Guest Post: Kristen Chase asks: "If Not Hillary, Then Who?"

Today, Momocrats welcome guest-blogger, Kristen Chase.  Kristen writes about parenting two children under three with one on the way as a Yankee in the Deep South at her blog Motherhood Uncensored.

It's always interesting listening to people explain why they aren't choosing Hillary as their candidate. The subtle policy differences between her and Barack Obama aren't necessarily enough for people to point that out as the sole reason. And so, it always come back to the fact that they just don't like Hillary.

Now clearly, I've never been a huge Hillary Clinton fan, and it's understandable that many folks are not so keen on welcoming Bill back into the White House. When the whole Monica Lewinsky scandal came down, I scoffed, like many other women did, that Hillary didn't kick his ass to the curb.

But when I heard she would attempt to run for President in 2008, I admit to being intrigued. She had played her cards well, and more than that, she had actually made some positive changes. However, it was obvious from day one that her campaign would be a challenge, because not surprisingly, her policies and solutions have taken a backseat to her likeability factor.

Because let's face it. She's a woman. Getting the majority of the country to like a woman, particularly one that's going to be the leader of the free world, is a pretty tough task.

Based on how her campaign has been sorely mismanaged, it's apparent that she has been pulled in every different direction, none of which Barack Obama has or will ever see. She's competing in a man's world, a world that wants their women to be a little less wrinkled, with a flatter stomach, and a rounder ass. But she's also competing in a woman's world, a world that wants their women to be smart and articulate, yet still vulnerable and modest.

She needs to talk about her daughter more, but not too much. She needs to rein her husband in because he's ruining her campaign. She needs to be funny and approachable. She needs a better stylist and hairdo. She needs to lose 25 lbs.

And so, I'm just curious to know, since the world has become ever so critical of everything about Hillary Clinton, who would be a better choice?

The New York Times offered a few ideas, as did some blog readers. But truly, none have the same intention, the same support, and let's face it, the same experience that Hillary Clinton has. Perhaps if we could create the "perfect female candidate," she'd come complete with Pamela Anderson's boobs, Jennifer Lopez's ass, Oprah Winfrey''s likeability factor, and Hillary's brain. 

Sadly, I'm not sure there will ever be the perfect female candidate. That is unless it's a man.

Comments

[PunditMom]

Thanks for this great post. You've summed it up all so well. I, too, fear, that until we have some serious societal changes, our daughters will be our advanced ages (!) until this country is ready to put a woman president in the White House.

And thanks for helping me not feel so lonely in my support for Hillary! ;)

[sara54]

I'm one of those people who just doesn't like Hillary (or more accurately, the Clintons). I fully embrace my bias on this issue. I'm also a young, college educated woman who is sick of the Clinton/Bush/Rove way of doing politices. And, yes, I just lumped them in there all together. Throw Limbaugh in too because all of those people are interested far more in their power and influence and of playing both sides off of one another than they are in the interests of working together for the good of our country and the people in it.

Why not Clinton is not the question to be asking. Why Clinton is a far better one. Obama and Clinton's policy differences are minimal (and please don't even start with me on the experience issue!), but their personalities and values are far, far different. Obama talks about bringing people together and working together for change. Clinton talks about the evil right wing machine and the promises that she'll fix everyone's problems (yes she can, as opposed to yes we can).

This world that Clinton is competing in is just as much one that we, as women, have created as it is one that men have created. It's time we started taking responsibility and getting over it, rather than continuing to rehash old arguments and pity parties.

[Lawyer Mama]

Maybe we could talk Edwards into cross-dressing. He's already prettier than most women.

Seriously though, there are things I like about Hillary and things I like about Obama. I really don't care what either of them looks like. If only we could mind meld the two of them to form the perfect candidate.

[Lauren]

I'm not ashamed to say that I actually LIKE Hillary. I really admire her tenacity, courage, smarts, and can-do attitude.

[Cheryl]

Devil's Advocate. Out of all 300 million or so Americans, there is such a tiny percent of people who are qualified to be POTUS. I don't think that anyone who ran this cycle was "perfect" - but the candidates who I have supported have all demonstrated integrity, resourcefulness, and compassion towards their fellow Americans, putting the needs of this country ahead of their personal wants. Why should someone who discusses what SHE wants or will do rather than what AMERICA wants or wants her to do, who casts votes for resolutions that the American people do not want (Iran), who doesn't show up to vote on an issue that is of great import to American civil liberties (FISA) -- why should that person be voted for because she is a woman?

I am not a supporter of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. I was first a supporter of Chris Dodd, then waivered between Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards. Since John Edwards suspended his campaign I have chosen to NOT support anyone, because I have questions about both of the remaining candidates. Some days I lean one way, then I lean another. But if there is not a woman who is truly qualified to be POTUS, I'm not going to vote for one simply because she is a woman.

One final note - if you want a woman for president, I know many conservatives who have repeatedly stated that they would vote for Condoleezza Rice. That scares me, but I don't think that Hillary Clinton being a woman is an issue for MANY Americans as much as that of her character.

[debbie - i obsess]

I am, quiet honestly, *quietly* honestly, in favor of whoever can beat John McCain.

That is all.

At this point, because Barack has garnered more votes, more delegates, is leading, I feel that he should be the nominee. It's that simple for me. If Hillary were leading, I would feel that way about her. I'm simply desirous of not having another Republican in the White House.

My candidate didn't stand a chance - I'm not ashamed to admit I would've preferred Kucinich, even with the crack about UFOs. I knew he couldn't get there, so I went with Edwards, because I thought he could, and because he was closest to Kucinich on the issues. Now Edwards is gone and I have to go with the winner. I'm not pro either of them, but, that said, I *am* pro Barack for the simple reason that he's ahead, which means he's electable.

I said the same thing about Kerry in '04.

Sigh.

[Rachel]

My dream candidate would be Madeline Albright, but of course she can't run because she wasn't born here. There are several women in Congress who have served much longer than Hillary has. Nancy Pelosi, for example. I also really like Donna Brazile.

I also don't understand how she can make the case for herself from a feminist perspective, given that she rode her husband's coattails to the Senate, and is running for President mostly on his record. If she was just plain old Hillary Rodham, corporate lawyer, she would never have been a Senator from New York, and certainly would not have been running for president. Isn't being a feminist about making it on your own terms?

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Sure, and I think she's making it on her own terms. Kudos to her for making the best out of her situation (ala a fantastic marriage to Bill, heh) and making it work.

While she might be riding on Bill's coat tails, he did nothing to form the smart, articulate woman that she is -- although I bet the BS she put up with is more than enough experience to deal with what will come to her in the White House.

[Lauren]

From an academic standpoint, there is more than one kind of feminism. Hillary seems more like a "conservative" feminist...trying to funtion within the system as it is given and making it work.

[Lauren]

From an academic standpoint, there is more than one kind of feminism. Hillary seems more like a "conservative" feminist...trying to funtion within the system as it is given and making it work.

[Lauren]

From an academic standpoint, there is more than one kind of feminism. Hillary seems more like a "conservative" feminist...trying to funtion within the system as it is given and making it work.