Love, Kindness, and JOY!

Over the weekend I got an invite to a private Facebook group for supporters of Hillary Clinton. The Alabama chapter of Pantsuit Nation has over 2,000 members already, while the national group has over 1.3 million members and counting. Despite what you’ve heard or read from the media, there are millions of enthusiastic, joyful Hillary Clinton supporters who are excited about this election.

A common narrative of the 2016 presidential election is that both major party candidates are unpopular[i] with many people joking about how they’d rather die or have the world end than choose between either of them. You’ve surely seen the memes by now:

·         Apocalypse 2016

·         Is your refrigerator running for president? If so, I might vote for it

·         No one for president

I’ve even seen other jokes about America losing no matter what happens on Election Day. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The two major party candidates are more different from each other than I’ve ever seen in a general election. But, that doesn’t fit what is now known as the “both sides” or false equivalence narrative.[ii]

You’ve got Hillary Clinton who is literally preaching love and kindness on the campaign trail. She also often recites the quote, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can,” which is attributed to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.

On the other hand, the Republican Party’s nominee for president regularly disparages women, immigrants, people of color, and non-Christians. His latest television ad has been denounced by the Anti Defamation League for its anti-Semitic overtones. His rallies are filled with anger and sometimes even violence directed at Hillary Clinton, women, and minorities.

And that’s just rhetoric. The differences between the two candidates on policy issues like climate change, education, the economy, LGBTQ rights, taxes, etc. couldn’t be starker. When it comes to transparency, we've also gotten to read thousands of Hillary Clinton's personal emails (which show just how hard she works and which issues are important to her) while the Republican nominee is the first candidate in decades not to release his tax returns.

There is also the notion that the majority of Hillary Clinton’s supporters are just voting against the Republican nominee or holding their nose to vote. I’m here to dispel that narrative.

This Facebook group gave me such a feeling of pride because it showed me I wasn’t alone. I read post after post of people who were terrified to wear their Hillary Clinton buttons or shirts, or put up signs in their yards because of the vitriol directed towards her and her supporters. I read post after post of women, many Republicans, who said they were proud to vote for Hillary and make history because of her overwhelming qualifications and because they just can’t support the misogyny of the other ticket.

I read posts from parents of disabled children about how they were brokenhearted when the Republican nominee mocked a disabled reporter and I read posts from Muslims recalling the frightening and mean spirited words the Republican nominee has said.

There are emotional posts from courageous women who are sharing for the first time stories of being sexually assaulted. They aren’t letting his words bring them down. They've decided to come out of the shadows because they can't stay silent anymore. They’re eager to vote for Hillary Clinton and happy to have her as an advocate.

I don’t share political messages on Facebook to try and win anyone over. I understand that most people’s minds are made up. I like to post messages of support so other people know they’re not alone. As a gay man, I can promise you that seeing messages of support from allies does make a huge difference. Marginalized groups need to know we have support out there. It can make such a difference some days, and yes, sometimes it can help people change their minds.

That’s what these groups are for. The nastiness, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc. of this election has of course been disheartening. But I, and millions of others have decided we will not let that ugliness steal our joy. We will not give up, and we will keep fighting because we know we’re on the right side of history, and we know that love trumps hate.

I’m also tired of reading endorsements that must point out Hillary Clinton isn’t perfect. Who is arguing that she is? There is no such thing as a perfect politician, because there’s no such thing as a perfect person. Human beings are flawed. It’s a point that is often only made because of her gender.

I am so inspired by Hillary Clinton and her lifelong record of accomplishments. While she was working on registering minority voters and investigating school segregation in the 1970s, the Republican nominee was discriminating against African-Americans as a landlord. She’s made bettering the lives of women and children her life’s work.

Because of Hillary Clinton, education was improved in Arkansas, kids with disabilities are able to attend public schools, more than eight million children have health insurance, National Guard and reservists are able to access military benefits, adoption and foster care got easier, and this list could go on and on. There is no way to deny Hillary Clinton has an impressive list of accomplishments that have made people’s lives measurably better.

In spite of all that, this election is about so much more than Hillary Clinton or the Republican nominee.

·         It’s about having a president that believes climate change is a real threat, not a hoax invented by the Chinese

·         It’s about having a president who believes in equal pay for equal work

·         It’s about having a president who thinks the middle class shouldn’t have to pay more taxes

·         It’s about having a president who understands that systemic racism is still a problem in America

·         It’s about having a president who understands the burden of student loan debt and wants to make higher education a realistic part of the American dream

·         It’s about having a president who will appoint Supreme Court justices who will uphold equality

·         It’s about having a president who will fight for paid family leave, including paid maternity and paternity leave

·         It’s about having a president who will work to improve the Affordable Healthcare Act and continue working to make healthcare more affordable, not one who wants to give more power back to insurance companies

·         It’s about the 90 people who die of gun violence in this country every single day and their families, and who is going to work to curb that violence

·         It’s about the immigrants working hard, and yes, paying taxes in this country, who just want to make life better for their families and not have to worry about their family being ripped apart

·         It’s about the LGBTQ youth who need an advocate, not someone who believes they can be converted

·         It’s about the veterans and gold star military families who deserve a commander in chief who honors and respects their sacrifices and will work to make sure they are taken care of

I know that many people also just dislike politics in general. I can understand why. But, for me, it's not just about politics. It's about livelihood. Being openly gay in America is still a political act. I didn't choose that. Homophobic politicians chose that. Being a woman who dares to defy traditional gender roles and demand equality is political. Being a person of color who challenges systemic racism by refusing to be a second class citizen is political. It's just the way it is.

I understand that this election has been brutal. But, let’s not pretend there’s plenty of blame to go around. The idea that all politicians are the same or that there are no differences between the two major parties didn’t come about accidentally. It is a narrative that feeds apathy. It is a narrative that helps protect the status quo. If enough people are convinced that they can’t make a difference, even with their vote, then they’re not inclined to be engaged and participate.

If voting didn’t make a difference, the Republican Party wouldn’t be trying so hard to strip people of their voting rights. They wouldn’t be actively trying to make it harder for people to vote if our votes and voices didn’t matter.

So, no matter what the media narrative may be, I want you to know that I, and millions of others, am so happy to be voting for Hillary Clinton on Tuesday. I’m excited about what the future holds and optimistic about voting for the most qualified and prepared candidate of a lifetime! And I’m excited about shattering the glass ceiling and making history with the first female president. This is an inspirational election and there are plenty of things to be happy and optimistic about. I'll continue raising my voice about what's important so know that you're not alone.

---

[i] Both candidates do have high unfavorable ratings historically speaking. However, the Republican Party’s nominee’s favorables are significantly worse than Hillary Clinton’s. There is also the fact that Hillary Clinton’s popularity tends to fall only while she is campaigning for political office. While in office, her popularity soars. As First Lady, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State her popularity was often above 60 percent. Her popularity has only significantly dipped during her push for health care reform in the early 1990s, when she began her U.S. Senate campaign, and during her two runs for president. These drops in popularity are widely attributed to sexism and Hillary Clinton challenging gender roles.

[ii] For instance, the media likes to claim both candidates are liars. Politifact, a widely respected nonpartisan group has found over 70 percent of Hillary Clinton’s claims in this election cycle to be true. They’ve also found over 70 percent of the Republican candidate’s claims to be false. In the three presidential debates, the Republican candidate made over 100 false claims, while Hillary Clinton made fewer than 15. A ranking of each candidate for president, including those who ran in the primaries, found that Hillary Clinton was the most honest candidate of 2016. The eventual Republican Party nominee was the least truthful candidate in the field of over 20 candidates.

I'm Not Queer for Your Entertainment

Today, October 11, is National Coming Out Day. In celebration of this day, I want to share a few reflections on coming out and my personal experience as a gay man.

My coming out journey began in college when I was 19. It was January 2005 the first time I told a friend of mine I was gay--almost 12 years ago. To put that in perspective, Barack Obama had just been sworn in as the junior senator from Illinois, same-sex marriage had been legal in Massachusetts (at the time the only place in the USA with marriage equality) for less than a year, Meet the Fockers was at the top of the box office charts, and Mario's "Let Me Love You" was in the middle of a nine week run at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

An AOL Instant Messenger conversation with a good friend of mine about Angelina Jolie and Justin

Timberlake helped pave the way for me to open up about my sexual orientation. Over the next few years, slowly but surely I would come out to more friends and family members, eventually telling my parents and sister shortly before my 24th birthday, this time thanks to the help of bigoted Alabama State Representative Jay Love and Miss USA 2009 runner-up Carrie Prejean. (It's a long, but funny story for another time.)

As a teenager, it was really hard to imagine coming out. I just didn't think it was possible. It took a long time before I could imagine myself in a relationship with a man and living my life as who I am.

• I was told by a family member I looked like a faggot for painting my nails purple for school spirit day in high school. I felt sick at my stomach and immediately removed the nail polish, and toned down my spirit day participation.

• I was told another family member they would rather have one of their family members be dead than be gay, because they would be going to hell anyway. I can still tell you what I was wearing and what I was doing when this moment happened. I don't think I will ever forget those words or that feeling.

• Another family member told me after an alarming epidemic of LGBT kids committing suicide that they wouldn't have had to resort to that if they'd had God in their lives. Besides the ridiculous notion that an LGBT person cannot be religious, there was such a complete lack of empathy for these tortured kids.

That's just a small sampling. And, I would say I've probably had it easier than a lot of people who grew up in similar environments. 

As I've gotten older, I've learned to be much more comfortable with myself. But, there are still horrific things that happen to LGBT people all over the world. One problem that has been bothering me a lot lately is the consumption of LGBT people for entertainment.

I know far too many people who enjoy shows like RuPaul's Drag Race and Will & Grace yet they don't support basic equality for LGBT people. We exist solely as entertainment in some minds. If you can't laugh at us, or make fun of us, you don't want anything to do with us.

You don't deserve enjoyment at our expense while not loving us and supporting us. It doesn't work that way. You can't laugh at drama filled drag queens while being disgusted by two men kissing or making degrading comments directed at trans people.

So much homophobia and transphobia boils down to a lack of empathy. LGBT people are human beings. We deserve love and respect just like anyone else.

My hope is that it continues to get easier for LGBT people to come out, and that their family and friends support them and love them unconditionally. I'm lucky to have friends and family members who love and support me. Some people in my life still need work, and need to open their minds and their hearts. I'll keep doing what I can to change people's attitudes in my own way.

I also hope straight and cisgender allies will take the time to think before they speak. Remember that your actions and words have consequences, and you never know who could be listening. You never know who around you is struggling and looking for support. Don't be the reason someone is scared to come out.

Show your support when you can. It means much more than you'll ever know. Sometimes it can even save a life.

Check out the Human Rights Campaign's many resources on coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or as an ally or supporter: http://www.hrc.org/resources/national-coming-out-day

Veepstakes!

Next week, Democrats will gather in Philadelphia for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Hillary Clinton is expected to announce her running mate this weekend, likely on Friday or Saturday. Here's a ranking and rundown of the ten people most likely to be picked according to media reports.

Disclaimer: This is one of the nerdiest things I've done in quite some time. I devised a scoring system based on political positions on important issues, experience, diversity, and x factor. Of course, this is highly subjective. For the top ten candidates, there are two scores. One is the actual score, and the second is their score on a curve.

I've included five wildcard candidates that are dream picks for me. It is incredibly unlikely these candidates will be on the ticket, so that is why I gave the more likely candidates a grade on the curve.

I believe Tim Kaine and Tom Vilsack are the most likely picks, with Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, and Tom Perez being the second tier choices.

1. Sherrod Brown (A+/B+)

U.S. Senate, 2007-Present
U.S. House of Representatives, 1993-2007
Ohio Secretary of State, 1983-1991
Ohio House of Representatives, 1975-1982

Sherrod Brown has a stellar resume and is one of the most progressive members of the U.S. Senate. He's popular in his home state of Ohio, and could likely help deliver the state's 18 electoral votes. A major drawback is Republican Gov. John Kasich would appoint Brown's successor to the Senate if elected Vice President. One major plus is Brown's Pulitzer Prize winning wife, columnist Connie Schultz. She'd make a fantastic Second Lady.







2. Xavier Becerra (A+/B+)

U.S. House of Representatives, 1993-Present
California House of Representatives, 1990-1992

Xavier Becerra is currently serving his second term as chair of the House Democratic Conference. He's a former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and would be the first Hispanic person on a major party ticket. He's also a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He was a top contender to be U.S. Trade Representative in the Obama administration, but reportedly turned down the position. Should he leave Congress to be Vice President, his seat should remain safely Democratic.











3. Cory Booker (A+/B)

U.S. Senate, 2013-Present
Newark Mayor, 2006-2013
Newark City Council, 1998-2002

Cory Booker is a personal favorite of mine, and would be higher on this list if he had a little more experience, especially with foreign policy. I think (and hope) he'll be on a national ticket in the near future. The problem with 2016 for Booker is also who would appoint his successor in New Jersey--Republican Gov. Chris Christie. He's got a great hands on record as mayor and senator, but has rankled some progressives with his educational reform positions (such as charter schools and testing mandates).












4. Elizabeth Warren (A/B)

U.S. Senate, 2013-Present

Elizabeth Warren is in pretty much the same boat as Cory Booker. She'd be a perfect pick with more experience especially in foreign affairs. She'd definitely generate a lot of excitement with the Democratic Party base, and she would make a historic ticket even more historic. Once again though, a safe Senate seat would be handed to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. Also, geographically, Massachusetts is one of the bluest states in presidential elections, so Warren doesn't add much to the ticket there.










5. Tim Kaine (A/B)

U.S. Senate, 2013-Present
Democratic National Committee Chair, 2009-2011
Virginia Governor, 2006-2010
Virginia Lt. Governor, 2002-2006
Richmond Mayor, 1998-2001

On paper, Tim Kaine is the perfect vice presidential pick. He's been a mayor, governor, chairman of the Democratic Party, and as a senator, he serves on the Armed Services Committee and Foreign Relations Committee, giving him foreign policy and national security experience. He's popular in an important swing state, and he's fluent in Spanish. Kaine has a solidly progressive track record on important issues with the Democratic base, He may not be the exciting pick, but he's certainly prepared to be president. Plus, his successor would be chosen by Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a close ally of the Clintons.










6. John Hickenlooper (A/B)

Colorado Governor, 2011-Present
National Governors Association Chair, 2014-2015
Denver Mayor, 2003-2011

John Hickenlooper is a likely candidate to join a Clinton administration in some role. He's been a strong progressive voice on issues such as gun control and combating homelessness. As an aside, should he be elected Vice President or named a cabinet secretary, Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne would become Colorado's first female governor.













7. Tom Perez (B+/C+)

Secretary of Labor, 2013-Present
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, 2009-2013

Tom Perez has a great resume for a cabinet secretary, but has never held any elective office. He worked in the Clinton administration under Attorney General Janet Reno, he served as a special counselor to Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, and served in Martin O'Malley's administration while O'Malley was governor of Maryland. Perez is a progressive hero for his work on civil rights issues and voting rights, and would be the first Hispanic person on a national ticket should he be selected as Hillary Clinton's running mate.









8. Tom Vilsack (B+/C+)

Secretary of Agriculture, 2009-Present
Iowa Governor, 1999-2007
Iowa State Senate, 1993-1999
Mount Pleasant (IA) Mayor, 1987-1992

Tom Vilsack is another candidate with a great resume. He'd be higher on this list if he were a more dynamic pick and if he didn't have a more moderate/centrist record than the others. Vilsack nonetheless has a strong record on progressive issues such as clean energy and healthcare, as well as a compelling personal story. He's a close ally of the Clintons, and the longest serving cabinet secretary in the Obama administration. He briefly ran for president in 2008, but dropped out and endorsed Hillary Clinton. Picking Vilsack could also help Clinton carry Iowa's six electoral votes.











9. Julian Castro (B+/C)

Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development, 2014-Present
San Antonio Mayor, 2009-2014
San Antonio City Council, 2001-2005

Julian Castro is the favorite choice for many Democrats. His youth and Hispanic heritage would bring more diversity to a historic ticket. However, his relative inexperience lands him near the bottom of my list. Castro has a bright future ahead of him in politics, and could eventually be on a national ticket once he's gained that experience.















10. James Stavridis (C+/D+)

Supreme Allied Commander Europe, 2009-2013

James Stavridis is much more suited for a position like Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Defense Secretary (although Michele Flournoy is my preferred pick for that position). Stavridis brings national security experience, but is far too unknown in my opinion. His positions on important issues are unknown as well.













* Tammy Baldwin (A+)

U.S. Senator, 2013-Present
U.S. House of Representatives, 1999-2013
Wisconsin State Assembly, 1993-1999
Dane County Board of Supervisors, 1986-1994

Tammy Baldwin is my ideal pick to be Hillary Clinton's running mate. She's got the experience, she's one of the most progressive U.S. senators, and she'd make history by being the first openly gay person on a national ticket. After the horrific terrorist attack in Orlando targeting the LGBT community, picking Baldwin would send a strong signal to the country that LGBT equality is of the utmost importance. As Vice President, Baldwin could give visibility to the LGBT community in an unprecedented way. The only drawback is that Republican Gov. Scott Walker would pick her replacement in the Senate.










* Barbara Boxer (A+)

U.S. Senate, 1993-Present
U.S. House of Representatives, 1983-1993
Marin County Board of Supervisors, 1976-1982

Barbara Boxer has a nearly perfect progressive record and decades of experience. She's retiring from the U.S. Senate, and could bring a unique perspective to the office of Vice President. She'd be able to work on important issues without the burden of thinking about a political future, because in eight years, at the age of 83, it's highly unlikely she'd run for president. She could give way to a younger generation of Democrats in 2024, after two terms of a Hillary Clinton presidency.











* Jeanne Shaheen (A)

U.S. Senate, 2009-Present
New Hampshire Governor, 1997-2003
New Hampshire Senate, 1992-1996

Jeanne Shaheen is the only woman in U.S. history to serve as a governor and a U.S. senator. She's been a strong progressive on many issues, especially women's rights and reproductive freedom. Shaheen has also worked on a host of military and veterans issues throughout her career.







* Kirsten Gillibrand (A)

U.S. Senate, 2009-Present
U.S. House of Representatives, 2007-2009

Kirsten Gillibrand is another person I expect to hopefully be on a national ticket someday. She was an integral part of the campaign to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell, she's fought hard on military sexual assault cases, and she's a leading voice against gun violence. There are some constitutional questions about nominating two New Yorkers on the same ticket, but prominent blogger and founder of the Daily Kos, Markos Moulitsas, explains in this column why it shouldn't be a problem.

















* Donna Edwards (A-)

U.S. House of Representatives, 2008-Present

African-American women are the most loyal Democratic Party constituency, but are vastly underrepresented in elective office. Donna Edwards on the ticket would be a historic choice for many reasons. She's a strong progressive, although has upset union officials at times in Maryland. One potential drawback is she just lost a primary for the U.S. Senate seat opening up due to Sen. Barbara Mikulski's retirement. I think Edwards would make a great addition to a Clinton administration in any capacity, and I hope to see her continue a career in public service.

I'm With Her

                My political awakening began in early 2005, shortly after President George W. Bush was beginning his second term in office. My family was middle class, religious (Methodist), and conservative. I grew up just assuming I was conservative, too.

                I was able to vote for the first time in 2004, and I took this duty seriously. I began researching all the candidates that would be on the ballot. The candidates for the Alabama Supreme Court were particularly eye opening to me. Many of the Republican candidates held some dangerous views in my opinion that bordered on or were flat out racist. It caused me to do a lot of soul searching about my assumed political beliefs, and on Election Day I ended up voting for many more Democrats than Republicans. (This would be the first and last election that I voted for any Republican candidates).

                Throughout 2005, I did my best to become more informed. This also is the year I began coming out as gay to my close friends. It didn’t take me long to realize my values were more progressive and aligned much more with the Democratic Party. Senators Barbara Boxer of California and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin became political heroes to me.

                Locally, despite being in a deeply conservative state, there were things to be excited about. The first campaign I was heavily involved with was Lucy Baxley’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign here in Alabama. I had the honor of meeting her in 2002 when I represented my high school at Boys State and had been incredibly impressed with her and all she had accomplished in office. I had never wanted someone to win an election as badly as I wanted Lucy Baxley to become governor of Alabama.

                Despite Baxley’s loss, I still have many fond memories of the 2006 campaign, including making a weekly driving from Tuscaloosa to Montgomery every Friday to work in the campaign headquarters that fall. There were many other great local candidates that year including former Governor Jim Folsom, who was elected lieutenant governor, and Judge Sue Bell Cobb, who was elected the first female Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.

                As the 2006 cycle ended, the presidential race heated up. I was excited about the prospect of Feingold running for president, but he quickly took his name out of consideration. I really didn’t know who I would support in my first presidential primary.

                Around this time I read Hillary Rodham Clinton’s autobiography, Living History. I learned a lot about her that I didn’t know before. She had a political awakening similar to mine. She grew up in a Republican household, but her Methodist upbringing and the civil rights movement of the 1960s led her to get involved with the Democratic Party in 1968 by the time she was of voting age.

                When Clinton announced her candidacy for president on Saturday, January 20, 2007, I was ecstatic. There had never been a formidable female presidential candidate, and she was entering the race as the frontrunner. I looked at the other candidates in the race and their plans and policies, and it was clear she was a once in a lifetime type candidate. I worked my heart out for her over the next year and a half.

                In June 2008, once the primary contests were over, the race was incredibly tight. Clinton had a slight lead in the popular vote, but then Senator Barack Obama had a slight lead in the delegate race. Delegates are what matter in the process, and so Obama became the presumptive nominee. Clinton’s reaction to her loss showed me the kind of leader she is.

                She could’ve made the case that no candidate had the amount of pledged delegates necessary to win the nomination (for either Clinton or Obama to have enough delegates, they needed Democratic Party superdelegates to side with them) and she could’ve argued her lead in the popular vote should make her the nominee. She could’ve acted in her own personal interests and gone on to a contested convention fight.

                Instead, she immediately began working to unify the Democratic Party and endorsed Obama. She worked tirelessly over the summer and at the convention in Denver to make sure her supporters knew Obama was the best choice for the country. She did what was best for the country and the party, accepting defeat graciously, and continued working hard to make progressive changes in America.

                I stayed involved in politics, volunteering with Obama’s campaigns in 2008 and 2012, and local races in 2010 and 2014.

                In January 2013, a grassroots organization called Ready for Hillary was formed with the purpose of drafting Clinton into the 2016 presidential race and building up a supporter network for her should she run. The 2012 presidential race was just finished, Clinton was winding down four exhausting years as secretary of state, and we still had a midterm election to get through. It seemed early to care about the next presidential race. Primary elections were still three years away.

                The group rapidly grew exponentially. It had 50,000 Twitter followers almost instantly. Over the next two years the group amassed four million members. It became clear that there were millions of grassroots organizers throughout the country that wanted Clinton to run for president again.

                I began looking ahead and thinking about the presidential race. Who would I want to run for president? There were plenty of people I liked who had good track records in office. I liked then Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, then Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and Senator Kirstin Gillibrand. As much as I liked them, none of them compared to Clinton. Her lifelong record and experience is just unmatchable. It wasn’t long before I was also Ready for Hillary.

                Once again I watched with joy as she announced her second bid for the White House, this time on Sunday, April 12, 2015. I was even more excited than I had been eight years before. Her incredible qualifications and experience had only gotten more impressive after a four year stint as secretary of state.

                I still did my homework though. After all of the Democratic candidates had announced, I looked at their records and the plans and policies they were proposing. Once again, for me, it was Clinton by a mile. My results actually surprised me though when I compared the rest of the candidates. As a fan of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, I assumed he would be my second choice. But, it was O’Malley. Sanders was a close third.

                I want to be clear that I think it’s important we keep a Democrat in the White House, and any of the Democrats running for president would be preferable to any of the Republicans running for president. But, after a closer look at Sanders’ record and proposals, I was left with concerns.

                Ideologically, I line up pretty well with both Clinton and Sanders. After all, during the time they served in Congress together their voting records were 93 percent identical. There were some votes where Clinton’s positions were considered more progressive, and some where Sanders’ positions were considered more progressive.

                A president must do more than share my ideology though. He or she must be able to lead, and must have a clear plan of action for getting things done. While I share most of the goals both Clinton and Sanders hope to achieve, Clinton’s plans are the ones that are sounder and fully fleshed out. Her plans have the backing of academics, economists, and experts who see them as achievable and often cite gaps and holes in Sanders’ plans.

                When it comes down to specifics, Clinton is the clear choice for me. Her healthcare plan builds on the progress we’ve already made under the Affordable Care Act instead of creating a new system from experts say has many flaws. She’s been fighting for universal healthcare for decades and when met with defeat she’s continued working on the issue and helped increase coverage for children and military families.

                Her college tuition plan actually addressing the rising costs of education while working with students to make it more affordable and pay down their existing student loan debt.

                Her paid family leave plan covers everyone without raising taxes on the middle class.

                Her plan to reign in Wall Street has been praised as going farther than Sanders’ plan because she addresses shadow banking and because she grasps the future of the banking industry, not just the past. She was one of the first to recognize the mortgage crisis during the financial crash and introduce legislation to provide relief to families affected by it.

                Her work on behalf of LGBT people while she was secretary of state constantly awed and inspired me, especially when standing up to brutal anti-LGBT dictators and leaders around the world.

                She consistently fights to expand voting rights, and as a senator introduced legislation making it easier to vote and making Election Day a national holiday.

                Her work on behalf of women and girls, and her grasp of the importance of education from an early age is impressive. She was not only a solid vote for reproductive freedom in the Senate, but she was a leader on the issue, introducing bills to expand coverage throughout her congressional career.

                Her depth of knowledge and ease talking about foreign policy is completely unrivaled. And, there are so many more issues that she’s great on—the environment, immigration, criminal justice reform, and addressing systemic racism in this country.

                And, yes, she is a woman. She would be the first female president of the United States and to me that is huge. It would of course be different if it were a woman whose policies I didn’t think would make the country better, but Clinton has a lifelong progressive track record of getting things done.

                The level of sexism she faces as a woman in power and a presidential candidate is proof enough that having a female president is important. She is consistently held to a much higher standard than anyone else on every issue—her Iraq vote in 2002 (which she apologized for and has explained numerous times—look up her floor speech if you’re not familiar with it), her speaking fees, her campaign contributions, her emails (despite previous secretaries of state doing the same thing), etc.

                I specifically remember one of the first debates in this cycle in which she and Sanders were both asked about Edward Snowden and marijuana use. They both have differently worded, but incredibly similar answers. The next day, the media and many progressives praised his answers while condemning hers. I had to go back and rewatch the clips from the debate to make sure I hadn’t misheard either candidate.

                Also, when I look around, the smartest people I know and the people who are working everyday for progressive changes in America support her. Organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, the League of Conservation Voters, and Planned Parenthood all have endorsed Clinton. She also has the backing of the vast majority of unions.

               

There is no such thing as a perfect candidate, because there is no such thing as a perfect human. We’ve all made mistakes and all have flaws. There is no one I agree with 100 percent of the time. But, that’s okay. There’s no reason to look for perfection, especially when it doesn’t exist.

                I like her willingness to acknowledge when she’s made a mistake and willingness to adapt. Isn’t that what being a progressive is about? We learn from our experiences, and we correct the course if we need to.

                Clinton has been the subject of vicious attacks from conservatives for over 20 years now, and she’s still standing. She’s still managed to be named the Gallup’s Most Admired Woman a record 20 times, and she’s got better favorability ratings than her Democratic rivals according to the latest polls. She has been investigated over and over again, and each time nothing comes up.

Karl Rove’s group and Super PAC have been out to defeat her since she announced in April 2015, even going so far as running positive ads for her primary opponents and negative ads against her. (Unfortunately, many on the left have fallen for these dishonest attacks.)

I still believe Hillary Rodham Clinton is a once in a lifetime candidate with a stellar track record, and I am so proud to once again get to vote for her on March 1. I'm confident that as president, she'll make this country better for all of us.