The US Is Ready To Vote for a Female President

826

August 30, 2024

Published in Der Standard
(Austria) on 20 August 2024
by Manuela Honsig-Erlenburg (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Peter Carioca. Edited by Patricia Simoni.

It's smart that Kamala Harris isn't emphasizing her gender; other people can — and should — do that for her.

It was an emotional farewell to the big political stage as U.S. President Joe Biden symbolically handed over the scepter to his running mate Kamala Harris at the U.S. Democratic Convention. He was celebrated with a minute-long standing ovation for his life's work and also for his retirement at just the right time. Biden hands the reins over to the next generation. The spirit of optimism was unmistakable.

However, Hillary Clinton's speech made the generational change clearer than Biden's. It was the honor of her life to be the first woman to accept the nomination for presidential candidacy in 2016. But in her concession speech, she said, "Now, I know, I know we have still not shattered the highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday, someone will."

Power vs Selflessness

The circumstances are now more favorable for Harris. While Clinton grew up politically in the shadow of her husband Bill, Harris developed her career independently. She escaped the label of scrupulous power-hungry woman that many successful women struggle with, because she stepped in when the party needed her. Selflessness: a classic trait that still goes down better with a majority of women than does a thirst for power.

Until now, Harris hasn't emphasized her gender, which is smart. Others are doing this for her, such as her fans on social media. Nevertheless, according to polls, the rise of her popularity is largely due to her increasingly winning over female voters. The U.S. is ready to vote for a female president.

Die USA sind bereit, eine Frau ins Präsidentenamt zu wählen

Es ist klug, dass Harris ihr Geschlecht nicht betont. Das können – und sollen – andere für sie tun

Es war ein emotionaler Abschied von der großen politischen Bühne: US-Präsident Joe Biden übergab das Zepter am Parteitag der US-Demokraten zumindest symbolisch an seine Vize Kamala Harris. Gefeiert wurde er mit minutenlangen Standing Ovations: für sein Lebenswerk, aber auch für seinen Rückzug zur gerade noch rechten Zeit. Biden übergibt an eine nächste Generation. Die Aufbruchsstimmung war nicht zu übersehen.

Doch viel stärker als Bidens Rede machte jene von Hillary Clinton den Generationswechsel klar. Es sei die Ehre ihres Lebens gewesen, 2016 als erste Frau die Nominierung für die Präsidentschaftskandidatur anzunehmen. Damals habe sie die "höchste und härteste Glasdecke" aber nicht zerschmettern können, so Clinton.
Macht versus Selbstlosigkeit

Bei Harris sind die Umstände nun günstiger. Während Clinton im Schatten ihres Mannes Bill politisch groß wurde, entwickelte sich Harris' Karriere unabhängig. Dem Label der skrupellosen Machtbesessenen, mit dem viele erfolgreiche Frauen kämpfen, entkam sie, weil sie einsprang, als die Partei sie brauchte. Selbstlosigkeit – eine klassische Eigenschaft, die in Bezug auf Frauen bei einer Mehrheit immer noch besser ankommt als Machtstreben.

Bisher hat Harris ihr Geschlecht in der Kampagne nicht betont, was klug ist. Es tun andere für sie, wie ihre Fans in den sozialen Medien. Trotzdem ist der Anstieg ihrer Beliebtheitswerte laut Umfragen zu einem Gutteil darauf zurückzuführen, dass sie zunehmend weibliche Wählergruppen für sich gewinnt. Die USA sind bereit, eine Frau ins Präsidentenamt zu wählen.

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