Flawed Logic
Today, the CNN Political Ticker reported that the New York State Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) “slammed” Senator Ted Kennedy for his endorsement of Barack Obama (a male) over Hillary Clinton (a female). The women’s organization criticized Kennedy for his non-female choice and declared his choice of male over female means he abandoned all women and cannot stand the idea of Hillary Clinton as President.
This is a sad day. The incredibly wrong logic of the NOW statement is detrimental to their cause and to tolerance in society. Kennedy’s endorsement does not mean he does not want Hillary Clinton as the president (even though that would be perfectly acceptable opinion because about 50% of the country is in that camp). It certainly doesn’t mean he doesn’t support a woman running for president. It means he supports Obama–as a person, regardless of race or gender or anything else that matters but is not the basis of selection–over Clinton. It’s just that simple.
NOW’s focus is on women, but their mission statement concludes with “NOW works to…promote equality and justice in our society.” If NOW only endorsed Clinton because she is a woman, their endorsement is inequitable and unjust. If the organization believes she is best to lead to nation, then we have a respectable endorsement. But, in the end, the denouncement of a progressive senator who supports a male in the presidential race, is unfair, unjust, and wrong. This organization needs to refocus and recalculate its plan to promote a positive message.
As a male I realize I have a biased opinion on the issue of women’s rights. But I know NOW is wrong with their message. If statements full of faulty logic and sexism are used to promote worthy and necessary causes, no progress will ever be made. I’m confident this action only hurts NOW’s cause.
