Ruth Rosen: Why would a feminist vote for Obama?

[ProSense]

Why would a feminist vote for Obama?

By Ruth Rosen - February 5, 2008

Some people are stunned that I have already voted for Barack Obama and that I signed a "Feminists for Obama" statement which now includes over a thousand rather distinguished names. They know I've been involved in the women's movement since 1967 and have spent my life teaching and writing about the history of women and gender ever since. So why, they ask, didn't I cast a vote for Hillary Clinton?

Am I filled with self-hatred as a woman? No. In fact, there is nothing I'd rather do than vote for the first female presidential candidate. I still remember hearing--on a remote Greek island--that the Democratic party had chosen Geraldine Ferraro as a vice-presidential candidate. To my great surprise, tears flooded my face.

So why haven't I cast this historic vote?

The reasons are not all that complicated. Before I was a feminist, I worked in the civil rights and anti-war movements. Supporting Obama fits those life-long commitments. In my opinion, both Democratic hopefuls are able, smart, qualified candidates. But here are my concerns about Hillary Clinton. She talks about the poor, yet when Congress addressed the re authorization of TANF, which replaced welfare, most Democrats wanted to keep the 30 hour limit for working mothers so that they could use the rest of their time for education and training. The Bush administration, in its typically punitive manner, demanded that these women work 40 hours. Clinton split the difference and advocated 35 hours.

Denying poor women the possibility of upward mobility is just not my brand of feminism.

Then there is this insane war. Even today, Clinton shows little passion for ending the war in Iraq, even if you ignore her earlier votes.

Finally, there is Bill Clinton. During his last term, he squandered a huge amount of political capital as a result of his reckless behavior. I am genuinely afraid that revelations about recent sexual or business scandals may sabotage Hillary's candidacy and/or her presidency. I am unwilling to watch Democratic capital squandered by him one more time.

If Hillary Clinton should end up being the Democratic presidential candidate, I will certainly vote for her. But all these reservations and worries won't go away when and if I have the chance to vote for the first woman president.

[billbuckhead]

1. Obama's record on the Iraq war is the same as Hillary's since he joined the senate

Obama is hardly an anti-war candidate.

[Cant trust em]

5. you can't ignore the IWR though

they're both anti-war at this point, but only one of them was ever for the war.

[billbuckhead]

7. No neither of them are anti-war, they're both imperialists, just different agendas

[557188]

9. shhh

Don't confuse Obama supporters with actual issues. They only understand the words "hope" and "change" even if Obama brings neither.

[Cant trust em]

12. That's ridiculous

they both have plans to get the troops out.

[cd3dem]

10. if being against the war makes one qualified to be president, then vote for me!

I apposed it from the start too! and I never voted to fund it!

tired of hearing it! the guy was in Illinois... no pressure... once he came to Washington, he voted to continue it! this is why I do not like Obama... he is full of shit!

[karynnj]

15. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry disagree

Votes do not tell everything - they are just yes/no. You might want to look how often Kennedy and Obama agreed. The one significant departure was Kerry/Feingold - and Edwards didn't back that equal as he was then against a deadline. Other than Feingold - no one thinking of running was 100% perfect.

[Whisp]

2. sexist tripe! lol. K&R!!

[ShortnFiery]

3. This unabashed feminist is voting for Obama!

:patriot: :hi:

[BlackVelvet04]

4. There's some more of those lofty sounding ideals

that keep women supporting everyone but another woman. She fears scandals about Bill more than an unvetted rookie senator? What BS.

Hey, Ruth, let us know when a perfect woman you can support pops up.

[hfojvt]

11. How about one that stands with fellow Democrats on 30 hours

instead of going to the right to cave in to Republicans. Perhaps one that has experience fighting instead of being ready to cave from day one.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

6. A question for feminists

If you vote for Hillary simply because she is a woman isn't that a sexist act? Shouldn't your vote go to the best democratic candidate and the most progressive candidate? I don't mean this as flamebait, it's simply a question.

Caveat: I think they'll both make fine candidates in the general election, and I will be happy to vote for either. I'm caucusing tonight for Obama simply because I think he is the lesser "establishment" candidate. The $32 million he raised in January, much of it from small donors, is impressive to me. I also heard him speak live, and he gives me confidence, something that I don't get from Hillary (as much).

[Democrafty]

14. In a way, yes. It's a lot like not voting for her because she's a woman.

I'll admit that if all things were ABSOLUTELY equal, I'd vote for the woman. But I prefer Obama's policy ideas, and that's the most important thing, for me.

[ProSense]

16. Excellent point! n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. There are 500,000 dead women in Iraq.

As a feminist, I'm against that.

[Coexist]

13. my daughter just came home from practice - and do you know what she said?

"Mom, how come women can say I voted for Hillary because she's a woman and that's okay and progressive and loyal, but everyone freaks out if a black person votes for Barack because he's black."

I had no idea how to answer her. Is that not a strange thing. I mean, of course voting on loyalty and not issues is wrong, but she is right. Women are saying they vote for Hillary because she's a woman.

I told her I didn't know. What would you say?

[loveangelc]

17. I love it!

[Mz Pip]

18. Because more than

feminism is at stake.

It isn't all about the vagina.

Mz Pip
:dem: