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Out Of My Gender Box, Thank You...
(Jan 6, 2008)
by Lynda Suzanne Haley-Brothers
I am 48 years old, I have a successful career in my area of
education - for which I have earned a post-graduate degree. I have three
absolutely brilliant and incredible daughters. I am an amazing f’n
woman. Absolutely nobody who met me would rightly or logically think I
make any decision without thought - certainly not something as important
as choosing for whom I will vote. All this being so, I was astounded to
talk with three different men on three separate occasions last week who
assumed that I would support Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary
because she is a woman.
What the shit?! We both have vaginas - we’re
twins - so of course I’ll brainlessly go off to vote for her. What -
because we deserve a woman for president? What - because I voted for her
husband twice and would vote for him again tomorrow given the
opportunity? Who in the name of Yellow Dog Democrats would assume this.
Should I assume that even well-educated and political savvy blacks will
vote for Obama despite his lack of experience and real potential to
actually ever be elected as president? What a small minded notion. It’s
not like that Arkansas didn’t make it to the final four so I root for
the other SEC team for the sake of Southern pride.
The truth is I have a
great deal of respect for Hillary Clinton. She is truly a phenomenal
woman. She has dealt with personal strife in the limelight with a great
deal of dignity. She is a fantastic role model for the young women in
our world. However, she isn’t for the oval office. She doesn’t have
Bill’s charisma. She doesn’t have his true affection and real devotion
to the human race. She doesn’t have his poker face. Mostly, she lacks
the potential for election.
I am in the DFW metroplex on a regular
basis, and have spent a good deal of time in rural Texas. I live in
Arkansas and have spent a good deal of time in its beautiful rural towns
too. I can tell you without hesitation that there are folks "out there
in them woods" who "ain’t never voted once" who will come out of the
sticks and the hills to keep her from the white house. We as a country
and a culture are not ready for any woman to be in that office, least of
all one with Hillary’s baggage and image. It’s sad. I wish I could cast
my primary vote for her. But I am too afraid of another four or eight
years of Republican reign. I’m old enough to remember recession Ronnie
and to have taken my golden showers in his tinkled on politics. It’s too
close to that already for my comfort.
So in spite of the fact that one
of the nominees has a "vajayjay" like me, I’m supporting Edwards in the
primary - because I am a thinking woman who wants a Democrat back in the
big house.
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