Don't Vote Chromosomes: The First Woman Must Be The Right Woman

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-drexler/dont-vote-chromosomes-the_b_104484.html


Don't Vote Chromosomes: The First Woman Must Be The Right Woman
Peggy Drexler
Posted May 31, 2008 | 05:22 PM (EST)

snip//

In fact, Hillary is not nearly as progressive as some might hope. She supported the Defense of Marriage Act, she co-sponsored a flag burning amendment, she voted to send our sons and daughters into the meat grinder of an unnecessary war. And with close to 70 percent of women in most polls favoring stricter gun control laws, what are we to make of her snuggling up to the NRA with tales of her childhood shooting lessons?

You can argue that Hillary would roll back George Bush's assaults on humanity - like denying US aid to any organization that even talks about abortion as birth rates of the world's desperately poor explode. But I would answer: so would any other rational human being not in the talons of the lunatic right.

I would also kind of like to vote for a woman who earned it. It's true that a woman with Barack Obama's skimpy bona fides could never have launched a campaign. (I can't name another man who could have pulled it off either.) But you can just as easily argue that Hillary Clinton would not be where she is without a Senate seat gained largely on the fact that she was married to the former leader of the free world.

As Kate Zernike pointed out recently in the New York Times, there are more women in the pipeline than the last-chancers fear: in the Senate, in the House, in governors offices. Three years ago, who knew the name Obama? One of them might, in fact, find their way onto the ticket. I hope so.

I really do believe that America is ready - more than ready after eight years in hell - to elect a woman. But we can't simply pick the one who happens to be available, especially when she is so divisive and brings along a time bomb of a husband. Instead of moving us forward, it could set us back decades.

Our women president is out there. And I believe we'll find her sooner than we think.

Let's wait and get it right.

[elfin]

1. True! Although I am in the hillary demographic

I do not feel she represents my hopes and values.

I cannot support her - not because she is a woman - but because she is HILLARY - with her "baggage",(including Bill and his (their?) suspect financing, her Rovian tactics, her pandering, her schemes (ala gas tax thing) etc. etc. etc.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I will vote for the Democratic nominee

but I don't like Clinton, for her policy stands and also for her actions as a person. She was very rude to me and some friends here in Arkansas when it would have been just as easy to be nice. I don't like people like that. I do hope that our first woman President is someone who gets there on their own record.

[checks-n-balances]

4. Can you talk about the incident?

I'm really curious, but maybe just in a morbid kind of way. In any case, I agree with you - I don't like her either (although I used to be in her corner before the primaries started).

[colorado thinker]

6. Absolutely!

I couldn't agree with you more. And I, too, am in her "demographic". When I heard she had decided to run, I couldn't shake a sense that this would be a terrible mistake, if she were to actually get the nomination.

[nichomachus]

3. Remember, Clarence Thomas was put on the court because he is black

How did that turn out?

[struggle4progress]

13. No, he was put on the court because he's an idiot rightwing hack

[nichomachus]

15. Yes, but

it was because he was a black idiot rightwing hack. He was filling the "black" seat. Had it been any other seat, he wouldn't have been named. Had Thurgood Marshall not provided a vacancy, Thomas would still be harassing female employees in some other position. There were plenty of rightwing hacks who could have gone on the court. Thomas was chosen solely because he was black.

[struggle4progress]

5. My dream ticket (Mother Jones and Harriet Tubman) didn't materialize

I could have gone with the Eleanor Roosevelt for President!< crowd, too, but that didn't pan out either[br />
So I supported Edwards til he dropped out, then I voted for Obama

But I won't bash Clinton and if she's our nominee I'll support her

I'm shocked anyone suggests not supporting a candidate who doesn't have male parts because she's not perfect: I've never ever heard the argument made the other way around

[Alcibiades]

7. That wasn't the claim

The claim was that Clinton was not the best woman candidate for the presidency today, and will be under-qualified compared to the women who will be running and nominated by our party in the fairly near future. So you still have not seen that argument made, because it was not made.

[struggle4progress]

8. It seems a little late this primary season to be looking about for another

female candidate: of course, I may be ill-informed, but I don't recall any others who have thrown their hats into the ring

I, of course, look forward eagerly to supporting the highly-qualified women "who will be running and nominated by our party in the fairly near future." I have not the slightest doubt that a great many of them are at least as qualified as Clinton. But the last time we had a woman near the top of the ticket was .. um .. well, frankly, I think it's been far far too long -- and I have a certain sympathy for anyone who has become frickin sick-n-tired of the stalling game

Clinton's not my first choice. She's not even my second choice. But don't vote for Clinton because "she's not the best woman candidate for the presidency today" seems to me an unconscionable message

[Alcibiades]

9. That wasn't it again

It was "Don't vote for Hillary Clinton simply because she's a woman." Black voters are probably tired of the stalling game, too.

As for other women candidates, obviously, there are none running today. But I do think we have all seen better qualified (and more skilled) women in our party. Bella Abzug, where are you? :shrug: That's the caliber of woman I would have liked to see run with the money and support Clinton has had this time around--and I think Bella would have sealed the deal!

[struggle4progress]

11. Damn, I miss Bella Abzug!

http://www.constitutioncenter.org.nyud.net:8090/timeline/flash/assets/asset_upload_file747_12327.jpg

Okay: I rilly donna wanna argue wit ya. I jest wanna win in Novemba

[babylonsister]

10. IMO she's not. If the excuse to vote for HC is to vote for a woman, she's

not the right one IMO. There are more qualified women out there.

[struggle4progress]

12. It's June, babylonsister. Have I ever told you how much I like your username?

This is not February or March: November runs fast upon us

We must begin to practice positive messages about whatever candidate we support -- for, though the nomination fight continues, there be few minds left to sway and yet there are still many feeling that might be hurt

The stakes are high

[babylonsister]

14. Thanks, but I was just responding in the spirit of the OP message.

Trust me, I know very well what's at stake! :hug: