A Facebook friend posted this on my timeline this morning:
Hey, I want to start this out that I really like you. I respect your opinion. I look forward to reading what you are up to and what you are thinking. I watched the debates. I know where you stand on the politcal side and I respect your opinion. I want to ask you a few questions. I don't want you to defriend me. I just don't know how you can lean towards Clinton.? Trump is no better than she is. I also know that you like Obama as well. That is your opinion and I respect that. I voted for him as well. A couple of observations. Hillary is talking about bringing back jobs back from other countries. Correct me if I am wrong? When Perot was running, he had mentioned, if AFTA is passed? We are going to hear the sucking sounds of all of our jobs are going to other countries. Clinton passed those laws. Now, Hillary is going to try to bring them back? My Mom lived in ARK when he was Gov. He pulled some shady deals back then. The people wanted him out. They got their way and he headed to Washington. Respectfully waiting your response. Thanks in advance.
Instead of responding there, I thought I would just do a blog entry and answer it here. I am overdue for this endorsement, anyway! I’ll take everything one-by-one.
First, thank you for respecting my opinion and asking about my thoughts on the matter.
I’m not sure why you are wondering how I can “lean towards Clinton.” It’s pretty obvious that I’m a Democrat and tend to vote that way. I have occasionally cast votes for principled Republicans, like Richard Lugar. Trump is not a principled Republican. In fact, I’m not even sure he’s a Republican. (Sometimes I wonder if he’s a human being, but the lizard people conspiracy theory can wait for another day.)
I support Democratic policies. Democrats care about things like climate change, education, marriage equality, women’s reproductive rights, healthcare for all, lifting people out of poverty and helping them with security nets, creating jobs, increasing taxes on the wealthiest among us while giving tax breaks to the middle class and the poor, as well as numerous other issues. I believe that our federal government can be a vital part of moving our country forward and ensuring that all Americans have a fair chance. I align almost completely with Democrats and very rarely with Republicans.
Why wouldn’t I vote for the Democrat? Especially one who has proven to be eminently qualified for the job? Secretary Clinton has spent her life working to help others, whether as First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the United States, United States Senator, or Secretary of State. She is smart, I believe she cares about Americans, she knows how to keep her cool even when everyone around her is losing their shit, and she does the hard work necessary to be informed about every issue. Everything the Republicans have thrown against her over the years has proven to be a big ol’ nothingburger. I honestly don’t know what has driven the extreme hatred of her on the right—and even sometimes on the left—but I don’t doubt that there is an element of misogyny among many of her detractors. Not all...some just don’t like her. I’m not sure what has driven that, either, but it’s obvious that those people will never change their opinions and I’m done arguing with them.
Contrast that with the know-nothing Trump, who seems to wallow in his own ignorance. Anyone who knows me well knows that a quality I despise in people is willful ignorance. It’s one thing to admit that you don’t know something but want to learn about it and quite another to admit it and say that you don’t care and don’t need to know. If you are running for the most powerful position in the world, yes, you DO need to know. He is a misogynistic, sexist bully who thinks that women are nothing more than bags of meat for him to grope as he sees fit. Only if they are of a certain age, though. Once they get past a certain point, it’s time to ditch ‘em!
Trump talks about how a vote for Clinton is a vote for a third Obama term. I say, “Yes, please!” Contrary to what Trump would have you believe, we’re doing pretty well after two terms of President Obama. Unemployment is way down, the deficit has been drastically reduced, the stock market is doing well, and millions of Americans now have access to healthcare. Do we have problems we need to address? Of course! When do we not? I’d much rather have the cool hand of Hillary Clinton at the helm than a bloviating, sexist pig who doesn’t pay his fair share in taxes and who has the temperament of a toddler throwing a temper tantrum.
As for NAFTA or other trade agreements causing a massive loss of American manufacturing jobs? Nope. Most analyses show that it’s due to an increase in productivity and automation. Many parts are made in the U.S., so even if cars are assembled in Mexico, there are still American workers doing those jobs here. I’m also not sure why that is germane to my support of Hillary Clinton. NAFTA was passed by Bill Clinton’s administration, and Hillary is the one running for President in 2016. Not Bill.
Anecdotal “evidence” that goes something like “I have a friend who worked with a guy who was a cop in Arkansas when the Clintons were in office” mean nothing to me. That’s like a game of telephone and it’s how urban legends take root and get told as factual. I prefer to deal with facts.
The statement I see from some friends on both the left and the right that Hillary and Trump are equally as bad is absurd. Fact-checkers have rated her the most honest of recent politicians, second only to President Obama. The least honest? Trump. This is long enough, so I don’t even want to go into why Trump is a danger to our Constitution, our country, and possibly even the world. He is a demagogue and a dictator wanna-be who would be, to use one of his favorite words, a disaster.
To sum up, I am not just “leaning” towards Clinton. I am also not voting against Trump. I am enthusiastically and happily supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton and I will be proud to cast my vote for her and proud to call her Madam President.
I’m Beth and I approve this message.
