You Think Fashion Makes A Statement?

Yesterday, in one of my many phantom posts, I mentioned my decision to vote for Hillary. And it apparently SHUT DOWN THE INTERNET.

If you've just browsed this site, read a snippet here or there, glanced at my "About Me" page, even, you may have put Texas plus conservative university together and concluded I vote Republican. Well, I don't. I won't. But I did go to a school that imparted a very valuable lesson to me, one that goes a little something like this: Watch your words. Some people own guns. I loved college and I bleed maroon like you wouldn't believe—also I wasn't the only Democrat walking around my campus, by any means—but we were named the school most likely to vote for George W. in the last election and half the town seems to be named after his father. So you can understand how I honed the skill of choosing my political battles during my time in College Station, TX. (Fun aside: perhaps you remember the little shout out Julia Roberts gave this town in My Best Friend's Wedding.)

I have many good friends who are conservative, who thought Bush was a splendid choice last go round and the time before. And, sure, I sometimes get the urge to kick them because maybe that's what they need, you know? Maybe a swift kick would rattle things around and they'd realize they could run the country better than he has over the last almost-eight years. But I have said (and I stand by this), kindness is not reserved for liberals. The people in my life have some really kick-ass qualities, and I love them—each of them—for exactly who they are, stupid voting decisions included. (Crystal, you're groaning right now. I can almost hear it from way over here.)

In 2000, at the age of 18, I was so giddy about voting. I soaked up as much information as I could, and I ultimately decided to do more than just vote for Al Gore, I decided to support him. I believed in him, and in many ways I still do. In 2004, like so many, I voted for Kerry because Kerry was the only way I could see myself voting, and I was saddened that my vote was practically made by default.

This time around I've been torn and conflicted for months. I leaned this way and then that way and, finally, I decided to go with my gut. It's a method that hasn't failed me yet, except for that one time my gut begged me to give it an entire pizza. And by "one time" I mean weekly.

I'm absolutely not interested in arguing politics with anyone. I don't know all there is to know about the landscape of this election, and I'm the first to admit that. If you are voting for another candidate, I'm sure there are points you could make that would be both valid and convincing. But something I learned in college: most of the time when people want to discuss politics, it's not to listen or learn or to take part in some intelligent debate but to prove they're smart, usually by making someone else feel stupid. And so arguing about politics turns into who can argue better, and I sort of suck at arguing. When someone says something I don't like, I usually respond with, "Yeah, well, suck it."

I wanted to share my decision to vote for Hillary not as way of opening up a few dozen cans of worms but as a way of reminding you that this is a really cool time for our country. It's so damn exciting to be torn between good candidates, to be conflicted about who to vote for because you see good qualities in MORE THAN ONE PERSON.

Four years ago I lived in College Station during the election, and on that November Tuesday I drove to what I thought was my designated spot to vote. Unfortunately the newspaper printed out the precincts and their corresponding voting locations incorrectly—something I didn't figure out until I had waited in line for almost an hour. When I got to the next place I was told they had to move the voting due to some electrical problems. I drove to the third place, only to find the adjacent lot was charging $5 for parking, which was $5 more than I had. I begged the lot monitor (official job title?) to let me park, run in, vote and run back out. He smiled and said, "Well, OK, but only if you promise to vote for Bush." Then he continued, "Who would vote for Kerry, anyway, knowing their vote is wasted here."

I ignored him because he was letting me park for free and I thought lecturing him on the privilege of voting would cause him to change his mind, but it goes without saying right? My vote, in this leans-to-the-right state, is never lost. Not on me.

And wherever you live, blue state, red state, small state, huge state, your vote isn't lost either, as long as you use it.

Regardless of your candidate of choice, I hope that's something we can agree on.

Comments

[anne]

Not that I didn't "know" this lesson given my wierd love of politics and a political science major - but this wasn't hammered home more than in 2000 when I saw them count my vote on CNN. I was in college and voted absentee for Al Gore. And as we all know around midnight they really started to monitor and count those votes and announced that they were now counting the absentee ballots from Hillsborough county. My voted counted.

[Someone Being Me]

I agree. If only I could find a candidate I agreed with on most issues. As a conservative I do not particularly care for George Bush. I respect that he is President but beyond that I'm not impressed with his job performance. So please don't lump all conservatives into the Loves George Bush category. Think of it as more of the choosing of the lesser evils. I will even admit that I voted for Gore in 2000, a fact that my husband will never let me live down. I'm not really any more proud to admit I voted for Bush in 2004. So theres that. I still think you are fabulous.

[Jess]

I so, so agree with you. This is the first time that I've felt that I was voting for anything other than the lesser of two evils. And it's the first time that I feel like my vote actually matters, because delegates get divided.

[Ashley Forrette]

Thank you so much for posting this! It makes me so sad when people say "my vote doesn't count", or "who cares about my state anyway". I agree with everything you said. I don't care who people vote for, as long as they vote! Especially women! So many women fought too hard for us to be able to vote not to do it now!

[CrankMama]

You said that so incredibly well. I agree and agree and agree. And I love the part about being torn between good candidates. I was getting excited about that recently too!

[banana]

It is such an exciting time! To be given the option of TWO GOOD candidates, and on top of that, one is a minority and one is a woman is so, so cool. I love "election time" when it comes around every four years - all of the discussion it creates, and the excitement it ushers in, but this year is especially charged.

I am in one of the states to do a caucus and I'm really excited to engage in the process on Saturday.

[Someone Being Me]

I'm tagging you for a MeMe at my blog. You can disregard if you have already done this one before.

[Jane]

Your vote definitely counts! I'm from MN, and 10 years ago, you'd never thought we'd be enough of a swing state that the Republicans would choose here to have the Republican National Convention! Geez, I hope I can plan a vacation that week!

[Unnaturally Blonde]

You are making me want to vote now. I hate to admit it, but I haven't been interested in actually voting at all. I read all about everything going on but didn't want to cast my own ballot. We shall see.

[Katie]

I'm a Hillary girl too. But as a lover of politics, I'm happy to hear when someone voted at all, whether it was Democrat, Republican or whatever.

[Loralee]

I am a zealous voter. I usually stay away from politics on my blog like the plague (Unless it is to state that I want this election over because my libertarian husband is really unhappy.).

I have gone to great lengths to vote.

I am absolutely opposed to Hillary. I would love a female President, just not her. I could handle Obama, though. I'm sorta ok with McCain, but thought Romney would be best for the economy.

Bascially? I am not doing cartwheels over ANYONE.

:S

Kudos for voting and standing up as a minority in such a big state!

[Emily]

I voted for Hillary yesterday and it felt good. I do want to mention that when you are a DC resident voting for a shadow senator or representative your vote actually DOES NOT count because they get no official vote in Congress. Had to say it :-)

[Raven]

I voted for Kerry but of course you knew that already.

I also have given my .02 on who I will vote for this time so that's done.

I think it makes a bigger statement that I am an Arizona native NOT voting for McCain than it does anything else :)

[Angella]

I can open your site!

Apparently your post yesterday spoke to my laptop and allowed me to open your site.

(Also - voting is good. People who do not vote are not entitled to be critics of the reigning politicians.)

[Kristabella]

I agree. Your vote matters! And everyone should go out and vote. And vote for who you want to. It all matters!

[bethany actually]

I am with you on the not-really-being-good-at-arguing-about-politics thing. I know why I vote the way I do (conservative-leaning, generally Republican though I voted for President Clinton in 1996), and I can explain it to another person easily enough, but then they often want to tell me why I'm wrong, and I just kinda...sit there and nod and when they've paused, I say, "That's great that you're so passionate. But I'm not gonna change my mind, and I'm not gonna try to change yours." It's just not something I enjoy, so I try to avoid it.

And hey, NO VOTE is ever wasted. Good for you for exercising your right to do so. :-)

[slynnro]

This is the first time I have ever been excited about my right to vote.

And I'll be (hopefully) voting for Hillary. Which will KILL my blindly partisan Republican mother. Who worships Rush Limbaugh. It is scary.

[Joni]

Even if you vote against the grain in your state, your vote is never wasted- It is your voice, your little piece of democracy, your chance to make a difference. I cry every time I vote because I can't help thinking of what a privilege it is and how it is our duty to get to the polls, whatever our political orientation (Love Hillary but being from IL, am an Obama girl myself- both make me giddy with possibility)

[Mom]

This is such an exciting time for this country and hopefully a healing time. I thought the Texas primary would not mean anything, but that is looking not to be the case. I think I'm leaning more towards Hillary. You are my daughter and I love you very much!

[EmilyPie]

My husband is slightly conservative politically... AND was a Poly Sci. major at UCLA .... talk about an outcast ;)

[Michelle]

You know, I live in Indiana, which means my primary vote is useless, but I still cast it at every opportunity. When I first started voting I lived in Illinois, but it was before they moved their primary to Super Tuesday. Anyway, all this to say that I am also so glad to have great candidates that the rest of the country will choose between and that I can honestly say I will happily vote for either one come November. And also, I did my master's thesis on increasing voter turnout, and for my money, we should all be like Oregon.

[Virginia Gal]

I have to say I am anti-Hillary because I haven't liked her since Bill ran for President. She rubbed me the wrong way then, and still does. But that's me. It's not because she's a Democrat, it's her personality. Silly, but I keep thinking about how other heads of state and she would interact and my images aren't pretty.

And since the Republican candidates all suck (Rudy, what happened?!), it looks like I'm going to be voting for Obama on Tuesday.

[Camels & Chocolate]

Good post! I'm a displaced Southerner, too, who abandoned extreme conservatism for "those damn liberals" of NYC and California, as my granddad says. I've never been affiliated with either party, but I am a fan of both Hil and Obama. And of course my granddad is trying to shove McCain down my throat (mother of God). But I think Hell about froze over when my mom (the same one who has made snide remarks about "my best friend Hillary" and being "liberal when I was your age until I got older and realized the things that are really important" and SUPPORTS BUSH BECAUSE "HE IS A NICE GUY") told me yesterday, "If Hillary wins the primary, I may just vote for her." Crazier things have never happened.

[Kristie]

I have my candidate all picked out. But I still have some research to do.