Clinton or Obama – my choice
Jackie talks about being more pragmatic in our political choices as we get older, see below. I feel the same way, but my pragmatism has taken a different turn. George Packer’s article, “The Choice,” in the January 28 issue of the New Yorker points out that:
the alternatives facing democratic voters have been characterized variously as a choice between experience and change, between an insider and an outsider, and between two firsts–a woman and a black man.
None of these polarities resonate much for me in this race. I think Clinton has had to fight for everything she has gained and is probably in some ways as much of an outsider as Obama. Experience can be gained and change, while needed, is hard. And, I cannot cast my vote simply on the base of gender or race. Packer describes the most important difference between the two as between their “rival conceptions of the Presidency.”
Obama offers himself as a catalyst by which disenchanted Americans can overcome two decades of vicious partisanship, energize our democracy, and restore faith in government. Clinton presents politics as the art of the possible, with change coming incrementally through good governance, a skill that she has honed in her career as advocate, First Lady, and senator.
Based on the above, which I think is an accurate assessment, I’d be voting for Clinton; but my gut is telling me to vote for Obama – because I think he can get elected. It’s not fair, but many people seem to have a visceral hatred of Hillary, which has little to do with her record or qualifications. So, I think I’m going to vote for Obama, but I won’t really know until I fill out that little black box later today…