Politics, schmolitics
Busy with Easter and teh boots of hotness, I haven't updated on my political thoughts lately.
First let me say this: I don't regret voting for my senator. I was honored to cast my vote for Hillary, and I wouldn't take it back if I could. She makes me proud to be an American, a Democrat, and a woman, and I do think she'd be a damn fine President, with experience-- not behind The Desk, mind you, but close enough to know what it actually takes to get stuff done beyond starry-eyed idealism.
That said, if the primary election were held tomorrow, I honestly don't know who I'd vote for. Thank god I don't live in PA.
And it's not that the election was Hillary's to lose (although perhaps my vote was); there's not much that she's done wrong. But there's a lot that Barack has done well. He's a strong candidate, and an inspirational man. He will also make a good President, and I'll be thrilled to vote for him in November if that's how the chips fall (and it looks likely), and only slightly disappointed that it's him and not Hil. And she has done a little bit wrong.
So what's shaken my unflappable confidence in Senator Clinton? What's impressed me about Senator Obama?
1. Seriously, she needed to denounce Gereldine Fererra about three seconds after those racist remarks came out of the latter woman's mouth. Something to the effect of "We will not tolerate racist language within three hundred yards of this campaign" would have been good. Her silence sounded like agreement, and her retraction or whatever was too little, too late.
2. What gives with stuff like saying that McCain has more experience than Obama? News flash, honey: he's got more than you, too. Let's not give props to the Republicans, shall we? I want you on the ticket, too, but not at the expense of another four or eight years of a Republican White House. *Way* too high a price.
That's all I can poo-poo about her. It's what *he's* done.
3. The Speech. wow.
a. I appreciate a good speech-maker. It's kinda what I do, and he does it well.
b. Speaking of what I do, Barack gets major props for refusing to denounce his pastor, and calling him family. He didn't know he was courting the liberal clergy vote (and what a block we are!), but he did it well.
c. He brought Black Liberation Theology into the public discourse, which is where it really needs to be. Liberation Theology should have been in the public discourse forever ago, but thank God it's getting some talk now.
d. I have not heard so passionate and pointed a talk about racism that simultaneously described white priviledge and responsibility in a way that, frankly, a lot of white people can hear. Many Anglos shut their ears to the (accurate and well-aimed) accusations of their own racism and culpability in systems of racism, but Senator Obama made the conversation real. I've got racists in my family-- my grandmother-- and I bet you do too. She's afraid of young black men, and guess what, white folks, *that counts as racism.* (Sounds like an obvious point, but for me in my first year of grad school, living in a city for the first time, I had the revelation of my life when my finger automatically hit the lock button on my car door when I saw two african american men in my rear view mirror. I thought I was all enlightened and stuff, but that's how deep racism is ingrained in *me*. Takes you down a peg. or five. or fifty).
4. Governor Richardson's endorsement. As you know, Richardson was my initial pick (before I actually saw him debate and realized he had zero ability to sell the package). I still think he's a brilliant man with powerful diplomatic skills and experience both in administration and in international relations. I trust his judgment, and as a former member of President Bill Clinton's cabinet, I trust that he is relatively unbiased in his endorsement. If he says Barack is the real deal, by heaven, I believe him.
Should Hillary drop out now? I think she really can't politically do that before PA at this point. She's got no reason to. But she's got to quit the talk about the Superdelegates going for her even if Obama wins the popular vote in the primary. Just promise her a great cabinet post, would ya, Barack. I think that's all she wants at this point. Hell, I'd take it.
First let me say this: I don't regret voting for my senator. I was honored to cast my vote for Hillary, and I wouldn't take it back if I could. She makes me proud to be an American, a Democrat, and a woman, and I do think she'd be a damn fine President, with experience-- not behind The Desk, mind you, but close enough to know what it actually takes to get stuff done beyond starry-eyed idealism.
That said, if the primary election were held tomorrow, I honestly don't know who I'd vote for. Thank god I don't live in PA.
And it's not that the election was Hillary's to lose (although perhaps my vote was); there's not much that she's done wrong. But there's a lot that Barack has done well. He's a strong candidate, and an inspirational man. He will also make a good President, and I'll be thrilled to vote for him in November if that's how the chips fall (and it looks likely), and only slightly disappointed that it's him and not Hil. And she has done a little bit wrong.
So what's shaken my unflappable confidence in Senator Clinton? What's impressed me about Senator Obama?
1. Seriously, she needed to denounce Gereldine Fererra about three seconds after those racist remarks came out of the latter woman's mouth. Something to the effect of "We will not tolerate racist language within three hundred yards of this campaign" would have been good. Her silence sounded like agreement, and her retraction or whatever was too little, too late.
2. What gives with stuff like saying that McCain has more experience than Obama? News flash, honey: he's got more than you, too. Let's not give props to the Republicans, shall we? I want you on the ticket, too, but not at the expense of another four or eight years of a Republican White House. *Way* too high a price.
That's all I can poo-poo about her. It's what *he's* done.
3. The Speech. wow.
a. I appreciate a good speech-maker. It's kinda what I do, and he does it well.
b. Speaking of what I do, Barack gets major props for refusing to denounce his pastor, and calling him family. He didn't know he was courting the liberal clergy vote (and what a block we are!), but he did it well.
c. He brought Black Liberation Theology into the public discourse, which is where it really needs to be. Liberation Theology should have been in the public discourse forever ago, but thank God it's getting some talk now.
d. I have not heard so passionate and pointed a talk about racism that simultaneously described white priviledge and responsibility in a way that, frankly, a lot of white people can hear. Many Anglos shut their ears to the (accurate and well-aimed) accusations of their own racism and culpability in systems of racism, but Senator Obama made the conversation real. I've got racists in my family-- my grandmother-- and I bet you do too. She's afraid of young black men, and guess what, white folks, *that counts as racism.* (Sounds like an obvious point, but for me in my first year of grad school, living in a city for the first time, I had the revelation of my life when my finger automatically hit the lock button on my car door when I saw two african american men in my rear view mirror. I thought I was all enlightened and stuff, but that's how deep racism is ingrained in *me*. Takes you down a peg. or five. or fifty).
4. Governor Richardson's endorsement. As you know, Richardson was my initial pick (before I actually saw him debate and realized he had zero ability to sell the package). I still think he's a brilliant man with powerful diplomatic skills and experience both in administration and in international relations. I trust his judgment, and as a former member of President Bill Clinton's cabinet, I trust that he is relatively unbiased in his endorsement. If he says Barack is the real deal, by heaven, I believe him.
Should Hillary drop out now? I think she really can't politically do that before PA at this point. She's got no reason to. But she's got to quit the talk about the Superdelegates going for her even if Obama wins the popular vote in the primary. Just promise her a great cabinet post, would ya, Barack. I think that's all she wants at this point. Hell, I'd take it.