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Thursday, May 1, 2008

This Latina Wonders...

By Silvia Uribe

After all of these months of political campaigning, of heated arguments between candidates, and supporters, of an endless parade of political pundits dissecting each of the candidates’ words, attitudes, and moves, have you gotten a clear idea whether America is more racist or more sexist?

Hillary Clinton is criticized for speaking softly, aggressively or mid tone. When she talks about her vast experience, they say she is “same old, same old”, when she expresses her opinions she is too divisive, if she shows her emotions, she is “fake”; nothing that she says or does seems to be right. On the other hand, Barack Obama’s tone only needs a few adjustments…at times, they say. Since he lacks experience, he brings hope, and when he laughs about his opponent’s campaign, he’s not condescending, but he is addressing the issues; when he tells us that he didn’t know, after 20 years of attending the same church, about his pastor’s opinions…he is not lying, the argument is that in fact, he is hurt for having to distance himself from the “crazy” man.

And what’s up with the tone that the media uses lately referring to Clinton? Are they making fun of her because she doesn’t want to quit? 64% of democrats don’t want her to quit, and why would she? People should know by now that quitting is not women’s nature. Most women tend to hold on to, and take life commitments to completion. From raising their kids, to accomplishing great careers, they stick to their goals even in light of great difficulties and barriers of opposition and discouragement. Women can take on great responsibilities, including some that correspond to men, when they are not up to the game. Women are not quitters, what can I say! I think that the media loses respect and the already little credibility it has when making so common, but so unprofessional remarks.

If all of the above is not enough answer for you, you might want to consider the fact that Clinton’s detractors say that those white, middle age and middle class voters who prefer her are racist, but the black voters who prefer Barack are not blamed of the same; or how about Hillary’s overwhelming victories, some by incredible margins in Arkansas, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Ohio? All of them in the double digits! The media and the public down play them, but when Barack wins by similar or even smaller margins, those same voices are loud and prompt in praising his “colossal” victories to death.

Are we more racist or more sexist? I think I have my answer…what about you?

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This Latina Wonders... Does anyone remember Edwards criticizing Obama for praising Ronald Reagan and his politics at a campaign rally back in January? Edwards said then that “is not a good example of change for a presidential candidate running in the Democratic Party to admire Ronald Reagan, the man who busted unions, the man who did everything in his power to destroy the organized labor movement, the man who created a tax structure that favored the richest Americans against middle class and working families, ... " is Edwards so power starved now that he feels the need to support Obama?

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This Latina Wonders… have both Democrats and Republicans learned at least one or two things from this eternal race? How about not letting campaigns to be so long, huh? Or to set limits to campaign spending? If politicians are so good in their fundraising efforts, shouldn’t they raise money, for example, to serve people’s basic needs and not to spend so much in their advertising efforts? Millions and more millions! Isn’t it a slap on the face of those whose main priority is being able to get mental health services, or having food on their table, or a place to sleep, or better education, or for a lot of baby boomers, some certainty of a Social Security income when retirement time finally comes? If they raise money so efficiently, shouldn’t politicians have higher goals than mere self promotion, and shouldn’t we all choose to put our money to better use?

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And finally, I wonder… are the difficult days for America ending, so to speak, with the Bush administration? Or will they be prolonged with a series of more unfortunate events, starting with the next presidential election?


Silvia Uribe is a freelance writer with a Latino perspective.
Cross-posted at Edhat.com

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