Hillary, Barack, John & Women’s Economy

Dear Tracee,

What more do you people want?

She’s literally campaigning FOR her opponent. She’s signing over her delegates. Lots of political losers can barely shake hands with the winner.

There’s a certain number of the population who might vote for John McCain now that Barack Obama didn’t pick a woman VP. Especially if John McCain picks a woman as his VP. But, it won’t be because of Hillary.

I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t understand the appeal of this thinking.

At first I thought that’s crazy, it’s the politics. The healthcare, the economy, the war.

Then I thought, wait.

I no longer believe men – Republican or Democrat – are capable of acting in the best interests of women.

Men will act in their own self-interest.

Case in point, my husband voted for Barack Obama, though clearly Hillary Clinton was in the best interest of me, and my position in this economy and the workplace.

If women were that smart, we’d be a hell of a lot better off than we are today. Hell, if women acted in their own economic self-interest we’d have the brass ring of equality.

I don’t care how nice or good the men are or how much they say the right thing.

Women are entitled to be represented in our own government. We’re half the population. We’re half the economy.

It’s not passe, it’s not cliche to want that or to insist on it.

We should stop believing that Democrats are our only hope – we should start holding Republicans equally accountable to women. No one should get a free pass.

Both of these guys better realize that when they talk about “The Economy”
My economy and theirs are two different animals. My economy isn’t even the same as my own husband’s.

I don’t enjoy economic dependance and I’m fighting against it with my vote this year. Since reading The Feminine Mistake , by Leslie Bennetts, I now understand how “The Market” and “Family Pressure” is pushing women out of the workplace.

I, frankly, think that’s dangerous for me, my daughter, this society and our economy.

One of the best things I heard last night, and I believe it was the president of The White House Project, Marie Wilson who said it,

WOMEN are an underused and under-appreciated and underpaid VITAL resource for the economic future of this country.

If you think we can compete on the world stage in science, computer technology, health care, business, or any other industry without utilizing women as a fundamental resource then I think you don’t understand much about our economy, how it works, or the kinds of world pressures it’s under.

Women must stop acting and voting as if we’re okay with being on the clearance rack - 25% Off.

I want to see BOTH candidates offer me equal pay for equal work, I want to see both candidates realize that I want health care whether I work for a corporation or not, I want to see both candidates acknowledge that children exist and must be cared for by all employees. I want to apply pressure to both because it’s in MY best interest to increase my odds of getting it.

With Hillary, I felt it was a sure thing that these issues would get addressed as a high priority. She’s a woman so she gets how different her economy is from Bill’s.

With Barack, apathy while he deals with what HE feels is a higher priority of importance, is no better than the outright disregard of John McCain.

Some have suggested that it could only be a “twisted sense of loyalty to Hillary” that might make people reconsider their political interests.

This ignores the fact that lots of Republican women were willing to cross the Party Line to vote for themselves and their own personal economies, with a vote for Hillary. But may not be willing to do so for a man.

Let me assure you – my vote will come from a place of 100% loyalty to ME and my daughter’s future.

If Barack Obama wants my vote – he better make some promises to women and families. I’m talking about First 100 Days promises, not platitudes.

If John McCain wants my vote – he better make some promises to women and families.

Black Grandmothers

Image Source: Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me, my political loyalties lie 100% in the best interests of me and my daughter’s economics. Momsrising.org - that T-shirt I’m wearing, is applying pressure to both parties to make the economy of women and all families equal to that of men.