It takes a certain kind of privilege to not vote for Hillary

This is an argument we're going to hear for the next several weeks or few months as the general election campaign progresses. The implied (or sometimes explicitly stated; see LoF) privilege is that of a white male. Frequently "affluent" or some variation will also be included.

This argument is a variation on the divisive identity politics the Clinton campaign used to successfully sweep the south in the primary, coupled with the "fear Trump" argument. It plays on feelings of guilt and uncertainty in a white population who consider themselves allies of non-whites, and it's very effective.

It's predicated on the notion that Trump is terrible for everyone but white straight cis-males, while Hillary (it is asserted) is better:

We have to accept that Hillary is better than Trump on race because Trump said some mean things and fomented some violence.

We're not supposed to remember that Hillary and Bill encouraged Trump to run, knowing who and what he is, or that Hillary not only fought to pass awful and racist criminal and social support laws, she has as recently as this damned primary marginalized and belittled black activists.

We have to accept that Hillary is better than Trump on sex orientation because Hillary stood idle while some (many) of our LGBTQIPA friends and allies struggled to win victories in courts, while Trump opposes something those victories already covered and will never be able to overturn.

We're not supposed to remember that Hillary held essentially Trump's stance on gay marriage ("up to the states" was code for "opposed, but want to make people think I'm not") until it became politically dangerous for her to do so, or that she as recently as this primary "made a mistake" when honoring Nancy "AIDS holocaust" Reagan at her funeral.

We have to accept that Hillary is better than Trump on gender because she's cracking a glass ceiling and supposedly has fought for women and children for decades, while Trump is a misogynist jerk.

We're supposed to forget that Hillary's economic policies hurt women, and especially single-mothers and their children most, and that her foreign policies result in the mass death and destruction of women and their families, and that she this very primary season said the children of Central America should be sent back through a dangerous journey where they could be raped, killed, or kidnapped and sold into slavery at every turn just to "send a message" to Central and South American countries' people.

One last point.

Listen: I grew up in majority-minority (African-American, Latino and a mix of Korean and Vietnamese) neighborhoods for most of my childhood. I ain't a black dude, and I haven't lived the life of a non-straight, non-white, non-male. But I've come closer to the first two (I had gay family, and gay friends) than Hillary's rich lily-white ass ever has.

Call me privileged for being white--it's true. Call me privileged for being male--it's true. Call me privileged for being straight--it's true. Don't tell me those things are why I oppose Hillary. Don't tell me my opposition to voting for Hillary is from a position of privilege. It just isn't true. Nobody--of any race, gender, or orientation--has the standing to tell me I'm privileged as a response to my objections over Hillary. And they don't have standing to do that to you, either.

It's just a way to shut down debate, because they know their candidate is awful on all the issues that affect all of us.

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Oldest Son Of A Sailor's picture

Give me a fucking break. I wish all the trolls would just save their breath and not come here, because they will succeed at nothing except making us irate and driving us further away from the Democratic Party.

Is all that needs to be said to the trolls...

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"Do you realize the responsibility I carry?
I'm the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House."

~John F. Kennedy~
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Dhyerwolf's picture

Hillary is the perfect example of American Privilege, the nasty byproduct of American Exceptionalism. We go to bed knowing that we aren't going to be attacked by the world's superpower or that our environment won't be ruined by an outside country who is only looking to effectively pull off a 2016 version of the rape and pillage. I am voting to help end American Privilege, which is probably the most destructive privilege in our world.

This is what I tell to Hillary voters who try to make it seem like my reason for voting against her is just because of white, male privilege.

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enhydra lutris's picture

peoples' attention which should be - maybe billboards.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

lotlizard's picture

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Bisbonian's picture

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

-You know the guilt-trips, threats, and abuse are on their way, no matter what. No matter how persuasive your argument.

I've been bullied quite a lot in my childhood, and in my youth. But not these days. I just don't take a good threatening any more.

I fully expect to receive this "privilege" BS from some Hillaryite, sooner or later. I got angry Dems yelling at me for voting Nader in 2000, and I had establishment Dems telling me to get in line to work for their candidate before I could even vote. (I had canvassed for McGovern). So this time, I'm going to try to tell them why THEY should switch, and vote Green.

A woman for President? Check. How about a woman of color for Vice-President, too?

-Or are they racist? -Or sexist? Do they think that 2 women on the ballot is too much? C'mon, it's the present year! Do we really need to elect an old-school enabler of sexual abusers?

If Trump is so scary, why were both Clintons at his wedding? Why were Bill and Donald golf buddies, ever?

And let's look at that voting fraud, OK? Those STOLEN VOTES? It's like the Democratic Party robbed us, robbed Bernie, and now you're pissed 'cause we won't come unclog your toilet for you? -And because we won't shut up about the robbery?

And why is Hillary even still in the race? She has no clear path to election; WHY IS SHE DIVIDING THE COUNTRY BY STAYING IN THE RACE? There's no way she can win! Can't she do the math?

I'm ready for this shouting match, this time. I am goddamned PRIMED. For real. I may not change their minds, but if they think this long-haired white boy is another hippie to punch, they are in line to receive some religion, so to speak. At maximum volume.

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"Capitalism is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work for the benefit of all."
- John Maynard Keynes

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