Hillary Clinton, Success or Failure?

Sunday, June 8. 2008

Ah, the US election, such a divisive affair you wonder why they have them. I mean if people really hate each other so much maybe they'd just be better off splitting the country into lots of little countries, perhaps one each for whites, blacks, hispanics, and then maybe even for different languages, Spaniards over there, Anglos over here, and all the rest in Alaska or Hawaii.

Of course I'm joking, but the way the battle for the Democratic nomination has been fought, and the stuff some of them are saying as we look toward November makes me think Americans aren't actually a single country united under one flag.

Let's put this in context, Hillary Clinton is full of herself for having been the first woman to have got so many votes in the primaries, yet she still failed to be nominated, so her achievement is hardly worth writing home about, yet even Barack Obama has congratulated her on this milestone saying she has paved the way for people like his own daughters.

WTF? Excuse me? Since when is someone not being nominated, and not even having the chance to run for President seen as a success?
Let me put this in the context of what I understand. One of the world's largest Muslim country's (Pakistan) has had a female Prime Minister. Germany, New Zealand, Ukraine, Moldova, and Mozambique currently have a sitting female head of state. There is nothing special about Hillary Clinton's 'achievement', I define it as failure.

Of course Americans are proud of this new found opening of hearts for female or black people, yet in the same breath so many of them talk about voting for the Republicans because they don't want a black man in the Oval Office.

This I think is a major distinction between the US and other countries. Here in Europe very few people would consider voting for a political party they don't agree with just because said party nominates a leader who looks different. Here, one's political beliefs are a lot stronger than the choice of nominated personality.

If I think of all of my friends and family in Germany as an example, the fact that Angela Merkel is chancellor means nothing, she just happens to be leader of the biggest political party. In fact, she isn't even part of the traditional Bonn crowd having lived all her life in the former DDR (East Germany) yet even that is not considered remarkable in modern Germany, and in other parts of the EU where I've travelled it isn't seen as remarkable either.

Except maybe Italy. The Italian old guard seem very wary of allowing women any say on anything but I blame the influence of the Catholic Church and the various mafias for that. The rest of the EU seems fairly relaxed about women in positions of authority, here in Spain, stereotypically seen as quite old fashioned we actually have a 50/50 mix in cabinet and almost everyone I know fully expects the next decade to bring in a female Prime Minister.

I can't say hand on heart that a black head of state is imminent in Europe, but I also don't think we'd have people speculating about whether they would be assassinated if it did happen. This seems to be a fundamental difference between the US and the rest of the developed world. Outside of the US we seem a little more relaxed about people just being allowed to be people.

So dear readers, I've spilled forth my views, now is your chance to agree or disagree, just keep it pleasant :-)
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in Carl's Journal   Comments (8)

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  1. nicole said,

    Sunday, June 8. 2008 at 12:45 (Reply)

    Great post! I think you hit the nail on the head. Europeans are far more relaxed about many things than we are here. Sometimes I think that in spite of all our technology, and our industrial successes, we are still living in the early 20th century.
    I was, however, a Hilary supporter. Grrr......I will be supporting Obama because I do not support the policies of the Republican Party, and skin color means nothing to me. My only concern is whether he can do the job.....he has no experience in too many areas.

  2. Paul V said,

    Sunday, June 8. 2008 at 16:34 (Reply)

    I voted Hilary Clinton, and only support Hilary Clinton, No matter what Hilary Does suspend her campaign concede her campaign. No matter what Hilary does she could even support Obama and campaign for Obama I will never Vote for Barack Obama, I do think Amercia is ready for a black president, just not Barack Obama,,, The way The Democratic party handle this election with the Corporate Media propaganding this whole election, Turned this election upside down,, Obama could of ran over someone,, like Haley Berry, No one would care and still vote,, Obama..
    There several million Voter right now like my self, will not ever vote for Barack Obama, Many like my self will be Voting for McCain, my reason is simple,, the Obama voter came on CNN & MSNBC and said if obama does not win the primary, Obama supporter will vote for McCain, Democratic party did not do anything to the obama camp to stop ,, why is obama party splittin the party in half, Now pelosi and many other are blamming Hilary and kept on with the propaganda Corporate Media, Obama Said on the new so many time,, does not Matter, if your Democrat or Republican,, you want the right person for the right Job,, He is so right,,when He said that we wanted Hilary,, Well Congrats to Obama his supporter got him to the primary,,,but He will never win the election,, for Prisident, I will not stop with my blogging,, who is the best man for the job between Barack & McCain,, will vote for McCain he will be way better than Barack Obama, I can put up for McCain for 4 years and Hilary Can run again, Pelosi and the rest of the democrat party,, days are number at this point, For pushing Hilary out and ruining her Career, Even now During Clinton Exit speech,, Democratic party Told Hilary if she does not back there little puppet Barack Obama they will ruin her career,, In my opinion They all ready Ruined Hilary Clintons Career, Right Now I am goint listen to one thing Barack Obama said, and that is, like I said, it does not matter if your Democrat or republican who is the right person for the job,,,, Hillary supporter need to stick together, Vote for McCain or just not vote for we need the right person,,, Hilary is up on stage right now saying what pelosi and the democratic party are telling her what to do,, or Economy is down and the way the propaganda Media is,, we are turning into a 3rd world country,, by rigging the election thru the media, Hilary Supporter who really want Hilary to be president Need to vote for McCain or just not Vote for Barack Obama, let McCain win,, there nothing more he can do as president, Congress will not let him it Congress who controls everything,, not the president, Pelosi and the a lot of the democratic party ruined Hilary Career, If all Hilary Voter, stick together, than We can restore Hilary Career and make her President, in 4 years. if you vote for Obama we have to wait maybe 8 years or 4 years and republican will be office, if Obama wins the presidency he will only be 4 year term,,, I say give all your supporter not to the democratic party, but to Hilary Clinton.. democratic party needs all of them need to leave office and get fresh people in there, who can unite the party not keep it separated and force unity, to who they want not who the voter want,, Hilary would of won this election, DNC screwed her with floriday and Michigan if those vote were counted at the beginning she would of won this race along time ago..and for the sexest Media, Like CNN & MSNBC… will continue to not report the new but Make it up as they see fit, All Hilary supporter need to unit together.. and stick together,, Margaret Thatcher was prime Minister 30 years ago,, but American Men and New Bias, is keeping woman down for personal gain, Like Keith Oberman, & Chris Mathews Who are the biggest Sexest on this MSNBC stations,

  3. nicole said,

    Sunday, June 8. 2008 at 17:14 (Reply)

    A chill pill is not an evil thing........:-)

  4. Carl said,

    Sunday, June 8. 2008 at 21:30 (Reply)

    Where do they come from?

    I was tempted to remove his comment but actually I think he completely demonstrates my point without me having to explain my point in more detail. And sadly, this is not an isolated opinion.

    @Paul V and your type. In any election where you essentially have a choice between two candidates, forget the smaller parties since they won't be successful at the polls, you have a choice of continuing to vote for your party, switching sides, or of spoiling your vote and sending a protest. Personally, I see enough difference between Obama and McCain to be able to make a decision on who to vote for. I am pleased that people don't seem to use your kind of logic in Europe.

  5. Albert said,

    Sunday, June 8. 2008 at 22:31 (Reply)

    Great article. I'd like to comment on the following paragraph.

    "WTF? Excuse me? Since when is someone not being nominated, and not even having the chance to run for President seen as a success?"

    This is America we're talking about, where children are taught that there are no "losers", but everyone is a "winner."

  6. nicole who loves winning said,

    Monday, June 9. 2008 at 05:01 (Reply)

    Carl, good response to er, Paul V.

    Albert, true. But, is it really a good thing to teach our children?

  7. Albert said,

    Monday, June 9. 2008 at 19:18 (Reply)

    No, but unfortunately that's the way it is.

    But I think this failure could help Hillary in the long run. Her arrogance in thinking she would knock out Obama early and her failure to have a backup plan is amazing.

  8. nicole said,

    Tuesday, June 10. 2008 at 07:35 (Reply)

    Hmmm....what you characterize as arrogance seems to me to be rational thinking.
    She was ahead in all of the polls, the political pundits were all saying that she was the likely nominee, etc..
    The woman is not an arrogant person, and personally, I strongly feel that it was sexism that killed her, particularly when you look at all the criticism that has been leveled at Obama re Rev Wright, etc,; none of it stuck. Why? IMO, sexism. Works for me.

    I like Obama, but he has not got the experience to deal in DC politics at that level. However, I will be supporting him, as I feel that i have no other viable choice. I wish him well.

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