On the Eve of NH Primaries
I'm torn.
I met Senator Obama in February of 2005, about 6 months after his inspiring Democratic convention speech, immediately after which I had called my mom to say "Did you HEAR that?!? Wasn't that AMAZING? When will *HE* run?". I had been working past 11pm at my consulting job in downtown DC with my coworker and friend Chris. We lived about a block away from each other in NW DC, so we'd often coordinate our departures because we both worked insane hours. That night, we left and walked out of our building to head across the street to the Metro Center Metro stop to catch the red line, but Chris noticed a group outside the overpriced Oceanaire restaurant next to our office and recognized, standing on the sidewalk, his Senator: Mr. Obama. Chris, a graduate of UChicago had worked in the Mayor's office in Chicago and was very into Illinois politics. I'm from Pennsylvania and literally ran into Arnold Schwartzeneger at Starbucks down the street before and wouldn't have recognized him but for the security guards that pushed me away in my caffeine-seeking obliviousness (He's short and had a big neck). Chris yelled out "Senator Obama!" and I followed him over to the group. Chris mentioned his Chicagoan background and I congratulated him on his inspirational convention speech. He asked us what we were doing leaving work so late and Chris said that we worked for an economic litigation consulting firm. Senator Obama nodded knowingly and said something to the effect of "I've been there. It's tough. Keep up the good work. It'll pay off." and then shook our hands. He had musician hands--very soft. And he seemed cool with us just barging in on his conversation as he was clearly waiting for his ride. I was thoroughly impressed. I won't ever forget it.
But I'm torn.
My undergraduate thesis was on female executives and the gender wage gap. I'm a feminist. As an aspiring leader in business, I see everyday the challenges I'll face, and that Senator Clinton is living. The criticisms such as "shrill" "flaky" "bitchy" "emotional" that I'll face and she faces. As an appendix to my thesis, I even found statistical confirmation of the claim that women are more critical of other women than of men. I know I'm biased against her already. Ultimately, it comes down to this: I refuse to support a presidential series of Bush-Clinton-Clinton-Bush-Bush-Clinton. I firmly believe that we can have a female president one day. And I would like one. I just don't think she's the one for the job.
But please: anybody but Edwards.
I met Senator Obama in February of 2005, about 6 months after his inspiring Democratic convention speech, immediately after which I had called my mom to say "Did you HEAR that?!? Wasn't that AMAZING? When will *HE* run?". I had been working past 11pm at my consulting job in downtown DC with my coworker and friend Chris. We lived about a block away from each other in NW DC, so we'd often coordinate our departures because we both worked insane hours. That night, we left and walked out of our building to head across the street to the Metro Center Metro stop to catch the red line, but Chris noticed a group outside the overpriced Oceanaire restaurant next to our office and recognized, standing on the sidewalk, his Senator: Mr. Obama. Chris, a graduate of UChicago had worked in the Mayor's office in Chicago and was very into Illinois politics. I'm from Pennsylvania and literally ran into Arnold Schwartzeneger at Starbucks down the street before and wouldn't have recognized him but for the security guards that pushed me away in my caffeine-seeking obliviousness (He's short and had a big neck). Chris yelled out "Senator Obama!" and I followed him over to the group. Chris mentioned his Chicagoan background and I congratulated him on his inspirational convention speech. He asked us what we were doing leaving work so late and Chris said that we worked for an economic litigation consulting firm. Senator Obama nodded knowingly and said something to the effect of "I've been there. It's tough. Keep up the good work. It'll pay off." and then shook our hands. He had musician hands--very soft. And he seemed cool with us just barging in on his conversation as he was clearly waiting for his ride. I was thoroughly impressed. I won't ever forget it.
But I'm torn.
My undergraduate thesis was on female executives and the gender wage gap. I'm a feminist. As an aspiring leader in business, I see everyday the challenges I'll face, and that Senator Clinton is living. The criticisms such as "shrill" "flaky" "bitchy" "emotional" that I'll face and she faces. As an appendix to my thesis, I even found statistical confirmation of the claim that women are more critical of other women than of men. I know I'm biased against her already. Ultimately, it comes down to this: I refuse to support a presidential series of Bush-Clinton-Clinton-Bush-Bush-Clinton. I firmly believe that we can have a female president one day. And I would like one. I just don't think she's the one for the job.
But please: anybody but Edwards.