Progressive faith, connected in cyberspace, Unitarian Universalist minister's blog
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Kinda Sad about Hillary
I voted for Obama in our state primary, and I can't say that I like her much, but as the handwriting is on the wall, I have to say...I'm kinda sad about Hillary. It would have been cool to have a woman president.
But... as much as it was the right time for Obama, it wasn't the right woman running.
That's uncomfortable to say. It sounds--and can be spun--as anti-feminist. But it's not feminist to urge the election of "any" woman just because she's a woman.
It's the presidency. It's not something anyone deserves. There's not anyone's turn. There's not any group's turn.
It's a damned shame that Hillary's not the right person at the right time. It's a damned shame that it came to something like this, where it was two people who "were" (or could be portrayed as) icons of identity groups.
Hillary is a well-qualified candidate, and the best real shot at a woman president so far. The race, close as it is and as done as I would like it to be, isn't over, and should she get the Democratic nomination, I'll support her in full.
And this is still a remarkable era. We have a woman as speaker for the house (3rd in line for the presidency), a woman as Secretary of State (5th in line), and one of the most powerful senators is still in the running for the top job. We aren't there yet, but we are really close to realizing a female president. I've said it before, but I think it will happen within 20-25 years.
Perhaps its my youth and optimism that it will happen again relatively soon that lets me move my support behind Obama. Regardless of that, Democrats have the wonderful curse to choose between electing the first black president and electing the first female president.
(In the off chance things go horribly wrong and Condoleeza Rice gets the spot, this year will have witnessed both in one person.)
4 comments:
It will be cool. When it happens.
But... as much as it was the right time for Obama, it wasn't the right woman running.
That's uncomfortable to say. It sounds--and can be spun--as anti-feminist. But it's not feminist to urge the election of "any" woman just because she's a woman.
It's the presidency. It's not something anyone deserves. There's not anyone's turn. There's not any group's turn.
It's a damned shame that Hillary's not the right person at the right time. It's a damned shame that it came to something like this, where it was two people who "were" (or could be portrayed as) icons of identity groups.
It is sad.
I agree with Ogre. I would love to see the right woman run and win -- but that woman simply isn't Hillary.
I think that Hillary is just as qualified as Barack Obama.
The way the media has treated her is appalling...it shows how far we have to go yet, and how acceptable sexism still is in this society.
Hillary is a well-qualified candidate, and the best real shot at a woman president so far. The race, close as it is and as done as I would like it to be, isn't over, and should she get the Democratic nomination, I'll support her in full.
And this is still a remarkable era. We have a woman as speaker for the house (3rd in line for the presidency), a woman as Secretary of State (5th in line), and one of the most powerful senators is still in the running for the top job. We aren't there yet, but we are really close to realizing a female president. I've said it before, but I think it will happen within 20-25 years.
Perhaps its my youth and optimism that it will happen again relatively soon that lets me move my support behind Obama. Regardless of that, Democrats have the wonderful curse to choose between electing the first black president and electing the first female president.
(In the off chance things go horribly wrong and Condoleeza Rice gets the spot, this year will have witnessed both in one person.)
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