Letters to the Editor
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Defeat
Say hello, President McCain! Barack, who will be the nominee, will surely activate the little child who sees the emperor without his clothes in all of us. Soon his paper thin resume and naked ambition will begin to show, and like most fads (remember the pet rock?), he'll fade. "What were we thinking? This is a dangerous world, and this guy's a rookie!" And then every starry-eyed Obamaniac on this board will scratch their heads, thinking, "I thought we'd moved beyond race" as state after state falls along racial lines to the Senator from Arizona.
I couldn't believe it when we nominated Kerry, but this is proof that I need a new party - one where there are some smart people.
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Becoming pregnant turned my undecided vote into a decisive one
I have had the same problem as Rebecca. I knew I wanted a new direction from the abysmally stagnant (in every way) last eight years. I thought I wanted someone who most reflected my values, not my gender or skin color. I was convinced I wanted someone who was as passionate as I was about fixing all that ails this country. And like Rebecca too, I fumbled around with the idea that either Kucinich or Edwards were my men. At times Obama riveted me. And I rationalized that Hillary was the one who knew the system and could get the job done.
Then I became pregnant for the first time. Suddenly my vote became symbolic not because I was a woman who was considering voting "for her kind." But because my vote was going to impact the trajectory of this nation for years to come, years my child would be growing up. It was, in a way, liberating, in that I could take much of myself out of the equation. Not yet knowing the sex of the baby helped even more. Now my vote was not because I was of a certain race or because I was a woman, I was voting simply to ensure a better life for a child, my own child.
Granted that new knowledge, my choice became easier. I wanted someone who could deliver. I wasn't impressed by being inspired; I was swayed by who could get results.
I think it's a lesson for us all. Take the political hype and the punditry and the actual B.S. out of the equation. Forget about what they represent and think about what they each can accomplish. Both candidates are signposts for social progress, and that fact alone assures me that electing either of them in November will be a step up for my then 2-month-old.
While I have chosen my "chosen one" for this Tuesday, I respect and understand Rebecca's private vote. And in that spirit I won't say whose corner I'm in. I will, however, ask people to vote for what matters, issues and results. My child's life, your children's lives, are what's really at stake.
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rspan
I note your post. You say the US is a puritannical country. If you look at the output of porn and our record of sexual shenanigans we are one of the most hypocritical societies. Look at who was criticisng Bill: Gingrich, Livingstone, and two leading Republican chairs of congressional committees: hypocrites all as they to either had or were having extra marital affairs. I don't say this to excuse or exonerate Bill. Look at the long list of right wing preachers railing against sinners and enjoying sinning all the same. The hypocrisy in our society is there for all to see. That's why Bill gets a pass from 60% of the people. There is a lot more forgiveness and understanding out there than is evident from the blathering on tv and in print.
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John Edwards is NO Orc
Rebecca, I can't believe you said Edwards was an orc for his comments after the Hillary teary eyed incident. As a feminist I thought the way the media framed that incident was very unfair to Edwards.
If you will remember correctly the Clinton campaign had attacked Edwards the day before the teary eyed incident when Natalie Sarkisyan's family and James Lowe were campaigning with Edwards:
The statement released by Jay Carson, Clinton's spokesperson draws a comparison between Edwards and Clinton. It says, "the references in Senator Clinton's speeches are about people she has actually helped and changes she has actually made, not stories she's pulled from the newspaper and included in her stump, " reports The Caucus
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009635314
After this statement was released by the Clinton campaign Edwards said:
"The idea that somehow everything is about them [the Clinton camp], I mean it's an indication that they have no conscience about whats at stake here."
The next day, at the tail end of a 36 hr. marathon of campaigning Edwards was asked about Hillary's teary eyed event.
The Clinton people were telling the media that Hillary was tired and that's why she got teary eyed in the event (this was said by them before they knew that they could milk the teary-eyed comment for sympathy - a very anti-feminist message if you ask me).
So we had everyone sympathizing with Hillary because she was tired and the boys were mistreating her. There was no sympathy, however, for Edwards who had been attacked by the Clinton campaign the day before and asked about Hillary's teary eyed remark at the tail end of a brutal 36 hrs. worth of campaigning that would have exhausted anyone. Everyone was willing to cut Hillary slack for being tired even though she had not been campaigning for 36 hours straight. The same sympathy was not given to Edwards.
Edwards is no Orc and under the circumstances surrounding his comment he actually was pretty reserved in what he said. But those who believe everything they read in the media were willing to buy into the Edwards was a meanie narrative, hook, line & sinker.
You're undecided among Hillary & Obama because deep down you know that Edwards is the best candidate and deserves your vote more than the two glamour candidates. I only hope that you do the right thing and vote Edwards in your primary as millions of his supporters plan to do.