Yes, more politics

Ok, so I was on the AC360 blog...I'm not going to lie because I'm waiting for them to release the Beat 360 photo for today because damnit, I can be clever and I want Anderson Cooper to say my name out-loud. And then I would totally make that shit my phone ring tone for all eternity.

Anyway, so there was this article by Randi Kaye about black women in SC and how they are faced with the decision if they vote their race or their gender, which is either a silly question or the question that people just don't want to talk about in those terms because we like to think the political process is at least somewhat issue driven.

But anyway, it occurred to me that I don't think this election would have been as civil as it has been if not for the fact both Hillary Clinton and Obama are running.

So, let me explain what I mean. The Democrats pride themselves on being the party of tolerance, the party that reaches out to all groups, independent of race, class, gender, sexual orientation. They are the party of social diversity, so, it only makes sense that they would run the first serious contenders who are female or black. Now, I believe Clinton and Obama want the same things for the country, but they are fundamentally different in the approaches they say they will take to achieve these goals. There is a difference between the two, so there is a decision to be made among voters. Do you prefer someone who would be very involved in the process and work to encourage people to take part, or someone who wants to be a visionary and inspire people to take part. Policy-wise, they're not terribly different. Last time I checked the main thing was Clinton believes in mandated health care coverage and Obama believes we can achieve it without a mandate.

Ok, so to continue with my point. Two similar, but not identical candidates, both from minority groups that are underrepresented in the government in general, and have never come close to the presidency (sorry Geraldine Ferraro!) But, this essentially allows Clinton and Obama to attack each other more than they would if either one of them was a white male. "But, Indira, you said that this whole situation made the primaries less vicious, how so?" Could you imagine how any comment from a white male would come across attacking either of these candidates? That white male would be labeled racist or sexist instantly, even if they were attacking on legit policy points. The media would then pick up on that and run with it for days and days. They do that now, but imagine that alternate scenario where one of them was not running. It would give the perception of a bloodier campaign than what we have now. Also, supporters of the white male would be given similar labels of being bigoted. Right now, the voters who support Clinton can be commended for voting for a woman. The voters siding with Obama, the same. Even if it splits along racial or gender lines, both sides are showing faith in candidacies that were never before possible. Whatever people's private prejudices are, you can vote for either and come away feeling like a good social liberal.

So, while the candidates have more leeway to tear each other apart, party members have less reason. I think that only in this situation, with both a woman and a black man running for the nomination, could a complete division in the Democratic party be avoided. No matter what the pundits say (and you know I love the pundits, except you, Tucker Carlson) I think that once there is a nominee, those who believe in what the Democrats stand for will rally behind the candidate. Not only because it makes them good social liberals, but because, when it comes right down to it, both are advancing messages we can believe in, hopefully not only as Democrats, but as a nation.

I just want to add something at the end here, for those who do not know about my particular political leanings. I absentee balloted already (since I'm abroad) for Hillary Clinton, but I would be more than happy to vote for Obama in November. I am the only member of my family actually registered as a Democrat, though, and mom can maybe back me up on this, we all lean to the left. While I respect my parents' and brother's decision to remain as registered independents, I do believe very strongly in the ideals of the Democratic party, even as they may falter in practice on occasion. I'm also super excited that it might be cool to call yourself a liberal again in Washington.