The Democratic side of the campaign IS about gender and race in a large way.... and yes, issues as well (the economy, the Iraq occupation, the tanking of American prestige in the world, etc.). However, these two aspects will most certainly weigh on voters minds when they enter the booth. It will without a doubt, it's just reality so deal.
At the beginning of the interview, we had to sit through Mrs. Clinton playing the operatives' operative - straightening out her campaign staff on Meet The Press - defending, thrusting, and parrying. What would you expect? All candidates have to deal with this on all levels. Politics is a dirty business - I think I heard that somewhere before. But all this aside, and the reason to put it aside is that it is going to continue to happen. Hillary as a victim - ok, but Mr. Obama could also claim to be a victim due to race and John Edwards can claim victim as well. Whatever.... Gloria Steinem's column in The New York Times earlier this week was correct that gender is the biggest obstacle of all. If a woman candidate only had two years experience on the federal level, she would not be taken seriously as a candidate.
But to the meat of the interview - I just don't think that any candidate still in the race on either side of the aisle could have the conversation that Mrs. Clinton with Tim Russert today. As citizens, we all want decisions in Washington to be cut and dry, but it just doesn't work that way. Mrs. Clinton demonstrated thoroughly that the details of policy that you must have an intimate grasp of are endless. No other candidate, including McCain who is lock step with our present (and failed) administration hasn't given answers that reflect such a thorough knowledge of all fronts as Mrs. Clinton did today.
Of course, Mr. Russert has to ask about the Iraq Resolution vote, he is obligated to at the very least. But he prefaced the question by quoting Doris Kearns Goodwin - saying that presidents should learn from their mistakes, which injects his opinion about her vote. Mrs. Clinton didn't bite and it would be deadly to apologize for that vote, or any vote for that matter.
I remember John Edwards made a big to-do about apologizing for his vote on that resolution. He's a sucker. Is he aspiring to have a Jimmy Carter presidency? I don't want politicians apologizing - it's bad form across the board. There is one exception that I'll make. George W. Bush should apologize for Dick Cheney. Now, do I agree with Mrs. Clinton's vote on that resolution, no, but I don't want her to apologize for it. Waffling is political suicide, ask John Kerry and soon Mitt Romney will have his own dissertation on this.
So what did this interview tell us, that Mrs. Clinton, like her or hate her, is the most knowledge when it comes to the various issues that face this country. Is she the most qualified to be president? Well, that is for you to decide.
[Aside: Did Mr. Russert look tired during this interview today or what? Maybe this was a good thing because ornery was the right call for the day.]
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