Enough Stupidity Already

Let me preface this ensuing rant with the following disclaimer: I have nothing against democrats, liberals, or progressives, or whatever you want to call them by and large, but this specific viewpoint that keeps appearing in the news irritates me to no end, and it's not nearly as prevalent on the right side of the political spectrum. I find many things about the republican or conservative party irritating, and maybe someday I'll spout off about one of them, but today in the news I read two different articles about the pending Presidential election and both of them had one common element that I just can't stand.

Each one contained quotes of voters, in Florida this time though if you look for it you'll see it appears ubiquitously, saying they'll vote for Hillary "Because I feel it's about time for a woman President", or similarly for Obama "Because I feel it's about time for an African-American President". If this is your reasoning, please do us all a favor and unregister yourself before November.

I have no problem with anyone voting for Hillary or Barack, but I want that person to vote for them because they feel that this person is the most qualified to run the country, not because they're a specific minority. I'd ask that woman voting for Hillary because she's a woman if she would vote for Ann Coulter for the same reason? Or the man voting for Obama if he'd support Abu Jamal if he ran? Come on people, put a modicum of thought into your choices. If you support nationalized healthcare and education, by all means cast your vote for Hillary. This is the nature of democracy. If I thought that a transvestite, web-footed, albino Aleutian had the best ideas to solve America's problems and had the drive and integrity to work for those goals, I'd vote for...it. To say that you're voting for someone on the basis of anything other than their ability, your identification with their ideals, and your belief that they are best suited to run the country is a complete affront to our entire political system.

If Colin Powell had run, I probably would've voted for him. But not because I think it's high time we had an African-American man running the White House, I think he was a great candidate to lead the country. Race and gender should have no basis in whether your support a candidate. If because Hillary is a woman, shes more sensitive (which is a dubious position to take at best) then you can support her for her sensitivity, not for her womanhood.

Maybe the Republican party doesn't have this issue because they're all still living in the distant past where woman and minorities couldn't vote. Maybe they fear change, progress, and upsetting the status quo. That could very easily be true, and is a problem in and of itself. But that'll have to be a rant for another day.

Bottom line: please vote. But also please think about the candidate you are voting for and make sure you are voting for them because you believe in them, you're buying what they're selling, you think they are the person to put America back on track, not just because they're woman, an African-American, or even a Caucasian male, I guess it does go both ways.