Will Women Really Only Vote for Hillary Clinton Because She is a Woman?

Can We Please Set a Better Example for Our Daughters?

I really hemmed and hawed over writing this piece. A part of me wanted to ignore the issue and hope it would go away. But like an annoying rash, that never works. The what I am referring to is a debate I watched (on PBS) in which learned men asked whether the women panelists were just supporting Hilary Clinton because she was a woman. Juvenile? I know. I was embarrassed and irritated. I felt like I was minding a third grade classroom instead of listening to a discussion between educated adults. And frighteningly, a debate between influential adults. I was worried lest my daughters should come into the room and hear this philistine, antediluvian talk.

I really commiserated with the women on the program. They were obviously trying to be patient and clearly finding the discussion tedious and old. Oddly, one of the most querulous and harping questioners was an African-American Obama supporter. So the idea was that if a woman voted for Hilary, she was only doing so because she (the woman) and she (Hilary) were both women? I noticed that no one asked the men if they were voting for any of the male candidates because they were male? I noticed that no one asked the African American if he was voting for Obama because he is black? Nor would it even enter my mind to do so. I assume that others, like me, are selecting their candidates based upon a conviction that this person is the best candidate (or lesser of all evils?).

I did not vote in my primary for Ms. Hilary Clinton, but not because of her sex. I am very fond of and would vote in a heartbeat for the governor of my state, Ms. Jennifer Grandholm. I will vote for Barack Obama if he is the democratic nominee. I would have preferred Dennis Kosenich, but alas, the Michigan Democratic Primary was, if you remember, a bit of a debacle. You see, we women really are capable of making decisions about things not based upon simple solidarity.