Big Loss for Women

Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told Wolf Blitzer last week on CNN that she will not serve a second term in President Barack Obama’s cabinet should he be re-elected. And as far as her ever running for president or vice president again she added, “I have no intention or any idea even of running again. I’m going to do the best I can at this job for the next two years.” Can you blame her? Aren’t we all disgusted with our elected officials?

Having been a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton in her last presidential bid, I am especially saddened by this news and have a little bit of that “I told you so” emotion in light of the shift happening recently. As Clinton’s popularity rises, President Obama’s wanes. According to a Bloomberg National Poll in September, “Nearly two-thirds of Americans hold a favorable view of her and one-third are suffering a form of buyer’s remorse, saying the U.S. would be better off now if she had become president in 2008 instead of Barack Obama.” 

Democrats Begin to Doubt if Obama Can Get Reelected

Again, the not enough experience concern rises foremost as Obama’s job approval rating drops to its lowest since taking office – only 45% approve. And still 9.1% of the labor force is unemployed. One of the concerns bandied about regarding Clinton during her race for the Democratic candidacy was that former President Bill Clinton’s hand would be too heavily in her decision making should she be elected. I never bought into that one…two heads for the price of one? Aren’t we in a huge mess here? Wouldn’t the country love a redo now to have one of the greatest political minds of modern history be helping our country get back on track and lowering this astronomical national debt? (Just take one look at this real time National Debt Clock and a sense of hopelessness will wash over you.) 

According to The Telegraph, “Mr Obama’s capitulation to Republicans in the recent tussle over deficit reduction is being seen as the lowest point of his presidency and the latest in a series of blows.”  And Washington Consultant, Morris Reid added, “This is the downside of him not being terribly political like Bill Clinton was. Bill Clinton woke up every day relishing this kind of fight, and Hillary is just a tougher person. The Clintons are much more combative, they are always ready to go to Defcon 1 (‘war is imminent’ state).”

68% of women hold a favorable view of Clinton. Some pundits have even been discussing lately the desirability of Obama not going after a second term and allowing Clinton to step in as the Democratic candidate. Albeit very unlikely, but never going to happen now. For women, Hillary Clinton, especially after this stint as Secretary of State, was the most electable and most experienced woman in the U.S. for this highest of positions. Having her step out of public office may very well set us back a decade in having a woman be elected as the president of the United States. This is a great loss. She’d be a terrific president and it’s about time. 

Though she added in the CNN interview, “You know, I had a wonderful experience running and I am very proud of the support I had and very grateful for the opportunity, but I’m going to be, you know, moving on,” there is always hope. She wouldn’t be the first person in political office to flip flop about running again.  Let’s hope so. 

The upside is that she has said that after this position, she’d likely “go back to advocacy work, particularly on behalf of women and children, and particularly around the world because if you look at what is still happening to women in many parts of the world it is tragic and terrible.” All too true.

What do you think? Would Hillary Clinton would have made a better president in these times? Do you hope she changes her mind and runs for president in 2016?