Super Tuesday February 7, 2008

I didn’t make it to the caucus on Super Tuesday, and to be honest, it was probably a good decision. We had record turnouts in Lawrence, KS, and people stood in line in the freezing drizzle for up to 90 minutes. Then they were packed in, shoulder to shoulder, in the midst of cold and flu season. I have been sick most of the winter, and I just couldn’t face it. I’m sorry I missed the excitement, but Obama won so overwhelmingly in KS that my vote wasn’t missed. I lay at home, snug in bed, hemmed in by 2 dogs, and switched back and forth between CNN and MSNBC. Every time CNN started fiddling with their new toy, the “point and touch zoom board,” I flipped, and every time Chris Matthews opened his mouth on MSNBC, I flipped back.

It was an interesting night, and since John Edwards dropped out of the race, I have vacillated between Hillary and Obama, finally deciding on Obama because of Hillary’s support for the war. It was great to see him racking up states, as I believe he can bring about change.  At the same time, I was also very proud to see Hillary winning her share. I realize that Obama’s campaign is as much of a first as Hillary’s, but he’s still a male, and in my book therefore still has the edge. As a woman, witness to misogyny and sexism on a frequent basis, I was worried that America still wasn’t ready, still resisted the idea of a woman in charge of our country, despite the existence, past and current, of multiple female heads-of-state around the globe. But apparently, many of us have come a long way baby, and Hillary is a truly viable option. I will absolutely support her if she is the nominee, and frankly, I hope she and Barack end up on the same ticket.

I know, of course, that these results are based on my party only. The Republicans, those lovers of the barefoot and pregnant homemaker, don’t seem at all ready for a  woman in the White House, although if Condi Rice–perish the thought!–were in the running, how fast would they change their tune? Hmmm, and could she get oral contraceptives on her government health plan? 

By the way, that thought–Rice for President–is the best argument I can think of against anyone who would tell me it’s my duty as a woman to support a candidate simply based on gender.

My evening ended with an email from Barack, who, it seems, understands the personal, best-friends tactic incredibly well. 

“Karen,” it said, and here I paraphrase: “we’ve won in Kansas, thanks to you. Michelle and I couldn’t be happier.” It was signed simply, “Barack.”  I’m used to getting emails from my congressman that routinely tell me why he doesn’t give a shit about what I think, and end “God Bless You?” (I’m serious). Barack’s personal missive was a breath of fresh air.

So I snuggled down with the doggies, and nodded off to sleep in a land where new possibilities exist–the possibility of a black president, the possibility of a woman president–and I was content.