Stark Raving Madeleine

Call me sexist if you must, but I didn’t vote for Hillary and I’ll tell you why

The current “sexism against Hillary” hysteria reminds me of a story often told about my friend Devan. The story goes that on Track & Field day in elementary school if Devan didn’t win a race, his mother would say, “The other kids cheated, you really are the fastest runner.”

Now Senator Clinton has hordes of women screaming the same thing in a race that could have been clean from the usual dirty politics, a race that could have been dignified and intelligent elevating Democrats above stereotypical politicians, if it hadn’t been for her own shameless nastiness.

I am ashamed because Hillary SHOULD represent me. I wish Hillary held herself with the dignity, power, and courage that I believe women to hold. Give me Ann Richards, Nancy Pelosi, Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano, Carolyn Maloney, Amy Klobuchar and I’ll march for them proudly (yes, I know Ann Richards is dead). Those are women I can respect and admire.

Am I obligated as a woman, and a feminist to vote for Hillary? No. In fact, I think that idea defeats what feminism is all about; women being treated as equals.

Maybe this Hillary debacle has done something good for feminism as it has awakened the debate over what feminism is. I think modern feminism needs to be about something more than repeating the mantra that women are victims of men. (check back for upcoming post - Modern Feminism)

I’m glad a woman has run I just wish it had been someone else. If you like Hillary fine, if you think she represents you fine, but let’s not scream “sexist” at everyone who choose to vote for someone else. Sure we need more women in politics, but we still need the right women. And I’ll vote for the right man over the wrong woman any day.

I don’t deny that sexism exists in America, and yes, Hillary has had to deal with stupid comments on her pantsuits, but Barack has had to deal with equally stupid remarks on his lack of tie and how can we forget his blatant disregard for America with his refusal to wear a flag pin? While Hillary had to answer to “likeable enough”, Barack had to answer on “black enough”, “white enough”, “patriotic enough”, “Christian enough”, “American enough”, and even on being “man enough”. Sure, Hillary has to put up with sexist slogans on t-shirts worn by redneck men. Barack has had secret service men assigned to him immediately after announcing his candidacy because of death threats over his race.

As they say, all’s fair in love and war and politics, as Hillary has shown again and again with her mudslinging, baiting, “misspeaks”, personality switches, and her history of bad policy: NAFTA, DOMA, the Iraq War, and the Patriot Act, just to name a few.

But instead of accepting an honest defeat gracefully, The knee jerk reactionism that will cause women to vote for McCain in protest is just stupid, petty and self sabotaging… shooting oneself in the foot is the phrase that comes to mind.

There are better, more effective ways to be a feminist than to vote for McCain or to write Hillary in. How about rallying together to support Obama and ensure that his presidency brings about some real change for women in this country? Change that Hillary was unlikely to ever bring. Demand he choose a female VP. Pressure him to choose a female supreme court justice. Petition that he follow up on his promises for health care, education, and women’s rights.

We all know thatt sexism towards women is alive and kicking in this country, but it seems to me that Hillary could have used her campaign to address the progress we have made and thereby encouraging women forward in politics. She could have made her campaign “rah rah for women, look how far we have come. I have held a close race with only one other man after beating out 6 qualified, white male candidates. Instead she chose to martyr herself by playing the victim creating the idea that America is not ready for a woman president when really America has shown that they are ready for a woman president, just not her

After 8 years of crap government, it’s time for a good president and Hillary doesn’t fit that bill (no pun intended). How I wish a truly great woman had run; a woman who didn’t have to cry “victim” to get attention, a woman who held her head high instead of resorting to low blows and an especially nasty version of politics, a woman who had great regard for her opponent, and a woman who stood true and honest to her issues. Unfortunately for the cause of feminism, that candidate this year was a man, Barack Obama.

What’s sad about the Hillary campaign is that she could have won if she had just had a consistent and empowered message. If she hadn’t assumed her nomination and misspent campaign funds. Surely such obvious mistakes would be avoidable by someone with 35 years of experience

Let’s keep the conversation going… tell me why you do or don’t think Hillary Clinton represents you as a woman and a feminist.

Tags: amy klobuchar, ann richards, bill clinton, carolyn maloney, democratic party, feminism, girl power, hillary clinton, hillary rodham clinton, janet napolitano, kathleen sebelius, nancy pelosi, new york, Politics, senator, sexism, woman, women in politics