To be completely honest, I started my political career agreeing with Hilary Clinton. Clinton has been part of the political world for as long as I have known it, and she seemed qualified. She prided herself on being the gold star democrat, and I thought it was the truth, until I I realized something: Clinton isn’t the gold standard at all. The gilded campaign slogan she prides herself on is nothing but an illusion. The fact is, she will say anything to get into the presidential office. This fact has been backed up by years of flip-flop remarks, copied ideas and sneaky tricks like using “feminism” to bully female voters to vote for her. As a new female voter, I am being more conscious of what is being said about my gender, and the truth is that I don’t like Hillary Clinton as a presidential candidate, and believe it or not, it has absolutely nothing to do with her gender, even though she is spinning every comment about her campaign to be.
The most common topic proved by her flip-flop remarks started when someone noticed her gay marriage speeches. CNN moderator Anderson Cooper asked her if she “would say anything to get elected?” She stood behind her husband as he stood against gay marriage, but according to an article from an online site called Politfact as she ran for Senate in 2000, she said she supported civil unions. It only took four years for her to oppose a federal amendment for the recognize of same-sex marriage, stating that she believed a marriage “a sacred bond between a man and a woman.” But don’t worry, she still would support legislation if future New York governors enacted gay rights, even though she stopped it on federal levels. To no one’s surprise, when Obama was up for reelection in 2008, her political tone shifted, saying she had always supported gay rights.
Now Hillary is changing her tone, running on the “woman card” in which she relies on women to push her forward in the polls, with her supporters saying “if you don’t support Hillary, you aren’t a real woman.” Excuse me? Telling me I have to like a candidate because otherwise I am betraying my gender is only proving her campaign is as hollow as Trumps'. While his bullying is toward everyone, Hillary’s strategic bullying is what is unsettling to me. Our political system was meant for voters to put those who they believe will do the best, ethical, and moral job into office, regardless of what gender they are (in this century).
So while Clinton stands on the debate stage, soaking in the limelight she has craved since her loss to Obama, I will be sitting back, and praying a third party candidate will save our nation from the circus that will be Trump and Clinton.
