Hillary – Sore Loser or Victim of Sexism

Hillary- Sore Loser or Victim of Sexism?

Hillary Clinton and victim should not even be utilized in the same context much, less the same sentence. However, the title of this blog gets the point across. I was talking to a good friend of mine after challenging myself to step outside the box and look at Senator Clinton in an objective manner. I identify with both democratic nominees. As the mother of three young boys, I could not help but appreciate that a black man could unite a country enough to clinch the democratic nomination. It further supported my motto that my children hold pride in their accomplishment and not in characteristics they did not achieve.  Embracing your heritage and history is far different from feeling superior because color, gender, or ethnicity. Lastly, seeing Hillary hold her own was very inspiring to me. As a woman, I often dreamt of living to see a woman president, but never thought it could happen this soon. To see her hold her own against such a charismatic “Kennedyesque” opponent was amazing to watch. It brings reality to the hope that that my daughter would not have to break the glass ceiling because it may be gone by the time she comes of age.

Long before this election I predicted a black man would become president before a woman. The 15^th amendment gave black men the right to vote (although it took the Civil Rights Act approximately a century later to enforce it) and women did not get the right to vote until the ratification of the 19^th amendment many years later. There are still gender-based disparities in the work place as well as in many homes.

Do you think I am Obama bashing? I am here to say that I am not. As a matter of fact, I was quite disappointed in the manner that Senator Clinton ran campaign. I found the process to be very divisive and damaging to the Democratic Party. However, I challenged myself to be objective. How were other close races run? If she was a man would she be admired for her strength and tenacity? Are Obama supporters too hard on her? Is this just politics as we know it? Was her politics any dirtier than those of the past? Did former President Bill Clinton react as a husband at times (which I am positive that I would have had to muzzle my husband and cage him if I were in the same position) and not as an entitled white man?

I am concerned for the Democratic Party’s bid for the presidency and disappointed that Hillary seemed to have let her own aspirations supersede the Party’s mission. She forgot this monumental moment could create enough passion that could lead to a color and gender divide. Yes, she was vilified in the press. Did that cause her to possibly get caught up in the fight that many women can identify with? Can we be at least a little proud of how she hung on and fought like a pit bull instead of using her gender as a crutch”? Can we at least thank her for giving our daughters a preview of the next chapter by showing them a woman president is not only achievable but also inevitable?

Dare I even say that I am looking forward to see what presidential nominee Senator Obama’s “Change” platform entails. Can we admire Obama and still remember that he is in the same political game that we admonish? Is it fair to say that he is all “real” while the actions of the other candidates are all “calculated”? Who would I offend if I point out we must hold our nominee of choice to the same standards we demand from other candidates? If he becomes President Obama, will we remember that he is the people’s president … all Americans? Will I later have to ask if everyone (including his supporters) hold him to an impossible standard?

Whatever the case may be I know that I admire both their accomplishments. I watched Senator Obama gingerly step out testing the tepid waters and transcend into a dynamic leader I am sure those that knew him saw long before I did. Knowing some of the gender-based transgressions I have faced in the workplace, I could empathize with Senator Clinton’s plight of being perceived too bitchy on one hand and too emotional on another. I also gave her a few “Atta Girls” when she did not waver during the most challenging times.

Everyone needs to at least examine his or her candidate by imagining their choice for president in his or her opponent’s shoes. Would Obama have been admonished by Clinton’s supporters if followed suit and not conceded if she would have narrowly clinched the nomination? Likewise, would Obama’s supporters urge him to take the fight all the way to the convention?

I think we all need to step back a moment and appreciate the accomplishments of both candidates. Many of us can imagine the challenges these two candidates faced and will continue to confront. The fact that a black man and a woman both had a fighting chance to become President when not so long ago both groups were battling for equality demonstrates plenty for progress. Moreover, we still live in a nation with issues surrounding color, creed, gender, religion and sexual orientation. How many times to you think Clinton was called a bitch or Obama a nigger while campaigning? What did it feel like to be to call not black enough? Imagine how it felt to be perceived as feeling “entitled” when it may have been just the regular pain felt when a friend throws you a blow by not endorsing you?

Let’s just take the time to realize that our candidates are dynamic people with different faces. Were some issues a result of the racism that has been embedded in the culture for centuries? I am certain of it. Were some of the issues illustrations of the sexism that transcend across all cultures and are justified with biblical references? Absolutely! Was it just plain politics? For the most part, yes.