Political stumping

As of now, I am not stumping for anything or anyone, but I am definitely feeling stumped.

For example… how is it that I learned more about Hillary Clinton’s policies during her informal interview with David Letterman (who, as much as I love him, is a mediocre interviewer at best) last week than I did in the entire segment on 60 Minutes with Katie Couric on Sunday night? Why was Barack Obama asked all about his campaign, his future, his family, while Clinton was mostly asked, in not very subtle terms, to please cry about Barack Obama and her apparent perfectionist of a father?

And why, as primary elections plow on, does every newscast I watch seem to paint Clinton as some kind of strange svengali cuckquean? It’s to the point that I, who really wasn’t a big fan of hers, have begun to 1) feel sorry for her and 2) feel that the media is even more ghoulishly, lip-smackingly sexist than I thought.

I remain undecided on the Clinton vs. Obama question, though. Assuming the Ohio primary does still matter, I’m at a loss about who to vote for. And that is rare.

As far as Hillary is concerned, I am not a fan of her war and anti-terrorism decisions, or the middling, poll-driven behavior that her husband was also so prone to. That said, I feel the Constitution has been gutted and skewered for the past eight years, with real “activist” anti-science appointments throughout the court system and trounced civil liberties. Hillary could hit the ground running and begin restore many things more quickly. And I prefer her health care and family policies. Being a member of a self-employed household, health care cuts closest to the bone for me.

On the other hand, I can’t deny that Obama seems to embody a spirit of Democratic renewal for all kinds of American people. The fact that he is pulling so many who may have felt disenfranchised out to the polls is already a vital contribution to the country’s political future. He is damn inspiring, complex, interesting and someone who, because of his lack of baggage, I wouldn’t have to hold my nose to vote for. I don’t know that he could have the immediate impact that Hillary could, but when you think about some of those vaunted, fallen political leaders of the 1960s – the ability to orate well and inspire can ripple through generations.

I am open to persuasion.

P.S. Since Edwards left the race, they have been struggling with this question over at MOMocrats too.

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6 thoughts on “Political stumping”

  1. this is a fantastic post. do you read Momocrats? we are hashing this stuff out right now.

    i’m leaning towards Obama – after losing Edwards – but I like them both.

  2. I just posted something very similar on my own blog and every single commenter is trying to sway me to Obama. Not that I’m not swayable and the most compelling thing they’re saying is that they think Obama is more likely to win. From my more politically involved friends in town, I’m hearing the Ohio primary will matter so hoping I figure this out soon. (Although Obama/Edwards ticket — that would sell me. And it seems pretty likely.)

  3. Hillary’s strength is her weakness; Obama’s weakness is a weakness that looks like a strength; gender is the barrier that will not fall. Everyone is rabid to recite their arguments, their rationales, indeed their self-satisfied insistence that gender has nothing to do with it. Gender can never be removed from it: there is no Hillary who is not a woman, and just look at the gender divide in the voting. No men vote for her, although they all voted for her husband twice. I’m certain the better man will win, and we will never know Hillary, although she has served us well by revealing where we stand.

  4. Dawn – I have found the same thing talking to people around town myself, although I see some buyer’s remorse about Obama online as well.

    Emily – Agreed. But I have a hard time discerning what is real ugliness from the candidates, and what comes from a few misguided campaigners within their massive organizations. Then again, the past eight years have been so overwhelmingly undignified in politics, I may be numb!

    Karen – I find what you say depressing, but that’s certainly because it’s true.

    My husband pointed out that little seemed to be off-limits in comedy when it came to making jokes about Hillary, but things like Obama admitting drug use, which would usually be on par with fat jokes for their cheap laugh value were nil. Ironically, the only mainstream media figures that I’ve seen make a similar assessment about the country’s sexism in recent weeks tend to be comedians.

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