Question of the Day | 05/22/2008 12:00 am

Would you feel safe with a woman as commander in chief? Why or why not?

Read more about: Ann Richards, Election, Military, U.S.

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Maria - It gets LOWER (among other things). Keep reading and remember this was supposed to elevate women’s conversation. However, it is a worthy study of HRC’s supporters and the woman herself, including how the right marriage and “status” can promote someone well above their competence — and, finally how they manage to stay there despite inadequacies that would not be acceptable by others. In short — how someone like George W. Bush made it to the top and remained there, while the world and (thankfully) majority of thinking Americans watched in dismay. This is a study of how mediocrity has become the reigning standard in America. HRC’s conduct yesterday, Friday, May 23rd — complements George W. Bush’s in every way — making clear just how far these mediocrities will go to maintain their positions of POWER they inherently know they do not deserve. Keep reading and see what our “elite” women have on THEIR minds. Very sobering. Then, and only then, will our current predicament begin to make sense. I say this as a woman who voted twice for someone I would cross the street if I saw her again — in a Manhattan minute. Some of us are looking at ourselves and our mistakes — going along to get along, compromising for advancement of maintaining “status” — and joining our children to really elevate the CONVERSATION — not dumb it down even further.

By Renata on 05/24/2008 4:47 pm

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Lesley,Liz, BRAVO on CNN this morning, and to confirm Lesley’s remarks about “jerks”, I have been around the world and lived around the world, and i can confirm that american men are the worst “lovers” .Also confirmed by statistics! I won’t go any further! LOL LOL

By cat lord on 05/22/2008 8:06 am

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I would of course be thrilled with a female president. But I don’t want to vote for a candidate BECAUSE she’s a woman, the same way I would hope that Americans wouldn’t vote for any candidate because of what they ARE; rather, what they bring to the American people should be the criteria. This conversation makes me think about a news segment right after Bush “won” in 2004, in which Bush supporters were asked why they voted for him. A few men (!) said that they felt he’d be a good beer-drinking partner, and that he seems like a salt-of-the-earth type. For my vote, I don’t want to go get a beer with the president, and I don’t want her/him to be salt-of-the-earth. And I would hope that any presidential candidate would never in a million years want to go get a beer with me. I want the president to be able to run circles around me intellectually. And I DON’T want to see her/him pounding a shot and a beer at a bar!! This is not a race to nominate Spring Break Queen 2008…

By Rebecca F. on 05/22/2008 8:06 am

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Rebecca. I’m not sure I agree with every point you make, but you’ve made each one very well.

By Ms. Dee on 05/22/2008 11:47 am

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Absolutly, Hillary is head and shoulder above what we have hade for the past 8 years. How anyone can be so stupid and be where he is is beyound me. We have to have more women in every office, before we become a third world country. how can i help Hillry? Carl Winners

By carol winners on 05/22/2008 8:11 am

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I would absolutely feel safe with a woman as Commander in Chief! When I speak, I consider not only whether I would feel safe, but whether I would put my five children, eighteen grandchildren, husband, three daughters-in-law, ten sisters and brothers, etc, etc’s lives in the hands of this woman. Senator Hillary Clinton meets my requirements as a woman I would answer yes to. I support her as candidate and as slim as the chances appear to be, today, I am still praying for her victory.

By Grace Miller on 05/22/2008 8:13 am

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Women have a measurable positive edge over men regarding best qualifications as Commander in Chief. The edge is biologic in nature and relates to how women process information and reach decisions. The historic fact that a woman has not yet been President belies our contemporary moment notwithstanding the sea change occurring in all professions as women become significant or dominant in medicine, law and science. The trends are startling as large numbers of males seem ill equipped (in comparison to women) for professional attainment. This phenomenon is global and might relate to the genders superior language skills (even thought many men likewise have significant language skills but in much smaller numbers) and are more at ease communicating. This might relate to the genders ability to be mostly comfortable with the truth as opposed to exaggeration or embellishment. Obviously, primordial soups might produce male or female leaders of remark the trends nevertheless favor women becoming entirely dominant.

By Terry Brady on 05/22/2008 8:15 am

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Women tend to listen to and hear what is being said much better than men, who often have preconceived ideas and base what they hear on those ideas. Women also tend to be much more capable of multi tasking. As long as the woman is intelligent, compassionate and capable…. why wouldn’t anyone vote for her.

By Lynnda Ross on 05/22/2008 8:18 am

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Lynnda, this has not been my experience with men and women. Some listen, some don’t. Some create problems. Some solve them. Individuals of both primary genders in our culture exhibit a propensities to govern well. It’s evident in their homes, their communities, and their work-place, whether or not sexism is part of the scene.

By Ms. Dee on 05/22/2008 11:57 am

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of course i would feel perfectly fine with a woman leading our country. however, i would worry that she felt she had to become hard as nails to show the world just how tough she is. are we the last country in the world to have never had a woman leader???

By a. m. on 05/22/2008 8:18 am

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Absolutely, especially if it is Hillary.

By SM RC on 05/22/2008 8:19 am

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Absolutely, women have been running things for a long time we just haven’t gotten the pay or credit for it!

By B P on 05/22/2008 8:19 am

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Safer it were Hillary or another woman like her.

By Rosie Carbal on 05/22/2008 8:22 am

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I don’t have any confidence or feeling of safety in the man currently holding that position and his advisors. Why wouldn’t we want to give the opportunity to a woman and her capable posse to bring us out of the world mess he’s made for us?

By Lorine Johnson on 05/22/2008 8:23 am

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Of course I’d feel safe with a woman commander in chief. Cracks me up that it’s still a question. As to Hillary her campaign reminds me of something that happened to me in my early thirties. Long long story short. I was working for an agency where all (and I mean ALL ) of the men in power had joined promise keepers. They were holding promise keeper meetings on site. they were questioing my religion (atheist) they were promoting the men in their group. I took them to task through channels. A woman I really admired pulled me aside one day and said “i want you to know that I admire what you’re doing and I think you’re making this place better for all the rest of us women here. but you’re screwing yourself”. She was right of course. That place fairly quickly promoted women into all three of the top spots. Good women. I’m not one of them.

By Chrome Toe on 05/22/2008 8:24 am