Bill Clinton wrote a bestseller titled My Life, over 1000 pages. Their Lives: The Women Targeted by the Clinton Machine is in part about the missing chapters that deal with Elizabeth Ward Gracen, Sally Perdue, Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, Monica Lewinsky, and Juanita Broaddrick. It is, also, about being a liberal misogynist. Jackson defines "liberal misogynist" as a person who supports women's rights politically, yet repeatedly mistreats women personally.
Candace Jackson is a libertarian feminist and an attorney. She graduated from Stanford and Pepperdine Law School and has worked for Judicial Watch. Jackson interviewed the seven women, and may have learned more than has been generally available in the press. Although I have followed these women closely since there stories became public, I wasn't struck by too much that was new. The pattern in each case seemed to be denial of the woman's claim, trashing the woman's reputation, and failing that, intimidation.
What did strike me as new was her analysis of modern liberalism, which can help us all understand politics better. She has identified seven tenets of liberalism. Here are the first two and you can read the book for the next five:
1. In modern liberalism, political goals justify any political means to achieve them. You can think of gender equality and affirmative action. Which leads to the "greater good theory", namely if any harm "occurs in the pursuit of those two goals, it's worth the suffering... for the greater good."
2. Modern liberalism relies on intermediaries to take care of the unpleasant tasks of enforcing the means to their political ends.
Most liberals aren't outright socialists demanding government ownership of the economy, but they use legislation and regulation to establish nearly-plenary government control over the economy.
I think the fundamental lesson from the book is that any political philosophy, including liberalism, to the extent that it aligns itself with force to achieve its goals, is a danger to our free choice. It seems the press only wants to scare us about the Republicans and the Patriot Act.
It is becoming increasingly clear that Hillary Clinton could be the Democratic candidate for President, and is more liberal than Bill Clinton. She is the one person who could have exercised restraint on Bill Clinton, but instead supported his misogyny; and she could turn out worse for us than he. Supporting Hillary Clinton, as much as you want a woman president, is a slap in the face to all women and the goal of gender equality.
Mover Mike was given this book to review by World Ahead Publishing, and is not obligated to praise or pan the book.
Article comments
1 - DrPat
By using the loaded phrase "Clinton Machine" in the the title, Jackson virtually ensures that only the members of the choir will buy and read the book.
Fortunately, the choir is a big one...
2 - Mark Saleski
and is more liberal than Bill Clinton
probably true, except that clinton wasn't particularly liberal.
3 - Mike Landfair
I disagree that Clinton was not particularly liberal and Jackson says on Page 255, " Perceived by most as even more liberal than her husband...Hillary Rodham Clinton..." Jackson defines liberalism not only by their beliefs, but by their seven tenets.
Mover Mike
4 - Mark Saleski
it's all opinion. and who is this 'most' doing the perceiving?
5 - Voracious Reader
Can't wait to see where this thread goes.
Do you know anything about the author, her funding, what other books, if any, she's written etc...?
6 - Lisa McKay
1. In modern liberalism, political goals justify any political means to achieve them.
And so this would distinguish it from conservatism how exactly?
7 - Dave Nalle
Lisa, earlier on he did suggest that it didn't really distinguish liberalism from conservatism, that it was a general problem with political parties.
Dave
8 - Mike Landfair
Lisa, Jackson says "conservatives and libertarians maintain that political force should only be used in limited circumstances. There are ways to achieve worthy goals that do not involve government compulsion."
Voracious Reader, she has had articles appear in Reason magazine and The Independent Review.
Mover Mike
9 - Dave Nalle
If she's writing for Reason it's likely she's probably pretty fundamentally sound. Reason's not known for its partisanship or its association with Neocons or other pseudo-republicans.
Dave
10 - bhw
Mover Mike was given this book to review by World Ahead Publishing, and is not obligated to praise or pan the book.
When you review a book, aren't you supposed to praise or pan it? Or both? I mean, a review implies that you're going to tell us what you thought of it, doesn't it?
She has identified seven tenets of liberalism. Here are the first two and you can read the book for the next five:
So is this a book review, or a piece of marketing?
11 - Mike Landfair
BHW, maybe I should have said that while the book was free, I was not told to write a positive review and I assume I could pan the book if I chose. I think a review should give you enough information to decide whether to read the book, without the reviewer giving away all the material of the book. I think the review was balanced. I hate movie trailers that give you all the funny parts, so there is no reason to see the film. If you think the first two tenets are interesting, read the book. If not, don't. If you would consider buying the book to learn more about the women, save your money. Mover Mike
12 - Temple Stark
A Book review
13 - Bliffle
FWIW, a friend of mine interviewed one of The Clinton Women (forget which one) for a radio show and a question he asked her was "how did he treat you" and she said he was a perfect gentleman, never abusive, always polite.
14 - lumpy
It must have been gennifer flowers or monica who were willing mistresses, because the others have been quite harsh in their comments and accusations.
15 - She Unlimited Magazine
We had an honor to interview live with Candice E. Jackson, you can hear it live over at our magazine
The interview sheds light to the mission and vison of why the book was written.