My parents are (of course?) republicans. They are conservatives - socially, fiscally (they are part of the group that says “yeah! The government can’t take all my money!” thinking that they are part of the “rich” that the Republicans work so hard to protect. They’re well off, but they’re middle class well off - not “rich”) and on matters of foreign affairs.
So the other day, when my mom told me she was thinking of voting for Obama, I was a little perplexilated.
We talked a little more today, and she did some of those “who’s your candidate” quizzes. She said Romney and Edwards were her top matches. She said she’s off to do research on Edwards.
But Clinton also came up as a high percentage for her, and her reaction was visceral. “I would NEVER vote for them! NEVER!!!”
And so here we have it. Hilary’s unelectability in the face of tired and unhappy republicans.
IF there are Republicans who are tired and battle sore after these past 8 years of Georgie-Porgy, and they are tired of the hate and the aggression and the fear, and they are feeling ready for something different - shouldn’t they have a Democrat that they can vote for without barfing?
My mom’s Hilary-knee-jerk is stronger and more passionate than her tiredness. Hatred is more passionate than exhaustion just by definition, I think.
Reason #456 why Hilary should pack up her things and go home. Hopefully New Hampshire will second (third?) that motion.
[a long break between writing this and pushing "publish" finds me revisiting what I wrote and wondering --- are the conservatives' [esp. religious conservatives] distrust of women soooo deep that they allow themselves the hatred? If it were a different woman running for office, would they have another reason to hate her - something which has nothing to do with the fact that she was married to Bill and has all of that baggage? I am inclined to think they would. They would find a reason to hold onto … but I still don’t like her. I’m convinced that my reasons have NOTHING to do with my past affiliation with the Clinton-bashers. If you try to say otherwise, I will stick my fingers in my ears and make obnoxious noises.]
Ok, something that has nothing to do with Bill & his baggage. . . she has a sparse record of accomplishments that I can point to and say “I want a President who can do more of THAT.”
I watched the debate — some — last night and thought she looked like a female presidential candidate should. Like Obama and Edwards have the look, Richardson doesn’t. For me, she came out on “does” side.
If she were *anyone* but who she is she might have been viable for me. But she’s not. And never will be.
And I thought your man Obama did some nice work last night. Definitely carried the evening, for the parts I watched.
And I wanted to throw things every time Edwards opened his mouth. But maybe “personal struggle personal struggle sharecropper this struggle is personal middle class my gradfather sharecropper” that’s just me.
My husband and I really enjoyed the Democratic debate Saturday night. Obama did a great job and I liked Edwards, although I hear Butterflyfish on his repetitiveness. I was also pretty impressed by Richardson! I agree, GO HOME Hilary!
What does concern me a bit, though, is womens’ hatred for her. I don’t like her, but I wonder if it’s similar to the phenomenon of women bosses being the hardest to work for because, as a society, we tend to view women in power as bitchy (or perhaps they have to be to get there). As much as I dislike her, it would be a shame for people to react to her that way just *because* she’s a woman and I wonder if some women aren’t doing that subconsciously.
I think if Hillary was a man we wouldn’t judge her nearly as harshly. She’s getting scrutinized hard core and she’s no less warm, astute, or blunt than most MEN in my opinion.
But she’s a woman, and a lot of people (including other women) don’t think she’s supposed to act the way she does.
My mother’s reason for disliking her always causes me to blow liquid through my nose at whatever I’m drinking. She thinks that Hillary is a huge political climber. (Um, aren’t most politicians?) And she thinks that Hillary married Bill in order to fulfill some political ambitions. (Uh, when Hillary graduated from Yale she didn’t exactly have a ton of political options. And ohmigosh how many zillions of people in history have married for social reasons?) And she totally lost all respect Hillary when she stayed with Bill after the whole Lewinsky thing because my mom is convinced it was purely for Hillary’s own political career. (Excuse me? Can you imagine if every woman left her cheating husband? And how many years have they been married? And who knows what else may have influenced her to stay? And holy finger-pointing, Batman.)
I don’t think she’s electable though, and I feel crappy for thinking so, but it’s what my gut tells me.
And I’m really curious to see how Obama does once we get to the Southern primaries.
I don’t share the visceral reaction to Hillary. I’ve met her and know several people who worked for her in the Senate. She is an amazing worker and smart as hell. I think she gets a bad rap in the media. I also think she has pandered a bit to the middle in an effort to broaden her appeal (or so she thought). All in all, I think she’s a great operative.
That being said, I am sad to say that I also think this country is still more biased against women than any man, regardless of color, when it comes to the presidential election. We will elect a black president before a female one, I don’t doubt it. And I think we will pick a man over a woman anytime. And that puts us behind countries like Pakistan and India and Chile and Liberia.
And that is sad.
I don’t want to believe that Hillary’s sex has done more to detract her candidacy than her politics/character. Even though I admire her intelligence, experience and drive, the things that have driven me away from the Hillary camp: (1) there has not been a single time that I’ve heard her speak or read her words or seen her act and have not had the sense that she truly believes that she deserves the presidency, she has earned it (and requisite “perqs”), and how dare others challenge her, (2) her ridiculously strong connections to the financial powers that be in New York. First of all, Hill, noone in America “deserves” to be President, and you are not “gracing” us with your candidacy. It is a privilege to serve as the chief executive of this country, but nothing you did during the Bill/Hill reign suggests that you understand this. Second, almost everything dirty in this country can be traced to the financiers. You can’t go after the corporate bigwigs without noticing that there are somse very very wealthy bankers sharing in each corporate cookie jar. Naughty.
That being said, I can’t really say for sure that I wouldn’t judge a man with similiar predilections less harshly. If this is true, maybe it’s because we hold women to higher standards because we hold ourselves to such high standards?