I am a strong woman. I am confident in myself, my future and the beliefs that I hold dear to my heart. I love politics and learning about the world around us, and I am a strong feminist. I loved Hillary Clinton when she ran in 2016, though I did support Bernie prior to the general election. After the trainwreck that we call the last two years, I am more than excited to see who the Democrats produce to run against Trump in 2020.
Earlier this week, we saw Elizabeth Warren announce that she is forming an exploratory committee, which is a clear indicator that a run is impending. Now, I have loved Elizabeth Warren for years. I watched her speak at the DNC in 2016, and I met her a few months later at a rally in Pittsburgh. She is a woman who has been through so much and has achieved a level of influence that few women in American history have done. I am a nasty woman, just like her. Hell, I have "Nevertheless she persisted" on my hip (See the confirmation hearing of DeVos in February 2017). Elizabeth Warren is everything I aspire to be.
But I am not ready to throw my hat behind her. She is a force to reckon with in the Senate, she is a strong leader and a champion of the progressive agenda. And, in some bizarre (and I pray to God untrue) event, if Trump wins again, we need her in the Senate. She is iconic enough that people who know the bare minimum about politics know who she is, on both sides of the aisle. Her name is recognizable enough to draw attention to the Senate, which is a critical thing. By drawing attention to a sector of a government that is easily able to be ignored by the masses, it gives the electorate more of a sense of responsibility. Having big names, household names, names that draw attention, in the electoral body, forces a drive for accountability.
Telling me that, as a feminist, it is my duty to support a woman because we share the same genitals, is the definition of being anti-woman. My (I'm speaking for all women here) voting habits align with who I believe is the best candidate for the job. And I would love a President Warren, I truly would. And after I see the candidates produced, and the playing field they face, I could support her. But I could also support any candidate I want. Why? Because I'm an American voter. It is not my duty to vote for who I should support, it is my duty to vote for who I think is best for the job. Which is what I will do.
