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THREAD: Kamala Harris hasn't even been on a presidential ticket for a day, and already a VIP man has declared that she has "unique baggage."
Hillary Clinton also had "unique baggage," the commentariat said.
Starting to think "unique baggage" just means "woman."
1/ https://twitter.com/zachdcarter/status/1293293467867721728
Hillary Clinton also had "unique baggage," the commentariat said.
Starting to think "unique baggage" just means "woman."
1/ https://twitter.com/zachdcarter/status/1293293467867721728
Editors have always LOVED to put the word "baggage" in Hillary Clinton headlines. But you usually have to read the articles to find out that it is "unique baggge." 2/
Now, Kamala is also racking up the "baggage" headlines. Shortly after Biden's announcement, the Washington Times ran this treasure on the left.
But hey, at least it's "Kamala's Baggage." In 2016, the Examiner wrote about "Bill's Clinton's Baggage for Hillary." (right) 3/
But hey, at least it's "Kamala's Baggage." In 2016, the Examiner wrote about "Bill's Clinton's Baggage for Hillary." (right) 3/
That isn't Kamala Harris' first "baggage" headline. She netted some in 2019, when she was still a presidential candidate. 4/
Even when New York Magazine wrote a story about all the 2020 candidates' "baggage," guess whose photo was featured? 5/
There was that one time when the Wall Street Journal declared Amy Klobuchar was "Hillary Clinton Without the Snark ans Baggage." But then came George Floyd's death and people started looking at her actual record as a prosecutor, and, well. 6/
And when it looked like Biden might pick Susan Rice for VP instead of Kamala Harris in the last few weeks, well, Susan Rice racked up her own collection of "baggage" headlines. 7/
Here's what happens if you search Google News for "baggage" + "campaign." A roster of women!
No recent stories about Trump's "baggage" in the campaign—163,000 dead Americans, economic collapse, children in cages, Ukraine, Russia, impeachment—but oh, look at the faces. 8/
No recent stories about Trump's "baggage" in the campaign—163,000 dead Americans, economic collapse, children in cages, Ukraine, Russia, impeachment—but oh, look at the faces. 8/
Much ink doubtlessly be spilled on Kamala Harris' womanhood—I mean, her "unique baggage"—over the next three months.
My opinion? "Unique baggage" is a great benefit at the luggage carousel. 9/
My opinion? "Unique baggage" is a great benefit at the luggage carousel.
9/
It seems I struck a unique nerve. 10/
Anyway, moving on. Politico has a new piece up called, "Kamala Harris in a Snapshot."
"But the pick doesn't come without baggage." 11/
"But the pick doesn't come without baggage." 11/
Kamala Harris is "mopie [sic], depressing, nasty" & "will be more baggage for the very frail Biden to carry," writes New York radio host @MarkSimoneNY.
I'm reminded of the time Donald Trump, another blatant sexist, called Hillary Clinton a "nasty woman" during a 2016 debate. 12/
![Kamala Harris is "mopie [sic], depressing, nasty" & "will be more baggage for the very frail Biden to carry," writes New York radio host @MarkSimoneNY.I'm reminded of the time Donald Trump, another blatant sexist, called Hillary Clinton a "nasty woman" during a 2016 debate. 12/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfLkG03XoAIn24Q.jpg "Kamala Harris is \"mopie [sic], depressing, nasty\" & \"will be more baggage for the very frail Biden to carry,\" writes New York radio host @MarkSimoneNY.I'm reminded of the time Donald Trump, another blatant sexist, called Hillary Clinton a \"nasty woman\" during a 2016 debate. 12/")
I'm reminded of the time Donald Trump, another blatant sexist, called Hillary Clinton a "nasty woman" during a 2016 debate. 12/
Oh, look, King of Misogyny Donald Trump has already called Kamala Harris (whom he once donated to in California) a "nasty" woman. 13/ https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1293307345989230592?s=20
Here's the clip of that night in the third debate when Trump called Hillary Clinton a "nasty woman" because he couldn't stand that she was besting him (and an overwhelming majority of Americans, when polled, agreed she won the debates). 14/ https://twitter.com/mashable/status/788959511612628992?s=20
"Biden stupidly painted himself into a corner with the 'younger woman of color' VP comment" and "Kamala has more carryon than Princess Vespa." 
15/
https://twitter.com/raz0rfist/status/1293320377930665985?s=21 https://twitter.com/raz0rfist/status/1293320377930665985
15/https://twitter.com/raz0rfist/status/1293320377930665985?s=21 https://twitter.com/raz0rfist/status/1293320377930665985
And yes, there are articles about men's baggage. I searched http://Newspapers.com for [candidate first+last name] + [baggage]
Bush 43: 21,017
Hillary: 19,943
Trump: 15,273
E. Dole: 4,438
Biden: 3,478
Condoleezza Rice: 2,879
Bernie: 2,488
Sarah Palin: 2,371
Warren: 1,585
16/
Bush 43: 21,017
Hillary: 19,943
Trump: 15,273
E. Dole: 4,438
Biden: 3,478
Condoleezza Rice: 2,879
Bernie: 2,488
Sarah Palin: 2,371
Warren: 1,585
16/
Before he ran, George W. Bush was the governor of Texas in the 1990s while Hillary was first lady.
Bush presided over 9/11, started Afghanistan/Iraq wars, the Katrina disaster, & the 2008 financial collapse while HRC was a senator.
He gets just 1,000 more results than she. 17/
Bush presided over 9/11, started Afghanistan/Iraq wars, the Katrina disaster, & the 2008 financial collapse while HRC was a senator.
He gets just 1,000 more results than she. 17/
Donald Trump, meanwhile, has been in the national spotlight since the 1970s, with all kinds of scandals, and spent four years as president (with ALL kinds of scandals).
He's still 4,600 Hillary Clinton, whose "baggage" is that her husband cheated and she did emails. 18/
He's still 4,600 Hillary Clinton, whose "baggage" is that her husband cheated and she did emails. 18/
Joe Biden, who has been in the U.S. Senate since the 1970s and run for president three times now (& spent four years as VP) has about â…™ as many "baggage" stories as Hillary Clinton, who came into the national spotlight as Dem nominee Bill Clinton's spouse in 1992. 18/
Incredibly, Elizabeth Dole, the wife of 1996 GOP nominee Bob Dole, has 1,000 more "baggage" stories than 3x POTUS candidate Biden. She has 2x as many baggage stories as 2x POTUS candidate Bernie, who has been in Congress since 1991.
She merely *considered* running in 2000. 19/
She merely *considered* running in 2000. 19/
Another woman who never ran for president, but still has more baggage stories than Bernie Sanders, is Condoleezza Rice, George W. Bush former secretary of state.
She was rumored as a presidential candidate in 2008, but always said she had no intention of ever running. 20/
She was rumored as a presidential candidate in 2008, but always said she had no intention of ever running. 20/
Sarah Palin is ~100 "baggage" results behind Bernie. She served as gov for 3 ½ years, & as McCain's VP pick for 3 months, & never ran for anything again.
Yet she has about 1/6 as many results as Trump, whose baggage has made papers for 40+ years & had a REAL Russia scandal. 21/
Yet she has about 1/6 as many results as Trump, whose baggage has made papers for 40+ years & had a REAL Russia scandal. 21/
Incredibly, Elizabeth Warren, who has only served as a senator since 2013 and ran for president once, already has half as many "baggage" stories as Joe Biden, and trails Bernie (a 30-year congressman/senator+2x POTUS candidate) by fewer than 1,000 results. 22/
But maybe that's just because Elizabeth Warren, like Hillary Clinton before her, is "unlikable." You know, kind of like how Kamala, like Hillary before her, has "unique baggage," is "flawed," and "nasty." Right, everybody? 23/ https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/elizabeth-warren-hillary-clinton-sexist-hypocrisy-likability-media-narrative-here-ncna955021
Also, on Bush 43 having just 1,000 more "baggage" results than Hillary: He comes from a political dynasty that goes back decades (his father was president from 1988-1993, after being vice president from 1981-1988). And 43's grandfather was U.S. senator (1952-63). Baggage? 24/
Sexism is literally embedded in a dictionary definition of "baggage." I guess this is where "old bag" comes from? (ht: @sineadrousse2) 25/
For more on sexist campaign coverage, read my (surprisingly popular) thread on Hillary Clinton and hot sauce.
26/
https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1075391036350959617?s=21 https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1075391036350959617
26/https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1075391036350959617?s=21 https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1075391036350959617
You can read my thread on another sexist code word, "likable" (or "unlikable," or "likability") here. https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1080250328367419392?s=21 https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1080250328367419392
https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1080250328367419392?s=21 https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1080250328367419392
More on impossible choices women candidates face:
Left: A less snarky version of Hillary, like Amy Klobuchar (represented by a video clip of Pete Buttigieg), would've won.
Right: If Hillary had been more snarky, instead of toning herself down, she would've won. 28/
Left: A less snarky version of Hillary, like Amy Klobuchar (represented by a video clip of Pete Buttigieg), would've won.
Right: If Hillary had been more snarky, instead of toning herself down, she would've won. 28/
More headlines emphasizing Kamala Harris' alleged "baggage" today, this time from Bloomberg. 29/
Bloomberg liked the Kamala Harris "baggage" headline so much, they even made it a chyron on their TV network. 30/
I was reading a Rolling Stone article earlier on how Kamala Harris would be the first Gen Xer in the executive branch. And right near the end... a baggage claim. 31/
Oh, look, a Kamala Harris "baggage" cartoon (ht: @BridgetPieschel).
I WAS WRONG: I searched "Hillary Clinton"+"baggage," but not "Hillary Rodham." She actually SURPASSES George W:
Hillary: 28,595
Bush 43: 21,017
Trump: 15,273
E. Dole: 4,438
Biden: 3,478
Condi Rice: 2,879
Bernie: 2,488
Palin: 2,371
Warren: 1,585
33/ https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1293360096613937157?s=20
Hillary: 28,595
Bush 43: 21,017
Trump: 15,273
E. Dole: 4,438
Biden: 3,478
Condi Rice: 2,879
Bernie: 2,488
Palin: 2,371
Warren: 1,585
33/ https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1293360096613937157?s=20
George W. Bush was grandson of a senator, son of a VP/POTUS, Texas gov & POTUS for 8 years. He started Afghanistan/Iraq wars, presided over 9/11, the Katrina disaster & the 2008 financial collapse.
There are 7,578 more news stories about HRC's "baggage" than his. 34/
There are 7,578 more news stories about HRC's "baggage" than his. 34/
Trump has been in the nat'l spotlight since the 70s with all kinds of scandals, & spent 4 years as president (with ALL kinds of scandals). Hillary's "baggage" is that her husband cheated & she did the emails. And yet.
Total "Baggage" stories:
Trump: 15,273
Hillary: 28,595
35/
Total "Baggage" stories:
Trump: 15,273
Hillary: 28,595
35/
