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In less than two months, Americans will flock to polling centers to cast their ballots in one of the most regarded U.S. presidential elections. From the primaries up until now, the 2016 race has been criticized, dissected and interpreted across the globe. It has left a nation and international spectators amused, angered, baffled, euphoric.
The G.O.P. is being lambasted for turning a blind eye and allowing a containable situation to spin out of control. Journalists are being criticized for irresponsible reporting and sensationalism. Voters are being charged with heeding the empty promises of a self-proclaimed business tycoon and ignoring facts and reality.
It is a blame game of epic proportions. But perhaps it is also an indicator of something far more profound: an entire nation’s unpreparedness for a female POTUS.
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Take a look at the egregious offenses committed by Republican nominee Donald Trump. Blatant racism, sexism, xenophobia, ableism. Ignorance on matters of foreign policy, climatology, economics. An invitation to hackers to sabotage e-mail servers. Innuendos about exactly how second amendment supporters can prevent the election of judges promoting stricter gun laws. An unwillingness to release his tax returns. He is the poster boy for everything a president should NOT be.
And yet, current polling suggests he is running neck and neck with a candidate who is more qualified, more articulate, more capable, less volatile. Except… she is a woman.Hillary Clinton is not flawless. She has made misjudgments. None, by the way, that have been classified illegal or detrimental to national security, as the current rumor mill would suggest. But that matters not. Every word uttered, decision made, photo taken, interview given by Hillary Clinton gets observed under a totally different microscope. She is a woman. She should behave like a woman. Whatever that means.
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In a country where a government is taking Planned Parenthood hostage in an effort to control female reproductive rights. One where rapists receive lenient sentences because they have promising futures ahead of them. And where women are earning less for the same work, it is hardly surprising that the consensus , sadly even amongst women , seems to be that a man is better equipped to wield the powerful POTUS torch. No matter that he is a raging, dangerous demagogue.
When a male political candidate is given free reign to hurl abuses at anyone and everyone. To exhibit not only a lack of knowledge but unashamed idiocy, to praise the presidency of a repressive regime. And a female political candidate is belittled for not smiling, not seeming human, being unlikeable and uncharismatic we have a serious problem as a nation.
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Is it more human to attack a grieving mother? Is it more likable to mock a physically challenged journalist? Is it more charismatic to joke about a senator’s harrowing experience as a POW?
Let us stop judging Hillary Clinton on her ability to bat her eyelashes and woo us with her feminine charms. That is not what we are electing her to do. We are looking to her to steer a great nation with tempered judgment, informed policies, unbiased resolutions. Donald Trump has proven again and again he knows nothing about these things. So let’s not get blinded by his bleached pearly whites. And let’s finally realize that behaving like a woman and behaving like a man embody the same principles: embracing decency and respect, being kind and generous, and seeking wisdom and truth.
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This post first appeared at Medium.com
Photo:Getty Images
“But perhaps it is also an indicator of something far more profound: an entire nation’s unpreparedness for a female POTUS.” How do you explain the fact that the polls now show Hillary Clinton negatives among women votes is now over 50%? America IS ready for a female POTUS. However, the people of America have serious reservations about a candidate who is a proven liar. OK, Mr Trump has not released his tax returns, But, Mrs Clinton has not released her speeches she made to Wall Street. Do you really think a candidate who has taken millions from Wall Street is… Read more »
There’s nowhere to begin with someone like you. You’re categorically wrong. You’ve been lied to, you’ve taken those lies to heart and failed to see what’s right in front of you. Hillary is both exceptionally qualified and morally solid. Her negative reputation is a creation of people with obvious partisan agendas. Either sexism, partisan blindness, or some other logical inability has caused you to embrace what’s obvious to an embarrassingly small percentage of us who can see the truth.
“You’re categorically wrong.”
You are just plain foolish.
What right in front of America is a proven liar!!!!
You people on the Left just cannot handle the Truth. So, all those people who just really don’t like Hillary are a creation of people with “partisan agendas.”
She has ALL the media (except Fox) on her side. She has sites like this on her side. But, somehow, the American people are just a bunch of idiots who just cannot see what a terrific person she really is…
Elitism at its finest.
Just because Trump would make a terrible president does not mean Clinton would make a good one.
I’m not looking forward to four years of every criticism of her being deflected into a “criticism of women”
Just because someone does not like Hillary Clinton does not mean they are sexist.