I have been a Clinton fan since 1992. I have watched as she tried to take on heathcare and admired her knowledge and drive. I watched her speak knowledgeably about foreign policy without notes to guide her. She has impressed me over and over again for decades now. She has been an advocate for her state, and for many issues I see as important, that is why my current disillusionment is so painful for me.
She is losing me because of one thing; her Iraq war vote. We simply cannot have representatives who do not read what they are voting for. I do not buy her claims that she trusted Bush to do the right thing, that she did not know he would lead us into war. I did not trust him at the time, I knew he would lead us into war, and I had far less information to judge from than a member of Congress. I must assume then that she did know, and that she had a different agenda than keeping our soldiers, our country safe from GWB's insanity. This cannot stand. If indeed she is that gullible then she cannot have the office. What am I to think? In the current climate she could have apologized for her vote, but she has not. That crack about megolomania in the debate was the turning point for me. What the heck was that? I teach my students to own their mistakes, because that is the only way we can learn from them. It seems that HRC has learned nothing from these past 7 years. I do not think my conscience will let me vote for her for this reason.
On the other important issues I see little daylight between HRC and BHO. More informed Kossacks may enlighten me to the other important differences. I just keep thinking about how much she knew, when she knew it, and that she did nothing to stop this war. Even a vote against authorization in the face of overwhelming support, would have me on her side right now.
My concern is that HRC is a better fighter, more electable, or better able to deal with a fierce GOP onslaught. These are real concerns because we cannot withstand another GOP president. From listening to BHO I think he may be in trouble as the nominee in the general election. I am worried that he cannot deal with the smear tactics and out right lies that I know the GOP will throw. He has also voted consistantly to fund the war, but then so has HRC. I keep coming back to the thought that she had the chance to say no, even if it meant little, it would have meant everything to me.