Why not Hillary?

To the Contrary

By Jill Bossi - Jill Bossi

I am one of those Democratic female voters who finds herself in a conundrum because the actions of her own party. I have begun to really listen to "both" sides of this presidential debate, not the pundits or party loyalists, to distinguish which platform is really ready to change and which is really ready to lead.

I grew up in the turbulent times of the 1960s and 1970s, and I am a successful businesswoman today partly because of the strides women made then and continue to make now. However, I find it odd that Gloria Steinem in her recent column in The Herald presented her argument in favor of Barack Obama and Joe Biden by attacking McCain's choice of Sarah Palin, but never once questioning why Obama made his selection for vice president completely dismissing Hillary Rodham Clinton, who received the most votes during the primary season and who, unlike Senator Biden, was the most qualified candidate to be considered for the vice presidential slot on the Democratic ticket.

I thought back on how many times in my own career I been passed over for a male counterpart who was not as well qualified as I was, but who was part of the "good old boy" network that kept things humming along in business. How many barbs, innuendoes and outright insults did I endure while keeping a smile on my face, not objecting, but working within the framework created, because to do otherwise would damage the gains I had fought so hard to make? I watched as Hillary did the same things in the party that is hers and my own. She bravely and gracefully accepted defeat, providing strong support to Obama, even though his win was not based upon the vote but rather what clearly appears to be the political engine that had decided a male must lead the ticket.

Party unity

How quickly "unity" was used as the reason to bring Florida and Michigan back into the party after the threat of a close vote was silenced! How helpful it was to have the New York delegation's turn come up so quickly and Hillary announce her unwavering support for Obama -- all in the name of party unity! While we debate the issue of a female on the ticket of the opposing party, let us not delude ourselves into believing that Obama's race (even though we forget to remember his mother's race) did not play a significant factor in his ascension unto the political throne of the Democratic party.

Ms. Steinem questions why McCain did not select more qualified female senators such as Kay Bailey-Hutchinson or Olympia Snow. Why didn't Obama select Hillary, the one selection that would have assured the Democratic party of a solid victory in November! Or, if he and Hillary could not mend fences (although her gracious behavior would have indicated otherwise) why did he not select any one of many qualified female running mates in the Democratic party and capture the historic moniker for the party of both an African-American and a woman on the ticket? Instead, we Democrats are left to be attacking the Republicans for the "wrong reasons" they chose Palin or for the demographics of their convention instead of holding a shining beacon of equality and qualification on the mountainside for all to see.

Sexual inequality

I can't help but feel that the reason Hillary or any number of other Democratic female candidates is not on the ticket with Obama is the same reason we do not have true sexual equality in America. It is the same reason a woman still earns significantly less than a man for the same work. It is the same reasons (albeit they have lessened over the years) that NOW still exists -- the fact that sexism still exists and the "good old boy" network has not been defeated. And, with the current Democratic ticket, even with all the opportunities that this primary season presented for the Democratic Party, we still do not have equal representation on the national ticket.

No, we are still asking powerful women like Ms. Steinem to get out in front and use her gender as shield and protection to get in some well-placed barbs on the opponent. Physician heal thyself! Why do we look at the speck in our opponent's eye and not see the log in our own! Don't fool yourselves into believing that the selection that Obama made was not based upon "sharing a chromosome in common"! The boys played a good game to make sure the girls stayed out of it!

Those of us who were Clinton supporters and women in general have a very tough decision to make in November, and the reality is we may have to choose the "lesser of two evils." But neither may ultimately give us what we have all been fighting for and dreaming for these 40 years (lost in the desert of inequality) -- true equality in a nation that bases itself on the message of equality. I wonder when that day will dawn for us? I somehow believe that with testimonies such as the one Ms. Steinem delivered, we may not see it for another 40 years and that, ladies and gentlemen, is the saddest of commentaries upon our current political season!

This weekly column features opposing views from readers. These opinions are contrary to those expressed on this page or which otherwise take issue with something that appears in The Herald. All commentaries submitted become the property of The Herald and may be republished in any format.