A Confusion of Readiness

Recently, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) made the comment that the American people are not ready for a female president. I think Michele Bachmann is confusing her not being ready to be President of the United States for everyone else not being ready for any female to be president.

As far as a female in the highest offices, I think if she is the best of the candidates or the least worst one, then that is who I would vote for. What we need is a candidate that is not beholden to a strict party platform. We need a candidate not beholden to the NRA or Planned Parenthood or the Koch Brothers (one of their corporations) or a certain industry (banking, insurance, pharmaceutical, etc.)

The presidential election in 2008, we witnessed Hilary Clinton run for the white House and was almost her party’s nominee. Michele Bachmann, of all people, made a run in 2012 for her party’s nomination for president. Then we had Sarah Palin who made it to the general election as her party’s nominee’s running mate in 2008. No, not all of them were necessarily ready for the position, but they each helped crack that glass ceiling.

Let’s not forget four other women who helped put some cracks in that glass ceiling. Geraldine Ferraro was the running mate of her party’s presidential nominee in 1984. She was the first female to ever be a running mate on a national ticket. We have had one female Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi from 2007 to 2011. Pelosi was second in line to assume the presidency had anything happened to the serving President and Vice President. There have also been three females who served as Secretary of State: Madeline Albright 1997-2001; Condoleezza Rice 2005-2009; and Hilary Clinton 2009-2013. Each of these women were fourth in line to succeed the President.

So, Mrs. Bachmann. I disagree with you. The people of the United States are ready for a nominee, male or female of any shade of skin, who is the best candidate or the least worst one. Unfortunately, you were neither the best best candidate nor were you the least worst one and you were clearly and most definitely not ready for the position.

*This blog entry has been corrected. I mistakenly listed Bachmann as running in 2008 for the GOP nomination for President and the years Albright served as Secretary of State.