Brittney's breakdown and Clinton's Cry for Help

I don't study politics but I do study people - and this week has been quite a doozey. We get irritated about the Brittney coverage when quite frankly, the media has finally made me sympathetic toward her. I don't know any woman who wants the details of her life, career, marriage failure, parenting, clothing misses, etc. blasted in living color - 24 hours a day, without reprieve. And while I don't care for her music or her popularity, I feel bad for her because she is way too overexposed during the worst time in her public life. Clinton has the same issue. The only difference - I don't feel bad for her at all. No sympathy whatsoever.

I was listening to NPR today when one of the Mocha Mom's being featured indicated that she didn't want support of Obama to be seen as hate for Clinton. I admired her comment, but I reflected on my own position and decided - I must have room for growth. I have come to believe that the redeeming qualities of Clinton are long gone. She's lost any past or future support - and if by some chance Barack doesn't get the nomination - I'm a swing vote to any Republican with the exception of the man who brought his mistress into the mayor's mansion. That, I just won't do.

Here are the most recent confirmations that Clinton does not deserve support of this female voter, or any of those educated, articulate, passionate, politically astute women I know. Although the reasons to not vote for Clinton are endless - let's start here.

1. The tears don't move me. Her campaign chair told her she wasn't getting enough compassion points, and she turned it up a notch. They told her if she really cried she'd be seen as soft, so she stopped just short of an ugly cry. PLEASE. Anyone who believes that stunt deserves her as president, but I pray she'll never get the chance.

2. A change candidate she is not. They said he's for change, we're for experience. And because she's so honest, I really want to believe her. Judge her on experience I decide. When she was first lady, her first duty was as a wife, and she surely should not get credit for Bill's work. That's what we women fought for right - we're our own people . We have our education, our experience, our own stance in the world. So please Hillary, stop taking credit for Bill's stuff. Unless, you want to have a honest dialog about the indiscretions of his term, the lies, the inability to keep home and state separate. Hillary is Washington establishment if she is anything, and if health care is any indication - this is experience I don't need.

3. Flip flopper accusations. After getting her own fairy tale checked, she has started to announce herself as the candidate that can create change. Thou needeth an original boneth in thou bodyeth. First you say change is what you say when you have no experience - then you say I'm the woman for change. Make up your mind. Or not. No make it up.

4. Dirty Politics. Again. If anyone believes that she didn't personally author the attacks on Barack's name, religion, drug use, etc. - you must be smoking. Not inhaling of course, just smoking. I'm not naive enough to believe that dirty politics don't exist - or that there isn't a place for a hard edge - I want someone who can make tough decisions. I don't however, need a candidate who is into politics as usual. 2 terms of Bush and Clinton, that is enough of both of those families. I'm ready for something new.

5. Washington Insider as the only experience. I happen to believe that the Harvard experience, the Chicago experience, the community organizing experience, the middle class family experience, the husband and father experience, the lost a public office experience, the won a public office experience, the Attorney as a profession experience, the racism in America experience, the immigration experience, etc. - counts. I need a decision maker, not an experience touter.

6. It takes a Village. Well, not exactly. I'm all for a good quote and an African proverb is no exception. There are plenty of people in my life that I can thank for getting on the straight and narrow. But, when it comes straight down to it, my family raised me. And when it comes to family values - Clinton's need a village. The rest of us will do well to focus on where it starts - the family unit. Relying on other people to step in , step up, step to it - it is nice in theory but it isn't reality. Public education works when parents are involved, and a community organizer understands that. I digress.

7. The Minority Card. It is frowned on when we talk about the racial background of Barack, but perfectly fine to tout the historic nature of being a woman in this presidential contest. I'm just not drinking this kool aid. When its convenient clinton's camp wants to pull out the code words "electibility, viability, potential to compete, ready from day one, fit for the real contest" and the list continues. The same small minds that wouldn't vote for Barack because of his name or his heritage aren't rushing dear Senator to put a woman in there either. Hello - going negative might do something, but guarantee you a 2nd tier vote - better check your polls. You aren't doing so well as the second choice, either.

I don't have some unclear love of Barack - I think he is a man with promise, but a man. I'm married to a pretty great one, they have their limitations. Barack has positions I'm TOTALLY against, but as far as raising the bar for this election process, he's impressed me. I used to give $25 every time I had a warm and fuzzy feeling, but I'm running out of money. I'm getting that feeling so often that I have to space out my contributions. I think he has something greater than experience - he has the confidence of the people he'll have to lead. (Well some of us...there is still more work to be done.)

Yet, with the oversaturation of last minute Clinton crap, I had to write something. I couldn't sit down at the computer without a column, video post, clip or quote - attacking the man that will once again prove that we're tired of politics as usual. Brittney and Clinton have a lot in common.

Too much press. Troubled home life. Anticipated comeback received with dismal feedback. Visible breakdown. Support from played out people. And my favorite - media personalities coming to the rescue. (Since when does Clinton entertain Fox interviews and ongoing access?) Here's what I know for sure - I'm sick enough of Clinton I'd vote for Brittney right about now. She'd surely throw a good party. Lucky for us, we don't have to. We've got Hope and Change, Angry Edwards, My Main Man Mitt, and even the Huck. Let's elect any one of them - but give clinton's cry the rest it deserves.