I know I know, I surprise even Myself

Well, I guess it's a good thing I kicked on the defibrillator today because I have something else to say. Or more like, I'm agitated and I believe in the midst of my agitation a public forum would make a good catch spot for it.

So this evening, in talking to a quasi-friend/acquaintance after the hooray of hello, howyadoin, how's the kids, life, you know, standard pleasantries, our conversation took an unexpected turn for the worse.

It went something like this.........

Friend (Beaming) : "Blah Blah Blah.....la la la.....so are you voting for Hilary Clinton? I think she so's fabulous....blah blah blah.......so are ya? are ya? of course you are, right??"

Me (shifting ever so uncomfortably, religion/ politics = cursed topics) : "Well, it's alittle early to make that call."

Friend (looking stunned) " Why wouldn't you vote for her? Huh? Why? What's the problem?"

Me ( looking for the exit door) " No problems, I'm still gathering information about all the candidates, that's all. Wasn't it cold out today? "

Friend (looking horrified) (and this is where she started to piss me off) " I just don't see how an intelligent woman like you would have anything else to think about. Hilary is our savior!"

Me (done): "Ya, ok, savior. All right, well, it was good seeing you again" and I started to move away to find a safe zone when she throws this out.........

Her: "Why in the world wouldn't you want to vote for a woman for President? You don't think a woman can handle it? (and then she practically hissed) You won't vote for a woman President!"

Pause~

       Is that the way of it? Is that the way it's going to be, especially within the feminine community? Because this has happened to me twice now. Twice I say. The first time wasn't as bad.... accusation style, but I basically got the same, "How dare you not commit your vote to the name with a vagina right this second."

       Seriously, I'm not ready to say who I'm voting for until I know who's going to be on the ticket, do alittle research, keep watching the debates etc, etc. But evidently the gender war is on, sideline style. Or maybe I've just run into two extremely narrow minded individuals and I'm overtly worried now....panic like.

       If someone is willing to accuse me of not wanting to vote for a woman, just because I'm not ready to commit to any one politician today, I have a problem with that. I have a problem with "You won't vote for a woman" coming after a conversation as a last ditch effort to sway me. Talk about an immature moronic reason, and reason alone, to vote for anyone, in any situation....... She might as well have followed that statement up with," I'm not gonna be your friend anymore!"

       I know the score, I know this little trap. It runs along the lines of this beautiful question, "Do you believe in God?" and then I say, "You know, I have my own thoughts and I'm not throwing my eggs in the manger" and I get the voodoo, "Ohhh your going to Hell lady." Which I guess is supposed to scare me and all, but the truth is, if you don't ride the God ticket, you don't exactly sign up for a hell, so they are both rather mute points. Which brings me to 'vote for the woman' or get pegged as a traitor to the female race, or prejudiced against a woman President etc, etc, etc........ I'm a female getting this mind set, I can only imagine what it will be like for you men, if you dare mention your doubting Mizz Clintons abilities. You'll have a lynch mob of Kotex throwing fanatics after ya!

       It shouldn't be like that. It doesn't need to be like that. Obviously, with the state of things in our country, this next election is going to be madly insane (that's for you Paul) and all I'm trying to say now is, lets leave the entire gender part out of it? K. Is that cool? Is that fair, comfy, agreeable, acceptable?

       Where my vote ends up going is unimportant, what I do think is critical today.....is people, specifically us gal pals, don't shoot below the belt and cry 'vagina' if we expect a woman to earn her way (not default gender vote)  into the big oval office someday.

Again, I'm just saying.............

Oh, and my final comment to the above mentioned person was and I quote, " Why in the world would you vote for someone just because she is a woman? Think about it, it's the Presidency, I want someone who is qualified, a strong leader, respected, responsible and a hundred other qualities. If Hilary Clinton is that person, then she will earn my vote, if it's a male candidate, then he will earn my vote."

P.S.
Wow, thank you everyone for your comments, additional defribulations to the old Iris pages and words. I believe the blood is up and pumping once again. Even though I'm a bit mortified I've actually done a political entry. Always a first time for everything..........