Older White Feminist
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| Also listed in: Hillary Clinton Democrats for Barack Obama | Nassau County Dems |
Until Obama became the presumptive nominee, I was a Hillary supporter. I wasn't a fervent supporter; I wavered back and forth between her and Obama. Her support of the war was always profoundly upsetting to me. I was unhappy with her campaign, with the racist remarks of some of her supporters. However, I was unhappy with Obama's vague rhetoric and skeptical of his commitment to the progressive principles and policies most important to me.
I have been a feminist for almost 56 years, since the nun preparing me for Holy Communion when I was 7 explained that the boys went up first, because they could be priests and were closer to God. Having five younger brothers increased my commitment to feminism every day. I was very active in the feminist movement of the late 60s and 70s. I was delighted to have four daughters; I am fiercely proud of the brilliant, dedicated, loving women they have become. As they start to have children, I am deeply discouraged that they face the same dilemmas combining careers and childrearing as I did.
The misogyny and sexism directed against Clinton sickened me. The mass media were the main culprits, but lots of progressive blogs weren't much better. I was disappointed that Obama and the DNC didn't condemn the media. I continue to be unhappy with Obama's silence about it.
Women and family issues are extremely important to me, and I was more confident of Clinton's commitment to fighting for them. Health issues are also important. I took care of my mother 24/7 for the last four years of her life and learned what a caregiving crises we face as a nation. Having a woman president was important to me.
My daughters, their guys, and most of my 15 nieces and nephews were for Obama. Most of the progressive blogs I read and comment on were for Obama. I felt like an outcast, constantly arguing with the people I had always agreed with politically. I promised them all that I would volunteer for Obama immediately after the primary season was over. That's why I am here.
With mixed feelings, I have read progressive blogs in the last week start to express the same skepticism about Obama's commitment to liberal causes that I experienced throughout the campaign. I am struggling to strike a balance between working my heart out for Obama and holding his feet of clay to the fire. Going to the center for the general election seems a losing strategy. I am pleased with the struggle within mybarackobama to convince Obama to change his position on FISA. As president, Obama will only be as progressive as his supporters pressure him to be.
Since JFK, I have always had doubts and misgivings about the Democratic presidential candidate. This year is no different. But I am 1000 percent committed to electing Barack Obama president and ending this disgraceful 8 years in US history..
I have been a feminist for almost 56 years, since the nun preparing me for Holy Communion when I was 7 explained that the boys went up first, because they could be priests and were closer to God. Having five younger brothers increased my commitment to feminism every day. I was very active in the feminist movement of the late 60s and 70s. I was delighted to have four daughters; I am fiercely proud of the brilliant, dedicated, loving women they have become. As they start to have children, I am deeply discouraged that they face the same dilemmas combining careers and childrearing as I did.
The misogyny and sexism directed against Clinton sickened me. The mass media were the main culprits, but lots of progressive blogs weren't much better. I was disappointed that Obama and the DNC didn't condemn the media. I continue to be unhappy with Obama's silence about it.
Women and family issues are extremely important to me, and I was more confident of Clinton's commitment to fighting for them. Health issues are also important. I took care of my mother 24/7 for the last four years of her life and learned what a caregiving crises we face as a nation. Having a woman president was important to me.
My daughters, their guys, and most of my 15 nieces and nephews were for Obama. Most of the progressive blogs I read and comment on were for Obama. I felt like an outcast, constantly arguing with the people I had always agreed with politically. I promised them all that I would volunteer for Obama immediately after the primary season was over. That's why I am here.
With mixed feelings, I have read progressive blogs in the last week start to express the same skepticism about Obama's commitment to liberal causes that I experienced throughout the campaign. I am struggling to strike a balance between working my heart out for Obama and holding his feet of clay to the fire. Going to the center for the general election seems a losing strategy. I am pleased with the struggle within mybarackobama to convince Obama to change his position on FISA. As president, Obama will only be as progressive as his supporters pressure him to be.
Since JFK, I have always had doubts and misgivings about the Democratic presidential candidate. This year is no different. But I am 1000 percent committed to electing Barack Obama president and ending this disgraceful 8 years in US history..
So much here that is actually appropriate today
Link
Welcome to the chorus and disregard the negativity which shows up at times.
peace,
marsha
I will, proudly and with no reservation, support Barack Obama for president.
I have said all along that I would vote for peace.
Both he and Sen. Clinton say they will bring the troops home but Obama's vote on cluster bombs sealed the deal for me.
It has been difficult for me. The Clintons are my age. I like them. I think they mean well. I have thought that they could make the changes we need and had the experience to do so quicker. I was encouraged by Hillary's GLBT stance on marriage, because I believe all people should have the right to love.
I held back on Obama. I read his book and cried, before the primaries ever started but, I was afraid he was too good to be true, a great man who was so idealist,(like me) that Washington would eat him alive. I was afraid I was being too emotional, voting with my heart instead of my brain. I was afraid he would have so much resistance that he would be unable to get anything done. I was afraid for him, after losing JFK, Dr. King, and then my heart, Bobby Kennedy as a young person. I was afraid he wouldn't get the support he would need in the GE, and then we'd get another republican.
ANOTHER REPUBLICAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
I WAS AFRAID HE WOULD LOSE, OR WE WOULD LOSE HIM.
Supporting Barack Obama is a moral and ethical decision, I have seriously weighed.
His vote to stop cluster bombs, tells me he is not in the pocket of the defense industry. That's huge. I needed to see that in the next president. He has shown me he has the support of powerful leaders that I respect. Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, Michael Moore, MoveOn.org, SF Chronicle, to name a few. He has shown he can win in difficult states. He has shown me he can energize people to have hope.
So, for civil rights, for racial equality, for healthcare, for honest government.
Most of all for Peace.
I am voting for Peace.
With Peace we can achieve change.
With Peace we can role back global warming.
With Peace we can provide healthcare.
With Peace we can build a new economy based on living technologies instead of deadly industries.
With Peace we can learn to look for the best in each other and accept that we are all Americans regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation.
Keep fighting the good fight
from another older white feminist
I too qualify as an older woman who is voting for Obama.
I have always been a bit of an idealist---expecting things of myself and others that are not always really possible. Because of that idealism, however, I intend to continue to let my two senators (both Republicans) and my local rep to know where I stand as a liberal and a feminist, even if I fail to live up to my own ideals at times.
Your story reminded me of a woman I have known for about 15 years named Margie, but whose last name will remain unnamed. She had four daughters, was Roman Catholic, and was a staunch feminist but one whom her local, liberal priest loved as much as I did as a United Methodist pastor.
Keep at it. I'm caring for my wife, now, and retired with poverty level income. Fortunately she has Medicaid or she would literally be dead. I have no health care coverage; but, so far, I'm OK. Also, I'm only 2 years from Medicare. My wife doesn't seem to be in any immediate danger of death; but she has a number of medical problems and lost her sight 8 years ago. She also is currently unable to walk and occasionally passes out for no known reason.
In other words, I have some idea of what you went through even though I'm a liberal Protestant, but one with a great appreciation for the good traditions of the Catholic Church and a hope for the elimination of the bad.
So yes, we should keep working for Obama and against McBush. And yes, we should also hold Obama's feet to the fire and encourage him to actually fight for the progressive values he advocates.
Oh yes, and thanks for this great blog entry!
Welcome! Please add me as friend on BarackObama.com..
name is Lincoln Park there
peace,
m
Peace.
Being a feminist, I was most disappointed in Hillary because I truly believe that if she had ran her campaign she would have won. Ironically, the problems she suffered was because she was listening to - MEN. She is a passionate woman on the issues we all face in America but unfortunately passion is a woman's word and did not resonate with the MEN handling her campaign. Mark Penn and all tried to make a MAN OUT OF HER instead of letting her be a STRONG WOMAN.
In response to your doubts. I had doubts about Obama and sometimes a few still surface. But there was one thing which solely placed me in Obama's camp and that was him reminding me and all Americans that we have always had the power to change Washington. Over the years, we have allowed the power mongers to convince us that we need them to get things done in Washington. That has never been true. We, the American people, shape the policies in Washington. This is called empowerment and I like being in charge. The other thing Obama said which sealed the deal for me was that there will be no black American, white American, etc. There will be on one America - the United States of America. This is something I have been desiring all my life because this notion includes all races and genders. I would no longer need to compete based on my race or gender - I could compete with my education and intelligence. As it should be.
Lastly, I know I do not want the unstableness of McCain. He cannot even pander to the specific groups he is trying to win over honestly. I cannot afford McCain.