Political Speeches--Ain't She a Woman?

For much of the race for the presidential nomination, the media have been pointing out that we could potentially have our first African-American (although that doesn't cover half of Barack Obama's nationalities and doesn't do a good job of establishing his multicultural identity, either) president or our first female president.

It's been a big deal. Mitt Romney's religion, while he was in the running for the Republican nomination, was also a big deal. I'd like to presume it's because the American public wants to know about who politicians are as to knowing what politicians say about themselves. But I have a feeling that's probably not the case.

Anyway, Mitt Romney gave a speech addressing the perceived problems posed by his religion. (Although apparently it doesn't faze America to have a Mormon as Senate Majority Leader.)

After some of the comments Reverend Wright, Barack Obama's pastor, made against whites--Obama gave a speech addressing racial issues.

What I would love to see now that I haven't seen at all is for Hillary Clinton to give a speech addressing gender issues. While I recognize being a woman doesn't draw the same amount of attention and criticism garnered to racism (or reverse-racism) or Mormonism, I think the gender divide should be addressed.

Being a woman in politics does not appear to be an easy thing; it appears to be a precarious balancing act, regardless of whether you're a woman in politics because your husband is important politically or because you are campaigning. Someone too feminine gets railroaded into oblivion. Someone too aggressive gets labeled as too power-hungry and ambitious.

One of many reasons I couldn't see myself voting for Hillary is because she's done nothing to convince me she has struck an appropriate balance. As far as I can tell, she ignores the balance issue as much as she can.

Who wants to watch a tightrope walker who makes no effort to balance?