Despite knowing I did the right thing casting my primary vote for Barack Obama I still feel like a traitor. Today's concession speech just drove that point home. As tears dripped down my cheeks while she graciously spoke of Obama (to her credit - though he did right by her, too), in my mind I saw both my elderly grandmothers, 95 and 92, being denied the right to vote. While neither of them are/were the type of women to cause a ruckus, much less as suffragettes, they were, none the less, born before women had the right to vote - their lives, in many ways, played out as benefactors of that suppression. Being keenly aware that their opportunities denied were now mine to explore, I was overcome with shame and guilt that, in the end, I had not worked harder to see our gender uplifted to the country's highest office.
Despite that, I still know Obama stands to be our best presidential candidate and that all those women who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods so many decades ago did not do so in vane. Their ambitions were wholly fullfilled when I cast my vote even though I did not do it for one of our own. I voted for a man whom I believe will do his utmost for everyone - not just women, not just blacks, but every single person in this country. Had Hillary been as eloquent and passionate a speaker, as generous of spirit and candor as Obama, had she been as gracious throughout her campain as she was in her speech today, we may very well have seen his concession rather than hers. But, as she rightly pointed out, it's never good to say "what if" but better to move forward. I believe Obama is the person to get that done and it would be to his credit to have her as vice-president. But even if he doesn't (and if he doesn't, I will trust his judgment), there can be no doubt that what Clinton did in this race was historic. She has made it easier for the next qualified woman to run. And for that, we should all be truly grateful - even if you were always an Obama supporter.
Before I end my confession, let me finally say that, for all her faults (and she's got plenty, Lord knows), Clinton was right to campaign to the end and right to host a concession "party" days after many called for it. The media, and even myself, said more than once at points in this campaign that "she should throw in the towel". But, in fact, she won the popular vote and her supporters would have felt disenfranchised had she done so. Likewise, I don't believe for a second that she stalled in her concession for any other reason than losing is hard and she had supporters who were extremely loyal - it's the least she could do for them. And if she stalled for position? She is nothing if not smart. I believe history will show that both those decisions stand to unify the party rather than divide it - everyone's voice had a chance to be heard - everyone's vote had a chance to count. That's important.
And, now, as with the presidential election in which Al Gore really won the presidency - we should, as a country, suspend the use of delegates and let the popular vote guide our outcomes. Nothing is more disenfranchising than to work toward a common goal only to have antiquated politics overrule the will of the people. Had such a change been made sooner, we would not have had Dubya and Cheney in the White House, we would not be in a bogus war, we would not be suffering the largest unemployment rate in more than 20 years, we would not see our stocks plummeting, we would not be faced with Global warming without being proactive and signing the Kyoto protocol, etc. etc. etc. And, I dare say, we would have Universal health care by now - my grandparents could afford their drugs without choosing between that and food, and I would have the option to leave my job for another if I want to.
Next up: The Belmont stakes wherein Big Brown stands to be the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. The great thing about this race: there's no delegates - you either win, or you don't. Worse case scenario, it's a photo-finish. It's not inconceivable that they could tie....though that would be historic, too.
Despite that, I still know Obama stands to be our best presidential candidate and that all those women who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods so many decades ago did not do so in vane. Their ambitions were wholly fullfilled when I cast my vote even though I did not do it for one of our own. I voted for a man whom I believe will do his utmost for everyone - not just women, not just blacks, but every single person in this country. Had Hillary been as eloquent and passionate a speaker, as generous of spirit and candor as Obama, had she been as gracious throughout her campain as she was in her speech today, we may very well have seen his concession rather than hers. But, as she rightly pointed out, it's never good to say "what if" but better to move forward. I believe Obama is the person to get that done and it would be to his credit to have her as vice-president. But even if he doesn't (and if he doesn't, I will trust his judgment), there can be no doubt that what Clinton did in this race was historic. She has made it easier for the next qualified woman to run. And for that, we should all be truly grateful - even if you were always an Obama supporter.
Before I end my confession, let me finally say that, for all her faults (and she's got plenty, Lord knows), Clinton was right to campaign to the end and right to host a concession "party" days after many called for it. The media, and even myself, said more than once at points in this campaign that "she should throw in the towel". But, in fact, she won the popular vote and her supporters would have felt disenfranchised had she done so. Likewise, I don't believe for a second that she stalled in her concession for any other reason than losing is hard and she had supporters who were extremely loyal - it's the least she could do for them. And if she stalled for position? She is nothing if not smart. I believe history will show that both those decisions stand to unify the party rather than divide it - everyone's voice had a chance to be heard - everyone's vote had a chance to count. That's important.
And, now, as with the presidential election in which Al Gore really won the presidency - we should, as a country, suspend the use of delegates and let the popular vote guide our outcomes. Nothing is more disenfranchising than to work toward a common goal only to have antiquated politics overrule the will of the people. Had such a change been made sooner, we would not have had Dubya and Cheney in the White House, we would not be in a bogus war, we would not be suffering the largest unemployment rate in more than 20 years, we would not see our stocks plummeting, we would not be faced with Global warming without being proactive and signing the Kyoto protocol, etc. etc. etc. And, I dare say, we would have Universal health care by now - my grandparents could afford their drugs without choosing between that and food, and I would have the option to leave my job for another if I want to.
Next up: The Belmont stakes wherein Big Brown stands to be the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. The great thing about this race: there's no delegates - you either win, or you don't. Worse case scenario, it's a photo-finish. It's not inconceivable that they could tie....though that would be historic, too.
Posts
