Art of Politics

Posted by Mary Rayme Jan 20, 2007

Hillary Clinton recently announced that she is considering running for President of the United States in 2008. I have two theories as to why the United States is not ready for a female President and why Hillary is unelectable.

It doesn't matter if you are a Republican or Democrat, the reality is that women are still not equal to men in our society. The fact that women are still underpaid compared to their male counterparts holding similar positions is proof of this discrimination.

There's also the abortion controversy in America. My theory is that making abortion a legal and political issue is about controlling women, not concern for women's health or for the unborn. As long as this fallacy continues, a woman will never be elected as chief of our Executive Branch. How can a woman be in the ultimate power seat as long as women's lives are so routinely controlled through legislation and politics?

It is also interesting to note that Hillary Clinton is one of the most demonized political figures in the United States for a couple of reasons. First, her husband Bill Clinton was demonized for lying about his affair with an intern. Hillary has suffered a lot of fallout from this one, even though she was a victim of Bill's infidelity.

Second, Hillary dared to add her maiden name, Rodham, and was to head up the failed universal healthcare attempt early in Clinton's first term as President. Adding the maiden name and being allowed power smack of feminism, another idea demonized by the far right and those who are threatened by women. Let's be clear on this: Feminism is the idea that women have the same rights and treatment as men. Period.

I hope I am wrong with my above theories but I personally would not vote for Senator Clinton because of her stance on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has supported these wars in the face of overwhelming evidence that these wars are unnecessary and out of control.

Someone has to be the first female President of the United States, but it won't be Hillary Clinton.