When Richard M. Nixon ran for Congress after WWII, he ran in the district being served by Jerry Voorhis, who had received a high liberal rating. Nixon ran on a campaign that charged that the incumbent's support of labor groups was a subtle circumstantial indication that the incumbent was pro Communist.
U. S. Senator Max Cleland was a triple amputee because of wounds received in combat in Vietnam and was awarded a Silver Star and a Bronze Star. When Saxby Chambliss decided to run for that seat in the Senate, he attacked Cleland charging that some of his votes in the era immediately after the attack on the World Trade Center indicated a lack of patriotism on Cleland's part. Chambliss, who graduated from college during the Vietnam conflict, was exempt from military duty because of bad knees due to a football injury. Chambliss beat Cleland.
In his book "The Strange Case of Richard Milhous Nixon," former Congressman Voorhis states that Nixon's political advisor Murray Chotner's strategy playbook included: "Third -- attack, attack, attack, never defend."
When John Kerry suddenly was anointed the "front runner" after the leading candidate, Howard Dean, suffered what all the best known pundits diagnosed as a complete emotional meltdown, the Republicans just happened to have (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) done the paperwork for a group of veterans who had military records similar to Kerry's and who were relentless in attacking Kerry's combat record, which was supposed to be the centerpiece of his campaign.
With these past campaigns in mind, it seems quite likely that if Hilary Clinton wins the Democratic Party's nomination and becomes a Candidate for President (technically she won't be "the first"), then the Republicans will foil her quest to become the first woman President of the USA by saying that is precisely the reason citizens shouldn't vote for her. The cultural atmosphere will be saturated with misogyny until Election Day.
The Democrats will be left to defend the idea that it is time for the USA to have its first woman President and the Republicans will feel like the good old days are back as they attack, attack, attack.
They will spice things up and avoid a Johnny one note aspect for the proceedings by manufacturing skirmishes that revive the Vince Foster, Monica Lewinski, and Benghazi issues.
Jon Stewart ran a segment titled "the Broads Must Be Crazy," which seems to be an attempt to defuse the expected tsunami of misogyny that the Republicans will unleash. The Republicans are very adept at shrugging off any logical responses to their headline grabbing antics.
Any pundit, who dares to suggest that the Democrats should make a preemptive strike and start now attacking the Republican front runner, would be subjected to a smear campaign that would be a career ending grand finale no matter who that victim might be. If you don't believe that just ask Dan Rather.
The news media seems completely oblivious to the implications for democracy of the fact that JEB Bush went from political pariah to front runner without participating in a single primary election campaign. That doesn't affect the fact that bringing democracy to foreign soil is always considered a valid reason for waging war in a remote location.
Richard Nixon became a U. S. Senator in a political battle with Helen Gahagan Douglas, who, as an actress had played the role of Hash-a-Motep of Kor in the 1935 movie "She," was the Congressional representative from California's 14th District. As an actress, Ms. Douglas is credited as being the first to deliver the line: "She who must be obeyed!" Nixon hinted that her voting record in the House of Representatives was similar to that of another well known pro Communist Congressional representative and that the implication was obvious.
Online, there are differing accounts as to who was the first woman police officer in the USA. Whoever it was is reported to have drawn men from all over the country to be arrested by the law enforcement pioneer.
The Sioux exemplified the Native American variation of the Republican philosophy of "keep 'em pregnant in summer and barefoot in winter" while another tribe (the Cheyenne?) had women warriors.
Uncle Rushbo has always nurtured a good old boy in the locker room condescending attitude towards women. Didn't Frank Sinatra use the terms "frail, skirt, and mouse" to designate a woman? Weren't his most ardent fans of the female persuasion?
Liberals tend to project their values on their opponents and so the Democrats will not want to hear any predictions along those lines regarding what the Republican strategy will be to win the election. We have read some books that advise trial lawyers to neutralize the other side's case before it is presented but the Democratic Party seems reluctant to use that methodology in National politics.
Journalists who are always anxious to project an "I'm just as cool as Frank Sinatra" image will probably go along with a Sexist campaign against Hillary because what's not to like about a metaphorical chance to be a member of the rat pack? Also the conservative owners of the media that employs them will give them certain "do you like your job" hints that they should go along to get along.
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