femme-nest

It's here. The inevitable "feminist on the election" post. My thoughts aren't quite focused on Sarah Palin, though. That's another post for another day. I'd really like to articulate, as much as possible, my impressions of this election more generally. First of all, I will be voting for Barack Obama on November 4th. It feels odd for me to express that so bluntly, especially since I've had some serious reservations about that decision. To me, Barack Obama is not the best candidate--like his republican rival, he receives support and contributions from corporate entities that are about as feminist and liberal as Sarah Palin. Yeah. I don't want my candidate to be mired in corporate interests, taking money from capitalist backers who see themselves as Monopoly's "Rich Uncle Pennybags" when they look in the mirror. Barack Obama has also essentially rescinded his support of or started backing away from several key issues for me--namely, a more socialist healthcare model and queer rights.

This, however, does not mean that I was ever even considering voting for John McCain. I'm so-far-left-leaning-that-i'm-falling-off-my-chair liberal, probably best described as a socialist feminist in my political views, that to vote for John McCain would be akin to lighting my hair on fire. I just could not even consider it. No, my ideal candidate would be someone like Cynthia McKinney, who is constantly situated as the radical, threatening, crazy, "Angry Black Woman" in all caps. She's certainly one intersection where sexism and racism collide. Frontlining the green party ticket, McKinney has been sorely overlooked in this election as a strong leader who would bring about the changes I want to see in this nation. Running on the first all woman of color ticket with Rosa Clemente, McKinney and the green party are being dismissed this election year. She is, in my view, the most feminist candidate and actually addresses things like "health care, education, wealth development, and ending enduring disparities, corporate greed, and the war machine." She also hits reproductive rights head on and acknowledges and challenges forced sterilization, a topic of great interest to me. I'm also impressed with her ideas on domestic violence and working class issues. So basically, I'm thrilled with her platform and her views.

Unfortunately, she's going nowhere this election. So I turn to Barack Obama, who I see as a viable alternative who will address at least some of the issues that matter to me and my family. That brings me to my next point, and something that definitely solidified my choice of Barack Obama for this election. I will not do anything that may help John McCain and Sarah Palin get elected. Living in a decidedly red state, I cannot in good conscience cast a vote for anyone other than Barack Obama, especially given the vitriolic, violent, and downright disgusting race-baiting the McCain camp is employing of late. Hearing these ignorant McCain supporters shout such overt racist epithets and hateful threats literally makes me sick; it also illustrates that racism in this nation is alive and thriving, and that John McCain and Sarah Palin will fuel that racist fire as much as they need to before November 4th. God. I am ashamed to belong to a nation that produces these kinds of individuals and nurses such a racist milieu. White people, poor white people like me, have come to associate "Black" with "Angry," then with "Arab," "Arab" with "Muslim," "Muslim" with "BAD" and "Terrorist." But you don't need me to tell you that. It's obvious to everyone but those who are mired in it, shouting that racism doesn't exist, that race is just a "card" to be played, while employing racist tactics against Barack Obama. I am, for lack of a better word, sick.

So what does all this amount to? Not much, really. Just a hope that, come November, I can be happy in my decision to vote for Barack Obama, not my perfect candidate but a pretty damn good one nonetheless. More broadly, however, I hope that this election will illuminate the seedy racist underbelly of our society, show it to the world, and make each of us who engage in racism, passively or actively, confront our misconceptions and privileges. Here's hoping.