Bernie Sanders supporter and popular rapper Killer Mike is taking heat for repeating comments that having “a uterus doesn’t qualify” Hillary Clinton for being president. The comment is not originally attributed to Killer Mike. Rather he was repeating activist Jane Elliott.
The comments were made in the context of social justice while at a rally at Morehouse College, which is historically black.
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As the Hill reported, Killer Mike “faces flak” for the comments nonetheless. Killer Mike did not seem detracted by the criticism, as his Twitter shows.
So Women are being told to not vote Hillary is sex betrayal & Becuz another progressive woman says something disagreeing I’m sexist. Lmfao
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) February 17, 2016
But i don’t and never will Hate or think less of woman. Sen. Nina Turner is my Next Great Political Champ but I’m sorry No HRC for me.
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) February 17, 2016
Not only was Killer Mike not detracted by the criticism, but he pointed to his full statements to remind haters of the full context. Twitchy wrote Wednesday morning that “Killer Mike ends the sexist talk from Hillary supporters over his uterus comment with one tweet #FeelTheBern.”
One tweet from Killer Mike included Jane Elliott’s response.
I sincerely see this woman as one of my greatest teachers. Thank U #JaneElliot pic.twitter.com/l6MbWFrOZk
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) February 17, 2016
Killer Mike’s twitter page is currently full of retweets from those in support of the rapper, including those who may be voting for Hillary.
@KillerMike I think I’m voting for Hillary but it’s true that guy were quoted out of context. I think your comment was fine.
— Yenrab Rellim (@sisboombahbah) February 17, 2016
Others say they too have felt attacked. Or reminded how silly such attacks of sexism can be.
@KillerMike from one feminist to another, You good. Her team’s been trying to guilt my uterus for months
— 27 (@10kcrows) February 17, 2016
.@KillerMike don’t sweat it. You could sneeze the wrong way and Hillary supporters would call you sexist
— #BERNIEFACTS (@Bernie_Facts) February 17, 2016
The misquoting of @KillerMike is another good example of media manipulation and it’s just the tip of the iceberg
— Tony Swish (@TonySwish) February 17, 2016
Joan Walsh, formerly the editor-in-chief for Salon, and an MSNBC corespondent, joined the conversation. While she claimed to defend Killer Mike, she just added further confusion, seeming to criticize him for not being a feminist, and hoping he would learn. She also criticized him when he tried to defend himself with that “one tweet.”
Feminist men who’ve thought about this stuff won’t repeat “uterus” and “vagina” remarks. Hoping @killermike learns from this
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) February 17, 2016
Here is my full quote about social justice that an asshole reporter tried to make “sexist”! ?.… https://t.co/elWShvOjEw
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) February 17, 2016
It is likely that the outrage is caused over the comments because Hillary is a woman. It doesn’t matter that the comments were originally spoken by a woman, or that she actually does have a uterus, being a woman. And, Hillary herself has reminded the world she is a woman, even claiming that she is one is what would make her different from President Obama. It also makes her a non-establishment candidate, apparently.
Salon wasn’t merely represented by their former editor on Twitter. Amanda Marcotte, who has written before that people who don’t support Hillary Clinton are sexist, declared that “The vagina and uterus swipes have got to stop: Killer Mike’s “uterus” comments about Hillary hurts all women.” Her piece makes no mention of how the statements from Hillary surrogates Madeleine Albright and Gloria Steinem hurt young women for talking down to them about their candidate of choice.
The Atlantic also wrote of how apparently “Killer Mike Inflames the Democrats’ Intergenerational Struggle.”
The candidate being “harmed” here is Hillary Clinton, who is already set to win anyway with the system the DNC has in place with the superdelegates. Those who are outraged are kicking a man when he is down, who may not have support of many superdelegates, but does of many people, who may not actually care about Killer Mike’s comments.
Sanders himself, as the Washington Post reported, dismissed the so-called controversy as “gotcha politics.”
