Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Hillary's "I'm a Woman" Card is Ridiculous and Insulting

Hillary plays the "I'm a Woman" card every chance she gets, like somehow the fact she has different genitals than most of her running mates makes her a better candidate. Has she forgotten there's a woman running on the GOP side? I'm not more likely to throw my vote to her than I am any other GOP candidate. Why would someone's gender make any difference on the Democratic side?


When you're asked, Hillary, what makes you different than Obama, the correct answer is not, "I'm a woman." And when you're asked if you can be considered establishment, the correct answer is not, "I can't be because I'm a woman." Why would you ever suggest that voters would support you because of what's between your legs or on your chest vs what positions you actually support?

Does being a woman make you more likely to fight against the Keystone pipeline?
No. Hillary didn't take any stance on the Keystone pipeline until finally coming out against it in September, 2015. Meanwhile, Bernie was against it from the very beginning
Does being a woman make you more likely to rail against the greed of Wall Street?
No. Hillary refuses to reinstate Glass Steagall, and during the last debate said she'd only look at breaking up big banks if they posed a risk. Meanwhile, she has several ties to Wall Street she may be reluctant to sever and Bernie has been wanting to break up the banks since the fallout where they already proved their risk to the economy.
Does being a woman make you most qualified to lead us in clean energy?
No. Hillary has yet to name a stance on fracking. Meanwhile, Bernie's climate plan goes further than Hillary's in addressing clean energy on a global scale and on transportation in addition to home energy sources.
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight for better health care?
No. Hillary wants to "build" on the Affordable Care Act and "reduce costs" with no clear end goal other than to make it better. Meanwhile, Bernie has a plan for universal healthcare for all Americans that should have been enacted years ago.
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight for fair trade policies?
No. Hillary only came out against the TPP October, 2015 after hoping it would set a gold standard. Meanwhile, Bernie has been against it at least since December, 2014. And he's always been suspicious of unfettered free trade policies where as Hillary has back-peddled on NAFTA. Only Bernie has actually spoken about the real horrors of the bill - being negotiated behind closed doors and giving corporations the power to challenge environmental laws, to name a few- while Hillary only said it would hurt American workers.
Does being a woman make you more likely to stand up for LGBT issues?
No. Hillary was against same-sex marriage until 2013 and up to that point only supported civil unions. Meanwhile, Bernie approved Burlington's first gay pride parade in 1983.
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight against mass incarceration?
No. While Hillary and Bernie fair equality in supporting reductions in jail sentences for non-violent drug offenders and deprivatizing our criminal system, Hillary refuses to decriminalize marijuana, making it legal only for medical purposes. Meanwhile, Bernie wants it off the list of outlawed drugs altogether.
Does being a woman make you more likely to keep us from another complicated and costly war?
No. Hillary is supportive of having the US lead the charge against ISIS, bringing up questions of how well she's really learned from her mistake in voting for the Iraq war. Meanwhile, Bernie has said that regional nations should lead the charge with US assistance. He has also questioned the US's role as "world police" and the amount of instability that is brought to a region when a regime is toppled.
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight for a living wage?
No. Hillary wants to raise the minimum wage to $12 and hour. Meanwhile, Bernie wants to raise it to $15, which is calculated to get working families out of poverty and off welfare.
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight for affordable education?
No. Hillary wants to implement debt-free college, meaning students and their families will still have to play. Meanwhile, Bernie wants to remove any barriers to achieve a college education by making it tuition-free.
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight to take big money out of politics?
No. While Hillary has said she wants to overturn Citizens United, she has taken large corporation donations throughout her political career and during her current campaign. Meanwhile, Bernie has sworn off such donations. During his political career where he's been offered corporate money, he's either refused it or donated it.

I'm asking, Hillary, because these are the issues I care about. And when placed side by side, you are weaker on these issues than Bernie Sanders. The two of you fair equally in your stances on Social Security, police reform, and women's issues. But why stop there? When it comes down to it, there is another candidate who will fight more for the positions I care about and who has a consistent record to back it up (you don't). Yes, he happens to wear pants. So do you, by the way. Why would you insult the intelligence of your voters, especially women voters, by suggesting your vagina makes any kind of a difference?

Saturday, February 6, 2016

MSNBC Fifth Democratic Debate Recap - The Hillary Debate

So last time, I declared the fourth democratic debate the Bernie debate. This one, I'm declaring the Hillary debate, though not in a good way. If you missed the debate, you can watch it here.


Hillary came into this debate full throttle. She was ready with a punch at every turn, often taking the words out of Bernie's mouth before he could speak them. For undecided voters watching the debate who hadn't read up on either candidate's record, I was certain they'd be leaning toward Hillary.

The biggest moment of the debate was when Hillary "called out" Bernie on his attacks of her being establishment, resulting in boos from the audience and the Bernie's best statement of the night.


But what makes this debate the Hillary debate, for me at least, is not what happened so much during the debate, but what came after.

During the debate, the question was brought up over whether Hillary was a progressive. While Hillary stuck to her story that she was, the internet called bullshit. Young Turks proclaimed that she really has no idea what a progressive is, and Twitter exploded with the hashtag #HillarySoProgressive where Tweeters pointed out her not-so-progressive record.

Hillary also defended herself from the accusation that taking funds from Wall Street could influence her, claiming that wasn't the case. But a video from 2004 with Elizabeth Warren explaining how Wall Street funds changed Hillary's mind on an important piece of legislation circled around Tumblr. Another, perhaps more damning video circled of Hillary blaming homeowners for the financial crisis during a speech at NASDAQ headquarters.

When Hillary called on viewers (during the debate and the town hall meeting the day before) to find anything Wall Street had influenced her on, a Daily Kos author took up the charge. Even CNN, which has been Clinton biased throughout the democratic race, published an article on Hillary's speaking fees

A YouTube video of Hillary "lying for thirteen minutes straight" also circled Facebook where quotes from Hillary during the CNN debate are placed against contradictory statements made by Hillary in the past. 


Why does any of this matter? Surely Clinton has faced attacks after every debate? True, but I've never seen them circle with such ferocity before. I can honestly say that for the first time I understand why the first word that comes to mind when people think of Hillary reportedly is "lair." When Hillary promotes her "solid" record, either she has completely forgotten what her record entails, or she's flat out lying through her teeth and hoping voters don't do the research.

Hillary was hit hard after this debate. What's worse (for her) is outside the debate, a crowd of college students wearing American flag capes held signs supporting Bernie Sanders.

The bern is being felt in more ways than one.