Ain't I a Woman?

Isn't it about time for a woman president?

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. As you may have guessed from yesterday's entry, I am a woman. And yet I do not support Hillary Clinton.

That confuses some people. I once spoke with a man who supported Senator Clinton, and was very curious why I did not. He said "I believe every woman should be behind Clinton, one hundred percent." We spoke at length about policy differences between Clinton and Obama and at the end of the conversation, he mentioned that his wife was an Obama supporter. He was confused by her choice, too, but there it was. Another woman for Obama.

But when it comes down to voting day, you have to look at the candidate, not the gender or race of the candidate. Yes, gender and race are essential to the candidates' identities and characters. We must look beyond that, however, when seeking to elect our next president. No one candidate can win just because she's a woman, or just because he's black.

Isn't it about time for a woman president? Yes, but for me, the policies have to be there. And Clinton's policies just aren't. Is it time for Hillary Clinton to be president? No.

As Sojourner Truth herself said, back in 1851 when women were fighting for fundamental rights that we take for granted:

"If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them."

And that's what I'm trying to do, in supporting Obama. Trying to get the world right side up again.

"Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say."

--All quotes by Sojourner Truth, "Ain't I a Woman?", December 1851. Full text.