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Hillary Clinton: Is Gender on Trial?

Bhuwan Thapaliya - 11/18/2007

For years, the most striking features of America under Mr. Bush was its fight against the terrorism and the close association between President Bush and his chief political strategist Karl Rove in shaping the destiny of America. Karl Rove is history now, and as people are already counting the days of Mr. Bush in the White House, American politics is on the verge of a major twist.

American politics is slowly getting serious. It is little wonder, given this: most Americans who are groping for a safer alternative are serious too. However, the biggest challenge may be to focus on the right political agendas and chose the right candidate for the most powerful job in the world. It’s a tough job but indeed, there are signs that America is stepping up the presidential gear.
After months of televised debates, fund raising events, political promotions, Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic presidential field and her huge poll lead suggests that she has the Democratic nomination for the taking. Furthermore, American media reports confirms that She is way ahead than her other two influential Democratic challengers -- Mr. Barack Obama and Mr. John Edwards.

If events are turning the Hillary way, as the latest Gallup poll suggests, she still has some way to go before real satisfaction can take hold. The main outstanding problem is that of finding consensus amongst the American voters who still have an unfavorable view of her candidacy.

Her first biggest drawback is her sex, as most conservative Americans are not happy with the idea of female president. But Hillary has times and again stated that she is not running as a female candidate nor she is running as a feminist. She is running for the presidency as an American citizen, and she deserves a nice treatment. There is a lesson to be learned from South Asia by America in this matter. India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have a female president.

Her second drawback is her not-so-rosy relations with the American military. The question is, if she wins, she shall be the president for sure but will she be the good commander-in-chief too, as the American president is also the commander- in-chief of the army. This draw back of her might create a little sense of panic in the voters mind, if not many. But relations aren’t static, they are dynamic, and they have the tendencies of changing along with the time.

Whatever these are not the only obstacles for her. There are many. For instance, America has not forgotten her health care plan that completely collapsed in 1994. But fortunately she has realized her mistake and her latest health care plan is people’s friendly and modest. But there are still people who doubt her executive ability.

Her greatest advantage is however this, Mrs. Clinton is anti-Bush. It is no more clandestine now that Mr. Bush is widely regarded as one of the most hopeless presidents in American history- burning Baghdad, and his lackluster handling of Hurricane Katrina are only few mountains of his blunder. Others include, America’s deteriorating relationship with the Muslim World and its lackluster foreign policy.

However, the greatest plus point for Hillary is this: voters will still vote for a party rather than a candidate, so there is nothing to worry for Hillary because the once might Republican party is now struggling for its existence. No wonder, then, the democrats are trying to take advantage.

Hence, considering this all, the debate here in not about lady president or the gender card some accuse her of throwing before the voters but precisely speaking, the debate here is about the future course of America. This very presidency election could change the American policy yet again and save its fading global legacy. In that respect, a women president would undoubtedly be a good thing for the country.

But the job won’t be easy for Hillary. Osama bin Laden is still in office, al-Qaeda is still alive and kicking, oil prices are rising, and the Taliban are gaining some momentum. Furthermore, EU is getting stronger and stronger with each lapse of time, and dollar is no more the currency it once used to be. Its role is shrinking the world over and people prefer to buy other alternative reliable currencies such as Yen and Euro then buy dollar as their last resort.

Meanwhile, America’s political architecture won’t change significantly under Hillary too. America has been under the Clintons before. Hence, the principles and the methodologies of running the nation had already been written in the Bill Clinton era, but the Hillary package makes much clearer how they will work in practice yet again after a hiatus of eight years.

It seems that, “The Centre for American Progress, a think- tank organization headed by Mr. John Podesta, who was Mr. Clinton's former chief of staffs, and “American Democracy Institute,” which is run by veteran Clinton allies, would shape the America’s future if Mrs. Clinton is elected. But credible American president requires more than two radical blueprints.

If everything goes her way, Mrs. Clinton has a chance to win and settle in the White House. But her hard work has barely begun. But for a moment, she has rolled up her sleeves to break the highest glass ceiling. Is gender on trial? Perhaps.

So where is Hillary, and what's it all add up to -- a likely win, maybe a big win. Will it, and is that what I'm predicting? In fact, I do. I don’t know what the final verdict would be because future is future -- hard to predict, and I bet even Hillary is unsure herself at this time because American politics is dynamic.

My best judgment is that the Republican Party senses trouble and is sending an ominous message that all is not well in the party, and it's better to take cover than risk potential big losses in the Presidential race. But election results are hard to predict and as George Bush have shown that one can win election even when your approval rating is low. Hence, factors such as these make American election more interesting.

Considering this, the best thing to do is wait and see. In the interim, place your bets, and stay tuned to the most dynamic ballot show in the world.