As the Democratic National Convention unfolds in Denver, I find it ironic that today of all days, as we celebrate Women's Equality Day, I can't help but feel betrayed by my lifelong party. How could the party leaders ignore the message that we want a woman for President, or at least Vice President? The fact that 18,000,000 registered Democrats cast their primary election ballots for Hillary Rodham Clinton (and not Joseph Biden) is being completely disregarded in the name of "party unity," which is starting to smell more like a compromise to me.
How dare Nancy Pelosi accuse us of wallowing and tell us to "get over it." What part of the democratic process does she not understand? The convention was designed with the purpose of selecting a candidate, not crowning the party leaders’ chosen one. The people tell our elected leaders want we want and how to govern, not the other way around. I was under the apparently mistaken impression that we had a representative government, reflective of the will of the people. I expected the Democrats to understand that there is a larger victory to be won than the upcoming election in November. Putting a party victory ahead of party ideals would be a hollow victory for me and many of my sisters. It would make my party stand for nothing.
Today is a day when our delegates can make a statement. I applaud Gloria Allred, who had the guts to protest at this morning’s caucus by wearing an impromptu gag and declaring that “she was not elected as a delegate to be a potted plant."
I guess you think I'm off on this one. I'm very angry and I suppose there is probably a better way to voice my anger. But I will not simply go along quietly (shut up and sit down) while women are once again written out of the equation. What do you suggest? Women, it's time to take control of our party! There is no way Obama could not get the message that we wanted a woman in the White House, but he chose not to act in accordance with our wishes. Why? Because he is trying to win an election by wooing white, middle class voters who might otherwise go to McCain. The party is doing this at our expense because they think we're going to just lie back and get fucked. Well, I for one am not going to. If we don't fix this trainwreck, I intend to look for a candidate, perhaps among the independent parties, who puts women's issues at the top of their agenda.
Wake up Democrats, is this the sort of change we can believe in? Keep your eyes on the prize, ladies. This candidate chose another man to be his running mate when it was obvious that a very large portion of his party wanted a woman on the ticket. Instead of reaching out to the Hillary supporters within the Democratic Party he chose to reach out to mollify the conservatives within the party and on the Republican side. Where are all my liberal friends? What have you to say about this? Is this a new kind of liberalism?
I don't care if Hillary tells her supporters to vote for Obama. I will vote for the person who espouses my ideals. Our delegates need to step up today in Denver and send a LOUD message to Mr. Obama and the party not to take our votes for granted. Ladies, if we do not make ourselves heard we have no one to blame but ourselves. It is estimated that women make up over half of the Democratic Party. We need to make that party responsive to our needs. We will be heard. We must be fairly represented, NOW!
8 comments:
Childish. And frightening.
...and have fun trying to wash the blood off your hands if you help get that madman elected.
Anon - it won't be Alice who's to blame if McCain gets elected. The DNC power brokers who decided to disenfranchise 18,000,000 registered Democrats in the name of "party unity" (aka the more "electable candidates") bear that responsibility.
As for your accusation of childishness, why don't you do some growing up of your own? Alice has done more for equality of the sexes and contributed more to the public discourse over the past thirty years than most could hope to in several lifetimes.
"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve." - George Bernard Shaw
Rewind. Try again.
2 seconds of googling:
Bond: Obama-Biden "most liberal ticket EVER"
Anyways, Biden was chosen because a) he supports Obama enthusiastically b) he is an extremely effective "bad cop" who will cut McCain a new asshole c) he's an oldtimer who's been in the Senate forever, balancing the (understandable, I suppose) perception that he's not experienced enough, as well the perception that there is nothing more to him than pretty speeches (which I suppose is understandable, too, if all you know about him is what you learn on TV - in fact, it's quite well documented that he's an extraordinarily knowledgeable and effective legislator).
None of this would really be true of Clinton (including the question of experience, but expanding on that would mean attacking her, which is not what I want at this point).
You're pretty vague on what you want from Obama. I don't think his actual policy proposals are any less pro-woman than Clinton's. I understand that it's not legal for him to announce cabinet posts before he's elected, but I can't imagine that he won't appoint some women in 2008. Condi Rice, anyone? Or did you think that Michelle Obama's husband is intimidated by intelligent, accomplished women?
Meanwhile, I don't know about you, but I myself am represented not only by a female congress -um, person, but by two nice Jewish girls in the Senate, one of whom I would have even chosen over Obama, if given the option (sighs wistfully).
And obviously you weren't being vague. Apologies. I'd glanced at your post again and for some reason thought I'd noted a hint of sanity...
Hey, what's with the ad hominem attacks on Alice? Can't she express her anger and disappointment with the nomination process without being labeled "insane?" Did she ever personally attack you or your Saint Obama? My God, you Daily Kos reading Obamaniacs are just vicious. Perhaps you should go back there and rejoin the choir of the party faithful.
"I have been against it in 2002, 2003, 2004, 5, 6, 7, 8 and I will bring this war to an end in 2009."
-Barack Obama
Note to Mr. Anonymous - remember to hold your candidate's feet to the fire when he and Biden try to back pedal on this promise next year.
I had a philosophy professor who suggested a plan in which each state would send forth two senators of each sex - one man and one woman from each state.
I don't know why I mention it, but I've always liked the idea. Like anything that would make these often spouted notions of equality any more than lip service, the plan would meet with howls of disapproval.
From anonymous: "I understand that it's not legal for him to announce cabinet posts before he's elected, but I can't imagine that he won't appoint some women in 2008."
A few token women kept in advisory capacity is hardly the change eighteen million voters were seeking.
get off Alice's back. At least she is using her VOICE to speak her mind.
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