OPINION & EDITORIAL
Clinton qualified, so why should gender matter?
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by Letters to the Editor
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., continues to bear unfounded
attacks on her gender and tenacity even as she increases the margin she has on
her opponents in the 2008 presidential race.
As Ms. Clinton continues her campaign of change,
government responsibility and empowerment, she is continuously challenged on
her ability to govern based on the fact that she is a woman. I recently saw Ms.
Clinton speak at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, and I
realized just how passionate and eager she is to turn this country around and
to repair the damages created by the Bush administration. Not only does she
have the experience to do so, she has the drive and the support of millions of
Americans who are ready to see a woman of such competence in the White House.
Ms. Clinton's ability to govern has been challenged
because of her gender, even in progressive places like our own campus — this is
ridiculous! Ms. Clinton continues to take the attacks she has received for the
35 years she has been in politics and still comes out on top. Women like Ms.
Clinton in politics today have the opportunity to create real change and
deliver a new standard to those who have been marginalized and repressed.
The oppression of women in the Middle East and the war in
Iraq does not require a male president to fix. A person's gender neither
qualifies nor disqualifies him or her to get the job done — it's passion,
experience and ability to work with international leaders to create
change. Electing a woman president in the United States will provide a
unique opportunity for the most powerful country in the world to bring new
ideas and new voices to international politics.
Women in the Middle East have been oppressed due to
fundamentalist religion. This is not an attack on their traditional values; it
is an attack on the refusal to grant basic human and civil rights to citizens.
A woman leader from the United States may be just what we need to convince
leaders that regardless of religious traditions, women still should have basic
civil rights.
Women leaders around the world are making great strides in providing civil rights to women. Chilean president Michelle Bachelet is working to undo the years of political terror and oppression brought on by Pinochet. Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is bringing her country out of the depths of decades of civil war to give women the opportunities they have never had before. Countless other women leaders worldwide have led the change in policies toward women. Ms. Clinton has the audacity and reverence of many to address the foreign policy in the Middle East that the Bush administration has severely damaged.
Brittani Garner
UW senior, Political Science
garner.brittani@gmail.com
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 6:46am):
Senator Clinton is perfectly qualified to be President. However, her inability to take positions on important issues, her domineering nature (see the way she completely intimidated CNN at the last Democratic debate), and her flat-out wrong positions on issues on which many Americans agree (like denying driver's licenses to illegals) will cost her the White House, if not the Democratic nomination. Her gender has nothing to do with this.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 9:52am):
Wolf Blitzer is a putz. Who cares if he gets intimidated? He deserves it.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 9:56am):
Offering driver's licenses to illegals is a dumb idea. Not because they shouldn't get them in principal, but who that is here illegally is really going to go on the public record and get a driver's license? You might as well go sneak back across the border. Honestly, this should be a non-issue.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 10:36am):
I'm leaning toward Obama at this point. I don't think I can stand 8 more years of Rush Limbaugh and Bill-O ranting about "the Clintons."
The qualifications for president are limited to the ability to select qualified people to fill managerial roles in the government. Who can make the best cabinet?
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 10:42am):
Although I don't often agree with much of what she says, she was right when she said that she is not being attacked for being a woman, she is being attacked because she is ahead...
Its not her femininity that people are scared of...in fact its her lack thereof. We don't need more years of secrecy and aggression; Hillary is the Democratic form of George Bush.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 12:10pm):
Brittani, we will not elect a woman as president simply because she's a woman. And there are all those man-hating feminists who will go out and bash men left and right when the opportunity comes.
No way would I vote for Hillary. BTW, I'm a woman.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 12:24pm):
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton, anyone?
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 12:24pm):
Not only should we not allow illegals drivers licenses, but we shouldn't allow one for Sen. Clinton either... because shes a woman.
--a mindless republicon
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 12:29pm):
Hillary is a capable candidate, few democrats disagree. However, her reluctance to admit mistakes(Iraq, trade, Iran) just continues to reinforce that she is not the best candidate for real change. She has not been open and honest about her positions and continues to double talk about playing the gender card. Sure she has Washington "experience" but so did Dick Cheney and look where that got us. People don't like Hillary because she is a woman... they don't like her because SHE IS HILLARY CLINTON.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 1:18pm):
"Offering driver's licenses to illegals is a dumb idea."
Say you rent a car in Europe, do you think it would be prudent for the car rental business to make sure you can drive?
Illegals, tourists, whatever. I just want to know that they're able to drive safely, and there is a good chance currently that they cannot.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 2:14pm):
Gender doesn't disqualify Clinton, just as race doesn't disqualify Obama or religion Romney. What disqualifies every candidate either party has presented is their ineptitude to connect to the American people, withdraw from partisan politics, and create policy that actually affects those of us who lack the money to lobby. 2004 Obama still has my vote, being one of two non-millionaires in the Senate (the other being Feingold), but 2007 Obama has clearly bowed to special interests and 2008 Obama will want to invade Iran. Whoever wins the presidency in 2008 will be just as incompetent as the rest, and will continue leading us down the path to self-destruction. Maybe if this coming election teaches us anything, it is that it is time to rethink the clusterfuck that we call winner-take-all democracy.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 2:58pm):
Badger Herald: this LTE seems like a direct response the the College Republican Chair's claim that Clinton wouldn't be taken seriously in the Middle East.
Why didn't you publish it last week?!?!
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 3:32pm):
I just don't understand what Hillary(tm) has ever done that shows she is qualified to be President.
Anonymous (November 20, 2007 @ 5:00pm):
3:32-- What has ANYONE ever done that shows they are qualified to be President?
Anonymous (November 21, 2007 @ 9:35am):
I'm not voting for Hillary(tm) or Obama because I don't like being called a racist and a sexist if I DIDN'T vote for them. Then again, I'd be considered a racist and a sexist just because I'm a white male, so what the hell, I'll go ahead and vote Republican this time. They're the only ones that care about me.
See what happens when liberals turn into extremists? They drive away votes.
Anonymous (November 22, 2007 @ 7:44pm):
Hsu knew???
The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an investigation into InfoUSA, a Nebraska company that used corporate funds to fly Hillary Rodham Clinton around the country, and one of only two companies to put Bill Clinton on its payroll after he left the White House.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/21/AR2007112102280.html?nav=rss_nation
Anonymous (November 24, 2007 @ 3:39pm):
Bush (didn't work) - Clinton (worked!) - Bush (fuck no) - Clinton (?????)
Anonymous (November 25, 2007 @ 9:29am):
The Roosevelts and Adams think dynasties are just alright.
Anonymous (November 25, 2007 @ 2:17pm):
Clinton didn't really "work," he just looked good after 12 horrible years of Reagan and Bush Sr. I'm just waiting for the next generation of the dynasties... 2016: Chelsea vs Barbara/Jenna for President, 4 horsemen for VP.
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