One woman's point of view

[searchingforlight]

I am a 64 year old, white woman. I grew up in an era with few choices for women. I fought hard for many of the rights that younger women enjoy today. I have been called many sexist, derogatory names and chafed at many decisions made for me by the powers that be over which I had no control.

I voted for and admired Bill Clinton and still feel he was a very good President. I have defended both he and Hillary from the attackers that are ever present in their lives.

I was thrilled when Hillary announced her run for office. I believe she would be a good President and if she is the Democratic Nominee I will vote for her.

I have, however, become an Obama supporter. It is hard to give up the dream of having a woman in the White House for the first time but I am now convinced that it should not be this woman. For all that I respect her, she is the most divisive candidate in the picture.

I believe Barack Obama is the right choice at this time in our history. He has shown himself to be strong in adversity, calm when under fire, capable of selecting good people to advise him and weighing their counsel. He represents the future and the people who will be carrying the burden of my generation. He has dignity, character and compassion.

[NJmaverick]

1. Good for you

Excellent post! It took real character to put aside personal desires and consider the big picture.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Yours is the story of many!

You tell it in a very forthright matter....

thank you for it.

[hisownpetard]

9. Well said, Frenchie! Now all I have to say is "Ditto."

:hi:

[Hope And Change]

3. Thank you searchingforlight.

Great post!

:toast:

[DarienComp]

4. Good post.

Try not to let the inevitable flaming get you down.

[k8conant]

5. I too would like to have a woman in the White House

but I didn't think before and I don't think now that Hillary Clinton is the right one. I won't vote for her just because she's a woman. I have been looking at issues and character and gone from Kucinich to Edwards to Obama in this race. Obama has proven to be one whom I can envision proudly as our president.

[polichick]

6. Thank you for opening so many doors for women like me, who grew up behind you...

A group of us women working at the Obama office this morning were talking about the things mentioned in your post, saying how we understood the anger of some of the Hillary supporters we've met ~ women who put themselves in the line of fire for the rest of us, and who desperately want a woman in the WH ~ but how we truly believe that Barack is the right candidate at the right moment.

I'm glad you're with us!

[stellanoir]

7. With all the rancor about racism and sexism, I feel like ageism will be the overriding force.

"Divisive" would be the operative word.

"Clinton fatigue" would be the operative phrase. It's vastly under rated but is pervasive.

Yeah, it would be great to see a woman president. But not one who is masquerading as a hawkish male.

Nor should two families dominate the executive branch of government for decades in this land of diversity.

Yikes.

[panAmerican]

8. As a naturalized American woman whose native country has had both male and female heads of state...

This election was never about race or gender for me. However my view of the race versus gender aspect of the Democratic contest is this: while Whites are still waiting for the first female president, Blacks are still waiting for the first Black president of either sex.

Further, I have to say that there's no such thing as a woman's touch when it comes to a head of state, at least as far as I have observed. Good intentions and judgement trump sex and color.

[Zachstar]

10. 2016 (Or even 2012) there will be a better chance for a woman to be elected president.

It is sad the the first big attempt was Mrs. Clinton because there were many other great choices for a female candidate. People who worked HARD is their lives to get where they are today.

In 2016 or 2012 if somehow Obama only wants one term, There is a great chance for a woman to work hard and step forward for the chance. By then the country will be less divided in my view, and people will focus more on history and issues rather than petty crap.

The fact that we are even considering a Female and African American candidate is history in the making and shows a bending towards a positive future.

[bain_sidhe]

11. I don't think so

I think Hillary only got as far as she did because of her unique situation. If it's not Hillary, it'll be a long time before a female candidate even gets this far.

I say this with extreme sadness, as someone who has come to believe that Obama is our best chance for winning the G.E. Even more than I want a woman in the White House, I want a Democrat in the White House.

It's not that I think Obama is a slam dunk, either. Neither of them would have an easy ride to victory. I just think that he's more likely to win the general than Hillary is, at this point. But there's more to the calculation, too--it's my personal opinion that if Clinton was the nominee and did win, it would be a small, technical victory. If she lost, it would be a small, technical loss.

If Obama loses, it'll be a blow out. But if Obama wins, given the way he has to win, it'll be a blow out too. Big risks. But big rewards. The consequences of losing are the same either way, but the reward of winning Obama's way is so much bigger than the reward of winning Clinton's way, that I'm willing to go for all the marbles.

[Scurrilous]

12. K & R

:thumbsup:

[oneofthepeople]

13. You expressed my sentiments completely

I agree completely. We are Democrats all. I saw the candidate in a recent rally. He has what it takes.

Hilary and Bill I have respected for a long time. I have lost a bit.

Obama will win. We must not fracture our party.

[Erin Elizabeth]

14. Great post. Except for our ages, I could say

exactly the same thing (I'm 37).

I'm suffering from "Clinton fatigue" at this point.

[Laelth]

15. Nicely said. n/t k&r

:dem:

-Laelth

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

16. Well said!

Thank you for your post - you speak for many women, I suspect.

[AllentownJake]

17. You obviously are a Traitor to your gender

Just kidding...

Feminism is about women having choices from what I can gather. Some people don't seem to understand that.

[Adelante]

18. We have much in common

I am surprised as anybody that I am not supporting a possible first woman president. I would not have foreseen this. But I am doing what feels right to me, nevertheless, and backing Obama with no reservations.

[Skidmore]

19. Sentiments shared by many others out here,

like myself. I know many other women of the same demographic who share this opinion also. Not this woman and not at this time.