Edward Meinert and some random notes.

or . . .

posted by Edward Meinert  # 6:23 AM

Do you really believe it is possible to be two places at once? Of course not.

posted by Edward Meinert  # 6:21 AM

As you know, I have been a passionate supporter of Barack Obama since he announced his candidacy last year. I remember the day I received my campaign T-Shirt and 2 Door Signs; I promptly placed a door sign in my window and another on my bookshelf.

As Hillary Clinton announces her endorsement of Barack Obama today, I wanted to take sometime to discuss Mrs. Clinton and her candidacy. Her candidacy was predicted on the claim that she was the most experienced to lead America into the next election (a belief I agree with). The problem is that America's mood was one focused on change and her campaign was unable to respond to the change surge that had become the bedrock of the spirit of Mr. Obama's campaign.

There was also something else lurking in the political discourse. Whether it was Chris Matthew's comment that she would not have been in a position to run for President had it not been for her husband or the jeers made to her gender throughout the campaign by ignorant people, Mrs. Clinton's campaign highlighted an issue of gender bias that is not an active one in political debate. There was not much discussion by the media on her significant institutional disadvantage at the hands of majority male press core (and those nuances) and only become salient when she commented about it during a debate where she questioned why she always had to answer controversial questions before Mr. Obama.

Mrs. Clinton has often been characterized by the press as tough and unemotional, as though this is a disadvantage, while when these characteristics are put to men, the men are defined as being strong. We need to spend sometime thinking about why this happens and work very hard to remove it from our thoughts, as we have tried to do just as hard in the context of race.

Do I believe Mrs. Clinton lost the democratic nomination purely because of sexism? No. However I do think it may have been one of the many factors that lead to it and for that reason am pointing it out. It is not fair that one as accomplished as Mrs. Clinton not be given the weight and consideration she deserves and although she was unsuccessful and I did not politically support her, I am proud of her accomplishment in the race and the door she has opened further for equal opportunity in regard to the American Presidency.

posted by Edward Meinert  # 9:06 AM

Just got off the phone with an Uncle from Panama who is visting the Sunshine State, unfortunately he speaks Spanish . . . We had a fun conversation covering the weather, food and greetings. It was good to chat, ahh, my never-ending quest for dual language competency, in something, anything!

posted by Edward Meinert  # 3:00 PM