So here’s the thing about being a “Democrat” or a “Republican,” a “Liberal” or a “Conservative”—these are not one-size-fits-all labels.
For example, I self-identify as a liberal Democrat, but I have some liberal friends who are so much more far left (and so much more well-informed, so draw your own conclusions there) that they make me look like Rush Limbaugh. Fortunately, in addition to being well-informed, they are compassionate, so our “debates” are kind and respectful, and for this I am grateful.
I was never much “into” politics as a young person, but Bush v. Gore changed all that as I watched the slow-motion train-wreck of our democracy and the coronation of a candidate who had lost the popular vote by over half a million votes by a clearly biased Supreme Court. My perception of my country was changed forever, and for a while I was quite avidly engaged by the political scene. I lived and voted in Virginia the year it “turned blue” for Barack Obama and I felt so invigorated by that showing of the power of the people.
But something else happened in my life in those years too; I become the mother of a tiny son. The first four years of his life were treacherous in too many ways to recount, but my husband and I both lost our own fathers, my husband lost not one but TWO jobs and we had to sell and buy two homes, pull up stakes and adjust to new locations while we were still adjusting to caring for our new (and ultimate) responsibility. And our boy was struggling, and we needed doctors and aides and all kinds of helpers to get him on course for a healthy, productive life.
In those days, I was just a scared Mom. Nothing more, nothing less.
Nowadays my son is a healthy, thriving 11-year-old and life should be good. But as a parent I am facing a new and daunting challenge: the exposure of my son to the intolerance and vitriol of Donald Trump and many of his supporters. In the beginning I tried to shield him from the bombastic rhetoric, hoping and (wrongly) believing that this horrible man would pound his chest, have his say and go back to his cave.
But as we all know, that is not what happened.
And I knew I had failed in my mission to protect the kid from Trump’s antics when one night he announced at dinner, “Donald Trump is like the moon. He can’t support any life, but he is affecting the tides of change on our planet and bringing out all the crazies.” Out of the mouths of babes, I was both crushed and impressed that he had enough insight about the man to make such a wise judgment.
It also turned out that my son had a soft spot for Bernie Sanders, but I’ll never know for sure if that was his own opinion or if he was echoing the leanings of my husband and I. I had written pieces in support of a Sanders Presidency and knew that while some of my friends preferred Hillary, they would back Sanders all the way if he won the nomination. In spite of Trump, it seemed like positive change was afoot.
But as we all know, that is not what happened. Hillary won the nomination, quite handily, by the numbers. And here is where the trouble began—people I respect and admire were sticking to their “Bernie or Bust” principles, while all I could think was “I would vote for a helium balloon with a face drawn on it against Donald Trump.”
Right or wrong, there is this biological imperative coded into us that once we have children we cease to give too many f*cks about anything but their safety and well-being. And I cannot believe there is a child on the planet who will be positively influenced or enriched by a Trump presidency, even (or perhaps especially) the children of other millionaires. His success legitimizes the very worst of human nature and sets a sickening example for all.
At least with Hillary there will be some little girls who perceive the world as more open to their success and leadership, and I do think that is a silver lining. One of my friends who makes me look like Rush Limbaugh (and who is much, MUCH better informed than I am) refers to Hillary Clinton as “evil”. But guess what? He is voting for her and I could weep with gratitude. In the next 4 years my son will be coming of age and I cannot bear the thought of his constant exposure to an openly racist, misogynist, xenophobic man as the leader of his country during such a critical juncture in his development as a man.
I believe Michelle Obama echoed the sentiments of parents everywhere in her DNC speech when she said that this election “is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives.” Watching the convention and listening to my fellow Democrats “boo” Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, et al, I see how Trump is infecting us with his boorish, bullying behavior. If given the opportunity, I would not even “boo” Donald Trump because I am not a kid and this is not a game.
Apparently Trump was inadequately gratified by our childish behavior, because his official response to the Democratic National Convention was this: “I was going to hit a number of those speakers so hard their heads would spin, they’d never recover.” Which speakers, Mr. Trump? The women? The Father of a slain veteran? The Mother of a man killed in the Orlando shootings? Who among us would let a child get away with this kind of talk?
We need to come off of the playground and behave the way we ask our children to behave towards each other—with respect. I think this is a small part of what Michelle Obama addressed when she said “if they go low, we go high”. Adults jeering other adults makes me feel that even though Trump has not yet won the election, he is definitely winning the cultural war.
I understand that we have an inadequate, flawed political structure in place, but it will not be broken down overnight or in the course of one election.
That political structure, in part, helped Hillary Clinton to secure the Democratic nomination over Bernie Sanders (ALSO: the math). But even if you think Clinton is a horrible choice, if you do not want to see Donald Trump in the position of policy (and cultural) headmaster for the next 4 (or 8!!!!) years, Hillary is your ONLY choice.
If you care about appointments to the Supreme Court, Clinton is your only choice. If you care about the environment, Clinton is your only choice. If the Affordable Care Act, Marriage Equality and Roe v. Wade matter to you, it’s got to be Clinton.
If you believe that #BlackLivesMatter and stand with our LGBT community, Clinton is the way to go.
If you are deeply disturbed by the idea of a man who mocks the disabled and calls women “pigs”, “dogs” and a “piece of ass” becoming leader of the free world?
It’s Clinton all the way.
“Liberal” and “Democrat” have never been LESS one-size-fits-all than they are today; but “people who care about the future of our children” should be a universal constant. If Hillary Clinton (God, please!) takes the White House, we can at the very least feel reassured that we will continue to somewhat resemble a country with inclusive, progressive beliefs, whatever loopholes to this ideal the policies may have. I understand that many of my friends and fellow Democrats are still enraged that Bernie’s revolution has not yet come to fruition.
But today I am a scared Mom, nothing more and nothing less. And in the vulnerability and humility of that position, I am begging you to vote for Hillary Clinton. She is the only thing standing between my child and Donald Trump.
And so I will beg you from now until November and hold out hope that all of this can work out better than any of us imagine.
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Photo: Getty Images
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Your son eloquently summed up my own fears about Trump. I am an Independent who tends to lean Republican. While I do not support many of Hillary Clinton’s views, I cannot in good conscience vote for a man who has unapologetically inflamed so many people in such a short time with careless comments. It saddens me that many Trump supporters, including some of my own extended family, apparently have not listened to well circulated reports by independent think tanks. The research is well-established that building a wall is not geographically feasible along much of the Mexico border due to uneven,… Read more »
I thought this was the good men project? About becoming better men and fathers. This articlean has nothing to do with either. The real men are the guys that were abandoned by Hillary in Bengazi. May they rest in peace. Hillary and Bill for that matter should both be doing time. I would rather not vote for a lying,cheating POS.
OMG is Hillary ever a democratic insider?! I say yes she is. However, I must also look at where we were 71/2 yrs. ago…just hoping for yet another Wall St. and Big Bank bail out. I lost much in the stock market, and even more in the housing value investments. Yet, I am today far happier with some recovering rather than to turn my tax $$$ over to Corp. executives prior to their golden parachutes. I for one, do not care for Hillary’s political insider status, yet Frump’s bombastic and bully behaviors toward women, disabled adults, vets. is way too… Read more »
I hear what you are saying. My son is 13, and he hears, and pays attention to what is going on. I hope that I can keep him from becoming a bully like Trump, from saying and doing what is most unbecoming for a gentleman, let alone the president of the United States. There is no excuse for his blatant hostility, and yet he has supporters. I don’t understand but I pray for him, and his followers. Hitler is a good example of what happens when enough good people do nothing. Trump is dangerous, and incompetent, period.
The bottom line is that Trump as President will be able to do little or no damage because not only will Democrats oppose him, but also quite a few Republicans. Should Hilary be elected and the Democrats gain control of Congress, she’ll be able to ride roughshod on a scale unmatched by anyone but FDR, LBJ and Dubya.
“Watching the convention and listening to my fellow Democrats “boo” Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, et al, I see how Trump is infecting us with his boorish, bullying behavior.”
Democrats behave badly, but Trump is at fault?
This is what’s wrong with Liberals. You can’t seem to take responsibility for your own actions.
A pox on BOTH your houses, I say.
“responsibility” is clearly lacking across the board. But to point the finger at Trump only is typical, especially in the main stream media.
Your idea of who is more dangerous for your son may be a little mislead by the limitations of American news networks. Trump is a blowhard windbag and unpredictable, but Hillary and Establishment Democrats have a historical record that you can see for yourself. Trump will surely embarrass America in front of world, but your choice may be more likely to actually start another war. And they’ve been building up America’s nuclear arsenal, and making smaller nukes that are easier to contemplate using than the WW2 style bombs. Read this article by a well respected and Pulitzer Prize winning international… Read more »