This morning, Dee Dee Myers, on the Today Show, discussed the unfair treatment of Hillary Clinton by the media, and how this has contributed to her lack of success on the campaign trail. I have been very uncomfortable after this interview. I completely understand her concerns about the way people in the media have treated Clinton, and that much of that has to do with she as a woman. But then she went on to defend Clinton's action as a woman. That her yelling at Barack Obama was understandable because it's difficult to demonstrate anger as a woman. That she couldn't focus on change because she was a woman. That every reason she isn't doing well is because she's a woman.
As a son of a solid feminist (who voted for Obama) and an Obama supporter for over a year, I feel very uncomfortable about this. I don't support Clinton because of POLICIES, in particular, her record on Iraq (and recently, Iran). I feel that I'm being attacked as a sexist for being against her, and I feel very uncomfortable.
If a woman was running for president and represented my values, I would not only support her, but I would be thrilled for the prospect of her being the president. I do believe that a woman as president would be a wonderful change, especially because I believe that, in general, women do have less aggressive values, and these values translate into a less aggressive foreign policy. But Clinton is NOT this candidate.
But I feel that every time Clinton is not doing well, surrogates like Dee Dee Myers talk about sexism. And I could be wrong, but there is an implicit message that I must be sexist for not supporting her. It doesn't make me want to vote for Clinton. But it makes me feel bad as a man who honestly would want a woman as president. I don't like my support for Obama to be translated as a sign of sexism.
The travesty of the situation is that the pool of women in political leadership is so small. It's the same glass ceiling that And so I do believe that at the grassroots-level, we do need to pay far more attention to encouraging and supporting women candidates.
When I was at a pre-debate set of rallies in Austin last week (with Clinton and Obama supporters), I could see the excitement in the eyes of young women rooting for Hillary. And I want their dream to be realized. But not with Clinton. And not with any guilt for not supporting her.
What should I do?