Feb 25
Lately, everyone has been giving me the pity face.
You know the face. The face that says, bless your heart, your candidate’s losing and there’s nothing you can do about it and you’ve blogged about this for so long and everyone knows you’re a loser and OH MY GOD I TOLD YOU SO IN YOUR FACE GO OBAMA!!
Don’t you pity me. It’s not over yet (this has become my mantra — and stranger things have happened). It certainly hasn’t been easy these past few weeks but I’m voting for Hillary because I think she’s the most qualified, most experienced, and most deserving of the title of commander-in-chief. This is separate and apart from whether I think she’ll be the nominee. I vote for the person, not the polls. (I supported Bill Bradley in 2000 and Howard Dean in 2004, and wrote in Andy Brown in the general.)
I’m not ashamed that one of the reasons I support Hillary is because she’s a woman, just like I don’t expect African-American voters to apologize for supporting Obama (at least partially) because he’s an African American. It’s an undeniable fact that in a groundbreaking election season such as this, race and gender have factored into decisions. The first woman president, the first black president — both are exciting. But women haven’t rallied around Hillary the way she thought they would.
Bear with me. When I was growing up, one of my favorite TV shows was “Remington Steele.” You remember that one. An intelligent and experienced private investigator can’t get any clients because she’s a woman. So she hires Pierce Brosnan — a former thief — to pose as the detective with her as… his assistant:
Try this for a deep, dark secret: the great detective, Remington Steele? He doesn’t exist. I invented him. Follow. I always loved excitement, so I studied, and apprenticed, and put my name on an office. But absolutely nobody knocked down my door. A female private investigator seemed so… feminine. So I invented a superior. A decidedly MASCULINE superior. Suddenly there were cases around the block. It was working like a charm… until the day HE walked in, with his blue eyes and mysterious past.
And before I knew it, he assumed Remington Steele’s identity. Now I do the work, and he takes the bows. It’s a dangerous way to live, but as long as people buy it, I can get the job done. We never mix business with pleasure. Well, almost never. I don’t even know his real name!
Unbelievable. And this really wasn’t that long ago (1982). Remember “Moonlighting”? Remember “Mr. Mom”?
This post is not about sexism and Hillary Clinton. Really. If I thought that the reason people are voting for Barack Obama is because they’re sexist, that would mean that most of my family and friends are sexists. OK, so maybe my Uncle Norm is sexist but the majority of them are otherwise enlightened.
But you can’t tell me that we don’t still live in a man’s world. I can’t watch a solid hour of TV without seeing a Cialis commercial, yet pharmacists around the country can refuse to provide women with birth control because of “moral reasons.” Women still (yes, it’s true) make less money than men. In my entire career, I’ve had one woman boss. One.
The majority of women still take their husbands’ names (I am not judging this — most of the women I know have done this — I’m just wondering why this is still the rule). Very few men stay home with the kids. We expect young girls to be vaccinated against cervical cancer as opposed to vaccinating the boys — how do you think the girl gets the sexually transmitted disease?
Men propose, women accept. Mostly. Over the years, I’ve met many women “waiting” for their boyfriends to propose. Here’s a novel idea. YOU DO IT. Also, why does a woman’s biological clock tick and not a man’s? (Yes, I’m saying that God is, all things considered, a sexist.)
So damn straight I want a woman in the White House. I don’t know if I’ll see one in my lifetime. I don’t know who will come along, or even want to, after watching this primary (look at that fat ass! who’s picking out her pantsuits?). Out of 435 members of the U.S. House, 70 are women. Out of a 100 senators, 16 are women. And there is one woman on the Supreme Court. I think this country has been ruled by men for far too long.
So on March 4th (or before), we’ll go to the polls and vote. Then we’ll go to the caucuses and vote. As a journalist, I am not allowed to participate in the caucus. Stop laughing, it’s true. If you want to participate in a caucus, you go to your precinct polling place, where you will receive your “I Am A Dork” button.
Traditionally, women do not participate in caucuses as much as men, and the women who do go tend to sit there and knit booties or something because they sure don’t speak up. So, if you’re a woman and you’re caucusing, make sure you actually voice your opinion.
Unless you’re comfortable with Remington Steele voting for you.
The trackback URL is here.
PL, I would love to support Hillary. I would love to support a woman who has worked very hard and put up with more than her fair share of garbage and sexism. But she’s so conservative, I can’t stand it. I don’t think it’s because she’s trying to be tough, although I think she has had to do some of that; I think that her outlook on life is out of line with mine. Plain and simple–I would like a candidate who at least pretends to be ideologically more to my liking. If I can’t have Dennis and Willie on the ticket, I’ll go with the closest I can get.
I am female.
I am in my early 30s.
I’m married, a mom.
I have worked for as many female bosses as male, although admittedly the Head bosses have always been male–but my supervisors and their supervisors have often been female.
I have been treated for HPV by having part of my cervix lopped off, but I emphatically do not support that stupid vaccine.
I spent much of high school and college refusing to shave my legs, wear a bra or makeup, and otherwise crunching it up with my hippie friends.
I work for the state and to my knowledge make as much or maybe even more than some of my male counterparts.
I love Pierce Brosnan (OMG, even in The Matador, when he’s supposed to look washed up, he was still hot).
And I love that you’re still being stubborn about HRC. You go girl, even if I can’t agree with you.
I love this from the Observer link on the caucuses:
“5. This concludes the presidential portion of the precinct convention. Participants may now vote on resolutions or committee reports, or hit the nearest bar.”
Apparently, they know us.
I’m okay with giving my boys Gardasil when the time is right, but I’m virtually certain that neither of them has a cervix.
http://amberbama.blogspot.com
I’m going to caucus. Unfortunately, I live in Williamson County, and there will likely be only 5 or 6 of us there on the Dems side.
Pink Lady, you make a great case for the idea that we are long overdue for a woman President. I could not agree more. I’m not a sexist. I’m not threatened by women. I don’t think Hillary’s fat. I vote for women all the time, several of them yesterday (Rhonda Hurley, etc.).
But you can’t take a solid theoretical idea (”we’re overdue for a woman President”) and pretend that the actual woman currently running should therefore be elected. Can I please have a female candidate who: (a) wouldn’t perpetuate 20+ years of two-family rule in the White House; (b) isn’t loathed by 47% or so of the country; and (c) will release her tax returns?
Put me down with Molly Ivins — just not *this* woman.
http://txgop4obama.blogspot.com/
I’ve voted for lots of women — and for positions that matter.
President ain’t much of a job. It’s slightly more important than Governor of Texas.
It’s not a matter of sexism. It’s a matter of coolism.
http://wyocwby.typepad.com
I’ll vote for the candidate who can get Moonlighting and Cybil back on the air.
http://www.liquiddaddy.blogspot.com
PL,
Ah, Stephanie Zimbalist, Jr. All the sex appeal of a cheese sandwich, but still the show managed to raise the sexual tension between the two. Like unwrapping the librarian one orthopedic sock at a time. Yummy!
LD
http://curmudgeonofaustin.blogspot.com
As a white guy, it seems my choices are narrowed down to being a racist or a sexist.
Maybe, just maybe, I’ll vote on who I think would be the best president and my prejudices won’t be a factor because they offset each other.
Still somebody will think I’m an ____ist, because I didn’t vote for their candidate.
Re: 3. Fled The Asylum
HPV also causes warts in all sorts of places. Men can get impacted by it; they aren’t solely carriers.
Re: 9. Huck Finn
I guess you’re not voting for McCain because you’re an ageist?
“In my entire career, I’ve had one woman boss. One.”
I don’t think Evan Smith appreciates you calling him out on having a strong feminine side.
“But women haven’t rallied around Hillary the way she thought they would.”
Maybe, just maybe, all women don’t like her.
Great post!
I spoke to someone who was close to Ann Richards the other day and he mentioned that, as a new father to a young daughter he felt like they importance of having a woman president far outweighed any reservations he had about Hillary (especially as she is nearly identical on issues to Obama). He remembered Ann going up to young girls and saying “Look, you can be governor.” Well, I think now it’s time to say “Look, you can be president.”
http://txgop4obama.blogspot.com/
Re: 7. wyocwby
Moonlighting was great. I only watched Cybil to see the daughter, who is now on Law & Order.
http://www.dallasnews.com/trailblazers
“Why does a woman’s biological clock tick and not a man’s?”
It does, actually. I’ve ended a few relationships based on this - they were ready, clock’s a-tickin, I was not, game over.
Men are like taxis… You gotta get ‘em while their light’s on… .
http://noteveryonehasone.com
Dear Pinkie,
Have you considered running for president? If not, why not? Get your name out there. I’m sure all of your readers will vote for you. I, of course, realize it’s too late for this go-round. Who knows, perhaps you have this vast country wide - HELL WORLD WIDE - following just waiting for their chance to put you in the leading role. Forget that Hillary Hag, YOU go for it! America is ready for you, even with those unflattering knees……
Re: 17. Bernard Marx
I’d vote for Pink Lady!
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Re: 17. Bernard Marx
I’ve got to be honest. I have been mulling it over.
http://curmudgeonofaustin.blogspot.com
She can’t you have to be 35. Be at least another eight years before she is eligible.
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Re: 20. Huck Finn
You can so totally be my press secretary.
Re: 4. amberbama
this works to your favor, if you want to move on from the precinct meeting to the county convention as a delegate.
It’s over.
http://boboland-cronicas.us
Jimbo and those criticalof the “present” votes in the Illinois llegislature need to read this.