The House of the Burning Prairie Chooses A Side

A girl can change her mind, can't she? Can't she!!! From the unbelievably early start of this whole election season, I endorsed Obama. I, like many others, had reservations about Hillary Clinton, not so much about her competence to govern, but about her reputation. Can you believe it? I was worried about her reputation, like some 1950's high school drama. Lordy. Senator Clinton has changed my mind, she has carried herself with grace and dignity in the face of the harsh and unforgiving light of the mainstream media.  She has endured witless criticism and baseless fear-mongering. And some of that criticism points more to the moral bankruptcy of her critics. The sanctity of marriage is a favorite dog whistle of the right, as is the "ease" with which people can obtain a divorce. Those on the right encourage spouses, but especially wives, to "stand by your man" no matter what. Well guess what, Senator Clinton did just that, she refuses to throw away her marriage and she stood by her man. And she was pilloried for it. I guess the central dogma of the republican party is "Damned if she does and damned if she doesn't". And ladies, that "she" is all of us. We can't win with those people, so the least we can do is make sure one of us wins the White House from them. So without further delay, here is something I posted on one of my other blogs earlier this evening:

With two absolutely fine choices open to me on the primary ticket-Obama and Clinton-the House was having no small amount of difficulty choosing between them. It’s like being asked to choose between cupcakes and cookies. Or Star Wars and Star Trek. Or Hostess and Little Debbie. Somehow it always gets back to dessert. But voting for either one of those fine individuals is like finally having dessert after a meal of endless tripe. There are so many analogies I could use: oasis in the desert, port in the storm, the whole raining-soup-bucket thing. We’re back to food, I must be hungry or something. Seriously, the political field like the proverbial raining of soup and I’m bringing my bucket.

But, I have to choose one. And that is no small task; both have so much more to offer than anybody over on the other side. I wouldn’t have to hold my nose to vote for either Obama or Clinton, I would mark my ballot gladly for either. But I have to choose one, just one. Prominent people that I respect have endorsed both candidates and until today none of those endorsements pushed me over either edge. Today I learned that Wilma Mankiller, former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation (of which I am a registered member), endorsed Hillary Clinton for President and I will follow her fine example. The House of the Burning Prairie officially endorses Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. For what it’s worth.

With this caveat-should she not garner enough votes to win my party’s candidacy, I will proudly support whoever does. After years of embarrassment, I’m ready to proud of my country again. Oh, and girls rule!!!!!

Addendum: I don’t want to leave you with the impression that I base my voting choices on endorsements or pet projects or voting record nitpicking or any other one thing. Except for being a staunch Democrat like my maternal grandmother, I approach voting as a gestalt. But sometimes, when all else is equal in my mind, a good word from people I respect can help. Not that I am induced to vote in a way that I normally would not, but that realizations floating in my mind, unformed, are crystallized when I hear others put voice to my thoughts.