Is The United States Ready For A Woman President?
Posted by Catherine Morgan on January 20, 2007
by © tatonga
IS THE UNITED STATES READY FOR A WOMEN PRESIDENT? — by Catherine Morgan
As a woman, I want to believe that answer to this question is yes. As an objective observer, I have to wonder. In reading comments on other forums, and listening to the commentary on news programs….There seems to be a lot of hate Hillary banter going on. I don’t have a problem with anyone who dislikes a politician based on their abilities to do the job or their qualifications. However, most of what I have been hearing has less to do with her qualifications, and more to do with her being a woman. Quite frankly, I take offense to it.
I wouldn’t consider myself pro-Hillary. At this point, I still want to wait and hear debates and get more facts before I commit to one opinion or another. But one opinion I am ready to commit to is…My lack of faith in the general voting public to vote for a candidate that is best qualified for the job. When did we start caring more about whether we would want to have a beer with the candidate, then whether the candidate has an ounce of common sense? Am I the only one who just doesn’t get it?
I think, if we don’t get our “collective” acts together for this next election…And actually elect a candidate based on his or her qualifications and not their likability – This country is going to be in an even bigger mess than we are now. The truth is, we need more than just a good president, we are really going to need a miracle worker. I just wonder if we as voters are going to be up to the task, and get passed our “American Idol” voting mentality. But, I sure hope we can.
So…Are we ready for a woman president? I would like to know what you think. I know I am ready. If Hillary can prove herself as the best candidate, I will surely vote for her. And if she wins, it will be one small step for women, and one giant leap for America. I for one would be proud to see a woman as the President of the United States of America.
Food for thought: What if both the Republican and Democratic Parties ended up with women as their candidate for the Presidency??? That’s a mind blower??? May the best woman win????
Well, tell me what you think…After-all, that’s what this blog is all about.
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Let us know what you think on some of the other issues in politics today…..just go the the WHAT DO YOU THINK? link.
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john said
Stumbled on this blog from Nabil’s blog.
I’m in New Zealand, a country that has a female Prime Minister, has had for 8 years now. We’re doing fine. You may recall Maggie Thatcher, the “Iron Lady” who ran the UK for about the same time. Germany has a female Prime Minister, Indira Ghandi ran India for a long time. Golda Meier in Israel?
In world terms, a female leader of a nation is not that remarkable. In asking is the US ready for one, are you implying that the US might be a bit behind in the march of civilisation and progress?
What puzzles me is the current position of your President. All the above examples (except Germany, I dunno) have variations of the Westminister parliamentary system, in which the Prime Minister is also the leader of her party, and must maintain a majority in Parliament in order to govern. I’ve heard of “checks and balances,” but the present situation, where the Executive remains in power, although it has effectively lost its majority in “Parliament,” seems to me to be an inherently inefficient way of governing. Basically, you seem to be about to waste or lose two years of administration because of a “lame dog” situation.
Should you be asking about other changes before worrying about the sex of the President?
Catherine Morgan said
Hi John….Unfortunitally, the way the US governement works….that is exactly what is going to happen. Until the 2008 election we more than likely will see little to no real change in our government.
kelly said
I thought your post was rather funny and I agree it would be one small step for women and one giant step for America. I had to laugh when I read this and so did Bill. Cause we’re awesome like that. The only reason it seems more people vote for American Idol than President is because you basically get the same obsessed people voting the whole time and more than once and there isn’t an age limit. PSHHHHHHHHHH.
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks for clearing that up for me Kelly. I’m glad you like the site. Tell Bill I said “hi”.
kelly said
how can I get a little picture on the corner of MY post like that? Its pretty flippin sweet!
Bill doesn’t say hi in fact hes like grrrrr
and thats a direct quote. Perhaps I should put in quotes.
“grrrrr”
there.
Now you know he said it.
Ta-Ta
yachtscrew said
I agree with the well stated by John. I spent three years of the last 5 in Australia, and had to wonder about the state of that union.
The “Leader” of the governing party had millions of people in the streets demonstrating against Howard’s decissions on imigration, troops sent to Iraq, a “Free Trade” deal with the US, among others. I watched a “Peace” march in Mackay abuse Howard’s party representative who had the audacity to address them on the reasons Australia was going to war in Iraq.
Mr. Howard did not have the majority of votes cast in the election, yet insisted on his “mandate” to rule.
What I’m getting at is that many so called democratic governments do not represent the majority of the citizens. The jurymandering that goes on makes a mockery of democracy.
As to whether a woman can lead the country? Definately! Would she do a better job? Good question. Keep in mind, the political scene is all about Power and Money, not about who can do the best job.
Just look at who’s in there now.
Catherine Morgan said
“Yachtscrew”…Thanks for your comment. You are 100% correct.
Denise said
I think the Prez should get a 1 year trial period. If they don’t begin – to do what they promise they were going to do – in the first year, they’re out. I bet we’d have a heck of a lot less lying going on.
Also, I gave up voting when they stopped counting my vote in Florida. If they can’t count them up correctly, I am not going to waste my time. No one can prove one way or the other on the accuracy and until they can prove to be accurate, I’ll just wait. Further, the fact that George got voted in two times is a prime example of government manipulation of voting, in my opinion.
When they get the machines fixed, stop lying, manipulating, and trying to be the biggest man on campus, I’ll start voting again. But for now, I’m just shaking my head…. in agony.
Denise said
I don’t care if the Prez is a woman or a man. I just would like someone with half a brain.
tamino said
I think Hillary Clinton would make a fine president. But I also think she’d be the worst possible choice as democratic nominee in 2008.
Hillary strongly polarizes the voting public. Some love her, some hate her with a burning passion. We don’t need more divisiveness today, we need more coalition. Also, her rhetoric is often inflammatory, which doesn’t undermine her ability to be a good president, but does seriously compromise her ability to be a winning presidential candidate.
I’d love to see a viable female candidate. But from my perspective, the candidate who has a good chance to gain the democratic nomination, but also has the most chance of being defeated in the general election, is Hillary Clinton.
When I talk to Clinton supporters, they’re angry; when I talk to opponents, they’re angry too. When I talk to supporters of Gen. Wesley Clark, or of Sen. Barack Obama, they have hope and optimism. The republicans have given us an overdose of vitriol for the last decade or more; we don’t need to invite more.
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks “Tamino” and “Denise” …………. you are both correct, and I can really relate to your comments. But to “Denise”……No matter how bad you think it is you really need to vote. I won’t claim to know that your vote is being counted, because I agree with you on the whole “manipulation of voting thing”….But, it is my belief that part of the “manipulation” is also to frustrate and anger people NOT to vote. Believe me, I want to through my hands up and just say “I give up!” too. But then “they” definitelly win. So not only would we be playing right into their hands but we would also be allowing our government to become even more of a dictatorship than it already appears to be becoming.
orshouldi said
My answer to that is absolutely not. If you consider what makes a candidate electable in the eyes of the populace at large, it’s those kind of expectations that keep women and minorities out. People stopped supporting Howard Dean the moment he went “rawr”. There’s just too much support for the rich, charismatic, Christian white guy, rather than caring about a candidate’s capabilities and politics.
syed1 said
My answer is absolutely yes. May be US women have a heart for peace and poor countries in the world. Because the men of US are failed in this field.Women President are new test for World.
Beth said
I wish that the sex of a person is all that got me going on a candidate for any office. Same for race. On and on… as a person, outside of all of the exterior things (sex, race, etc…) I wouldn’t vote for her, but I would be ready for a powerful, more conservative woman to run our country. I just don’t believe that Hillary is “it.” In fact, I think a lot of people would vote for her just to have Bill Clinton backing her up.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Beth….That’s an interesting way to look at it. Thanks for your comment.
kendrik2 said
Personally, I would love to see Barack win the Presidency. I would not have a problem with Hillary winning the office. However, I do believe that if either is elected, there is a good chance that we could see some right-wing nut take a shot at either of them. I hope this never happens, but there are some very strong viewpoints in some parts of the country.
Nice article.
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks for your comment “Kendrik2″.
fifthdecade said
I’m not American but if I could vote I’d probably vote for Hilary. While she is said to have a lot of “Hilary Haters” against her, these people would probably vote Republican anyway, so who cares? But I think you need to think of the alternatives – not on the Democrat side, but of letting the Republicans back in again. Can you imagine the damage that would be done if that happened?
I think the people of America, and of the World, deserve a change from the NeoCons who have consistently said one thing and done another. Not for nothing is Con the right name for them. Do Americans really think being lied to as they have is acceptable behaviour for a Presidential Party?
As for having a woman as President, why not? In most households it is the woman who runs the household, and the man who buys all the toys. IMO what America needs now is someone who can restrain themselves from buying yet more toys on an overdraft and instead spend the money on the American family.
Catherine Morgan said
I agree….thank you for your comment.
David Flores said
I dont think our nation is ready for a change in the presidency. Women have to stay at home and do their job their. No women is ready to face a nation of crisis. For example, if a women is president she would problably do horrible things like George bush but worst. a women is not ready to enter the politician side. We should keep the presidency the way it is with all men. And if you agree with me just send an e-mail to dragonflyspaceboy@yahoo.com. UNITED WE STAND!!!!
Catherine Morgan said
Respectfully disagree…..for more reasons than I actually care to elaborate on.
in2thefray said
When the candidate is of any real substance the answer is yes. As faras ‘08 is concerned it will only be due to a bad default decision.
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks for the comment.
Miseria-Cantare said
I’m for and against it, I mean I watch T.V. like alot…and studies have proven that because of the way a woman’s brain operates she is more emotion-driven, and I think that might affect the rational choices she might make.
However, I also agree that we do need a change, to make this patriarchal society a little different. It might be interesting to see what a woman would do differently than a man.
All in all, I think that a woman should be elected if she has the skills and abilities necessary to govern an entire country, it’s all about capability and man or woman both, I don’t want my country, where I live my life, in the hands of someone who can’t make a responsible, rational decision that will affect me in the future.
PalMD said
So, I’m late to the party here, but I hear a ton of criticism against Hillary…all of it calling her an opportunist, etc…in other words, no different from any other candidate. She is intelligent, knows politics, knows how to get things done. I can only assume the criticism leveled against her is because she is a woman (albeit perhaps unconsciously). People feel they cannot trust her, even though she is no more or less trustworthy than any other candidate based on the facts.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi “PalMD” — I agree, most of the criticism about Hilary is because of her personality, and her personality is no different from every other “male” politician running for president. If people don’t like Hilary it should be because they disagree with her opinions on the issues, not her personality.
ckamp said
I agree with Beth’s analogy. I think I’d vote for Hillary just to have Bill back in the White House, even though I know he would not have the decision-making powers he had as President. In spite of their past “couple troubles” I think they made a good team politically. Maybe this time Hillary’s prior work on health reform issues would come to fruition. My main concern is to have a candidate, male or female, that is qualified and really commited to what’s best for our country and its people.
Judith Beal said
Its seems to me, that the only people that dislike Hillary are right wing republican men. I really would like to know why? Is it because she is very smart and accomplished? Is it because she doesn’t take a back seat to anyone. Is it because republican men suffer from a condition known as “tiny peepee syndrome”. Do they feel they have to hate her because the party says they must?
I would think it would be source of pride, that at last we have a woman on the world stage, with guts and smarts. She will never be an object of ridicule, nobody will ever call her a “MORON”, might call her something else, but not to her face. I am glad she is not some simpering idiot going on about a pet project, she knows nothing about.
She is not now nor will she ever be a “stepford woman”. I would be proud to call her MADAME PRESIDENT!
in2thefray said
Judith it’s because many people see her as a anti Constitution socialist.
Anthony said
NO!!
Hillary should not become president it’s not right for a women to be a president in america we see women as stay at home moms that is a luxury we give them in others countries do they give their women that i think not!! It is also just curiousity what if a women was president what if we had a women make decisions for us people start to get these ideals and its not right. I’m not saying a women can’t do it but it just isn’t right even in the bible it says that a women is under a man it was adam who was made before eve and it was eve that was decieved by the serpent not adam.
Catherine Morgan said
“Anthony” — I have to assume you are just trolling for controversy and attention.
Nikki said
hey i dont think we’re ready for a woman. i am all for many womens rights but not this. only b/c i see how many countries think and treat their women. They treat them like they aren’t as good as men and that a man is in control. If we had a woman president they’d see that as a weakness on our country and try to use it to their advantage. remember alot of countries out there do not support us.
Oscar said
I believe America is ready for a Madame President. Now we have Hillary, and I truly believe our nation is wasting great time and energy in denying her this privilege. I believe Hillary is ready to become president since day one, although I have to admit that people hate or love her, but as manyhave said, Bill will be an asset in her presidency. Let the marital problems out the political campaign and see clearly the best choice. Gender is not a problem – neither is race – in case you ask. But I sincerely believe that Hillary is the best candidate, the one Republicans fear the most, and nominating Obama will be a win from the Republicans and others.
frances said
my question is what if the war comes to be world war 3? what if a women is elected to be presdient? what would happen? what would she do? and i know that there are people to tell her what to do in that place and time but why are we not taking the time to realize what we need to do?? so in my opinon i think that our nation is not infact ready for a women presdient. although i know that it would be an infact change in our nation and it would be a change and help us realize that we need a change but if we did have a women president it might be to late to go back if she makes a huge mistake. so thank you for reading my opinon on the presidentsy.