Likes Hillary

Years ago, I had an argument with one of my husband's college roommates that the U.S. was more sexist than it is racist.

He vehemently disagreed, stating that white women have benefited more from affirmative action than any other group, and that blacks and Latinos have been more oppressed over the years than white women.

This same college roommate and I recently debated Obama versus Hillary. His stance was that a black man "deserves" to be president before a woman because "blacks have suffered more in this country."

My response was that Obama is equally white as he is black so why label him the potentially "first black president"?

Secondly, beyond the subjective matter of who has suffered more, Hillary is simply more qualified.

I'm curious to understand what it is about this woman that everyone dislikes. When "I'm Every Woman" Oprah Winfrey came out in support of Obama stating that she "has not met a woman yet who likes Hillary," I was shocked; obviously it's both American men and women who have a problem with her.

Is it that she is intelligent, strong, assertive, confident and ambitious? And since when did these qualities become unattractive? They wouldn't be in a man.

My husband's roommate says she's cold. People said the opposite of George W: "He's personable; he's someone you could hang out and have a beer with."

Al Gore was too stiff and John Kerry looked tired. It's reassuring to know that people pay attention to things that matter when choosing a leader.

I found it interesting that Hillary's popularity rose suddenly when she teared up and became sentimental on camera in response to a media question.

Is this what the American public needs in order to accept a woman as president? A weepy, soft-spoken, emotional woman? I love the softer side of women as well, however, our strong side shouldn't be a turnoff, especially in the role of American president.

We'll see how this election turns out. And my husband's college roommate and I will see with which America is more comfortable: a black man or a woman. Or it may simply be a matter of with whom it is less uncomfortable.

For me the choice is clear: a strong, experienced, intelligent, assertive, outspoken, ambitious woman who's both deserving and qualified to lead our nation. And after she does her job of repairing the damage which the Bush administration has sloppily and irresponsibly done, then having the first half-white/ half-black president would be wonderful. Tina Aschenbrenner Thousand Oaks