are protected by something called the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Now, now, ez. A little humor there, please. We will go on as best we can with their mutters, snarls, and threats, as we have for so long now, never fear. Only if and when they degenerate into violence will the appropriate civil authorities be summoned, and only for the common good.
3
Trump is a rich white guy with a loud mouth. All the GOP candidates folded when Trump said "boo" to them. It is as if they had never been challenged before. Even Paul Ryan is afraid of Trump. But why? he is a loudmouth uneducated man. I tell you who isn't afraid of Trump and his fake money - the Obamas and Hillary. Lots of voters can see through Trump. There is not need to debate him and his followers, just vote. And the press needed to do their job instead of promoting this guy for ratings this past year. Journalists should be ashamed - little too late.
19
Yeah there is a double standard, and it isn't just the obvious fact that Clinton is a woman. It is that she is a woman, and a Democrat. A woman and a Clinton.
The big ole right wing hate machine has doubled down on Hillary, and a woman who was respected for her service as Secretary of State, was excoriated for the same, once it looked as if she'd pursue the White House.
The far right has a serious case of loathing for Clinton, maybe because she survived all the accusations, and vitriol and acrimony of the Clinton White House years, and actually thrived in public service. Maybe because she is a subtle reminder of what the GOP was before the far right took it into crazy land.
But mostly the double standard exists because we forgive celebrities for anything outrageous they do. We might not be as tough on Kim Kardashian as we are on Hillary. We just don't expect much of her.
The big ole right wing hate machine has doubled down on Hillary, and a woman who was respected for her service as Secretary of State, was excoriated for the same, once it looked as if she'd pursue the White House.
The far right has a serious case of loathing for Clinton, maybe because she survived all the accusations, and vitriol and acrimony of the Clinton White House years, and actually thrived in public service. Maybe because she is a subtle reminder of what the GOP was before the far right took it into crazy land.
But mostly the double standard exists because we forgive celebrities for anything outrageous they do. We might not be as tough on Kim Kardashian as we are on Hillary. We just don't expect much of her.
14
You're preaching to the choir here, Mr Kristof; would do more good - perhaps - at the Wall Street Journel.
10
This is a masterpiece. Every voter, especially everyone reluctant to vote for Hillary, should read this and think very seriously about it and what it says.
16
I'm afraid a large percentage ( note that I'm not saying that's it's half :-)) of Trump's backers simply don't read. Period.
1
This is funny, sad, and helpful. No one has summarized the issue as succinctly as you have. But when well educated, undecideds I know talk about Hillary, their face reddens, their voice gets louder, their brow furrows -- their reaction is one of such visceral anger, while with Trump, it's merely bemusement at a buffoon. So as rational and dead-on as these points are, I'm not sure ANY fact-based argument will sway the undecideds. And they are the wild card in this election.
7
Trump: A mashup of the characters "Elmer Gantry" and "Larry (Lonesome) Rhodes." Audiences viewing his rally and debate "performances" 50 years from now will do so with popcorn and Dots.
1
Basically "Imagine if Amy Schumer decided to run for president?"
1
The double standard in this election is astounding.
11
And imagine if Clinton had told Trump she'd have him put in jail if she were elected.
13
>>
Even if HRC wins, this election only re-enforces my hopelessness as to this world.
"Now you’ve said it. The hopeless emptiness. Hell, plenty of people are on to the emptiness part; out where I used to work, on the Coast, that’s all we ever talked about. We’d sit around talking about emptiness all night. Nobody ever said ‘hopeless,’ though; that’s where we’d chicken out. Because maybe it does take a certain amount of guts to see the emptiness, but it takes a whole hell of a lot more to see the hopelessness. And I guess when you do see the hopelessness, that’s when there’s nothing to do but take off. If you can"
Richard Yates (Revolutionary Road)
Even if HRC wins, this election only re-enforces my hopelessness as to this world.
"Now you’ve said it. The hopeless emptiness. Hell, plenty of people are on to the emptiness part; out where I used to work, on the Coast, that’s all we ever talked about. We’d sit around talking about emptiness all night. Nobody ever said ‘hopeless,’ though; that’s where we’d chicken out. Because maybe it does take a certain amount of guts to see the emptiness, but it takes a whole hell of a lot more to see the hopelessness. And I guess when you do see the hopelessness, that’s when there’s nothing to do but take off. If you can"
Richard Yates (Revolutionary Road)
3
This is an excellent article. But there is a glaring omission in this list of atrocious acts that Trump committed or may have committed--namely, the accusation that he raped a 13 year old girl in 1994. The charge has not been proven, but it forms the basis of a pending federal lawsuit against Trump; the accuser allegedly has witnesses as well. I find it very odd that this accusation has never been mentioned in the NYT (as far as I know). This omission seems especially odd in the context of an article that includes a number of other unproven accusations.
It is deeply unsettling to imagine that Trump could have committed such a horrifying act. But given what we now know about him, this possibility can hardly be dismissed out of hand.
It is deeply unsettling to imagine that Trump could have committed such a horrifying act. But given what we now know about him, this possibility can hardly be dismissed out of hand.
7
I demand that the NYT investigate and publish the story if the alleged rape by Donald Trump of a 13 year-old girl whose friend was a witness to the crime. DT should be in jail.
2
Nobody has to 'decide' if there is a double standard. We live it every day
11
Yes, and to add to this: all these people stating any other candidate would have crushed Trump long ago. Or she's only winning because he is so bad. But this one of the very columns that points out the sexism and belief, conscious or not, that men are superior to women has, in fact, contributed to the unbelievable headwinds Hillary Clinton has faced from both the right and some elements from the left. Hillary Clinton is a much better person than the press and others make her out to be, but even now, when she gives speeches on climate change, or mental health care, or antipoverty programs, she gets barely any coverage. And if she brings up gender, well, she's playing the woman card. And she's the one that went around the world, declaring something that should not have to be said: women's rights are human rights because surprise, surprise, for some people: women are human beings.
12
Hillary has spent her life in service to others and yet she has been treated horribly. If a man had the same level of experience and equivalent accomplishments, he would be highly respected. I don’t see how Hillary has been able to handle all the negativity that has been thrown her way. People wonder why she is guarded, well it’s because everything she has done has been attacked and twisted into something nefarious. Frankly, as a woman, the sexism has just been painful to watch.
20
I have been waiting for someone to turn the tables. It helps show how truly outrageous and egregious Trump's behavior is. It is not acceptable and should not be excused away because he is a he.
8
...she would be forced out of politics and confined to a life of shame. Not even a question.
2
What if it emerges that Hillary groped women?
Consider another alternative scenario: what if a black candidate had been caught on an "Access Hollywood" hot mike bragging about sexually assaulting women? I suspect his candidacy would be destroyed immediately (even if he wasn't born in Kenya).
But GOP apologists somehow find a way to justify supporting Trump.
But GOP apologists somehow find a way to justify supporting Trump.
21
If all of that had happened, the GOP would have given Hillary their nomination.
5
Maybe a better question would be "What if Donald Trump groped men?"
5
Double standard? What double standard?
I wondered when this article would appear and who would win the NYT pool to be the columnist to write it. You da man, Nick!
The obvious answer to the title question, "Duh," also brought to mind Marty Feldman's great line in Mel Brooks's and Gene Wilder's "Young Frankenstein" in response to Gene Wilder's offer to fix a rather glaring physical anomaly: "What hump?" Remind you of anyone?
Add two letters to "obvious" and you get "ob[li]vious." Oblivious, as in the defining characteristic of Trump and the Trumpites. Trump is oblivious about pretty much everything: Basic decency, the Constitution, basic decency, math at the grade school level, basic decency, the implications of cyber warfare, basic decency, the implications of nuclear war, basic decency, patriotic citizenship, bas...this could go on all day. In order to willingly, wildly follow Trump, one must be oblivious, willingly so, of the hump.
Duh.
I wondered when this article would appear and who would win the NYT pool to be the columnist to write it. You da man, Nick!
The obvious answer to the title question, "Duh," also brought to mind Marty Feldman's great line in Mel Brooks's and Gene Wilder's "Young Frankenstein" in response to Gene Wilder's offer to fix a rather glaring physical anomaly: "What hump?" Remind you of anyone?
Add two letters to "obvious" and you get "ob[li]vious." Oblivious, as in the defining characteristic of Trump and the Trumpites. Trump is oblivious about pretty much everything: Basic decency, the Constitution, basic decency, math at the grade school level, basic decency, the implications of cyber warfare, basic decency, the implications of nuclear war, basic decency, patriotic citizenship, bas...this could go on all day. In order to willingly, wildly follow Trump, one must be oblivious, willingly so, of the hump.
Duh.
15
I don't think that their is a double standard. if anything, women get all the attention to due "feminism"/girl power non-sense. I think however what you point out IS valid but can be attributed to Clinton being in the spot light for 30yrs so she can't hide whereas as Trump only became a politician now & his stuff is coming out more slow. All that said, I'm voting for Clinton. Just wanted to clarify this specific point ONLY.
1
Well written article, thank you Nicholas Kristof.
There is a double standard in all areas of life for women - relationships, work, sexual behavior, religious life, money management, child care, health care, insurance, business ownership and politics. I have personally experienced and observed these inequities for years.
I admire and respect President and Mrs. Obama, and think they have done a marvelous job in the White House. That said, it was a real eye-opener to me in 2008 to realize that the USA was more prepared to have a black man as president than a woman (of any color). What we're see now is just a continuation of that reality - a significant portion of the population is more prepared to have a misogynistic alpha male as president than a (any) woman.
There is a double standard in all areas of life for women - relationships, work, sexual behavior, religious life, money management, child care, health care, insurance, business ownership and politics. I have personally experienced and observed these inequities for years.
I admire and respect President and Mrs. Obama, and think they have done a marvelous job in the White House. That said, it was a real eye-opener to me in 2008 to realize that the USA was more prepared to have a black man as president than a woman (of any color). What we're see now is just a continuation of that reality - a significant portion of the population is more prepared to have a misogynistic alpha male as president than a (any) woman.
15
This Imagine meme is missing only one thing - a list of Hillary's crimes and scandals. This would be topped by imagine if you had mishandled top secret information, deleted exculpatory evidence and then lied about it all. Would you be running for President or contemplating the length of your prison sentence?
2
You need to be careful. Some Trump supporters will now believe that all of these imaginings are true.
3
Yes, Mr. Kristof. All this is unimaginable. Thank you for calling our attention to the glaring double standard.
3
I just want to see the United States survive as an independent nation. I don't see that happening with Hillary Clinton and her hoard of globalist unionizers in power. It's really scarey to think that for over 200 years the US was known as the land of the free and the home of the brave but, now it's known as a land of whimps that kowtow to ISIS and other foreign countries that threaten our safety. Make America Great Again......At least Trump has the gumption to fight for the American way!
In the next three weeks and upon hearing all there's to DJT, we're all going to be "experts" at kissing and... The question really is -- did the Donald ever hit a home run?
2
I'm inclined to say, "Yes, I can imagine all this and her name is Sarah Palin", but even Palin wasn't as incompetent, narcissistic, lecherous, etc. Of course there is a double, triple, quadruple standard, but I don't think it's solely gender. I can imagine the Republicans putting up a woman Trump in the future and it being ok with a mass amount of people.
1
With his professed, verified, and cross-authenticated history, Donald Trump cannot be hired for the most entry-level in a business of any size or standing, or any level of government.
Yet, some of us want to hand him the keys to the White House, and the nuclear launch codes? This is the best a nation of 318+ million souls could come up with?
Yet, some of us want to hand him the keys to the White House, and the nuclear launch codes? This is the best a nation of 318+ million souls could come up with?
2
I have never before said this, but he nailed it: #micdrop. Thank you, Nicholas.
2
Yes yes Nicholas but Hillary Clinton is a demon or the antichrist.
2
Yes, there is a huge double standard. Makes me sick honestly!
3
Excellent article. Thank you. Maybe some of your colleagues at NYT should read it, before they write their next article, full of exactly the bias you're describing.
2
This column is so on target without being a frontal attack--it says everything that is offensive about Trump that Trump has created himself. Too bad that his supporters will never see it. Wish I could hand this out as a leaflet to all the Trump supporters, many of whom are just not well informed, so they think he's acceptable. One aside comment to add--Trump's campaign sent trucks of food, not very well loaded, to a food bank in North Carolina, asked for media coverage, were told the Food Bank couldn't provide that, so they left with the food. Hummmm, surely you know what his campaign wanted to prove. Hope they didn't get coverage for their measly offerings anywhere in the flood-ravaged area. This is not a rumor--a family member was present. Just one more example of the rottenness of the Trump campaign.
7
Has there ever been *any* woman in modern history who has gotten away with say 2-3 of these things or their equivalent? This list is long and damning. There is no explanation for such an individual roaming freely let alone being a major party candidate for President of the US. What has this world come to?
4
To misquote a BBC comedy program: she can't be a sexual predator, she's not even Mexican.
4
I just have a few questions for the Trump supporters:
To those who are attracted to him because he talks "tough"
Do you think a guy that cries foul every time something does not go his way is tough?
To those that are attracted to him because he is "manly":
Would you allow your daughter to date him?
To those that think he will "fix" the economy:
Do you think someone who started in business with millions from his father and still declared bankruptcy several times is such a great businessman?
To those that work and pay taxes:
Do you not feel insulted by someone who brags about making hundreds of millions and does not pay taxes?
To those that are not white, thin, tall and rich:
Do you really feel he will represent you ?
To the Christian Right:
Do you think Jesus would like and vote for him?
To those who are attracted to him because he talks "tough"
Do you think a guy that cries foul every time something does not go his way is tough?
To those that are attracted to him because he is "manly":
Would you allow your daughter to date him?
To those that think he will "fix" the economy:
Do you think someone who started in business with millions from his father and still declared bankruptcy several times is such a great businessman?
To those that work and pay taxes:
Do you not feel insulted by someone who brags about making hundreds of millions and does not pay taxes?
To those that are not white, thin, tall and rich:
Do you really feel he will represent you ?
To the Christian Right:
Do you think Jesus would like and vote for him?
19
But he isn't "white, thin, tall and rich". He inherited the "white, tall and rich" bit, but he ate himself obese -- until he mysteriously "he grew an inch, at the age of 70" to put him just under the threshold: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/opinion/campaign-stops/fat-shamer-in-c...
The message seems to be, if he doesn't get given it, he isn't about to earn it. Editor’s note: This comment has been anonymized in accordance with applicable law(s).
The message seems to be, if he doesn't get given it, he isn't about to earn it. Editor’s note: This comment has been anonymized in accordance with applicable law(s).
2
By far the most effective telling on Donald Trump ever written.
What does it say about our inurement to Trump's incessant trash that not until the roles are flipped that the enormity of his transgressions come to shock?
What does it say about our inurement to Trump's incessant trash that not until the roles are flipped that the enormity of his transgressions come to shock?
4
Bravo Mr. Kristof. But a difficult read.
4
It is good that she did not stoop down to the level of the Republican nominee. One can only hope that Trump will be voted into oblivion before soon. It is time that the American public puts this disgraceful episode to rest.
5
I'd think that she was singular in what she does. I'd vote for Hillary.
Wouldn't you?
Wouldn't you?
Once again we supposedly have an issue that has Trump on the ropes; sexism resulting in disgustingly crude behavior. The fact is, Trump’s boorish behavior and sexist attitude are perfect distractions from the real issue – which is that he wants to be a dictator and is getting more dangerous each day that he falls farther behind. He is now inciting his minions to “take back the country” by whatever means is necessary because it’s run by dishonest people who rig the system against them. He claims the only way he can lose is if the election is stolen. The implications are clear, the potential for violence is real. Trump is either too dumb to see that he is playing with fire, or is so mentally disturbed that he doesn’t care what happens to his followers, or the rest of the country. Right now he is just making sure that he will be more dangerous if he loses than if he wins – and that’s saying a lot.
11
Imagine if Trump had ever been elected or appointed to any office - local, state, or national - and had some sort of track record the voters could look at and weigh against other candidates' on-the-job performance.
Imagine if Trump had dutifully paid millions in federal income taxes every year and actually had some skin in the game.
Imagine if Trump had a vision for our future and actual policies that he was able to articulate clearly with details.
Imagine if Trump was widely admired by world leaders, foreign businessmen, and his fellow New Yorkers for his business acumen and charity.
Imagine if Trump had been able to control himself during the primary debates and dismiss Marco Rubio's comments about his small hands and then pivot towards policy.
Imagine if Trump had never empowered birthers, never said anything offensive about Mexicans or Muslims, never appeared in a video with Billy Bush, never disparaged a former Miss Universe, never tweeted at 3AM, never skipped debate preparation, never mocked a disabled person, never disrespected his opponents with ridiculous nicknames or insults, never commented on another person's looks without first referencing his own, never...
Never mind.
Imagine if Trump had dutifully paid millions in federal income taxes every year and actually had some skin in the game.
Imagine if Trump had a vision for our future and actual policies that he was able to articulate clearly with details.
Imagine if Trump was widely admired by world leaders, foreign businessmen, and his fellow New Yorkers for his business acumen and charity.
Imagine if Trump had been able to control himself during the primary debates and dismiss Marco Rubio's comments about his small hands and then pivot towards policy.
Imagine if Trump had never empowered birthers, never said anything offensive about Mexicans or Muslims, never appeared in a video with Billy Bush, never disparaged a former Miss Universe, never tweeted at 3AM, never skipped debate preparation, never mocked a disabled person, never disrespected his opponents with ridiculous nicknames or insults, never commented on another person's looks without first referencing his own, never...
Never mind.
17
Thank you Mr. Kristof for this article. The decision is easy and it should be easy but sadly it is not.
The real issue has to do with our education system. Apparently it's not doing its job because public schools are not fully funded and teachers are not adequately trained or paid well. If Americans were properly educated they would not fall for every derogatory meme or false story that's being circulated about Hillary and Trump would not have advanced in the election as far as he has. It's generational and parents pass these uneducated beliefs to their children who then believe it and the cycle continues. It becomes a part of American culture and that is very difficult to change. Trump being the Republican nominee is evidence that our education system is failing and has been for some time.
The real issue has to do with our education system. Apparently it's not doing its job because public schools are not fully funded and teachers are not adequately trained or paid well. If Americans were properly educated they would not fall for every derogatory meme or false story that's being circulated about Hillary and Trump would not have advanced in the election as far as he has. It's generational and parents pass these uneducated beliefs to their children who then believe it and the cycle continues. It becomes a part of American culture and that is very difficult to change. Trump being the Republican nominee is evidence that our education system is failing and has been for some time.
9
Malignant narcissist and satyr Al Capone, the most notorious mass murderer of his day in America, was brought down not for all his many dead victims but because he fiddled his taxes.
Likewise, malignant narcissist and satyr Donald Trump, who has well documented, extensive ties to the mob, who likely has bodies buried under Trump Tower and his other concrete monstrosities, has only finally been brought low because it is at this late stage of the November election for POTUS alleged that Trump gropes attractive young white women.
Is it worse to be a satyr than a mobster or associate with such monsters? Apparently yes. Only in the USA do sex and money matter more than human life.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/donald-trump-2016-mob-org...
Likewise, malignant narcissist and satyr Donald Trump, who has well documented, extensive ties to the mob, who likely has bodies buried under Trump Tower and his other concrete monstrosities, has only finally been brought low because it is at this late stage of the November election for POTUS alleged that Trump gropes attractive young white women.
Is it worse to be a satyr than a mobster or associate with such monsters? Apparently yes. Only in the USA do sex and money matter more than human life.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/donald-trump-2016-mob-org...
5
Change "Clinton" to Barack Obama or Corey Booker.
Trump's campaign is white privilege taken to a sick extreme.
Trump's campaign is white privilege taken to a sick extreme.
9
Yes, Clinton--or any female politician--would be lambasted for these things. But this goes beyond a simple double-standard (which indeed exists). Trump is not popular despite these types of behaviors; he's popular because of them. Is that sickening? Yes. It is. Many of us are appalled to realize how many people in this country are still revel in misogyny, racism, and the celebration of simple unmitigated hatred. We have a lot of work to do on our collective humanity.
7
Wow. You've proved the question without any doubt. Thank you.
3
Wow. Thanks for being so painfully clear. But it is not only about Trump. It is also about thee monumental hypocrisy of so-called "christian america" [No caps. They do not deserve them], and the the so called-- "grand old party". Trump is only the tip of an iceberg that will sink the American Dream.
3
I know it would be unworkable in the real world but imagine if the next reporter to uncover something bad about Trump could report it as being about Hillary and then just left it for a day before correcting it. By then we'd have every GOP and Trump surrogate's reaction locked about how heinous the deed was.
5
If there is anything positive to come from DT, it's that women are seeing how we need to stand up and say what has happened to us because of men like him. We have been silent far too long. We are braver now, and are willing to show our sisters that they are not alone. Now is the time for women to show their strength so the world can see us and know, we will be silent no longer.
5
women don't grope, end of story.
3
Very astute and amusing article, even though we all know that HRC would be pilloried if she did even one of those things. Double standard, indeed!
4
Horrific view of what we are up against. A man I know said he was groped by a woman who put her hand in his pocket and would not take it out until he had to grab her arm and leave. Wasn't erotic - she was treating him as a human dildo, invading his space and showing none of the underlying respect and caring that makes for real good raunchy fun.
1
I think instead of Make America Great Again
It should.be Makes America Gag again
Mr Pence where is the proof?
Mr Kristoff you are our Northern Star
It should.be Makes America Gag again
Mr Pence where is the proof?
Mr Kristoff you are our Northern Star
2
Thank you. Perfectly put.
2
This line of reasoning isn't quite convincing. I'm imagining Hillary doing all these things, and feeling like she'd be more popular than she has ever been.
1
Trump has already questioned Hillary's sexual preference. Trump is a horrid man, one whom no parent would want to see exhibited in their child. If you had a child, and he still acts like a child, like The Donald, what would you do? Send him to reform school, aka military school? That as you can see hasn't helped him one iota. The older he gets, the more despicable he's become. And yet people see something in this sad excuse for a human to vote for him for president. Outrageous.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
7
When Hillary's family, friends, supporters and complete and total strangers talk about her strength, uncanny fortitude, and ability to never giving up - this is part of what they are referring to. She has been battling this for, forever.
None of this is new, in particularly to that subset we like to refer to as, half the population of our country. As pointed out in this article, it is happening on a grand and extremely heighten scale right now so one would think it would be hard to miss, though funny how so many have.
This piece is cleaver and poignant and appalling sad; insomuch as it throws the truth of our countries sexism, and at times misogyny, right in our face, and both these things are in no way limited solely to politics. EveryDaySexism is very real, and is in fact happening everyday and everywhere.
Thank You Mr. Kirstof
None of this is new, in particularly to that subset we like to refer to as, half the population of our country. As pointed out in this article, it is happening on a grand and extremely heighten scale right now so one would think it would be hard to miss, though funny how so many have.
This piece is cleaver and poignant and appalling sad; insomuch as it throws the truth of our countries sexism, and at times misogyny, right in our face, and both these things are in no way limited solely to politics. EveryDaySexism is very real, and is in fact happening everyday and everywhere.
Thank You Mr. Kirstof
2
"If Hillary Clinton Groped Men"
My sense is that white female Trump supporters would be against the idea, unless she did it only to "coloreds".
My sense is that white female Trump supporters would be against the idea, unless she did it only to "coloreds".
2
Here is a thought exercise: a tape emerges showing that Hillary has been in the closet all these years and used her position to have sexual relations with younger women who worked for her. How would her supporters react?Now take it a step further and imagine some of these younger women say they felt pressured into the sex to further their careers. And to the point: how would the media cover the story?
1
" Double Standard in American politics & society"? Yes.
Are women subjected to greater scrutiny? No, I don't think so. Women are simply subjected to a completely different set of rules than men, is all.
Are women subjected to greater scrutiny? No, I don't think so. Women are simply subjected to a completely different set of rules than men, is all.
7
Actually Nick: if Hillary had groped a man, he'd probably take it as a compliment and shrug it off. And if she was 30 years younger, probably taken her up on it. Let's be honest here.
As far as double standards go, imagine if all these sexual indiscretions or really boorish behavior towards women had been taken by a progressive liberal Democrat with whom you totally agree with politically. Think we'd see the same level of hyperventilating we see now in the mainstream media? Wait a minute! We don't have to imagine. If it was Bill Clinton or JFK, the Left would simply stuff it off as an overall a good person with a good heart who, though admittedly as some issues, can't be expected to be a saint either -- or some other similar rationalization. No? Is that why Bill Clinton paid Paula Jones $850,000 to settle a sexual harassment suit? A woman Hillary denigrated as a "bimbo" (a "bimbo" who in actual fact was an employee of the state of Arkansas?). Because he had nothing better to do with his money? And that was years before million dollar speeches and mega-million foundation donations. That was real money to the Clintons in those days.
As far as double standards go, imagine if all these sexual indiscretions or really boorish behavior towards women had been taken by a progressive liberal Democrat with whom you totally agree with politically. Think we'd see the same level of hyperventilating we see now in the mainstream media? Wait a minute! We don't have to imagine. If it was Bill Clinton or JFK, the Left would simply stuff it off as an overall a good person with a good heart who, though admittedly as some issues, can't be expected to be a saint either -- or some other similar rationalization. No? Is that why Bill Clinton paid Paula Jones $850,000 to settle a sexual harassment suit? A woman Hillary denigrated as a "bimbo" (a "bimbo" who in actual fact was an employee of the state of Arkansas?). Because he had nothing better to do with his money? And that was years before million dollar speeches and mega-million foundation donations. That was real money to the Clintons in those days.
6
You are missing the point here, this is violent, aggressive and non-consensual. This isn't about sex. It's about power. Like RAPE is about power.
Why is that so difficult to understand?
Why is that so difficult to understand?
2
Some friends and I conducted a thought experiment last night: what if suddenly a security camera video surfaced showing Trump--indubitably Trump--maybe even identifying himself to confirm his right to do what the video showed--dragging a 12-year-old girl into a hotel room and attacking her. Of course, no such video has surfaced (as I said, this is a thought experiment). Our conclusion: such a video would make no difference whatsoever. Trump supporters would find a way to discredit it; if they went so far as to accept that it happened, they would probably blame the child.
Anyone who hasn't decided by now who this man is will not change their view as a result of these repeated arguments. This evidence has been available for years. This is beyond argument. This is a consequence of an existential fear so visceral that it overrules any fact or logic any commentator can produce. I've done research into altruism, in which I found evidence that fear of the other and the need to identify with and cling to others who are like us is one of the strongest human impulses. We all struggle to realize that adherence to these most basic tribal terrors leads to death and destruction, and that this death and destruction ultimately visits everyone, regardless of who started it. As humans, we can only try to recognize these fears in ourselves and use our unique human strength, our brains, to construct lives of generosity and compassion beyond them. Trump supporters cannot make this move.
Anyone who hasn't decided by now who this man is will not change their view as a result of these repeated arguments. This evidence has been available for years. This is beyond argument. This is a consequence of an existential fear so visceral that it overrules any fact or logic any commentator can produce. I've done research into altruism, in which I found evidence that fear of the other and the need to identify with and cling to others who are like us is one of the strongest human impulses. We all struggle to realize that adherence to these most basic tribal terrors leads to death and destruction, and that this death and destruction ultimately visits everyone, regardless of who started it. As humans, we can only try to recognize these fears in ourselves and use our unique human strength, our brains, to construct lives of generosity and compassion beyond them. Trump supporters cannot make this move.
9
Why is it that many of we men are such brutes? Is it a devolution to the days of the caveman, when might was right? Whatever the cause, testosterone fueled or not, when men are in charge they often think more with their little head instead of their big one. Machismo posturing, using sheer force, resorting to militaristic notions of how to solve problems, seem to be their bailiwick. Diplomacy, courtesy, cajoling, schmoozing not so much. That's too sissified.
If Hillary groped anyone it was Trump, but in a very subtle way. In the first two debates she waited for an opening, then jabbed away, taking Trump a notch down each time, with a swift comment or retort which was targeted toward Trump's, and most men's, most vulnerable spot, their egos. Jab after jab Hillary scored, and by the end Trump was in a kerfuffle. He didn't know what hit him. Even after Round Two was over, Trump left feeling triumphant. He thought bringing out his panel of women scorned was a trump card.
Trump was so terribly wrong. He came across especially to women as only reinforcing his rep as being a bully who thinks he can overpower women into submission, force them to believe his lies, that he never acted on all that braggadocio he confessed to Billy Bush.
Think about it. A man who has the need to impress someone of Billy Bush's stature to get approval as a macho man is one pathetic guy. Such is Trump in a nutshell. Trying to justify his manhood his entire life. Sad.
DD
Manhattan
If Hillary groped anyone it was Trump, but in a very subtle way. In the first two debates she waited for an opening, then jabbed away, taking Trump a notch down each time, with a swift comment or retort which was targeted toward Trump's, and most men's, most vulnerable spot, their egos. Jab after jab Hillary scored, and by the end Trump was in a kerfuffle. He didn't know what hit him. Even after Round Two was over, Trump left feeling triumphant. He thought bringing out his panel of women scorned was a trump card.
Trump was so terribly wrong. He came across especially to women as only reinforcing his rep as being a bully who thinks he can overpower women into submission, force them to believe his lies, that he never acted on all that braggadocio he confessed to Billy Bush.
Think about it. A man who has the need to impress someone of Billy Bush's stature to get approval as a macho man is one pathetic guy. Such is Trump in a nutshell. Trying to justify his manhood his entire life. Sad.
DD
Manhattan
9
I am a woman.
You have to understand there are as many weak, sniveling, self-aggrandizing women as there are men. They are the women who marry and/or defend these men and tolerate them because they want a diamond ring or some implied status they get from the odious situation. I would argue that Melania Trump is just as despicable as her husband. If she weren't she would never tolerate his behavior. Most women wouldn't go near a man like Donald Trump no matter who he was or what he had. He is revolting, physically, personally and morally.
We are in a crisis in our society where we have elevated money above all else. We no longer admire people because they are ethical, make the difficult decisions and present a good role model. We revere them because they have worked out a way to steal more and have more possessions.
It isn't only men who deserve the criticism. It's also the women who raise them.
If we centered our values on character this type of person would slowly fade into non-existence. If we stopped pretending that a man who behaves like a troglodyte was good just because he has money, we'd be a much healthier society. You see it with actors, athletes, politicians and business people whose behavior is forever excused.
The real difference is that men are more physically powerful and society supports that type of behavior. Throw in violence and excusing that behavior and you have a toxic mix for anyone not on the perceived top of the heap.
You have to understand there are as many weak, sniveling, self-aggrandizing women as there are men. They are the women who marry and/or defend these men and tolerate them because they want a diamond ring or some implied status they get from the odious situation. I would argue that Melania Trump is just as despicable as her husband. If she weren't she would never tolerate his behavior. Most women wouldn't go near a man like Donald Trump no matter who he was or what he had. He is revolting, physically, personally and morally.
We are in a crisis in our society where we have elevated money above all else. We no longer admire people because they are ethical, make the difficult decisions and present a good role model. We revere them because they have worked out a way to steal more and have more possessions.
It isn't only men who deserve the criticism. It's also the women who raise them.
If we centered our values on character this type of person would slowly fade into non-existence. If we stopped pretending that a man who behaves like a troglodyte was good just because he has money, we'd be a much healthier society. You see it with actors, athletes, politicians and business people whose behavior is forever excused.
The real difference is that men are more physically powerful and society supports that type of behavior. Throw in violence and excusing that behavior and you have a toxic mix for anyone not on the perceived top of the heap.
11
Could not agree more. Except that you forgot to include musicians in your list of the rich who are worshipped despite their deficient morals
3
Is there a double standard for women in politics? A woman who is a complete political neophyte might run for her city council or local school board. At higher levels of public office, a novice might be allowed to run as the widow of a recently deceased incumbent. However, could she mount a run for president based on her experience as a business woman? Carly Fiorina never made it out of the starting gate. What if she were a celebrity with an enormous following on Twitter? Not even in our Kardashian/Gwyneth-obsessed culture would such a candidacy be remotely possible.
I can’t imagine Secretary Clinton doing any of the Trumpian things mentioned in this column because I can’t imagine her or any woman being granted such an unmerited opportunity in the first place. Is there a double standard for women in politics? Yes. Should there be a higher standard for men in politics? Yes. Very yes.
I can’t imagine Secretary Clinton doing any of the Trumpian things mentioned in this column because I can’t imagine her or any woman being granted such an unmerited opportunity in the first place. Is there a double standard for women in politics? Yes. Should there be a higher standard for men in politics? Yes. Very yes.
11
Oh, Nick... please.
What if Trump had never created a job in his life?
What if Trump had ridden his wife's coattails in order to obtain the highest office in the land?
What if Trump had compromised government secrets by setting up his own private server? And then repeatedly lied about it to the public, congress and the FBI?
What if Trump was married to a serial sexual predator?
What if Trump had supported his spouse by publicly defaming his spouse's victims?
What if Trump had set up his foundation to be a slush fund to fuel his quest for public office?
What if Trump granted special access and contracts to those who contributed to his foundation?
What if Trump facilitated giving the Russians control of the world uranium assets in return for contributions to his foundation?
What if Trump held office and ran a pay for play scheme where in return for huge speaking fees for his spouse you might get a favor?
What if Trump had lied to the public about the reason for the death of an ambassador?
What if Trump had carpetbagged his way to New York to run for senator?
What if Trump had utterly failed in an attempt to create a national health care system?
What if Trump had tried to pass of bribe money as coming from improbable success in trading cattle futures.
What if Trump called half of Hillary's supporters deplorables?
What if Trump ran on his gender?
What if Trump were simply incompetent but power crazy?
The what if's are endless with Hillary. And Bill.
What if Trump had never created a job in his life?
What if Trump had ridden his wife's coattails in order to obtain the highest office in the land?
What if Trump had compromised government secrets by setting up his own private server? And then repeatedly lied about it to the public, congress and the FBI?
What if Trump was married to a serial sexual predator?
What if Trump had supported his spouse by publicly defaming his spouse's victims?
What if Trump had set up his foundation to be a slush fund to fuel his quest for public office?
What if Trump granted special access and contracts to those who contributed to his foundation?
What if Trump facilitated giving the Russians control of the world uranium assets in return for contributions to his foundation?
What if Trump held office and ran a pay for play scheme where in return for huge speaking fees for his spouse you might get a favor?
What if Trump had lied to the public about the reason for the death of an ambassador?
What if Trump had carpetbagged his way to New York to run for senator?
What if Trump had utterly failed in an attempt to create a national health care system?
What if Trump had tried to pass of bribe money as coming from improbable success in trading cattle futures.
What if Trump called half of Hillary's supporters deplorables?
What if Trump ran on his gender?
What if Trump were simply incompetent but power crazy?
The what if's are endless with Hillary. And Bill.
3
You've only proven Kristoff's point.
2
Oh, how unkind of you to shine a harsh, glaring light on the duplicitous American voting electorate! For shame!
I thought all along that the widespread objection to Hillary Clinton was that she was a wronged wife; a baker of cookies; a stander-by-of-her man' a snubber of the C&W culture nasal-twanged by Tammy Wynette; that she lost a presidential bid eight years ago to a (black man!!!); that she, as Secretary of State, personally dropped into the Benghazi compound from a chopper and assassinated Ambassador Stevens and three others to preside over her own star chamber proceeding as a wronged witness to her own execution.
I'm finding it rather difficult--if not supremely rich--that Donald Trump, as the sordid revelations about his past continue to soil our debate, continues to poll at around 40%--give or take the margin of error--because those enamored of him perceive virtues associated with his gender that could never obtain with Mrs. Clinton simply because she's...well, a woman.
Perhaps America wants the face of its first female president to more closely resemble that of one of the Kardashian sisters; or that of Angelina Jolie? Nicole Kidman? Kim Novak?
We're supposed to be the ultra-sophisticated society on the global runway as models trot and strut their wares up and down the ogling gauntlet, but we're an awfully shallow people, we Americans. We lunge after the pretty face or the sculpted chest. We're seduced not by policy but by personality.
This bad joke's on us.
I thought all along that the widespread objection to Hillary Clinton was that she was a wronged wife; a baker of cookies; a stander-by-of-her man' a snubber of the C&W culture nasal-twanged by Tammy Wynette; that she lost a presidential bid eight years ago to a (black man!!!); that she, as Secretary of State, personally dropped into the Benghazi compound from a chopper and assassinated Ambassador Stevens and three others to preside over her own star chamber proceeding as a wronged witness to her own execution.
I'm finding it rather difficult--if not supremely rich--that Donald Trump, as the sordid revelations about his past continue to soil our debate, continues to poll at around 40%--give or take the margin of error--because those enamored of him perceive virtues associated with his gender that could never obtain with Mrs. Clinton simply because she's...well, a woman.
Perhaps America wants the face of its first female president to more closely resemble that of one of the Kardashian sisters; or that of Angelina Jolie? Nicole Kidman? Kim Novak?
We're supposed to be the ultra-sophisticated society on the global runway as models trot and strut their wares up and down the ogling gauntlet, but we're an awfully shallow people, we Americans. We lunge after the pretty face or the sculpted chest. We're seduced not by policy but by personality.
This bad joke's on us.
12
Changing the names, as this article does, shows how utterly despicable are any attempts to explain away Trump's behavior. This election simply cannot be over soon enough.
12
Nick, you have just put into words what I have been thinking for months.
Devastating column.
Unfortunately it won't change any minds set in concrete.
Devastating column.
Unfortunately it won't change any minds set in concrete.
7
Might the U.S. govt. now and forever, require some sort of psych testing for presidential office, like at least the MMPI Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory?
5
The Clinton people should make more of the fact that Trump doesn't like dogs. I just voted for a candidate for Soil and Water Conservation on the basis of her Facebook page which listed among her Interests: "Tallahassee Big Dog Rescue."
4
When I wa a college student, there was a popular phrase celebrating what we then thought was women's lib: a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. Well, as many of us believed that racism was on its last legs when we elected a black president, we were also wrong when many of us believed gender bias and a doubble standard was dead because we wanted to believe it.
Yesterday, women at a Trump demonstration proudly wore tee shirts saying, "Grope Me!". Most of us know who Trump is today. Pretty much every descriptive, pejorative noun and adjective have been used except those that are unacceptable in the media as part of civil discourse. Yet, the polls suggest
thats he's still garnering about 40% of the popular vote. People opposing him have been physically assaulted, members of the press have been frightened, threatened and intimidated at his rallies. Do those people believe that there is equality of men and women in America?
My fear is that he's fanning the flames of violence and insurrection after he's defeated. His shackles are off. Lock up Hillary, unleash the second amendment people, send out so called poll watcher to intimidate African Amercian voters.
We live with tyrants but not yet in our country. A question: whose country is it?
Yesterday, women at a Trump demonstration proudly wore tee shirts saying, "Grope Me!". Most of us know who Trump is today. Pretty much every descriptive, pejorative noun and adjective have been used except those that are unacceptable in the media as part of civil discourse. Yet, the polls suggest
thats he's still garnering about 40% of the popular vote. People opposing him have been physically assaulted, members of the press have been frightened, threatened and intimidated at his rallies. Do those people believe that there is equality of men and women in America?
My fear is that he's fanning the flames of violence and insurrection after he's defeated. His shackles are off. Lock up Hillary, unleash the second amendment people, send out so called poll watcher to intimidate African Amercian voters.
We live with tyrants but not yet in our country. A question: whose country is it?
14
Hillary has never posed a groping risk to anyone. Completely out of character.
On the other hand, thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqis died as part and parcel of the most all-time appalling betrayals of America's national interest and most wanton destructive blows to its international standing. Hillary voted for to enable it, out of pure self interest, and has been steadfastly deceptive about this ever since. One cannot really compare these two kinds of transgression, but it is completely undeniable that one is heavily covered in the press, the is very much on back burner. I am nostalgic for a time when Mr. Kristoff pioneered good trends, in a sea of journalism where following poor trends is much more common.
On the other hand, thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqis died as part and parcel of the most all-time appalling betrayals of America's national interest and most wanton destructive blows to its international standing. Hillary voted for to enable it, out of pure self interest, and has been steadfastly deceptive about this ever since. One cannot really compare these two kinds of transgression, but it is completely undeniable that one is heavily covered in the press, the is very much on back burner. I am nostalgic for a time when Mr. Kristoff pioneered good trends, in a sea of journalism where following poor trends is much more common.
1
And Trump supporters wonder why it is that their voices are being ignored...
5
The double standard is so incredible, so disgusting, so prevalent and yet Hillary Clinton is leading us. She is an incredible woman, smart, steadfast, knowledgeable. Despite everything man has thrown against her with all their money, power, control and entitled positions in the world she is prevailing! I can't wait for her to be President! She could be the very best one ever!
14
Or imagine Hillary admitting that Chelsea's father was the husband she had and divorced after she became pregnant.
3
IF your scenario were to become a movie, X rated, the appeal to the prurient interests of American (adults?) would probably make it the high-grossing ticket of 2017. The equivalent of voter support.
Sheesh!
Sheesh!
2
Nick, you've done it again - made reality clearer and given us the opportunity to feel and know that our shared values are something to be very proud of!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
7
Perfect! your column should be on the front page, front and center above the fold.
9
What it were revealed that Hillary groped other women?
2
Imagine if the media hadn't given the unqualified nominee 24/7 free publicity. Imagine if they cared more about their responsibility for truthful and accurate reporting. Imagine if they didn't hammer away with false equivalence to give the illusion of a horse race. Imagine if they spoke more plainly, sooner. Imagine if Les Moonves had said, "if it's bad for America, it's bad for CBS."
Yes, there's a double standard for women, especially this particular woman, and the media ensured it.
Yes, there's a double standard for women, especially this particular woman, and the media ensured it.
24
Your column probably went to press before the latest outrageous statement by Trump that there should be a drug test before the next debate. Imgain if Mrs. Clinton said that. This is the Trump quote from the Times:
“We should take a drug test prior, because I don’t know what’s going on with her. But at the beginning of her last debate — she was all pumped up at the beginning, and at the end it was like, ‘Oh, take me down.’ She could barely reach her car.”
Trump is becoming more and more irrational and it is quite frightening. I just hope he gets trounced on election day like no others have been. That, and only that, may shut him up, although that remains to be seen.
“We should take a drug test prior, because I don’t know what’s going on with her. But at the beginning of her last debate — she was all pumped up at the beginning, and at the end it was like, ‘Oh, take me down.’ She could barely reach her car.”
Trump is becoming more and more irrational and it is quite frightening. I just hope he gets trounced on election day like no others have been. That, and only that, may shut him up, although that remains to be seen.
14
You take the drug test first, Donald, for Viagra and Cialis in your system.
2
Ok very good point on the double standard for men on sexist behavior. Now, is there a double standard for women on corruption? Western women are considered a manifestation (oops should that be the feministation) of Mother Mary, Mother Earth or concept of purity,nourishment and peace. Often I hear there would be no war or conflict if women were running governments. Evidently, feminist forget such figures as Zenobia, Cleopatra, Kathrine the Great, Joan d'Arc or even recently Margaret Thatcher. Corruption often abound with historical women as their visible need for material wealth for adornment is a biological phenomena. Imelda Marcos and the 5000 shoes comes to mind. Finally that corruption bias in favor of women is full on display in the mainstream media where the Wikileaks of corruption is completely ignored. Both genders are human and thus have flaws. Egregious flaws for both genders should be outed and not ignored.
3
Your right that there is a double standard -- but generally it too works against women in that it is assumed they are more ethical (read, perhaps, perfect) so that if they make the tiniest false step, they are crucified. Whereas for them men, well, all is forgiven somehow. In an excellent essay on NPR, two law professors found that a case study on corruption got different recommended sentences: if the perpetrator was a man, a modest one, for a woman, severe. The students were so shocked and outraged that a WOMAN would do what men commonly do, they threw the book at her. Apparently, "she" disappointed them.
3
Imagine if one, just one, rabid Trump supporter had the patience and the subtlety of mind to think before they speak, to look into Trumpian pronouncements before accepting whole, to manifest some actual interest in the truth.
OMG, that WOULD be awesome!
Instead we get people who mindlessly follow the biggest liar in the history of American politics, who swallow every facet of a fifty year idiot-Right smear program against his opponent and who actually believe hiding a few emails is somehow the moral equivalent of actively attempting to destroy the American electoral and legislative systems. Actively. Consciously trying.
Of course that last one is also the end product of a 50 year campaign by the Right, clearly demonstrating their willingness to throw America under any passing bus so long as they can guarantee their power over whatever is left.
Finally, to attribute corruption to women, and to list Joan of Arc as a heinous example is really kind of cool. It lets me know how to think about the hysterical little boys screaming that the Dems are out to "crash the Catholic church". Please.
As far as Wikileaks being ignored, try reading the very paper you are trolling at the moment.
OMG, that WOULD be awesome!
Instead we get people who mindlessly follow the biggest liar in the history of American politics, who swallow every facet of a fifty year idiot-Right smear program against his opponent and who actually believe hiding a few emails is somehow the moral equivalent of actively attempting to destroy the American electoral and legislative systems. Actively. Consciously trying.
Of course that last one is also the end product of a 50 year campaign by the Right, clearly demonstrating their willingness to throw America under any passing bus so long as they can guarantee their power over whatever is left.
Finally, to attribute corruption to women, and to list Joan of Arc as a heinous example is really kind of cool. It lets me know how to think about the hysterical little boys screaming that the Dems are out to "crash the Catholic church". Please.
As far as Wikileaks being ignored, try reading the very paper you are trolling at the moment.
2
This column should be required reading for every Trump supporter: for women, for fathers of girls, for evangelicals who hold chastity dear. Hillary Clinton would not have made it to the primaries, so how did Donald Trump sell his sick, amoral self to any portion of the electorate? What is wrong with us, because we have enabled this monster.
6
Um, Nicholas, so you are crucifying Trump for groping (no issues with that) but when are you going to crucify Clinton for her advocacy for killing unborn babies? Surely the latter is a millions times worse?
Rob, you have every right to believe as you do about abortion and to act accordingly or, since your name indicates you are a man, to convince your wife or other female family members to reject abortion. I have no idea what the laws are in New Zealand, but here in the US our constitution prohibits the government from legislating religious beliefs into law. The opinion that a feotus is a human being from conception (or even before conception in some sects) is a religious belief, not a scientifically or medically proved fact. Thus our Supreme Court has determined that abortion before fetal viability is not killing and is therefore legal. So your opinion that Clinton's support for abortion, as defined by the Supreme Court, is on par with sexual harrasement (which, by the way, too often results in raped women seeking abortions) is only your absurd opinion.
3
Unimaginable indeed. Our country has become the laughing stock of the world. Time to get serious and blow the Trump-et back to his gilded cave.
5
Thank you Nicholas! Glad you asked this question. I have been wondering the same thing.
3
Clever twist on Atticus Finch's advice to put yourself in someone else's shoes. I would love to see a similar column that helps people understand what it's like to be in a Trump supporter's shoes. Reading The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt is the closest I've come to understanding the moral universe of a Trump supporter, but the divide still feels so great. Trump supporters are not going away after the election, and they need to feel respected as fellow Americans, even if they give no respect in return.
3
In the intro to this essay, you say, "This election is so absorbing that we’ve got to remember to pivot to the issues — because the issues ultimately are what count." I am sure you did not mean to imply that sexual predation is a mere distraction from "the issues"? I, for one, consider it, and the dangerous personality disorder which drives it, to be a major issue, albeit not a platform plank.
2
Imagine every child in the USA repeating what they hear DT say to a classmate, and copying his abusive and bullying ways. Ask yourself is this the kind of behavior I will tolerate in my home, schools, and community?
17
It dosent matter what you or anyone else write about this foul mouth degenerate,his supporters will not believe it.they are so ignorant that they have abandoned any all signs of decency.they want this fool for their president and that is all there is to it.On to the next debate and then the election.Hopefully that will be the end of this long National nightmare..If there is a God it will come to an end there.
7
This toxic election season is so bad I have stopped reading most things about it and I strongly recommend that Mr. Kristof do the same. There is nothing new here, nothing newsy, nothing worthy of taking up space. There are many problems in our world that the author would better spend his time addressing. He might reduce his own stress level a bit by doing so. I know my reading would increase.
3
No trouble with the answer to this one. In regard to this, I just learned about an incident with a Trump where a contractor installed stacker parking units. He found himself dealing with the Russian mafia who told him they had no intention of paying the full bill. He only managed to get paid by disabling some of the units. All these people imderstand, Trump included, is brute force.
4
I like the question you begin with. It reminds me of a question I used to ask my husband over the Saturday morning paper: "If you changed all the pronouns in the newspaper from male to female and vice versa, wouldn't it be more than obvious that an entire gender has serious psychological problems made evident in the way they deal with the world?" He didn't get it.
8
Imagine if after Mrs. CLinton is inaugurated and becomes President CLinton, that Mitch McConnell meets with members of his caucus in a downtown D.C. restaurant, and encourages them to cooperate this time, so that the Republican party becomes the loyal opposition instead of the party of conspiracy and sedition.
10
With every iteration of character indictment against Donald Trump by mainstream media, while avoiding the real threat to our democracy that will likely result in actual indictments (provided to us by Wikileaks), I get closer and closer to voting for this unappealing individual with policies I totally disagree with. Unlike Hillary, Trump represents the will of the people, for better or for worse. Hillary is the product of deceit and political engineering; she represents a major threat to our representational democracy. Just imagine where we'd be today if Hillary played by the rules in the primary and Bernie Sanders had won.
If you inform yourself about how she conducted business as Sec. of State and in her campaigns it may make Nixon look like an alter boy, to you. Please, don't ride the bandwagon, avoiding the truth.
If you inform yourself about how she conducted business as Sec. of State and in her campaigns it may make Nixon look like an alter boy, to you. Please, don't ride the bandwagon, avoiding the truth.
2
I find this opinion article fascinating. Perhaps if you put the "qualifications" to another country's leadership, what would Americans say then?
1
And of course we're all thinking of the same comparison with President Obama. If he had committed any one of these incidents the RW's collective head would explode, with calls for impeachment or even prison. The r's hypocrisy is insultingly blatant.
17
I hope people have started thinking about how we can deal with the Trumpinistas after the election. They will continue to degrade our democracy and harass President Hillary Clinton. I really hope we can shut down any TV platform Drumpf and Bannon are trying to cook up. Free Speech should not extend to Hate Speech, incitement to riot to disrupt our democracy, ongoing intimidation citing the 2nd amendepment, and all the other slimey, disgusting degrading tirades they will think up.
11
Dead on.
Perhaps it takes a full accounting of all is being ignored to grasp that the biggest WALL we have at the moment is between expectations for men and women in the public eye.
Perhaps it takes a full accounting of all is being ignored to grasp that the biggest WALL we have at the moment is between expectations for men and women in the public eye.
22
I've often engaged in this type of thought experiment in a more general sense: Imagine if men were responsible for bearing children and being their primary care givers after birth. Would contraception be excluded from health plans and relatively difficult to obtain? Would Planned Parenthood be subject to defunding at every turn? Would there be a movement to illegalize abortion? Would women be able to evade parental support obligations? Would there be no national policy for child care? I think not.
34
In the words of either Flo Kennedy or " an old Irish woman taxi driver in Boston" (per Gloria Steinem): "If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament."
2
Imagine if Trump used his Foundation to sell access to the American government? Or if he obstructed an investigation into his e mail security while Secretary of State? Or if he whored himself to Wall Street while promising the American people he would clean it up? Those would be accusations with some substance to them, instead of these tired rehashings of a reality TV personality playing to an audience he hoped to gain, by appealing to prurient appetites, in the manner of most successful reality TV.
The difference is that while you exagerate and slime Hillary in order to make your point Kristoff just lays out the facts plain and simple. Maybe you can explain why a reality TV personality is running for president in the first place and why utter ignornance of government, the constitution, and accepting support from white nationalists and anti semites is okay?
tired rehashing? you mean actual; facts out of his own mouth caught on video and tape which speak to the charger of the man? you mean those tired old facts? or if he had been investigated 7 or is it 8 times and nothing, nada, zero actionable misdeeds had been found. whoring himself to wall street? i was reading a literary dih=gest from 1908 and they were talking about the same issues...nothing new.
One has to be a fabulist to imagine Hillary Clinton engaging in the sexual hi-jinks attributed to or recorded of Donald Trump.
Yet even if one limits one's imagination to the non-sexual Trumpian nonsense listed here, it would clearly have disqualified Mrs. Clinton and pretty much ANY candidate, male or female, Republican or Democrat.
Remember the "47%" and "30%" comments by Romney and Ryan, obliquely racist in content and how they helped sink them? Compared to Trump, they were extremely tame. (As an aside, about 25% of Americans are children, and another 12% are seniors, and 1% are military, making up 36% of the 47%).
Yet even if one limits one's imagination to the non-sexual Trumpian nonsense listed here, it would clearly have disqualified Mrs. Clinton and pretty much ANY candidate, male or female, Republican or Democrat.
Remember the "47%" and "30%" comments by Romney and Ryan, obliquely racist in content and how they helped sink them? Compared to Trump, they were extremely tame. (As an aside, about 25% of Americans are children, and another 12% are seniors, and 1% are military, making up 36% of the 47%).
9
One literally cannot imagine Mrs. Clinton doing the first several of these things because she is a woman, and these are things that men do based on biological differences and cultural reinforcement. This alone is practically reason enough to elect our first woman president. It's great that she's also well qualified for the office. Future generations of female leaders will be still further removed from Mad Men culture. Maybe there's hope for social evolution.
34
Look, I can't imagine my father or brother, or uncles acting in these ways, despite their biological differences. I think there is an assumption of being entitled to privilege that affects some who have power. I also don't assume women are by nature compassionate and/or above lying and cheating. But I am happy to have a women, one who has fought for her position, be in line to serve as President. Maybe this ceiling has been broken - twice now.
2
I think that the jury has returned its verdict: Donald Trump is not a nice man. But he an equal opportunity degrader. He demeans everybody around him, regardless of gender. Of course, he violates women in a particularly perverted way, but other human being are objectified chattel to Donald Trump -- things to be exploited by him for sexual gratification, fu
19
Imagine President Obama had done any one of the things on Mr. Kristof's (hardly exhaustive) list, never mind all of them. Or John Kerry. Or Al Gore. Their careers would have come to just as swift and brutal an end as that of Mr. Kristof's counterfactual Hillary Clinton.
The bluntly sexist substance of many of the attacks on Secretary Clinton is too obvious to deny. But that sexism is this election cycle's branch of a poison tree, not the root. The root is partisan and ideological. The root is a conviction among conservative elites that, post-Reagan, they were supposed to have permanent governing power, and that America's worst enemies were their own fellow citizens who happened to have economic views contrary to their interests.
The right's treatment of Secretary Clinton has been unfair, but not unique. It's of a piece with the birther movement, the Swift Boat Veterans, "fuzzy math," the Whitewater investigations. And it has been abetted by a press so eager to prove its non-partisan bona fides that it judges Democrats by a far harsher standard than it does Republicans.
The bluntly sexist substance of many of the attacks on Secretary Clinton is too obvious to deny. But that sexism is this election cycle's branch of a poison tree, not the root. The root is partisan and ideological. The root is a conviction among conservative elites that, post-Reagan, they were supposed to have permanent governing power, and that America's worst enemies were their own fellow citizens who happened to have economic views contrary to their interests.
The right's treatment of Secretary Clinton has been unfair, but not unique. It's of a piece with the birther movement, the Swift Boat Veterans, "fuzzy math," the Whitewater investigations. And it has been abetted by a press so eager to prove its non-partisan bona fides that it judges Democrats by a far harsher standard than it does Republicans.
93
Yes. Trump's utter failure is the Right's being hoisted by their own petard. Obama in his role as surrogate yesterday enjoyed a taste of revenge on the Right as he watched it disintegrate, but Michelle took the higher, more authentic, and nobler path by looking at Trump's and the Right's approach to power for what it is: morally corrupt and spiritually debilitating. There's hope, perhaps, for all of us if we and our politicians aspire to her principled stance both in words and deeds.
20
Reducing everything to a duality has made the US a nation of simpletons.
1
Imagine Hillary Clinton being an inarticulate, ignorant, aggressive, bigotted, lazy, lying, cheating, openly narcisistic bully, and Trump somebody who has proven himself over and over again as a hard working, intelligent, articulate, socially and emotionally committed, talented and experienced leader and politician.
Ask yourself: would she have stood a chance to even get to the primaries, let alone be elected presidential candidate?
Ask yourself: would she have stood a chance to even get to the primaries, let alone be elected presidential candidate?
40
If Hillary also was a TV star and extremely successful in other areas in life other than politics and said what she thought with less of a filter... I am not convinced she would not also be electable. Its not right to allow sexism and disgusting behavior to succeed, but there is precedent that it works, even for women.
4
There's a double standard for women outside of politics too. A man who hits a woman is a bully and a monster; a woman who hits a man is assumed to have been justly provoked. (It's also assumed a woman can't hit as hard as a man, which, irrelevance aside--hitting is just plain wrong, boys and girls--is not necessarily true.) A woman who sexually harasses a man in the office may rationalize "Oh, he loves it" (which maybe he does, just as there are--let's face it--women who don't mind being on the receiving end of an arguably inappropriate compliment) or "That's what he gets for wearing those tight pants" (the flip side of "Well, in that flimsy little skirt, she's asking for it").
Society tends to wink at double standards which favor the traditionally disadvantaged or victimized party. People love animated cartoons where the mouse beats up the cat, or legends of the little boy who brings down the fearsome giant. It may seem like turnabout being fair play, but it's an impediment to the ultimate goal of human equality. The so-called female advantages--being on the proverbial pedestal, the "woman's privilege" to change her mind, not having to be in the muddiest bloodiest part of a war--are poor compensation for second class status.
Anyway, as far as I know, Hillary Clinton doesn't go around groping men.
Society tends to wink at double standards which favor the traditionally disadvantaged or victimized party. People love animated cartoons where the mouse beats up the cat, or legends of the little boy who brings down the fearsome giant. It may seem like turnabout being fair play, but it's an impediment to the ultimate goal of human equality. The so-called female advantages--being on the proverbial pedestal, the "woman's privilege" to change her mind, not having to be in the muddiest bloodiest part of a war--are poor compensation for second class status.
Anyway, as far as I know, Hillary Clinton doesn't go around groping men.
4
When one sees female Trump supporters dismissing Trumps behavior as locker room stuff why don't their interviewers ask them whether they would personally have any problem being groped by men? It seems an obvious question. Why is it never asked? Basically the media give Trump a pass just as they do on his taxes which is equally egregious.
55
They might NOT mind being groped -- I sense the 'any attention is good attention' attitude in that camp. People who want to be famous for being famous, rather than for accomplishing something based on their own hard work.
2
Good question, but I'm thinking you wouldn't get a straight answer.
2
I've never imagined wishing another woman to be put in the position of any of Trump's victims. My own experience with sexual molestation and domestic violence in childhood would generally forbid it. Now, as an old woman, I can't help wondering how some of Trump's women supporters would react--both at the time, and at the ballot-box, if someone at one of their rallies grabbed them by the crotch, or the breasts, or even just called them some of the names Trump, Billy Bush, Stern, Limbaugh have called women. Do they think it's just fine, because it happens to other women, whom they too can insult? Or because the so-called religious right has endorsed this ignorant, bullying, bigoted sexual predator?
1
Very effective Nick. If only Trump supporters had to read or hear this column and then defend their adoration and vote for Donald J. Trump as President of the United States.
Frankly, I don't understand why Trump isn't in jail after all his financial and sexual transgressions. Read this column, and it is clear the whole is even greater than the sum of the parts with Trump's truly damaging behavior.
In learning theory it becomes clear that it is so much easier for humans to learn attitudes and behavior than to unlearn inaccurate information or incorrect responses to people or events.
The Republicans and the media have been going after Hillary Clinton since Bill Clinton was elected President. It has been a decades-long campaign to smear and trash Hillary, and it worked. The hatred of Hillary Clinton is so visceral, unthinking, and unquestioned that it is pathological in many voters.
And speaking of Trump supporters, you have to wonder what they learned and were socialized to growing up that attracts them to this deranged, insulting, embarrassing man who is determined to be President of the most powerful country in the world.
Think it doesn't matter? See the effects Trump is having on our children: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-trump-effect-our-kids-and-count...
How can we "unlearn" this behavior? These children are our next generation of voters
Frankly, I don't understand why Trump isn't in jail after all his financial and sexual transgressions. Read this column, and it is clear the whole is even greater than the sum of the parts with Trump's truly damaging behavior.
In learning theory it becomes clear that it is so much easier for humans to learn attitudes and behavior than to unlearn inaccurate information or incorrect responses to people or events.
The Republicans and the media have been going after Hillary Clinton since Bill Clinton was elected President. It has been a decades-long campaign to smear and trash Hillary, and it worked. The hatred of Hillary Clinton is so visceral, unthinking, and unquestioned that it is pathological in many voters.
And speaking of Trump supporters, you have to wonder what they learned and were socialized to growing up that attracts them to this deranged, insulting, embarrassing man who is determined to be President of the most powerful country in the world.
Think it doesn't matter? See the effects Trump is having on our children: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-trump-effect-our-kids-and-count...
How can we "unlearn" this behavior? These children are our next generation of voters
38
The Clintons must own the world's record for legal expenses incurred defending themselves in frivolous lawsuits and investigations.
2
Sexism has always been the dead elephant in the room. Nobody mentions it but everyone knows it's there. Now the elephant, brought to life by the GOP, has finally bestirred itself. Now America will have to face sexism as a force as real and as destructive as racism and every other prejudice that cripples this country's progress. We almost owe the Republican elephant a favor.
17
It's hard to fathom the profound ignorance coming out of the mouths of Trump supporters, especially woman regarding Trump's admitted proclivity in uninvited groping, kissing, fondling and gawking at woman.
No matter how bad it gets, the Trump enablers always find a reason to excuse it. When Trump explicitly told Howard Stern that he has the fringe benefit of going into the dressing rooms of his pageants to "inspect the goods", and we are talking about Miss Teen America with 15 year olds undressed and Trump is in there gawking at them, it's what people get put on sex offender's registries. Even, though it has been substantiated by more than one contestant, they excuse it by saying "well some of them said they don't remember it happening".
This guy is a disgusting misogynists would be a travesty and disgrace to this country.
No matter how bad it gets, the Trump enablers always find a reason to excuse it. When Trump explicitly told Howard Stern that he has the fringe benefit of going into the dressing rooms of his pageants to "inspect the goods", and we are talking about Miss Teen America with 15 year olds undressed and Trump is in there gawking at them, it's what people get put on sex offender's registries. Even, though it has been substantiated by more than one contestant, they excuse it by saying "well some of them said they don't remember it happening".
This guy is a disgusting misogynists would be a travesty and disgrace to this country.
38
"It's hard to fathom the profound ignorance coming out of the mouths of Trump supporters,"
Oh, I don't believe for one instant that it's ignorance.
Oh, I don't believe for one instant that it's ignorance.
1
Why is anyone anywhere who is even slightly respectable going to vote for this man? He is being treated better not only than Hillary, but also better than most men would be treated in politics. What really hurts is that there are both Democrats and Republicans who believe Hillary has done things that are worse or at least equal to what he has done. I pray that this madness ends on November 8. He cannot be president. She is completely qualified to be a superior president and I hope everyone will finally see that when she is elected.
43
As a woman Hillary's age, I say a huge "thank you!" The horrific double standard to which she has been subjected boggles the mind. Just as President Obama has been guilty of being President while black in the minds of many in the right wing, Secretary Clinton has committed the unpardonable sin of being a smart, ambitious woman.
141
Not just a smart, ambitious woman. A woman who is not pretty. She's not ugly, either. She has average looks, and she doesn't dress 'girly'. Which, in Trump World, is an unpardonable sin for a female.
1
Women have been shouting about a double standard for decades, but so many have heard only the shouting without taking seriously or addressing the substance of what was being said. Indeed, the more vocal we became the more we were labeled as shrill, hysterical, whining, and emasculating. I came of age in the 60's and 70's and have been on the front lines fighting for the kinds of changes that so many millennial women now take for granted. Progress has been slow but steady, yet the double standard lives on with a vengeance, as well illustrated by Mr. Kristoff. The hopeful side of me likes to think that perhaps this would not be happening if any other woman was the candidate. Perhaps this has more to do with hatred of Hillary Clinton than a double standard for women generally. But that raises another issue -- why is she so despised, and would a man similarly situated draw the same ire? No matter how I look at it, it all circles back to the double standard women face, especially in politics but in many other areas as well. That nearly half of this country is willing to elect someone who is demonstrably unfit for office speaks to how power of this insidious form of discrimination.
60
I agree that many Millennials take for granted what was hard fought. I think what has been clear in this election is that there is a tremendous undercurrent - blatant sexism and misogyny - and though Hillary Clinton is disliked by many for whatever reasons, any woman running for president would be up against a lot of this hate. Because this insane, manipulative Trump was front and center of both print and cable news every single day for the past year, his followers who think they are having their turn in a reality TV show have gotten more aggressive and hateful, as if that is the bar to which they are being held, and as far as I can see, it is. There is an anger in American society the likes of which we haven't seen before.
2
Add to the list, imagine Hillary Clinton belittling a reporter with a disability, or Hillary Clinton having as a young business person engaged in real-estate transactions that so discriminated against people of color that it required federal prosecution. Unfit? That so many Americans still support Donald Trump is a terrible reflection on what is in, or absent from, the hearts and minds of the American people. A sad time for our nation.
70
Of course I can imagine.
Yes, there's a double standard. As a 64 year old female I can remember the slurs, insults, inuendos, and outright lies leveled against women politicans over the years. Men are given a pass for indiscretions, mistakes that will sink a woman political career. Now, the claim being floated is a wife is responsible for a husband who strays from his marriage vows.
The idiocy is endless. Sometimes, I wonder if the US is truly ready for the 21st century.
Yes, there's a double standard. As a 64 year old female I can remember the slurs, insults, inuendos, and outright lies leveled against women politicans over the years. Men are given a pass for indiscretions, mistakes that will sink a woman political career. Now, the claim being floated is a wife is responsible for a husband who strays from his marriage vows.
The idiocy is endless. Sometimes, I wonder if the US is truly ready for the 21st century.
103
The US sure has lots of folks who think the calendar is off and the Rapture is still nigh.
1
The fundamental problem with Donald Trump and most of his supporters is their underlying view of life overall. They treat it as a zero-sum game. If I am up, you must be down. If I am a powerful man, you must be a subservient woman. If immigrants enter the country, they must depress my fate. If others get welfare, I must be getting the shaft.
Of the seven US citizen Nobel laureates this year, six are immigrants and the seventh, Bob Dylan, is a second generation native born citizen. We ignore the contribution of minorities at our literal peril--traffic lights received a patent in 1923 (Garrett Morgan) and blood banking beginning in 1940 has saved many accident victims' lives (Charles Drew). Both men were African-American.
Consider Donald Trump's favorite topic: a wall. The bricks at the top are no more important than those at the bottom. The native Americans of the Pacific Northwest remind us the most revered totem is at the bottom and not the top of the pole.
Any success I have had is not just the result of my efforts. It is my efforts added to the foundation I reveived from my family, teachers and community be they majority, minority, men or women alike.
Of the seven US citizen Nobel laureates this year, six are immigrants and the seventh, Bob Dylan, is a second generation native born citizen. We ignore the contribution of minorities at our literal peril--traffic lights received a patent in 1923 (Garrett Morgan) and blood banking beginning in 1940 has saved many accident victims' lives (Charles Drew). Both men were African-American.
Consider Donald Trump's favorite topic: a wall. The bricks at the top are no more important than those at the bottom. The native Americans of the Pacific Northwest remind us the most revered totem is at the bottom and not the top of the pole.
Any success I have had is not just the result of my efforts. It is my efforts added to the foundation I reveived from my family, teachers and community be they majority, minority, men or women alike.
68
It takes creativity to produce net positive results. But there is no creativity in the Republican Party anymore, except in the dirty tricks department.
11
Thank you for this....
1
And then imagine millions of Democrats voting for this imaginary Hillary.
That would never happen.
The left wing has its problems, but Trump is a phenomenon and creation of the country's right wing, which has now shown itself to be more stupid, ignorant, and hateful than ever could have been imagined. The size of the problem will be measurable by the number of votes Loser Trump gets.
That would never happen.
The left wing has its problems, but Trump is a phenomenon and creation of the country's right wing, which has now shown itself to be more stupid, ignorant, and hateful than ever could have been imagined. The size of the problem will be measurable by the number of votes Loser Trump gets.
58
Double Standards are alive and flourishing not only in this year's presidential race but also in other areas of our lives.
Just to name a few:
1. An unmarried woman has sex, she's a slut or a whore.
2, Men are paid more than women for the same job.
3. A husband cheats on his wife, it must be because she's not doing her wifely duty. A wife cheats on her husband, she's a whore.
Just to name a few:
1. An unmarried woman has sex, she's a slut or a whore.
2, Men are paid more than women for the same job.
3. A husband cheats on his wife, it must be because she's not doing her wifely duty. A wife cheats on her husband, she's a whore.
48
What a great article! You bet there's a double standard! The Right froths at the mouth now over what Hillary is supposed to "have done"....millions of $$ spent by a Republican Congress investigating Hillary endlessly and finding.... nothing! The "damn emails"....how many thousand emails deleted by Bush, and not a word of condemnation! I'm plenty angry! I was a Bernie supporter, but I voted 2 days ago for Hillary!
81
God Bless you for doing the right thing and loving and supporting your country!
2
Hallelujah!
2
Trump is a sociopath. He seems to have no conscience and no capacity for empathy. He feels he can do anything he wants without consequences. And if problems occur, it must be the other person's fault.
The scariest part this election is the group of supporters who drank the Kool-Aid and believe every word Trump says.
Sociopaths find was to be like able (to some gullible people).
Fortunately, we have more voters who have pulled back the curtain to see their is no wizard. Trump is just a con artist who will be fired on Election Day.
The scariest part this election is the group of supporters who drank the Kool-Aid and believe every word Trump says.
Sociopaths find was to be like able (to some gullible people).
Fortunately, we have more voters who have pulled back the curtain to see their is no wizard. Trump is just a con artist who will be fired on Election Day.
54
So true. I've met defendants and civilians like Trump and while they were dangerous, they were not running for president. God help America.
2
I'm no Trump supporter. I've been aware for years that he is a boor and a charlatan.
But Democrats are complete hypocrites on this issue. In the 1990s they did not care how much of a cad Bill Clinton was. Yes, I'm aware he is not running. My point is that the media and Hillary's supporters have no principled position here. And this absence of principle is characteristic of their disdain for the rule of law and for much of the American electorate not in lockstep with their groupthink.
I'm voting for Johnson-Weld.
But Democrats are complete hypocrites on this issue. In the 1990s they did not care how much of a cad Bill Clinton was. Yes, I'm aware he is not running. My point is that the media and Hillary's supporters have no principled position here. And this absence of principle is characteristic of their disdain for the rule of law and for much of the American electorate not in lockstep with their groupthink.
I'm voting for Johnson-Weld.
3
To quote a recent winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature: "The times they are a-changing". Sexual politics in the 90's were a very different beast from those in 2016. There is essentially no comparison except that there were two sexes then with women seen more often as predators than as victims. Now the two sexes have become LGBT, and we have an expanded sexual world in which women are now more readily perceived as victims (men still have to be included in the victims category). So there is perhaps nothing hypocritical about using the yardsticks of the day to measure situations. What is hypocritical is to pretend that there is no distinction between then and now.
1
Marvin
I disagree. There was plenty of disappointment about what had occurred.
A bigger anger was directed at the folks who spent taxpayer money to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate a consensual sexual affair. Both parties were adults.
It was a witch hunt.
I disagree. There was plenty of disappointment about what had occurred.
A bigger anger was directed at the folks who spent taxpayer money to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate a consensual sexual affair. Both parties were adults.
It was a witch hunt.
22
Good argument, but try selling it in many halls of liberal academies where the time frames involved are centuries, rather than two decades. Bear in mind that Anita Hill had already made her appearance at Justice Thomas' hearings. So, while I take your point, I think it is a matter of principles (or absence thereof) rather than chronology.
1
I feel like for the first time in my lifetime at age 33, we are finally having national conversations about gender equality, complacent daily sexual assault, and the demoralization of women simply based on gender.
The most curious thing about this election is the soul searching America is doing regarding our values and morals. Trump has given people a license to say whatever they want because "it's just words," and of course, made people believe all opinions are created equal.
Even when (not if) Clinton wins, the effects of Trump's campaign will permeate for a long time and I can only hope the conversations about gender don't end when Clinton takes office.
The most curious thing about this election is the soul searching America is doing regarding our values and morals. Trump has given people a license to say whatever they want because "it's just words," and of course, made people believe all opinions are created equal.
Even when (not if) Clinton wins, the effects of Trump's campaign will permeate for a long time and I can only hope the conversations about gender don't end when Clinton takes office.
59
It's really about a double-standard about power. We're comfortable with giving men power, even to the point of allowing its abuse.
Trump has demonstrated - over and over again - that he will not only fully exploit but abuse any power he has. And, that he'll use his power to abuse others, particularly - but not just - women. It's clear his standard modus operandi was to renege on his deals, claiming the work was sub-standard, and pay only a portion of the negotiated amount - all at the expense of honest tradesmen and workers. His repeated use of bankruptcy proceedings was, to him, smart, but it was a disaster for thousands who'd worked for him. HIs mocking of a reporter with a disability, his attacks against the Khan family, his attacks against the women who are now coming forward to put the lie to his claim that he never abused women the way he described on the bus - all are demonstrations of complete inability to treat anyone who opposes him with even a modicum of respect. His remark about shooting someone on Fifth Avenue, with impunity, sounds ever more like a real threat.
Yet, some 40 percent of our voters seem inclined to give him even more power, and with it, the ability not only to destroy our country, but other nations as well. Let's hope all who see through this horrible man vote.
Trump has demonstrated - over and over again - that he will not only fully exploit but abuse any power he has. And, that he'll use his power to abuse others, particularly - but not just - women. It's clear his standard modus operandi was to renege on his deals, claiming the work was sub-standard, and pay only a portion of the negotiated amount - all at the expense of honest tradesmen and workers. His repeated use of bankruptcy proceedings was, to him, smart, but it was a disaster for thousands who'd worked for him. HIs mocking of a reporter with a disability, his attacks against the Khan family, his attacks against the women who are now coming forward to put the lie to his claim that he never abused women the way he described on the bus - all are demonstrations of complete inability to treat anyone who opposes him with even a modicum of respect. His remark about shooting someone on Fifth Avenue, with impunity, sounds ever more like a real threat.
Yet, some 40 percent of our voters seem inclined to give him even more power, and with it, the ability not only to destroy our country, but other nations as well. Let's hope all who see through this horrible man vote.
67
There is a double standard of sexuality. Men do not have to look pretty, indeed, a little scruffiness is seldom an issue.
One likes to express appreciation for effort and accomplishment, so it is hard to resist sharing a smile with an attractive woman, but the idea of administering some kind of shock as this creep Trump is wont to do appalls me.
One likes to express appreciation for effort and accomplishment, so it is hard to resist sharing a smile with an attractive woman, but the idea of administering some kind of shock as this creep Trump is wont to do appalls me.
2
Trump's supporters have been fed lies for so long by right wing media and the Republican party that reason and decency have fled. The party is deservedly in ruins.
79
Not quite, but we can only pray.
1
I don't know who supports Trump but I do know that their capacity for self delusion and denial of facts is overwhelming.
105
Incredibly well stated! I have been trying for months to have an appropriate and yet not fire breathing response and reaction to Trump supporters and you nailed it one sentence!
2
First of all, congratulations on a well written piece.
The way you layed out the case made me realize we are dealing with a situation where men are held to a different standard than women.
It is almost inconceivable to realize how did we get here. How could such an individual has gotten that far in our political system?
It's embarrassing!
On November 9th, as a society, we are compelled to do a real autopsy; not just a political one, but a systemic one as this cycle has unearthed and exposed our soul as a nation.
The way you layed out the case made me realize we are dealing with a situation where men are held to a different standard than women.
It is almost inconceivable to realize how did we get here. How could such an individual has gotten that far in our political system?
It's embarrassing!
On November 9th, as a society, we are compelled to do a real autopsy; not just a political one, but a systemic one as this cycle has unearthed and exposed our soul as a nation.
87
I have a friend who is a Christian Conservative and I have always admired him for the good deeds he does and his moral center, although we almost never agree on political matters.
But every article about Trump, bringing up the unsavory aspects of his character, my friend denounces as "garbage" and "lies".
I can't understand why an otherwise morally grounded man could possibly make excuses for this self absorbed amoral out of control undignified person.
But he does.
But every article about Trump, bringing up the unsavory aspects of his character, my friend denounces as "garbage" and "lies".
I can't understand why an otherwise morally grounded man could possibly make excuses for this self absorbed amoral out of control undignified person.
But he does.
183
@Ellen. But now you do know--it's because he is a misogynist (as are most versions of Christianity, especially the conservative versions.)
Christianity is a lifelong exercise of self delusion centered on the preposterous belief in life after death. If you can gloss over the reality of death, you can fool yourself about anything.
Maybe you don't know your friend all that well
1
If she had done these things, she would have been loved for them by millions Americans and instantly become their preferred candidates. Hopefully, the number would not have been enough to make her the next President. I am glad she didn't do any of them. She will be the next President of the United States.
30
I am sicked by the number of comments that zero-in on Trump's use of the word "let" as in "they let you do it" in defense of Trump with de facto evidence that since he got away with it she "let" him grope her linked to the assertion that if there was anything wrong with it she would have stopped him or spoken out.
First - the idea that she "let" him touch her is entirely from Trump's point of view. That she "let" him is his conclusion of what happened, not her's. In his mind Trump didn't take advantage, didn't force himself, didn't surprise or attack, Trump didn't act like a predator, no, she "let" him do it. Even when he states that the privilege of power and fame allow him to take what he wants, she "lets" him.
Second - the idea that since it occurred she allowed it and didn't have a problem with it, thus no harm no foul, is completely self-serving of those who believe there is nothing wrong with boorish behavior. It takes no account or fear, or the relative positions of wealth, power, celebrity, penchant for suing, etc. that anyone for who Trump crosses is necessarily aware. Such power difference is exactly the basis of sexual harassment laws and rules.
Some of the very reasons she may not have felt empowered to fight back or to report are in full view by means of all statements that disbelieve, belittle, blame, second-guess women.
First - the idea that she "let" him touch her is entirely from Trump's point of view. That she "let" him is his conclusion of what happened, not her's. In his mind Trump didn't take advantage, didn't force himself, didn't surprise or attack, Trump didn't act like a predator, no, she "let" him do it. Even when he states that the privilege of power and fame allow him to take what he wants, she "lets" him.
Second - the idea that since it occurred she allowed it and didn't have a problem with it, thus no harm no foul, is completely self-serving of those who believe there is nothing wrong with boorish behavior. It takes no account or fear, or the relative positions of wealth, power, celebrity, penchant for suing, etc. that anyone for who Trump crosses is necessarily aware. Such power difference is exactly the basis of sexual harassment laws and rules.
Some of the very reasons she may not have felt empowered to fight back or to report are in full view by means of all statements that disbelieve, belittle, blame, second-guess women.
93
"Letting" someone get away with something is sadly quite common when the victim is too classy or lacks the confidence to cause a scene by calling out or smacking the perpetrator of the assault.
And when the perp is in a position (and wields it) to boost the victim's career or destroy her with vicious attacks, the reluctance persists well beyond the incident.
The combined cunning and lust for control Trump regularly exhibits surpasses even the classic definition of "predator". Were he truly intelligent and not so old and overweight, he could have been a fearsome candidate for the martial arts.
It's an awful shame that legislators (e.g. Christie), bankers and other creditors didn't let Trump drown in his own debt years ago, instead of rescuing him time and time again with taxpayer funds. They created this insane Hydra.
And when the perp is in a position (and wields it) to boost the victim's career or destroy her with vicious attacks, the reluctance persists well beyond the incident.
The combined cunning and lust for control Trump regularly exhibits surpasses even the classic definition of "predator". Were he truly intelligent and not so old and overweight, he could have been a fearsome candidate for the martial arts.
It's an awful shame that legislators (e.g. Christie), bankers and other creditors didn't let Trump drown in his own debt years ago, instead of rescuing him time and time again with taxpayer funds. They created this insane Hydra.
27
@DEWC Christie et al did it because they share Trump's values.
2
Young girls need to be taught that they have the right to object to unwanted sexual attention. So many are taught to "just ignore it" or accept it, just as Blacks were taught back in the last century to keep their heads down and say "yes sir" lest they be lynched. Just a few decades ago any woman who reported rape was "lynched" in the courts and in the public eye. It's time for women to know that they can object, they can fight back, and they won't be punished for it.
4
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have been saying essentially the same thing since Trump received the nomination. Women have been held to a higher standard than men in every field since they entered the workforce. Moreover, I am sure that a large percentage of Trump supporters are supporting him based purely on misogyny. HRC will need to be more than perfect in the Oval Office to receive even a passing grade at the end of her term.
128
Agree, Kristine, and I'll be voting for HRC, but without enthusiasm. My primary reservation relates to the point you make: Come the first dust-up with Putin or Iran, or China, men suffering from toxic testosterone syndrome, elements of the military industrial complex, and other war mongers will question whether Hillary has the, er, moxie, to stand up to another power. Sadly, there is little doubt about that. She has supported military interventions in Iraq, in Libya and elsewhere. While on the Senate Armed Forces Committee she cultivated close relationships with Generals and Admirals and has shown no reluctance to follow the counsel of her friends in uniform. Pray for peace.
1
Same as Ginger dancing as well as Fred but dancing backwards and in heels! Women have to do it all the time and Hillary will have to too. She will receive the same kind of abuse President Obama has because he is African American.
1
I've not been able to get my head around Trump's explanation for his boys-on-the-bus remarks: "It was just locker room banter." (Which he says over and over again in a robotic, well-rehearsed way.) And it was accepted, forgotten. Case closed.
Now we get a long list of witnesses testifying otherwise. But even were it just banter, what we've always known about such banter, since we were teenagers, is that the "banterer" is a liar, a braggard, a blowhard, a self-important bully. One of the ten commandments of "the locker room" is not to get caught with the fact that your assertions are, in fact, no more than your own fantasies.
And, by the way, as Jacob Tamme and other athletes of the locker room attest, this is not how grown men talk in the locker room. It is the talk of insecure little boys who want to impress their peers because of what they feel to be their own inadequacies. Sadly, not all men outgrow this need to impress. But men who want to be president of the United States should long ago have outgrown their adolescent fevers and insecurities.
Now we get a long list of witnesses testifying otherwise. But even were it just banter, what we've always known about such banter, since we were teenagers, is that the "banterer" is a liar, a braggard, a blowhard, a self-important bully. One of the ten commandments of "the locker room" is not to get caught with the fact that your assertions are, in fact, no more than your own fantasies.
And, by the way, as Jacob Tamme and other athletes of the locker room attest, this is not how grown men talk in the locker room. It is the talk of insecure little boys who want to impress their peers because of what they feel to be their own inadequacies. Sadly, not all men outgrow this need to impress. But men who want to be president of the United States should long ago have outgrown their adolescent fevers and insecurities.
111
A telling editorial.
How does Trump continue to be supported (adored, even) by most Republicans?
His support is strongest among Republican poorly educated white men. Millions of them act like him when they feel they can get away with it. Tens of millions long to act like him. They love him for saying on so many subjects what they feel but are too cowardly to say except at a Trump rally. If Trump is elected I think that many of these will increasingly act out their vile feelings.
And I cannot but conclude that significant numbers of the Republican women who support Trump wish, really wish, that some stranger like Trump would take such an interest in them.
How does Trump continue to be supported (adored, even) by most Republicans?
His support is strongest among Republican poorly educated white men. Millions of them act like him when they feel they can get away with it. Tens of millions long to act like him. They love him for saying on so many subjects what they feel but are too cowardly to say except at a Trump rally. If Trump is elected I think that many of these will increasingly act out their vile feelings.
And I cannot but conclude that significant numbers of the Republican women who support Trump wish, really wish, that some stranger like Trump would take such an interest in them.
55
The women I see who will vote for Trump up here in redneck land are married to the same kind of big fat jerks as the Republican candidate (only with skinnier wallets.)
"Boys will be boys," they giggle. Because what else can they say? They certainly aren't able or willing to understand that they are chattel used by the lowest form of life on earth.
Many of these women could be enlightened -- if we could figure out what to do about the men who own them.
"Boys will be boys," they giggle. Because what else can they say? They certainly aren't able or willing to understand that they are chattel used by the lowest form of life on earth.
Many of these women could be enlightened -- if we could figure out what to do about the men who own them.
2
No, I can't imagine and neither can anyone else. Men, especially men in power and in particular Donald Trump, have license in our America to treat women as objects. I see the more subtle version of this misogyny every day even in the well intentioned world of nonprofits that I work in: women being interrupted, excluded from networking, and generally having to work smarter, harder and nicer than the men in similar positions. Unfortunately, so many men and even women have internalized all of this that it feels next to impossible to overcome.
76
What is most dispiriting to me is the responses of those who weakly try and argue for some sort of equivalence between Hillary's largely de-bunked or ridiculously exaggerated "crimes" and Trump's true crimes and transgressions. Anyone so desperate to justify their disdain for Hillary needs to look not their souls and ask themselves why they are trying to blur reality. We are choosing between a perfectly decent, relatively typical professional politician, with the mistakes and warts that are inevitable in 30 years of public service, and Trump's revolting, truly evil history.
176
Trump has boasted he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th avenue and not lose voters.
I don't know if that is true.
However Trump does not seem to have lost much support because of his disgusting remarks on the 2005 tape or from women coming forward accusing Trump of improper sexual conduct or from TRump's disgusting comments during the past year.
Trump has a hard core support of at least 40% that does not care about Trump's disgusting behavior and comments.
Economic concerns for this hard core are paramount.
I agree with Mr. Kristof's comments but he needs to address the reasons that Trump's support has a floor of 40%.
Male chauvinism or mysogeny does not provide a complete explanation.
I don't know if that is true.
However Trump does not seem to have lost much support because of his disgusting remarks on the 2005 tape or from women coming forward accusing Trump of improper sexual conduct or from TRump's disgusting comments during the past year.
Trump has a hard core support of at least 40% that does not care about Trump's disgusting behavior and comments.
Economic concerns for this hard core are paramount.
I agree with Mr. Kristof's comments but he needs to address the reasons that Trump's support has a floor of 40%.
Male chauvinism or mysogeny does not provide a complete explanation.
13
David wrote, "I agree with Mr. Kristof's comments but he needs to address the reasons that Trump's support has a floor of 40%.
Male chauvinism or mysogeny does not provide a complete explanation."
True. You have to include Trump's expressions of racial hatred, self-serving cheating in business deals, psychopathic lying to foster a huge ego and cover up ignorance, plus a willingness to violate every social graciousness at every turn to get the kind of guy these people love so much as their alter ego. There's a little something in Trump to speak for a wide range of deplorables.
Male chauvinism or mysogeny does not provide a complete explanation."
True. You have to include Trump's expressions of racial hatred, self-serving cheating in business deals, psychopathic lying to foster a huge ego and cover up ignorance, plus a willingness to violate every social graciousness at every turn to get the kind of guy these people love so much as their alter ego. There's a little something in Trump to speak for a wide range of deplorables.
42
I agree that Trump has engaged in all the deplorable actions mentioned above.
The 40% of TRump's core support is aware of all of these.
Most probably agree these are deplorable.
But that 40% still supports TRump .
Why?
Many are suffering economically and they believe TRump will improve their economic status and HRC will not.
Whether that is true or not [and I don't believe it is] that is what they believe.
And if HRC does not address their concerns she may well lose.
The 40% of TRump's core support is aware of all of these.
Most probably agree these are deplorable.
But that 40% still supports TRump .
Why?
Many are suffering economically and they believe TRump will improve their economic status and HRC will not.
Whether that is true or not [and I don't believe it is] that is what they believe.
And if HRC does not address their concerns she may well lose.
1
I believe much of the reason he has that 40% floor is that at that level of support it starts to seem that he has no chance of victory. So people who would never vote for such an obvious monster if they thought he might actually win are willing to support him as a form of opposition to Clinton or the Democrats in general. The left has been fiercely opposed by about 40% of the population for a long time now.
Read some of these comments and then you realize that there is very little real thinking and reasoning going on in the heads of a not insignificant portion of the USA public. As a former teacher I blame myself and our educational system for producing a substantial part of the electorate unable to tell the difference between a con artist and a politician. (That of course does not take into account some of my colleagues who support the con artist!) Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself and my colleagues, because the nation has seen its fair share of frauds throughout its history!
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US public school policy is an insult to intelligence. Nobody should graduate still believing in magic.
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Actually, I agree with you, and say that we are reaping the results of ignoring our public schools for the last 50 or 60 years. We now have a huge populace unable to think critically, do their research, and which parrots by rote the unexamined lies they have been fed.
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this piece tries to make the point that there's a double standard, but really, you could substitute almost any name and come to the same conclusion: Trump has mastered the art of bullying and of media control. He's found a segment of the population drawn to his blustery, violent, sexist statements and curated them. And he gets away with it while others with less power (Billy Bush) meet their fate.
So now, try listing all the illegal, immoral things Hilary is suspected of doing -- Whitewater, Vince Foster, silencing Slick Willie's affairs, compromising national security -- and insert, say Joe Biden's name. Or Barack Obama's. Wouldn't the impression be the same? She gets away with it too.
There is no good .vs. evil choice in this election. No smart .vs. dumb. Only the slightly lesser of two evils. This election is the product of the culture of this country. We brought it on ourselves.
So now, try listing all the illegal, immoral things Hilary is suspected of doing -- Whitewater, Vince Foster, silencing Slick Willie's affairs, compromising national security -- and insert, say Joe Biden's name. Or Barack Obama's. Wouldn't the impression be the same? She gets away with it too.
There is no good .vs. evil choice in this election. No smart .vs. dumb. Only the slightly lesser of two evils. This election is the product of the culture of this country. We brought it on ourselves.
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The comparisons are unfair. Three separate inquiries found insufficient evidence linking the Clintons with the criminal conduct of others related to the Whitewater land deal. Vince Foster's death was ruled a suicide by six official investigations. Hillary Clinton may have used poor judgment in using a private email server, but never intended to mishandle sensitive information. Labeling any of this as illegal or immoral is misleading at best and at worst a distortion of the truth.
That leaves one last possible transgression. She stood by her philandering husband and decided to keep her marriage intact instead of walking away from him. This is not a choice for others to question. Perhaps she wanted to avoid the spectacle of a separated first family. Perhaps she felt it important to her daughter to keep her family together. Perhaps she wanted to remain close to the reins of power because of her personal political ambition. Perhaps she still loved him despite his faults. Whatever her motives, none rises to the level illegality or even immoral behavior, not even close.
That leaves one last possible transgression. She stood by her philandering husband and decided to keep her marriage intact instead of walking away from him. This is not a choice for others to question. Perhaps she wanted to avoid the spectacle of a separated first family. Perhaps she felt it important to her daughter to keep her family together. Perhaps she wanted to remain close to the reins of power because of her personal political ambition. Perhaps she still loved him despite his faults. Whatever her motives, none rises to the level illegality or even immoral behavior, not even close.
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This is the reasonable-sounding, insidious, uniformed and unsupportable nonsense that Republicans have been desperately peddling. The article listed things that Trump HAS ACTUALLY DONE AND SAID. Hillary is not "suspected" of Vince Foster's death, which was a ridiculous alt-right fantasy which has been completely de-bunked, including by his wife. She was completely cleared of Whitewater. National security was not compromised by her private server. She broke regulations, but the server she was supposed to use was definitely hacked, while hers far more than likely was not. Add to that her 30 year record of doing whatever she could do to make the live of deserving people better, whereas her opponent has ripped off everyone he could, and made many serving people's lives far, far worse, without a scintilla of remorse. Suggesting any equivalence at all between these lies, made up by paid liars based on focus groups, to Trumps real, truly disgusting history does not leave us choosing between "the slightly lesser of two evils". It leave us to choose between good and evil.
2
Whitewater? Vince Foster? Oh, please. Compromising national security? The head of the FBI is one of the people who led the Whitewater witch hunt. If he could have credibly prosecuted her for treason he would have done it. If he said no competent prosecutor would take the case, you can believe him.
Yes, Hillary Clinton defended her husband when he was cheating on her (and undoubtedly lying to her about it.) Other than that you've got nothing.
And for that one wrong, she's been punished again and again and again.
Stop listening to Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and start informing yourself on the facts, and I guarantee you'll feel a whole lot better about this election.
Yes, Hillary Clinton defended her husband when he was cheating on her (and undoubtedly lying to her about it.) Other than that you've got nothing.
And for that one wrong, she's been punished again and again and again.
Stop listening to Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and start informing yourself on the facts, and I guarantee you'll feel a whole lot better about this election.
Well, until now it was inconceivable for a man too. About 50 years ago, it would have been inconceivable for a divorced person to be president, or a black person. Or a woman? It is impossible, of course, to picture Clinton acting like that. But, if she were a female entertainer who was running for office who was willing to say the things that a large portion of some constituency wanted to hear. For example, a very lewd female comedian? Sure.
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Or just a female, trying to win the votes of women because it's their "time". Written by a woman who can think.
1
The reality is that Trump has gotten this far partly because he says what other simply will not.
Take the issue of "because they let me."
The sad part of this is that it is undoubtedly true. Many women did "allow" Trump to grope them, or otherwise abuse them, and chose to say absolutely nothing about it at the time. In some cases, this was undoubtedly due to fear (for example, his employee). However, in many cases, it was because the woman accepted a sordid bargain - fame and, perhaps, fortune, in return for the pain of being touched and groped by a sick man.
Does this make Trump any better? Or serve as an excuse for his behavior? No, of course not. But we must accept that an implicit bargain was struck, not in all cases, but definitely some.
What society needs to address is not whether Trump is sick or not. That is not really a subject of debate. What we need to address is the sad reality u defining his statements. And this reality affects millions of ordinary women, every day, everywhere.
Take the issue of "because they let me."
The sad part of this is that it is undoubtedly true. Many women did "allow" Trump to grope them, or otherwise abuse them, and chose to say absolutely nothing about it at the time. In some cases, this was undoubtedly due to fear (for example, his employee). However, in many cases, it was because the woman accepted a sordid bargain - fame and, perhaps, fortune, in return for the pain of being touched and groped by a sick man.
Does this make Trump any better? Or serve as an excuse for his behavior? No, of course not. But we must accept that an implicit bargain was struck, not in all cases, but definitely some.
What society needs to address is not whether Trump is sick or not. That is not really a subject of debate. What we need to address is the sad reality u defining his statements. And this reality affects millions of ordinary women, every day, everywhere.
4
Right now what society needs to address is Trump and his behavior. Roundly rejecting Trump and likes of Trump is the best way to put an end to Trump's and other sexual predators' behavior.
3
The incredible thing about this excellent piece is that it merely scratches the surface of Trump's boorishness, bigotry, ignorance and arrogance. One could easily imagine many, many more examples of things Trump has done that would be held against Clinton if she had done them.
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Not quite like John Lennon's "Imagine," but points well-taken and undeniable.
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Can we force Trump supporters (or Fox News presenters) read this and react? Otherwise it is preaching to the choir.
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Exactly. None of the Trump base will ever see this column. They thrive on misinformation, emotional bias and the mob macho mentality that permeates this constituency. I just shook my head in the supermarket yesterday as I overheard two butchers behind the meat counter discussing the firing on a US Naval ship by Iranian supported rebels. Their lack of understanding of the fragile middle east was disheartening. Their solution was to "drop the mushroom" on them.
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Imagine if a Trump supporter could ever understand, much less admit, that this double standard exists.
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@David N. I believe that the Trump supporters definitely understand and applaud the double-standard. The double-standard makes it easy for white males to rake in most of the "scarce values"--access to money and power.
2
"Is there a double standard?" Of course, there is. But what may be worse is the general lack of standards and morals by some political figures—and their supporters—that permits the unchecked ascent to power of a dangerous demagogue. While Trump stokes the fires of discontent and distrust among his acolytes and then, for good measure, spews gasoline on the conflagration, the GOP stands idly by, a limp hose in their hands and a lack of integrity in their hearts.
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Yes, Trump's privilege as a white male has gotten him this far politically and in his own life. And he must be terrified to have that entitlement system shattering, first by the election of our first President of color and, soon, by our first woman President. The ridiculous double standards which have favored him absurdly need to be obliterated. This election will be another step towards justice, and it will be great poetic justice to see Trump defeated by a woman.
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OMG. I can't think of anything worse.
4
The sad thing is that all your reversed scenarios are completely preposterous. Until Donald Trump, I would have thought they were impossible for the Republican Party also, at least for the general election.
The false equivalences during the campaign metastasized to completely unhinged rants from Trump and the total adulation of his supporters at his hate rallies. There really is nothing he could do that would make them change their minds. He could not only shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, but probably shoot someone on the stage in front of them, and they would still cheer raucously. The most shocking adherents are the "Christian" evangelicals who of course are not Christian in any manner. And why would any Republican woman support this man?
They have bought into the lies about Hillary Clinton. Even one of your possibilities would be shouted from the rooftops as a disqualifying event. The evidence is when Trump can accuse her of "enabling" her husband's infidelities and somehow "abusing" women, when he has been doing so in reality for decades. He then verbally abuses every woman who comes out to state how he assaulted her or engaged in sexual misconduct (that he in fact bragged about).
The children and grandchildren of Trump supporters are going to be so ashamed of these people in the future. Especially the daughters and granddaughters.
The false equivalences during the campaign metastasized to completely unhinged rants from Trump and the total adulation of his supporters at his hate rallies. There really is nothing he could do that would make them change their minds. He could not only shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, but probably shoot someone on the stage in front of them, and they would still cheer raucously. The most shocking adherents are the "Christian" evangelicals who of course are not Christian in any manner. And why would any Republican woman support this man?
They have bought into the lies about Hillary Clinton. Even one of your possibilities would be shouted from the rooftops as a disqualifying event. The evidence is when Trump can accuse her of "enabling" her husband's infidelities and somehow "abusing" women, when he has been doing so in reality for decades. He then verbally abuses every woman who comes out to state how he assaulted her or engaged in sexual misconduct (that he in fact bragged about).
The children and grandchildren of Trump supporters are going to be so ashamed of these people in the future. Especially the daughters and granddaughters.
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Yeah, but Nicholas.....Benghazi!
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Of which she as cleared of any wrongdoing after an admitted witch hunt costing tens of millions of dollars spent trying to invent culpability and tying up Congress on sheer partisan baloney. And after 11 hours of testimony isn which she made complete fools of her attackers without cracking a sweat, people still say "Benghazi as if it were an example of anything except unprincipled Republicans trying to profit politically on the deaths of those four men, for which Clinton bears absolutely no responsibility, when one of them was a friend of Hillary. "What about Benghazi?" is like saying, "I am ignorant and I prefer it that way."
3
Nonsense.
1
There are a few of my cousins who firmly believe that Hillary Clinton intentionally killed the Ambassador in Benghazi. What about all the "collateral damage" the Bush administration caused - and, more recently, the accident on the New Jersey commuter line that was the direct result of Chris Christie's failure to respond to the need for improvement in the New Jersey rail system, as well asall the deaths caused by Christie's decision to close the ramps to the GW bridge ffor political revenge? Sir Donald and his cohorts have a lot of answering to do. Sir Christie stands a good chance of beinf indicted.
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Masterful and brilliant - so on target. Thank you!
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Big double standard between male and female politicians. Very sad in this day and age.
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I wish that it was not anything more than a US problem, but it has spread around the world. Britain has the same issues, as Brexit demonstrated and continues to. France is entering an election cycle for May 2017 and the presidential race looks set to be the lowest common denominator. Germany to will be split over Mrs Merkel and attitudes are polarising. Of course there is no way a woman could stand and say what Trump has said. Other women would be as repulsed, men less so. The Trump phenomenon is based on his tone and language. It doesn't have to be fact, but he says and does what many men (not all by any means) and many women want to say and want to do. They may not be well educated or originate from a less than liberal background, where not having has left them feeling embittered and unwanted. It's the base racial bottom line, fundamental, dreadful human root behaviour. The sort of thing seen in Bosnia and Kosovo, in Rwanda and Burundi, in Russia in WW2. The belief in one being superior and more entitled than the other. The other is worthless. The other is the problem, the cause, the centre of The Problem. Trump is just the prism that breaks it down and makes it clear, the megaphone channelling thousands of disgruntled mislead voices. Focusing hate and ridicule until it boils over. God help us all if this ends badly.
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Thanks for this great comment.
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Yup. Just about covers it. Yet, here in the rural neighborhood I'm visiting a Trump-Pence sign has been "thrown up." And the irony is that it's in Colorado City; a settlement of polygamists where women truly are treated like property.
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Yes, horrible. By the way, I think the legal word is "chattel", a derivative of "cattle",
instead of "property." Agreed, whichever word we use is dreadful.
instead of "property." Agreed, whichever word we use is dreadful.
3