The XX Factor: Slate women blog about politics, etc...

The Un-Sizzle Factor

I'm inclined, as you are, Emily, to downplay the role of sexism in Hillary's recent fortunes, but I'd say she's bent over backward to try to dispel a sense of entitlement. The puzzle to me--and to her, to judge by her choked-up moment--is still why that wonkiness of hers isn't serving her better as proof that she's earning her role, that she's no Bush-like heir to the throne. Sure, her style can be robotic, and having the easy, open, eloquent Obama as a rival doesn't help, as Dahlia notes. Still, isn't the clamor for yet more poetic uplift perhaps just a little unnerving? After Bush's eight years of messianically winging it, you'd think more people might be warier of inspirational calls. Not that she could change it if she tried, but Hillary's hard-working, unglamorous competence--and reticence, too--is probably her most refreshing asset. Being a pioneering woman was supposed to be poetry enough. Could it be that there's too little sexism among voters to make that fly?