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Now it is about MY Daughter
Hillary is an extraordinary person of policy and has done very well in this election. She has always been deserving of respect. As such I continued to argued for a unity ticket. Until recently, I really felt this would be the best way to move the party forward towards winning in November.
But now, after more than 2 months of unwarranted drama, and demonstrating her lack of ability to except political reality. And the fact that she never properly communicated or led her constituency in the face of what was clear and obvious, but continued with a brazen and unprofessional endgame.
Her behavior this week has been absolutely unacceptable, and beyond the pal of a good leader. Her unwillingness to accept the loss and concede the race in a timely fashion has grave consequences.
I realize Hillary has seriously damaged her political reputation, as well as the Clinton legacy. But more importantly, I am afraid, despite the historic significance of her run for the White House, she did a disservice to my daughter's changes of becoming the President of the United States. Ironically, her drama plays right into misogynistic tendencies.
If there is anything I am truly angry towards Hillary about, it is not the effect she had on Obama's candidacy - Obama won, it is the effect her behavior may have on my daughter's future. My six-year-old daughter has been a huge Hillary fan from the beginning of the Primary. She wanted a "Girl" President. If Hillary would have won, I would have been happy for our country and my daughter. But she didn't win and she didn't loss gracefully, and that I am afraid hurts my daughter.
Right now, I want to cuss Hillary out. She need to find a way to repair this.
Comments (5)
I was just commenting over on Carol Lundgren's thread about the effect on feminism.
My advice to you is not to worry too much for your daughter. Focus on the many positive things about Hillary's campaign. Focus on the idea that women can do anything. And take an opportunity to teach her how to be gracious in defeat, regardless of what Hillary does.
Teach her not only that she can be a leader like Hillary, but she can be a better leader. Every generation has the chance to be better than the one before.
Lucky girl, your daughter.
June 5, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
What has she done this week that is so terrible?
June 5, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was always about your daughter. And playing to the end of a close contest is not giving her a bad message.
"Ironically, her drama plays right into misogynistic tendencies."
I don't see how. Misogynists weren't created by HRC's behavior, which has been pretty typical of women in power (i.e., they play the game pretty hard).
And I also don't see how it hurts your daughter. I've got a daughter, too, who was all for Hillary, who likewise wanted a "girl" president. My daughter at 11 is mostly unaware of and unaffected by the media swarm over HRC's supposed ungraceful loss. The media will move on quite quickly, I am sure.
Your daughter will have to wait quite a while to see equity in government, whether we have a black president or a woman president. (You like how I just assume McCain's going nowhere?)
June 5, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's sad. It really is. I didn't feel 6 months ago the way I feel about her now. Even when I decided to support Senator Obama, I still thought that they she would be amazing on the ticket. Now, I think it would be a nightmare.
With her on any ticket, it would have to be about her. And she would be doing everything possible to make herself the storyline. She is straight up drama.
June 5, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thats a load of crap. Hillary did what any woman or man running for the office did. She ran till it was over. Hell......this was a photo finish not a drubbing. Don't act like it was. So, you would tell your daughter to go ahead and take the back seat and stop fighting against the man cause he/they said it was over? Not exactly the best thing to tell your daughter. She played the game. She played it hard. She is a great great role model for younger women.
June 5, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
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