Race or gender: not a way to choose

Author: Rosa Maria Young

This is beginning to be too much. Some days watching the democratic candidates giving speeches, at rallies and debates, pretending to be what they are not, I wonder at how they are able to keep it up. They seem to have a stamina that we, the voters, are beginning to lose. And not just the ordinary voters but those whose jobs depend on reporting the news. I believe those especially have lost it. And I hope it is just through exhaustion and not through malice. One day they seem to be acolytes of Obama and ready to attack Clinton physically (think about Keith Olbermann) and the next they are spreading doubts about the resilience of Obama. Nothing wrong with that, one could say that is the way they should be: objective. Only that is not what they are. At least that is the impression I have gained reading their articles and watching them on TV. They act more like rabble-rousers cheering the opponents to see if they destroy each other. And my friends, their wish might come true. If this goes on, we will see Cindy decorating the White House and John charging against Iran. Does this sound good to you “President John Mc Cain and First Lady Cindy?”

The party leaders are obviously fearing that a nomination fight could wreck their chances of winning the White House in November. Before Senator Clinton’s victory in Pennsylvania there were noises about asking her to quit. A fighter that she is, he would not have done it. With her tenacity, she might have done the country a great favor by continuing campaigning. Popular votes, primaries, caucuses, delegates etc. aside, she is the candidate that can fight against the republicans and win in November. Again, think about “President McCain.”

The Obama camp is vociferous about him having most of the popular votes. Well, counting both Florida and Michigan, Hillary has moved ahead in the popular vote tally. I can hear the shouts already about this. And I will answer them by asking, did the voters in Florida and Michigan go to the polls and vote or not? The answer being yes, I will ask, were the votes cast by American citizens or not? The answer being yes, those votes were then popular votes. That the Democrat Party decided not to count them is where the problem lies. I am a Floridian, and I am very upset that my vote could count for nothing. Senator Clinton has asked repeatedly that those votes be counted or that people vote again. Senator Obama is completely against that. I understand the reasons of both of them. But if we live in a democratic country should the will of the people be ignored? For those democrats who answer yes (we all know who they are) I say, do it at your own peril. Coming November, during the general election, how do you think those two states are going to vote if you have disfranchised them now? More sure than ever think “ President John McCain.”

More and more there is talk of the possibility of the nominee being chosen by the superdelegates. And one of the reactions to this is what is more disturbing to me. In an article on Saturday April 26th in the Washington Post I read: “…many African American leaders say a Clinton nomination — handed to her by superdelegates — would result in a disastrous breach with black voters.” And the article went on to say that House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (S.C.), the highest ranking African American in Congress, warned yesterday. “I’m telling you, if this continues on its current course, [the damage] is going to be irreparable.”

What will happen then if the superdelegates choose Obama? Will many women, older people and white blue collar workers break away from the party? Is this what the country has turned into, voting for a candidate because he or she is from our race or gender? If so, we deserve to lose and be prepared to have “President John McCain.