Bam!

This country needs to just go ahead and elect a woman already. It's time. We all know it's time, are itching to just GET IT OVER WITH, get a woman in office and put an end to the questions of whether or not her PMS is going to interfere with her foreign policy. Hey, I'm a woman, and I'm an emotional wreck, but I'm not the kind of woman who is going to run for public office. The kind of woman who runs for public office has big, brass balls of her own that she wears on a pearl strand around her neck. The kind of woman who runs for office stands next to her husband while he's talking about whether or not he had his dick sucked by an intern and then the next year runs for Senate. Folks, Hillary isn't going to break into tears over much. She's a female politician, and she's tough. Give her the job. Let's get this over with.

I am going to vote for Hillary because this country needs practice accepting a female leader, and Hillary can handle being the first. She may not be the best candidate I can think of to be Leader of the Free World, but she's good enough to pave the path for better candidates of the female variety in the future. Allowing women to take a viable swing at our nation's highest office will bring twice as many candidates to the table in future elections.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

I'm voting for Hillary for the same reason I lost my virginity - holding onto it until I found the perfect guy was becoming such an elevated ideal that I was never going to find a guy perfect enough to deserve it, my purity, my lotus flower, my blooming womanhood.

I love it! This is awesome. Thanks for the reasons and the laugh.

This post might possibly be my favorite blog post of all time. Loved every word.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

LOVE THIS.

Disagree that Barack isn't ready, but agree on just about every thing else.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

The trouble is my first time wasn't so hot.

Terrific post!!

Really great post.

Being a Republicrat, I don't vote for the party, but for the best qualified person. In years past, there have been elections where I didn't have faith in any of the candidates, so I didn't vote - wasn't willing to cast a vote for one to ensure the loss of another.

While it is definitely time for a change, I'll reserve final judgment on whom I feel will be the best candidate to lead this crumbling country until we're in the final stretch - when all punches are pulled and the mudslinging begins. The better candidate will be the one to rise above the mudslinging and hold steadfast to their original platform(s). That, in my eyes, will distinguish the candidates between being just another "Politician" or a "True Leader."

jmo

Donna
Cold Coffee ...and reruns

I actually wrote a lengthy post last night with a very different perspective but I think your post is brilliant and I've edited mine to encourage everyone to read yours. I'm glad we are having this discussion.

PopConsumer
Beyond Help

I haven't decided who I'm voting for yet, but I agree with just about everything you said.

Years ago when I needed to hire my first lawyer, I went out of my way to find a woman because I decided if I was going to give my hard earned money to someone in such a white male dominated industry, I wanted it to be a woman, preferably of color.

Well I eventually found a woman who came highly recommended and she did my legal work for years. Then for no apparent reason she started to flake out on me. Work didn,t get done, deadlines weren't met and I could never get her on the phone. She eventually moved to another state and I haven't heard from her since.

My lesson? Still hire a woman. It's just as easy to complain about the crappy work of a woman as it is the crappy work of a man!

Megan
www.megansminute.com

US ranks 82nd in the world in female representation- voting in Hillary is the only thing that can change that.

Thank you for writing this. But I'm still undecided.

I am going to vote for Hillary because this country needs practice accepting a female leader, and Hillary can handle being the first. She may not be the best candidate I can think of to be Leader of the Free World, but she's good enough to pave the path for better candidates of the female variety in the future.

I needed a reason to believe in Hilary Clinton again; I'll take it. I swing far, far left, but I agree: Obama isn't ready.

Available Light & Five Dollar Radio

Man, you rule! Hard!

You make a compelling argument for voting for Hillary, but gah, I think it comes down to the fact that I don't align myself with moderate democrats. I want more radical changeosity...which is why I'm voting Edwards... I may have my chance to vote for Hillary yet.

Stefania Pomponi Butler

I like this idea. I've been watching from a European country as if at a tennis match. Person of color? Female? The American public is being forced to confront their prejudices both at once. I am not in love with either, but I will vote for Clinton in the expatriates primary.

USians like to think of themselves as world leaders, but we have been foot-dragging on the recognition of talents and abilities of women far too long. We are actually in denial about the possibilities of leadership in anyone but old white guys, yanno? Enough.

http://www.judithgreenwood.com/thinkonit/

I got pretty smeared in my comments when I did Week of Hillary on Surrender, Dorothy. I'm amazed and gratified that you can stay undecided regarding a vote without feeling the need to take me down for my positions. I think that speaks volumes to your character. I am proud to be a part of this group.

And Lisa, my company network won't let me comment on Typepad, but thank you for your post today. I heart you, too.

Surrender, Dorothy - When I was your age, we just let them ride in the back window.

Hey Rita,

I've been mulling this over. And you know, I can't remember if I commented on your first post on Surrender, Dorothy or not. But either way, here goes:

I love your conviction. I love your balls. I love that if this is the way you feel, you say it.

That said, I respectfully disagree. I think that electing the wrong woman to the White House will be more damaging to the cause of getting more women into higher office than waiting for the right one. Now, I'm not saying Clinton is the wrong one (she is, for me, but I'm not trying to convince anyone of that, and it's beside the point), but I do wince a little when I see your continued assertion that you really don't care if she's right or not.

When did electing someone on the basis of their gender become acceptable? I want to see a woman in office, sure. Not BECAUSE she's female, though. I'd also like to see a leader of color, but voting for Obama BECAUSE he's black isn't okay with me, either.

Our democratic process (which, yes, okay, isn't actually a democracy, I know) is SUPPOSED to be about selecting the best candidate. The best person for the job. Even if you want to put that aside and say "this will blaze the path for change in the future" you have to consider the possibility that such logic can backfire, badly, if your first representative of the group you want to further isn't an absolute rockstar.

And you know I say all of this in the spirit of debate, and have enormous respect for you. I just don't happen to agree.

--
Mir Kamin
(BlogHer Mommy & Family contributing editor)

Personal: Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Having it all with less: Want Not

I like that you can respectfully disagree. And no, if she were a Republican, I wouldn't vote for her, so I'm not voting for her on the basis of gender alone. I know I make my arguments brazenly to get attention, but that point does seem to get lost in the mix. Your reaction is common, and I don't take offense. I think your points are valid - I just don't think that's the point I'm making.

Surrender, Dorothy - When I was your age, we just let them ride in the back window.

I loved this post. I agree with almost every word, except I love Edwards and do think he is more than ready.

I'll take Hillary and Edwards in any combination.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

I'm voting for Hillary for much the same reasons.

All things being equal, if a male candidate and a female candidate are equally qualified, have similar positions on the issues etc. etc. it's time for the female candidate. In this case Hillary.

Now of course, things are never entirely equal, and they aren't here either. On most scores, I do give the edge to Hillary anyway, for a number of reasons, but even if she and Obama and Edwards were for all intents and purposes, equally qualified, and so on, I would pick Hillary.

Because I agree. It is LONG past time.

My first time. Oy. With a politician no less!

Anyway, the point for me is that I would take the woman with a lot of experience and a demonstrated commitment to doing good in the world over the man with a very little bit of experience and a demonstrated commitment to wanting to do good in the world.