Why We Need Clinton's Strengths Now
My Turn: We need Clinton's strengths now
By Madeleine Kunin
February 28, 2008
For the first time in our political history, the Vermont primary on March 4 may make a difference in determining the nominees for president. The Republican race is almost concluded, but the Democratic race remains hotly contested. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will make history if one of them wins the nomination.
Back in 2006, few would have predicted that the top contenders for the Democratic nomination in 2008 would be a woman and an African-American. These are exciting times. With two such strong, qualified candidates, how do we choose? The difference has been framed as a choice between change and experience. That is easy political shorthand, but the facts are more interesting and complex. Both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama represent change. Foremost, they represent change from the domestic and foreign policies of George Bush. Both represent change if we envision their portraits hanging in the White House next to the white men who preceded them.
I support Hillary Clinton because she is the first woman to be qualified to be president. Health care, women's issues, the environment and education are areas where female politicians have had the greatest impact. Today we know they are critical issues to our well-being and even to our survival. She will put them at the top of her agenda.
Many believe that Clinton is the conservative candidate and Obama the progressive candidate. Economist Paul Krugman thinks otherwise. He credits her with the more inclusive and ambitious health plan and the stronger economic stimulus package.
Her vote on the war in Iraq in 2002 has been a litmus test in this election. I disagreed with her on that vote, but I am looking at 2009 when either Clinton or Obama will move troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible.
Clinton has achieved something that no woman has been able to do -- she is seen as a capable commander-in-chief, but that achievement has come at a price. A woman who displays toughness and ambition often sacrifices being liked. Women in business, academia, and science -- you name it -- are caught in a double bind. If they are not tough enough, they are not up to the job. If a woman is too tough, she does not fit our stereotype of female behavior. One study of women corporate leaders called it "damned if you do, doomed if you don't." It is impossible to untangle who Hillary is as an individual and who she is as a woman.
There are differences between the candidates that have nothing to do with gender. Still, there is a significant gender gap; more men are voting for Obama and white women continue to support Clinton. The bar is higher for a woman presidential candidate than a man because the same qualities that are praised in men, such as anger, are criticized in women. I point out these gender stereotypes because all of us, women and men, have been raised in a society of continuous male leadership. We cannot dispel our reactions overnight, but we can increase our awareness of how stereotypes influence our judgment.
I have known Hillary through the years; she has the right values, she listens, she is smart, she is qualified and she will create change the likes of which we have never seen before. The world will respect us once again and we will respect our government once again, because we will have a madam president who will lead us in the right direction.
The good news for both candidates in this campaign is that it has attracted new voters and most importantly, young voters. No matter who wins the primary, I will support the nominee. Yes, these are revolutionary times, but only if we are united after the last delegate is counted and elect the first woman or the first African-American president in our history.
Madeleine M. Kunin of Burlington is a former governor of Vermont.
By Madeleine Kunin
February 28, 2008
For the first time in our political history, the Vermont primary on March 4 may make a difference in determining the nominees for president. The Republican race is almost concluded, but the Democratic race remains hotly contested. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will make history if one of them wins the nomination.
Back in 2006, few would have predicted that the top contenders for the Democratic nomination in 2008 would be a woman and an African-American. These are exciting times. With two such strong, qualified candidates, how do we choose? The difference has been framed as a choice between change and experience. That is easy political shorthand, but the facts are more interesting and complex. Both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama represent change. Foremost, they represent change from the domestic and foreign policies of George Bush. Both represent change if we envision their portraits hanging in the White House next to the white men who preceded them.
I support Hillary Clinton because she is the first woman to be qualified to be president. Health care, women's issues, the environment and education are areas where female politicians have had the greatest impact. Today we know they are critical issues to our well-being and even to our survival. She will put them at the top of her agenda.
Many believe that Clinton is the conservative candidate and Obama the progressive candidate. Economist Paul Krugman thinks otherwise. He credits her with the more inclusive and ambitious health plan and the stronger economic stimulus package.
Her vote on the war in Iraq in 2002 has been a litmus test in this election. I disagreed with her on that vote, but I am looking at 2009 when either Clinton or Obama will move troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible.
Clinton has achieved something that no woman has been able to do -- she is seen as a capable commander-in-chief, but that achievement has come at a price. A woman who displays toughness and ambition often sacrifices being liked. Women in business, academia, and science -- you name it -- are caught in a double bind. If they are not tough enough, they are not up to the job. If a woman is too tough, she does not fit our stereotype of female behavior. One study of women corporate leaders called it "damned if you do, doomed if you don't." It is impossible to untangle who Hillary is as an individual and who she is as a woman.
There are differences between the candidates that have nothing to do with gender. Still, there is a significant gender gap; more men are voting for Obama and white women continue to support Clinton. The bar is higher for a woman presidential candidate than a man because the same qualities that are praised in men, such as anger, are criticized in women. I point out these gender stereotypes because all of us, women and men, have been raised in a society of continuous male leadership. We cannot dispel our reactions overnight, but we can increase our awareness of how stereotypes influence our judgment.
I have known Hillary through the years; she has the right values, she listens, she is smart, she is qualified and she will create change the likes of which we have never seen before. The world will respect us once again and we will respect our government once again, because we will have a madam president who will lead us in the right direction.
The good news for both candidates in this campaign is that it has attracted new voters and most importantly, young voters. No matter who wins the primary, I will support the nominee. Yes, these are revolutionary times, but only if we are united after the last delegate is counted and elect the first woman or the first African-American president in our history.
Madeleine M. Kunin of Burlington is a former governor of Vermont.
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