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If there is one thing Democrats should learn from the past eight years it is this: good intentions are not enough to make a good president. Many in my generation are enthralled by Barack Obama's idealism, but idealism is not synonymous with positive change. As a twentysomething woman, I support Hillary not because she is a woman, but because I want a president with proven competence. As a country we can afford no less.
Leah Christensen
Missoula, Mont.

I am a white woman who came of age in the 1950s and am immensely grateful to Gloria Steinem and people like her who helped give me the courage to live my life fully and to stand up for what I believe. Yes, I'd love to see a woman lead our country in my lifetime. But, like Jonathan Alter's mother ("My Mother's Painful Quandary"), I'm supporting Barack Obama. For me, feminism is about taking charge of one's own life and making intelligent, responsible choices. Until the women's movement transformed my life, I lived too much under the sway of what my culture told me women "should" do or be. I deeply resent anyone who now tries to tell me—or any other feminist—that because we are women we "should" support Hillary Clinton.
Linda Plaut
Golden, Colo.

I identified with Jonathan Alter's mother in many ways, especially as a woman who has finally seen the day when a woman is running for president. I am 86 years old, a retired clergywoman, a mother and a grandmother who happens to be a feminist. After struggling with the issues, I voted for Obama in the Maine primary. I believe in hope and that the people will respond to his leadership when he is the president. There is something about the way to reach the goal of being elected that he practices that touches us. Is it because means and ends are the same?
Fran Truitt
Blue Hill, Maine

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Posted By: mattmcewen @ 03/28/2008 4:01:25 PM

correction: 4000, not 400 of your sons and daughters. My apologies for the error.
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Posted By: mattmcewen @ 03/28/2008 3:59:20 PM

Why do any of you have such strong and vociferous opinions on this, that, and the other thing about Clinton, Obama, or McCain? You do realize that Bush has been in power for 8 years and you sat silent and did NOTHING while he lied about why we went to war, sent us to war without congress's approval, killed 400 of your sons and daughters and hundreds of thousands of Iraq and Afghansitans sons and daughters, lied to us 1000's of times about everything from the war, the environment, the economy, no child left behind, etc, and basically ran this country into the ground in countless ways, most importantly perhaps how the rest of the world views us, as a nation that we could be fooled by that ever-grimacing clown.....so seriously, ask yourself why it really matters to why why he went from Barry to Barack, or what kind of mustard Hillary puts in her potato salad. Ask yourself why you care so much who gets in the white house when for the last few years, the worst possible person was there, and you all did NOTHING about it.
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Posted By: a-hudson @ 03/26/2008 8:10:43 PM

I think it's great that in this presidential campaign we have such diversity. It's empowering to both the women and blacks of America that someone other than a white male is running for president and either one of the candidates would put their best effort in running this nation. They both have their strengths and weaknesses, everyone does. I just think it's embarrassing that even though they are from the same party, they still cannot agree on the simplest of things. I know there are nuances of politics I don't know about, but I would expect the behavior of both of them to of a much higher caliber. They might represent America one day. No wonder many nations don't like our country. I wish they could put up a stronger front against the republicans. Don't they know every spat they get into, the public finds another reason to not to vote for either of them. If they want to truly change this country for the better, they should be putting up a platform for the Democratic Party. All the silly arguments over who is more patriotic only waste time better spent on trying to convince the public of their ability to run a nation of diverse people. Senator McCain has already been on a trip to Europe, and many leaders have shown their support for him. The Democratic Candidates need to set aside their differences and put the nation first. That's the job of a political leader.