We're All Losers

Yesterday at the office, as part of the daily luncheon roundtable discussions, the LLWL* chatted about the issue of Hillary Clinton & how she has squandered much of the support of her "base" -- that is, women like us (liberal, professional women of her generation) who would otherwise be strong allies in her race for the presidency.

When the contest first began, I started out favoring Clinton (not that I thought it mattered that much, since I thought the primary would be decided long before it got to Pennsylvania). After all, she said she preferred diamonds & pearls. In fact, my initial view was that it was exciting that the black guy and the woman were doing better than the white guy. See Are You Ready?. Then, as time when on, despite myself, I began leaning towards John Edwards based upon his position on the issues. Of course, he made things easy by dropping out.

At that point, surprise of surprises, Pennsylvania actually became part of the equation in the Democratic primary race. So, that meant I really had to pick one. I was still somewhat undecided, but pleased with both of the remaining candidates. See Do I Follow My Sex or My Heart?. I enjoyed seeing Hillary open her Pennsylvania campaign in Scranton, my home town. Then, I began having concerns about the manner in which Clinton was conducting her campaign, The Tipping Point and Ferraro & the Furies. The fact that she was a bit too moderate for my liking, along with the increasingly negative tactics waged by her campaign, finally swayed me to commit against her. This was especially true in light of the fact that her chances of winning the primary in the end are nil to worse, and her negativity seem to be helping He Who Shall Be Nameless. The Breaking Point.

This morning I read an op-ed piece by Ann Rosen Spector, a Center City psychologist, which may well have been me writing her column in the Philadelphia Daily News. As she put it, in How Hillary lost my vote:

I really wanted you to be the Democratic candidate and the next president of the United States.

In order to do that, I needed you to be the person I felt you were capable of being. I knew you were smart, funny and kind to your friends and family - I wanted you to demonstrate fairer play in the political arena.

I identified with you because we have some very important things in common.

I, too, am a baby boomer who came of age when women were just starting to enter the professions. I didn't know how I was going to do it, but, like you and so many others, I believed I had the ability, motivation and the perseverance to be successful.

It has never been easy.

Like so many women in our generation, I was often blindsided by the condescension of men toward women, regardless of our credentials (and theirs!) simply on the basis of gender.

She too (like Hillary & me) has a Scranton connection. And has raised daughters and has been in a long term marriage. Our background and sentiments are similar:

I believe you felt you could outrun all the boys in this race - if the others were Joe Biden, Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd.

You were blindsided by Barack Obama - and felt he needed more seasoning, that it wasn't "his turn." And I stayed with you, rooted for you (even though I've admired Obama for four years).

Perhaps I could have continued to hold on, if only you'd stayed on the moral high ground and told the truth.

I don't expect politicians to deliver on all their initiatives. You are a policy wonk, in a way that - even with all my education - I'm not. I don't expect to ever read or understand every detail in your health-care plan. But I'm almost as old as you, and I know that initiatives don't necessarily translate into law, that politicians have to cut deals or they will get nothing done.

I thought it was unfair that likability was considered so much more important in a president than brains. Perhaps I'd enjoy a barbecue at the ranch with President Bush, but what would we talk about? I need someone who can, at least occasionally, use three-syllable words accurately.

To a great extent, I have to vote for the person of greater integrity, who will try to do the right thing most of the time - and I've lost faith in you. You finally lost me at Bosnia. Your claim to have been there during active hostilities has been roundly disproved, and your explanation that you misspoke or were too tired is, at best, lame.

And I'm sad. I wanted you to be what I think is the best part of you.

But, perhaps even more than that, I don't want John McCain. Don't get me wrong, I wish he (or anyone) had beaten Bush in 2000.

But after eight years of ineptitude, lack of moral rectitude and incompetence, I can't think of any reason that a Republican who has cuddled often enough with the Bush administration should be allowed to continue its missteps.

I will cast my vote in the primary for Obama, and hope that, while not perfect, he can unite the red and the blue into a purple nation.

I tried, Hillary. I just wish you had fulfilled your incredible potential.

The fact that she didn't makes us all losers.

(Cartoon via Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette)