A couple of weeks ago, I was driving down the road and read a bumper sticker on the back of a van that said "AnyoneButHillary.com". I thought it was pretty funny and I wasn't surprised at all that someone would make a website like that.
I'm not too sure who I'm going to vote for in the next election, but I know it is not going to be for Hillary. I grew up in a conservative family, but I dont always vote for the conservative candidate. Needless to say, my family didnt vote for Bill Clinton when he was running. I've been told by many people that Hillary was the backbone to Bill. Her ideas went through him, what he said was her words, what he did was her actions. Everyone knows that Hillary has always wanted to be president.
Regardless of who she is, I believe the United States isn't ready for a woman president. Socially, I know the structure of our society is changing and anything can happen, but a big change like having a woman as our president is kind of scary. What are some of the things that could happen if other countries thought of the U.S. as less powerful and less dominant if a woman was leading our country? What do you think about having a woman as our president?
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9 comments:
This is a tough one. I would agree that it is difficult to imagine a woman president. We live in a more patriarchal society that portrays men as leaders. And, the job of President of the United States of America is the top echelon of leadership.
I like that you questioned how America's image would be affected by a female president, especially in these times of war when image carries a lot of weight.
Within the past few years other countries have had female candidates such as Germany's Angela Merkel, France's Segolene Royal and
Chile's Michelle Bachelet. It seems to be a growing trend and America may be the next country to try it out.
To me, at this point in our history, I think it is more important to ask whether we can afford, whether the world can afford, another 4 years of this neo-conservativism that our professor mentioned in the last class rathing than worrying about a woman as our president.
I have nothing against conservative views. I believe it plays an important part in government policy. However, what we have experienced these last few years isn't about conservatism. And to think that I used to worry about the corruption in the Nixon years...ha!!Mr. Bush's ratings aren't the only thing suffering, the U.S. Image abroad is probably at an all time low.
So we need different leadership. It is going to take many generations to repair the damage that has been done in just a few years. The fiscal policies of our current administration will be felt negatively for sometime (lets print more money, that will solve all our problems just like Hitler did in the 1930's just before world war II). In addition, we have much diplomacy to do to restore the good faith of foreign powers.
Hillary from day one has automatically gotten a bad rap. Perhaps this patriarchial society that was mentioned previously just doesn't like strong women. Its okay in the entertainment field, and occassionally in the board rooms, but I believe the male chavinist dominated closed minded people of this country are having a hard time with the idea of a strong woman leading the country. That could be the reason for the smear campaign that started during Clinton's first term.
Perhaps it was also the fact that Hillary was suggesting reform in the Health care field...a very Taboo subject for the AMA, FDA, and the private medical industry (they might actually have to give up a little of that monopoly that they have enjoyed for decades). These guys gringe and squirm if someone mentions National healthcare or reform, for obvious reasons.
So I am very weary of all the speculation that has been floating around about Hillary. I am not saying its true or false. I am just saying keep an open mind. Focus on what she stands for. Focus on what her accomplishments are, and what her platform is. I believe out of all the candidates, Republican or Democrat, she will do the best job. Because this country needs a major, major change and I believe that out of all the presidential candidates, she has the best possibility for making those much needed changes.
I know its hard for everyone to break out of party lines, but this time around, we had better get this right. And if all the conservative republicans who are truely unsure of who to vote for, just ask yourself one question. Why is the New York Police and Fire Department so vividly against Rudi Guillani (hint: 9/11).
Keep in mind, as mentioned in a previous thread, that many countries have had women leaders and it really has no significant impact either on the policies of the country or the way the country is looked at by other countries. Margaret Thatcher was the leader of the United Kingdom during the 1980s and nobody though of the U.K. as weak during that time and most analysts say she is one of the stronger leaders they have had in a long time.
Besides, if Hillary was really the one in charge when Bill was president, then her policies will pretty much be the same as his, right?
I would agree, her policies would be the same as his if what I had heard was correct. I always keep an open mind when it comes to politics because I dont know much of what is going on.. so keeping an open mind and taking in new information is the best thing for me, or anyone for that matter.
I also agree with the comment above that who ever is best for the position should be elected, regardless of their party.
Because a woman leader has been successful in the past for other countries, it does not mean that it may or may not have the same affect for the United States. I just think that after years of our presidents being men, having a woman as president might create a culture shock.
(Not sure if culture shock were the right words, but I couldn't seem to get the right word out..)
Another comment, the AnyoneButHillary isn't new. In fact, I happened to live in Sarasota when Katherine Harris ran for congresswoman back in 2002. The bumper stickers and billboards all over town read "Anyone but Katherine" referring to her role in the 2000 election where she played a pivotal role in stopping the recount. Suprisingly, I never met anyone, or heard from anyone in all my travels in Sarasota who supported Harris. Amazing that she won easily. The rumor had it that this Congressional seat was given to her as her payback for helping GW steal, I mean win the election. Anyway, karma has it that any significant role in politics for her is over, she lost her bid for the senate. What goes around, comes around, those who live by the sword, die by the sword, do unto others as you would have done unto them...and so on and so forth.
Darn the professor said what I was going to say, many other countries have had powerful female leaders and yes there were people who loved William Clinton so if she was the back bone then these people would love her. This might even help the American image. The countries that despise America and its leaders may be hesitant to attack a female. This is just speculation though, they also might be the wife-beater type.
I totally disagree, i believe that Hillary would be a great leader for this country. Too many people believe that women are too week and emotional to hold the thrown to anything and i feel as if she is going to change the veiws of those people. She's a very strong woman and also smart, she's just what this country needs right now.
Seth, comments like that are totally inappropriate. Anything that is not appropriate in a classroom is not appropriate on the blog.
Wow, that’s a good question. However I feel as though mentally the United States isn’t prepared to have a woman as the president. At the same time I feel as though if Hilary Clinton is qualified to be president of the U.S., why not support her especially since she is a smart educated woman.
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