And it got me thinking about Hillary Clinton.
As aggravating as the last few months of the campaign have been, the end is in sight. I have been impressed with the degree to which Obama has kept his cool and resisted the temptation to resort to identity politics. Though - I should add - I've followed his trajectory for nigh on four years now and have seen no viable evidence that he's ever been all that tempted in that regard. Maybe that detracts from his political courage, but it certainly speaks on behalf of his political maturity.
I can't say the same for Senator Clinton. She has done more pandering, faked more accents, donned more disguises than her opponent. More unfortunate than talking about the gas tax holiday from the back of a vintage pickup truck (the good ol' days? subtle!) were the few times when she lapsed into paleo-feminist victimhood. Sexism is very much alive and well in the United States. And electing a woman president would go a long way toward assuaging that historical inequality. Just the sight of it. Americans are visual learners. They need to see a powerful woman before they will believe it's possible. And the same is true with African Americans. It's a puzzling bit of circular illogic you hear from West Virginians and others. "I won't vote for Obama because the country's not ready for a black president." And how will we know when we're ready? When we vote for one, of course.
But it's still a tricky business. Not voting for candidates because they're female or black is ignorant while voting for candidates because they're female or black is merely shallow and anti-meritocratic. What's a voter to do? Hopefully vote on the basis of other issues. It appears that many people have done just that during this primary season. Hillary deserves a lot of credit for being a trailblazer. It has not been easy for her to find (and keep) her voice. In the end, from where I sit, Obama beat her fair and square. Yes, there's Florida and Michigan, but can any Clinton supporter say - with even a modicum of intellectual honesty - that they'd be as adamant about the "disenfranchisement" of those renegade delegations had Obama carried their majorities? He's outmaneuvered, outraised, and outsmarted the most powerful and most popular Democratic family since the Kennedys.
I am anxious to see how Clinton will make her dénouement. My prediction is that she will end her campaign as she ran it: making excuses. Maybe I'm being pessimistic. Or maybe I'm just blowing smoke.
3 comments:
I just wanted to share my favorite vintage car ads:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kAmd0_JwIw0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9x8igEt-HBg
I challenge you to get either of the above jingles out of your head. Just try.
I watched (well, listened) to a video from BU about women in politics. When asked, in theory, if a woman could be a good president, most Americans (80%? I can't remember exactly.) say yes. Many more women in the U.S., percentage-wise, say they'd like to a female president.
The political scientists talking about Hillary suggested that our history with her is too long, as a country, to see her as the "theoretical" woman they'd like to see run for President. And I completely agree.
They also said that if Hillary wasn't running against Obama, many more women would probably support her. Mainly because Obama has captured the attention of younger people.
Interestingly, one of the ways one of the poly scientists claimed was the best way to get women in office is through affirmative action. Countries like Rwanda have more women in office than the U.S. by a long shot, simply because they require it. The same for European countries that have a lot of women in politics. Basically, some seats in congress or parliament are for men, and some are for women.
It's kind of sad that that's the most effective (proven) solution out there.
Heavens me, driving IS frightening! Polyglas or no, I'm leaving the driving to my husband from now on.
Thanks, television!
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