I’ve read some comments about how Hillary supporters on dKos seem to always talk polls – that people would rather hear more substantial things about her and her campaign, or at least why they might support her. (Many people here seem to have a hard time getting their heads around that.) Well, polls can be exciting... when your candidate is in the lead, so I can understand why they make those kinds of diaries... but I thought I’d try something different.
Also, I’ll tell you ahead of time - I’m not going to bash Obama, Edwards, or any other Democratic candidate in this diary... so you don’t have to read it in defensive mode.
Why I Support Hillary:
- She’s incredibly determined. Once she's decided she's going to do something, she fights for it. She wouldn't let the general election fall to a Republican. Not a chance.
- She’s brilliant and knowledgeable. Do I really need to defend this assertion?
- She genuinely cares about other people, not her own ego. I truly believe that she's in politics for the betterment of the populous. I cannot say the same about many politicians... some seem to view the betterment of the nation as a sort of nice thing on the side. (Or as no part of the equation at all.)
- She’s experienced. Some of you may say that her experience as First Lady doesn't count - please... she got in plenty of diplomatic experience in those years... not to mention, Bill Clinton said votes for him would get "two for the price of one." She was a very politically active First Lady. Then there's also her experience as a Senator, and working as a lawyer, etcetera.
- She’s a woman. No, no – don’t get your panties in a bunch. I know this isn’t exactly viewed as a valid reason to support someone... however, the fact is that on some level I identify with her. People are drawn to people they can relate to... people they share similar experiences with. I don’t support her "just because" she’s female... but I think it helps me to better understand her. (There’s also the added bonus of her being the first female president – but I’d never support someone solely for that purpose... even as overdue as a female president is. I think it’s quite likely that we’ll have a black president before a female one, though – black men got the vote before women, and there’s a smaller payroll gap for them... etc.) I also believe that she’d make a great president because of her gender – not due to any innate characteristic, but because she’d work extra hard, knowing that the whole world was judging her gender based on her performance. (Anyone who disputes that... likely has never been a woman – or at least a woman playing a "man’s game." I think the same sort of effect might also work for Obama – but I wouldn’t know.)
- I just generally like her personality. (Some of you are probably going, "Wahhhhh???") She's tough, diplomatic, and has a wry sense of humor, to boot.
- Her record and stance on issues. I’m sure many are laughing that this is at the bottom of my list. Kind of a backward way to choose a candidate, eh? Well, I’ll tell you why this isn’t as important to me – she’s a Democrat. Democrats, on the whole, are pretty much the same... oh, there are shades of blue (some shadier than others - to sort of borrow a line from Phil Ochs), but you can bet that the front runners will all have kosher Democratic records, and that they'll all be pretty much the same. I mean, Progressive Punch ranks Hillary as the 15th most progressive Senator, while Obama is the 13th most progressive. Their scores differ by only 0.82%, for god's sake. There is a point where you're just nitpicking. Am I completely behind her history on Iraq? No - but it doesn't turn me off. If you read her speech, she clearly wasn't a warmonger - ending with, "So it is with conviction that I support this resolution as being in the best interests of our nation. A vote for it is not a vote to rush to war; it is a vote that puts awesome responsibility in the hands of our President and we say to him - use these powers wisely and as a last resort. And it is a vote that says clearly to Saddam Hussein - this is your last chance - disarm or be disarmed." I think she's learned from the whole Iraq debacle, and has been put through a trial by fire on the issue. I agree with her that any apology is superfluous. (In addition to being unnecessary fodder for Republicans, come general election.) Futhermore, Iraq isn't the only issue, people! Any Democratic candidate we get will try to pull us out, pronto... and all of the front runners have the same basic stance NOW, so I don't view it as a very important issue. I think she really knows what she's talking about with health care, and I know I can depend on her for "women's issues." Most importantly, I trust her - I can count on her to do what she says she's going to do.
So that's it - why I'm voting for Hillary. =)