November 1, 2014

"Obama Courts Women in Campaign Swing" — courts women?! Not men?

That's a headline in The New York Times, and it trips my sexism meter.

They wouldn't say he was "courting men," would they? This reminds me of something Obama himself said the other day: "I shook hands with, hugged, and kissed, not the doctors, but a couple of the nurses...."

To be fair, "to court" doesn't always mean "To pay amorous attention to, seek to gain the affections of, make love to (with a view to marriage), pay addresses to, woo." (OED.) It can also mean "To act as though trying to provoke (something harmful, unpleasant, etc.); to invite unwisely." You see that meaning in phrases like "courting disaster" or "courting death." It's funny to read "courting women" with that as the meaning.

Obama is out in the hinterlands courting disaster women.

ADDED: "There are two main distinctions that make dating different than courting, says Jim Bob. Dating is spending time with someone alone, not necessarily with the end goal of marriage. Not so with courtship, which is carefully monitored and not for the commitment-phobic. 'Courtship is really waiting for the one God has for you and praying through the whole process,' the father of 19 says. 'It’s really examining the person and considering, "'Would this be the guy I want to be the father of my kids?"' says Michelle."

AND: You know, I created the tag "Obama the Boyfriend" for a reason, and I don't put it on a post unless it's deserved. How many posts have that tag? 54!

33 comments:

rhhardin said...

I think it's probably ordinary prose for the courting operation.

Obama will tell women once again what's in their interests. Him.

Machiavelli was about courtship, but with respect to the masses.

rhhardin said...

The NYT courts women.

furious_a said...

NYT could try "Obama Makes Pitch to Women", but he throws like, well...

furious_a said...

NYT must think American women are voting for a boyfriend.

donald said...

Chicks dig chain smoking metro sexuals.

donald said...

Especially chain smoking metro sexuals that deny being chain smoking metro sexuals.

traditionalguy said...

Obama has always smiled his way into receiving favor from strong women to protect him from real men.

Anonymous said...

I always assumed that the courting in "courting disaster" had its usual meaning, but that disaster was being anthropomorphized-- it's something you do once you've been flirting with disaster for a while and it seems she likes you. With skill and persistence you might get into Pandora's box.

Someone should make a video of Disaster walking down the street for 10 hours just to see the sort of stuff guys yell at her.

chickelit said...

I think women love both the story of O and the "Courtship of Barry's Father" -- recalling the fawning admiration women expressed in the pages of the NYT when they first heard the story of that brave pioneer, Stanley Ann Dunham.

If you can crack the nut of why certain women adore and protect BHO -- and undo it -- you may well save the nation.

mccullough said...

Men don't like Obama.

Biff said...

Just imagine the reaction if a GOP politician said something that could be interpreted as meaning that doctors are men (to be left alone) and nurses are women (to be hugged and kissed).

paminwi said...

"Men don't like Obama." Except for weak-kneed , lily-livered men like garage and Mark!

Phil 314 said...

Obama courts women.

Michelle is not pleased.

Deirdre Mundy said...

Why is he campaigning at all? He's already been elected twice. There's a lot of serious stuff going on -- ISIS, Nigeria, Ebola, Canadian terror......

Perhaps he should consider GOVERNING instead? That would be a REAL change....

Paul said...

Why do you think Obama wants all those illegals here to be 'legalized'?

Why cause the blacks just don't cut it for a base.

The Democrats will sell out the blacks as they get more and more Spanish people in the party.

And that is all of what 'Amnesty' is about. And I think some blacks are staring to see that is the way it is heading.

kcom said...

I don't think that's a very unusual phrase at all when it comes to campaigning and elections. I seem to recall many past reports of politicians "courting independent voters," for instance. The only thing different here is that the Democrats have become so gynocentric that they having given up on courting half the voting population.

Drago said...

Obama has also been busy telling women who choose to stay home with their children that their choice is a negative one.

#Waronwomen

Who the heck does "That Man" think he is mansplaining what the appropriate work choice for moms should be?

I can't wait to hear the feminists jump all over him for that.

Freeman Hunt said...

Was this the same stop where he said this controversial bit?

“Sometimes, someone, usually Mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result,” he said. “That’s not a choice we want Americans to make.”

We don't?

clint said...

Just what do they mean by "Campaign Swing"?

Once you've opened up the "courting" metaphor, it's important to avoid unintended entendres.

Drago said...

Freeman Hunt said...
Was this the same stop where he said this controversial bit?

Yes, and once again, obama lets the cat out of the bag.

Unknown said...

Barry likes to hug women. Not men

madAsHell said...

Hey lady, let me tell you
Why I can't live my life without you
Oh, baby
Every time I see you walking by, I get a thrill
You don't notice me but in time you will
I must make you understand
I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man
I wanna be your man, I do, yeah, yeah
I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man
I wanna be your man, wanna be your man
Better not pass me by 'cause if you do
You'll lose a good thing, oh baby
'Cause what I have to say is sealed with a kiss
And wedding ring, wedding ring


Apologies to the Beatles.

Freeman Hunt said...

Seems like it would be hard to know who to court without first going on dates.

Bob Loblaw said...

I'm the last person to cut the NYT any slack, but I think that's pretty normal political terminology. They would say "courting gays", "courting minorities" and "courting Hollywood". I would not at all be surprised to see them write "courting men".

Kirby Olson said...

Obama frenched a bunch of Ebola nurses, just to prove there was no chance of getting it, and to show off that he wasn't frightened by any virus. Not to be scared of such an alarming virus, however, is stupid.

Will Cate said...

Barry went-a-courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh...

Gahrie said...

Given the nature of Obama and the Democrats' message to women; irrational, emotional appeals based on responsibility free sex; I find "court" an appropriate choice of words.

Carl said...

That's just the famous staid propriety of the Paper Of Record. Obama can't be courting women, because you already tore off your Spanx and gave him your cherry.

It could be Obama is bringing you flowers and asking prettily to be forgiven for fucking your sister at the reception and then letting your dog run out in the street and be killed. But of course you can't print something like that in the Times. The Post, maybe.

Achilles said...

furious_a said...
"NYT must think American women are voting for a boyfriend."

The boyfriend is uncle sugar sponsored by the US taxpayer.

The progressives have been trying to destroy marriage for decades. They do better at attracting people who live in uncertain familial situations. Read single women and the men that grew up without fathers, get them knocked up, and are in and out of jail. Incidentally they also like to sit on fire hydrants and catcall women. They also tend to have poor educations, depend on various government programs, and will forever be poor.

All of their policies are meant to push everyone into this permanent underclass.

Anonymous said...

Just Mike said...
Barry likes to hug women. Not men

Are you sure? What about in private? There are rumors, you know, about Barry in the old days. (LOL)

Unknown said...

Chicks dig chain smoking metro sexuals.
http://goo.gl/AysFJ9

sinz52 said...

One of the definitions of the verb "court" given by the American Heritage Dictionary is:

"To attempt to gain the favor of by attention or flattery: [for example] a salesperson courting a potential customer."

Probably the verb "to court" started off as romantic and gradually evolved into meaning "to win over" generally.

n.n said...

Despite the feminist faith, and other widespread confusion, men and women are complementary. The natural order is preeminent. Obama knows that interns... I mean, girls, prefer liberal sugar daddies.