Another democratic primary season is coming to a close, and despite this season starting out with many qualified women, not a one remains in the race. Inside, I feel like 2016 all over again. Kick me now, lest I ever be able to stand up again.
In some ways, maybe this is better than 2016. At least I won't have to watch my gal lose to a monster.
In other ways, it's worse.
For a while, I could pretend that people uniquely hated HRC, so that must be why she lost. Maybe it was because she was a woman, but maybe...it was something else? (Please, let it be something else!) It wasn't qualifications. Our current president is not more qualified. As of right now, he's pretending that a virus that is spreading rapidly is a hoax brought to bring down his presidency. He's suggesting that a flu vaccine could be the answer and every day I am assualted by another news article about how he's let this get more out of control than it should have. And seriously, I could write this post any day in the past two years or until he's out of office and there will be an equally inane story about his incompetence to tell.
But now, with Elizabeth Warren's candidacy ending, I think it's appropriate to call a spade a spade. We hate smart women. We find them "condescending". And even though we promise that we personally like women and would vote for one - we just cannot do that this time because she's not electable. And truly, it is taking everything I have not to punch a friend who sent me a note about how I just have to vote for her old white guy because he is electable - even if my gal, Warren, is smarter and better at governing. And then followed it up with a remark about someone having a "social media tantrum" shortly after I called the plea to vote for her guy out for the BS that it was.
The stats on the share of people voting for Old White Guy who did so because they changed their mind in the last 48 hours before voting is punishing. Fear, no doubt, is a powerful motivator.
But I stand with women. [And I am nearly brought to my knees knowing that I will be at least FIFTY before I see a woman President and Helen will be driving. Don't tell my enlightened 12 year old self this because she will laugh at you if you tell her she has to wait until she's at least FIFTY to see a woman occupy the highest seat in government. She just knows we're better than this. - Sorry, 12 year old self, we were super wrong.]
One of my earlier political memories is that of Anita Hill. In 1991, just after I had graduated from high school, she testified before Congress that the Supreme Court nominee had sexually harassed her when he was her employer. The story gained a lot of traction, presumably, because the nominee had spent very little time actually being a judge. But we were assured he was an excellent choice because of his outstanding character. Anita Hill's testimony put that character in doubt.
That man sits on the Supreme Court, still. And every time I see a photo of him it burns me.
It's not easy to forget how Anita Hill was treated. And yes, I am fully aware Old White Guy has apologized profusely for how he crapped on Hill when he was a Senator and she was testifying. But that apology doesn't mean much when Thomas gets to sit on the Supreme Court - for life.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
You may have won, but I assure you, when Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the race - we lost.
Again.
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