politics rec post

Yes. This. Now.

[On politics.] Ranty rambling ahead, 8000 words of it by svmadelyn - on Hillary Clinton, voting, and everything I haven't had the words to say since primary season began.

I don't have the words now. But I have this:

The first time I saw a woman stand for one of the two highest offices in the land in the two parties that control our country was also the last. I've waited two decades to see it again.

It's funny to read the coverage, the silly women who vote for Hillary because she's a woman; men don't vote for men because they're men. Cut this quote enough and you'll hear what so many people want to believe: I'm voting for Hillary because she's a woman.

Bullshit. Robin Morgan said it first and said it best. I'll steal her words since my own will never be enough: "Me, I’m voting for Hillary not because she’s a woman—but because I am."

I'm tired of waiting. She's a politician and a mother, a senator and the wife of a man who was president. She's ambitious and sometimes ruthless, imperfect and brilliant, and I placed on her the sum of two decades of hope when I realized she would run, when I realized she could win, when asked myself what I wanted.

I want a president who's not afraid. She's not. Maybe she can teach me that.

Comments

[callmesandy.livejournal.com]

I'm a two issue girl because I find when politicians agree with me and I sense they mean it on my two issues, they're pretty good on everything else. And it's pro-choice and gay rights. As was reinforced when I read this afternoon on the blog Bitch PhD that Obama is okay with parental consent laws? Hilary's my choice.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Oh, link? I haven't seen that.

[callmesandy.livejournal.com]

right now, it's the top post: http://bitchphd.blogspot.com/

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

Heh. And what a lot of people don't realize is how much more pro-gay rights Hillary is as opposed to Obama. I think people would be pretty surprised if they took a good look at the speeches they've both given. Considering the audience, I can't believe I didn't put in a section for that in my post!

...you always think of ten extra, better things you can put in the second you hit the 'post' button.

[callmesandy.livejournal.com]

My whole office is all yay! Obama. I tried, once, to bring up that on gay rights, Hillary is infinitely preferable, and they were all like, "oh, whatever." And you know? It's not "oh, whatever" to me. I believe Obama, if he wins the nomination, will come around because the gays have LOTS of money and any democratic nominee will be better on these issues than any republican nominee (SADLY - I imagine there are many Republicans who would like to pursue something different, but ...). BUT. Obama comes off as someone who is uncomfortable with the gays and Hillary comes off as someone who GETS it.

I know Bill signed DOMA, and yeah. It's been over 10 years and the climate has changed. And I don't think Hillary would sign it now as President.

[bruinsfan.livejournal.com]

I actually do think Giuliani might have been better on gay issues than, say, Southern Democrats like Edwards, even if he had to pay lip service to the Christian Conservatives while seeking nomination. This is a guy who can say "some of my best friends are gay" and actually mean it (the friends he stayed with when his last marriage crumbled were a gay couple), and I think that visceral response based on people you know and like tends to end prejudice more effectively than grudgingly admitting that discrimination is wrong based solely on philosophical issues. (Plus, I can't forget the way Edwards looked like he'd just downed a glass of lemon juice every time the issue came up.)

Mind you, there were so many other warning flags about Rudy's style of leadership that I think it's a very good thing for the country as a whole he was eliminated early. I used to joke with friends "Well, at least it'll be a gay-friendly totalitarian regime!"

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

I'd be voting for Hillary, if I could. I love that she's so tough, and that she can read the political wind and make it work for her. And you just know she gets that sometimes, politicians have to lie. And ... I don't know, it's probably a stupid way to think of it, but I get the feeling both McCain and Obama would be absolutely decimated in British Parliamentary debates, but Clinton could stand right up there and bullshit her way through any issue put to her. I'd love to see her in action in that kind of forum. So cool.