Remember claims that Hillary Clinton was badly treated because she was a woman (sexism)? These charges angered women and Clinton supporters. This is a no win situation for the Democrats if they allow the bad judgment of the McCain camp to draw them into this conversation. More charges of sexism could cost the Democrats a loss of the women the McCain camp has probably read as frustrated over the outcome of the Democratic Primary and likely to be blinded by a perceived attack upon another woman over issues which might be twisted to be perceived as sexist.
Perhaps, one day the women who want to compete with men will be given a level playing field so we can also play fair. I loved to play with the boys when I was 12 years of age and younger. I learned to shoot marbles, climb trees, and throw a punch as well as any boy on my block. I was formidable and got to be accepted by the group. I had a level playing field until I developed physically and the boys began to react to me differently given glances and wolf whistles from older males whenever they saw us traveling together. They suddenly began to look at me differently. They began to treat me differently. Eventually, we no longer hung out together because conflicts developed as they began to compete for my attention.
However, as a professional woman, I want the level playfield I enjoyed in my preadolescent years. I want the respect that I earned from winning at marbles, climbing to the highest level in the trees, and decking any boy who challenged me. If I can hold my own ground as a person I want all of the appropriate trophies. The men can keep their private male strongholds but not the trophies I deserve.
Careful, men and Democrats of 2008 who enter the arena of issues that negatively impact the opinions held of women (unwed mothers, working mothers, etc.) enter a hornet’s nest.
Now that McCain has decided that this is the time to drag out the antique Slime Machine of negative ads, I hope the Obama camp can dodge the stones while staying on message. Clinton ran a republican style campaign and the message people really needed to be hearing, from Obama, got lost for a while.
I hope the Democratic Party steps forward and addresses the Republican Party Slimmers so Obama's message can continue. More people need the opportunity to get to know Obama and his plans not hear him single handedly repeatedly defend stupid remarks from Republicans whose game plan is to distract, divide, and conquer.
As the Democratic primaries wind down, we look to West Virginia and Kentucky to see if we have fully arrived at the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave". Or, have we only come this far to realize that we are really the land of those enslaved by fear and home to those whose fears hold us back.
The psychology of fear is being considered in this compaign by all three contenders and the major news media. We are asked to stay as are and let go of our hopes and dreams fearing change. We are asked to fear each other and stay where we are least we be destroyed by the unknown. We are asked to recognize that "the only thing that we have to fear is fear itself". Hopefully, the latter dominates.
Love this country as I do, I only hope that we have the courage of its revoluntionary descendents to vigorously wage a war for change now, not tomorrow and "Turn America Around". Elect Obama an work with him to be sure he gets the job done that "we the people" need done for the common good.
