Weigh Hillary’s sex like Obama’s race

Your Views
Wisconsin State Journal - Opinion Page

Thursday guest columnist Dan Wohl acknowledged Sen. Barack Obama’s race is “a huge part of the equation “for his decision to support him.” But I wondered whether he and his demographic feel similarly about the political significance of Hillary Clinton’s gender. Couldn’t this also be a legitimate reason for young people to support her?

After all, hasn’t sexism had a much larger destructive political influence in human history than racism? This has probably been the case in American history as well. Certainly all Americans can be proud to see two such wonderful Americans running for President of the United States. And like Wohl, I think both candidates are similar in policy and other respects.

I lean toward Clinton, however, because she has much more international experience. And because she is a woman she is more likely to have a broader, inclusive, compassionate and generous world view. It is way past time that we give the other sex an opportunity to lead our nation, and world peace should transcend all the other issues we now face.

When I weigh Mrs. Clinton’s life experiences and her character and integrity as a person, I have to believe that she has been called to lead our nation. Her daring posturing toward the right of center, for better or worse, is calculated only to secure her election in an otherwise polarizing political environment.

Unlike Wohl, who wrote that if Obama loses Wohl will feel devastated, as a 72-year–old life-long Democrat, I will be happy if either Democratic candidate wins in November.