Most importantly, both champion issues that affect the lives of real,
average women - universal health care, equal pay, choice, etc....

Well, there's your proof.  Just like one cannot be black and conservative, apparently one cannot be a woman and conservative.

Hey, Sherrilyn...wasn't that what feminism was all about?  The ability to bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, and always make the guy feel like a man?

Ms. Ifill, it's your implication that only white women can "have it all together" that's offensive.

Prof, Ifill's book, 

On The Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the 21st Century"

Seems to give no hint as to Prof. Ifill's politics either.  Riiiight.

Of coiurse Sarah Palin's ability is "offensive to black women". 

Sarah Palin has managed to have children by her own husband, and continues to be married to him.  Statistically speaking, that in itself is a daunting task to Professor Ifill's all-inclusive "black women".

"I've got a bracelet too" - Barack Obama

Excuse me but has Sara Palin ever proclaimed to be a  "feminist" in the first place?

"Hillary has the sympathy of women because of what she went through with Bill in front of the whole country. . ."

Hmm, didn't Chris Matthews have his manhood removed by the Clinton campaign for making a similar point on Morning Joe earlier this year?

Or maybe, did Matthews lift this train of thought and thought it cool to regurgitate himself? 

Speaking for all people who happen to share my skin color...we are jealous and vindictive when we are presented an example of a woman actually living the life that we aspire to but have been incapable of acheiving as of yet.

How nice fo her to say that a white woman who has achieved what they aspire to, makes them angry.

"What's the point of Palin's brand of feminism if it doesn't translate into real returns for average women?"

Could there be anymore blantant a "What's in it for me" statement.

I'm begining to see that the Ifill's are a rather narcissistic and arogant bunch

You want change? Give me a dollar.

... so little bandwidth.

"From the first day, Palin presented herself as...[blather]." No, from the first day, Palin answered questions and told us who she is. Isn't that what was requested? The media has picked and chosen and flat-out lied to try to make her something she's not.

 "It's hard to be an average working mom, really hard." Illogical. How can it be "hard" to be "average?" Define "average," then we'll talk about that one. Also, if it's hard to do, then maybe Palin isn't "average." The point has been made here on NB that people want an "above-average" person as VP. So, this should answer that complaint.

"And when women who are privileged present as though they have it all together, it's offensive to black women." Why only to "black" women? What happened to "average" women, of any color? Why is this suddenly a racial issue? And what exactly is Palin's "privilege?" Being successful at what she has attempted?

Ifill added that Palin "missed her opportunity when she announced Bristol's pregnancy to explicitly talk about how painful it was to her as a mother - instead of making it as though this too was also part of her perfect life." It is a part of life. No one has claimed Palin leads a perfect life. No reasonable person even believes a "perfect life" exists. What happened to "average?" This is a telling sign of the liberal mind-set; nothing is "normal," nothing is "average," and if you don't advertise, promote and publicly grieve over your "pain," you're not "real."

"Most importantly, both champion issues that affect the lives of real, average women - universal health care, equal pay, choice, etc." Um, I live in a small blue-collar city. I can testify that "real, average" people spend very little time each day worrying about those three issues. What "average" people (regardless of gender or race, btw) worry about is getting the kids to school, getting them fed, paying the bills, shopping for food, earning a living, etc. and doing what they can to enjoy their leisure after fulfilling their responsibilities. Other than when discussing politics or voting, they spend almost no time worrying about what the feminist-left considers the "real" issues. There are other things out there that interest women, not just the gender-specific things that "feminists" worry about.

"What's the point of Palin's brand of feminism if it doesn't translate into real returns for average women?" So, a successful woman is only a good thing if her coattails provide a ride for other women? Because other women couldn't do it on their own? And that ride only counts if it leads where they think it should lead?

When you put this all together, it says much more about the state of modern "feminism" today than it says about Governor Palin. What it really says about Palin is pretty good, when you strip away the rhetoric. She's living the life that "average women" live. She may be a politician and a governor. That's her job, her career. But she's also a wife and mother, participating in activities with her family (hunting, hockey, etc) just like any other mother with any other job. She seems pretty successful at both. NOT "perfect," successful. That used to be the point of the feminist movement. Apparently, that is no longer the case.

Now, the left has to decide if that's what they want, or if it's not what they want. Not that it matters, they're voting Obama, come what may. But that decision would, hopefully, make them stick to one coherent POV, instead of calling her a "rube" one day and an "elitist" the next (note to trolls: yes, I realize neither word appears in the article; poetic license, so to speak).

But I know what I think. I think they don't have a clue what "average" people are like. 

j. frank (Piece O') wilson on race-relations

"To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection." - H. Poincaré

And when women who are privileged present as though they have it all together, it's offensive to black women."
 

Who said Sarah was ever "priviledged"? Is Ifill implying she's priviledged just because she's white? I don't recall hearing Sarah being born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Typical jeolousy on Ifill's part. She can't stand the fact that Sarah made it on her own without collecting welfare and without crying on Oprah's couch about her perceived victimhood.

I have to tell you all that I find Barry offensive to me. I'm not a big fan of socialism, nor do I want to keep friends who take money from me by fiat (read taxes).

So, to the Ifill family, I find your words, and deeds, very offensive to me, but I'm only a small working, tax paying, without a large podium, white guy.

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V

Typical white people , like me, are beginning to finally perceive the racial hatred levied against them by radical, black power, racists such as Ifill, Obama, and their ilk. Their hatred is maniacal and reaches to their very core, they are rotten from within with it. Yet, some guilty white liberals enable them to indulge this hate everyday and they are praised for it. Race hate is an ugly thing and should be condemned, not praised.

To even discuss how black women feel about Governor Palin when for over a year the polls have shown that over 90% of blacks are going to vote for the "Annointed One" anyway regardless of opponent. That train left the station long ago.

Sarah Palin was not a child of privelige and in their early years she and her husband struggled. She has said often that she needs the help of her husband and her extended family. As with Barack Obama, Sarah Palins story is proof that the american dream can be realized if you work hard and make good choices. It's not guaranteed, but it is possible.

Why a woman would be offended by the success of another is not a logical conclusion in my mind, but hell I'm just a man. What do I know? 

Let's see, a black female LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR is NOT privileged, a black male prep-school-educated graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School is NOT privileged, but the daughter of two schoolteachers who attended several colleges because she didn't have the money and was putting herself through school, who married her high school sweetheart and is still married to him 20 years and five children later, who has worked her way up in the political world from the PTA to being Governor of her beloved state of Alaska, SHE is privileged.  

Well I guess if you define "privileged" as someone who works hard, seeks and accepts responsibility, loves God, Country and her family, and is grateful to live in this great country - OK, I guess Sarah IS privileged.

And if you're a highly educated, reasonably successful black person who undoubtably makes a very handsome living and has had tremendous opportunities BECAUSE you live in this great country but you're still not proud to be an American, then I guess you're not privileged.  Must be because you and Whoopi are still having flashbacks to when you were both slaves...

Give me a break. 

What difference does it make Cuz. 96% of all blacks are voting for BJO. America is getting dangerously close to a Socialist state !

My family not my ancestors came from a country where they were slaves. Treated as second class citizens if they were lucky enough to be considered citizens at all. My Grandfather struggled to escape crushing poverty and a uncareing fascist government that spent centurys bent on domination of their neighbors and dreams of empire. My Father was the youngest of 11 children and grew up in a cender block two room house in Alabama. I had a good and loving childhood and was cared for by two wonderful parents. I was taught that in this county you can have anything if you work for it. I am a white American of Irish decent and I am PRIVILAGED TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!

Americans are far more remarkable than we give ourselves credit for. We've been so busy damning ourselves for years. We've done it all, and yet we don't take credit for it.
   

Is there anything that doesn't offend black women?  They always have to push the race button.  That usually means they can't find anything wrong.  There would be very few PEOPLE who would be or should be offended by an intelligent straight up woman with a diverse and well rounded background. 

Ms. Ifill, have you ever given it a thought that the lynchings in the south were simply a matter of Black people like you who were offensive to whites.

And you are so very offensive to me!

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