That "Proud Democrat" Part

Sorry, Dear Reader(s), no pretty pictures today. For those of you not interested in politics, you may be excused, I guess, but please don't bury your head in the sand so far as to be uninformed when you go to vote. I have been struggling for months with the Democratic primary race. The Clintons are important to me. I was just a kid when JFK was elected, and a freshman in college when he was killed, so Camelot was short lived for me. My President was Bill Clinton, and my ideal of a First Lady was Hillary Clinton. I agreed with their politics and was thrilled to be out from under the Reagan years, a man who's mystique I never understood. I was then, and still am, impressed with Hillary's intelligence, knowledge and activism. I was appalled and angered by the constant attacks on them by the conservative right, the experts in divisive politics. I rejected the so-called Moral Majority, who's actions spoke louder than their words of hatred. Morality is so much more that one's sexual activity. I consider the Iraq war to be the height of immorality. So I dreaded the prospect that Hillary might run for president because it would bring all that evil and hatred out of the woodwork again. At the same time my admiration for her kept me in her camp and I went to our local caucus as her supporter. When the signs were obvious that she would not be the candidate, quite some time ago, I had such mixed emotions. I wanted her to be the first woman president! But I was also fearful that those very strengths that make her so admirable might also be her downfall in the male dominated world of politics, since Hillary often knows more than most of them and is not easily talked into compromise. I was also just barely hoping that Barack Obama might be able to pull off the change he was promising, that he might be able to usher in a new era of politics, where government provides stability and cooperation internationally and help to those who need it at home. You know, it has always amazed me that so many who call themselves Christians don't seem to remember the words of Jesus, words about love and brotherhood, when it comes to voting. Now the campaign is over. I listened to Hillary's speech Saturday, and when she finished, I had tears in my eyes. I still admire her greatly and believe in her goals for this country. She is a fighter and would not be talked into quitting until everyone had their chance to vote. All those male pundits who had called for so long for her to quit never understood what this race meant to her, and to many women like me. Of course I will support Barack Obama, but right now I want to honor Hillary Clinton for her inspirational run for the White House, and to rejoice in the fact that she will still be in Washington fighting for those causes in which I also believe.