I haven't decided who I'll be voting for in the primary - to be honest, I don't much care - I think Clinton, Obama, and Edwards are all excellent. I'd be happy with any of them. And I suppose I just kind of assumed that, despite the heat of the primary season, most people here felt the same way.
But reading some of the posts in the various diaries about her victory tonight - many from Obama supporters - really has me scratching my head. Or shaking my head. Or pounding my head against the wall.
For that reason I thought I'd list some of the arguments people are making against Hillary.
- Her speech(es) sucked:
To which I reply, so f-ing what. Seriously, is that a criteria for electing a president? She isn't a particularly inspirational speaker. Obama and Edwards sure give purdy speeches. They're articulate, passionate - they certainly inspire. I'm not looking for inspiration. I'm looking for someone who can make decisions that will undo the damage of the last 8 years and get us as a nation on the right track.
- If she wins, it's a dynasty:
First off, what does it matter that her husband was president? That fact is completely removed from the question of whether or not she would do a good job leading the country. BUT if you can't separate Bill from Hillary - things weren't all that bad under Bill as I recall.
- She's fake:
Funny how I hear this one from might Republican friends AND from Obama supporters. You base that on what exactly? Somehow a brief moment of emotion at a diner is OBVIOUSLY a fake cold calculating ploy to make us feel so sorry for her that we vote for her despite the fact she's obviously fake. Damn you Clinton! You tricked me again! (shakes fist)
- She voted for the Iraq war:
Man, this one makes me want to pull my few remaining hairs out. Funny how easily good true-blooded liberals adopt right-wing talking points when it suits their purposes. When Kerry was running, I thought he did a pretty good job of explaining that no, he had not in fact voted for the war. He'd voted to give the Chimp-in-Chief authority to declare war. Supposedly on the promise that all other avenues would be exhausted first. Damn stupid vote, and one with tragic consequences. But to say Kerry or Hillary "voted for the war" is a gross over-simplication and a right-wing bs talking point any one of us should be ashamed to use. It has struck me these past 8 years that one of the chief dangers and disasters of the right is that they take complex subjects, and try to reduce them to simple black and white soundbites. Let's not be guilty of the same sin, mmm-kay?
Like I said, I haven't decided who or even if I'm voting in the primary. But even as a teenage kid without much interest in politics during the 90's, it used to piss me off the way people went after Hillary with so much venom, for reasons I could never quite see. If you want to attack her, do it on her record - I'm sure there's plenty there to piss people off - usually is with anyone who was in congress long enough to cast a vote. But keep the absolutely unimportant fluff - like whether or not she gives purdy speeches - out of it. We have Chris Matthews and his ilk to run that sort of thing into the ground as it is.
Hmmm maybe instead of this rambling rant I should have just linked to a youtube video of me curled in the fetal position with mascara running down my cheeks, screaming "Leave Hillary Alone!"