sonneillonv:

inquisitorhotpants:

brutereason:

I cannot bring myself to be in any way upset or angered by Hillary’s statement about having “both a public and a private position” on things. This is basic pragmatism. This is code-switching. It’s uncomfortable to hear, and it leads many (especially straight white male Americans) to feel that they’re being lied to, but it’s how our social fabric is woven.

As a woman, as a queer person, as a feminist, and as a first-generation immigrant from a multicultural family that spans three continents, I absolutely have both public and private positions on many things, political issues included. Brains are complicated and any intellectually-aware person is able to hold some slightly contradictory viewpoints–not because one is “authentic” or “genuine” and the other isn’t, but because shit is complex. There are things that go on in my brain that would horrify you, and things that go on in my brain that would horrify my family, and things that go on in my brain that would horrify my clients and coworkers. I’m allowed to choose whether or not to horrify any particular person at any particular time, and which one of my many equally-“authentic” sides to express in any given situation.

Furthermore, effective politics is in part about persuading and compromising with a variety of people with diverse viewpoints, and the language that’s most effective for one person may not be the most effective for another. The language I would use to convince a Libertarian to support a basic income is not the language I would use to convince a socialist to support a basic income. The language I use to discuss race with my parents isn’t the language I use to discuss race with my Facebook friends. Sometimes different language = slightly different nuances of opinion.

Hillary gets this better than most people, which makes her a terrifyingly effective politician. People are uncomfortable with that. That’s fine. Be uncomfortable with it. Realize that that’s how laws get passed, treaties get negotiated, and international crises get resolved.

You don’t *want* a President who seems like a cool fun chill person who says what’s on their mind all the time. Maybe that’s who you want in a friend. But I don’t, because I wear enough different hats to really understand the value of being intentional about what you express to whom and in what terms.

You don’t *want* a President who seems like a cool fun chill person who says what’s on their mind all the time. Maybe that’s who you want in a friend. But I don’t, because I wear enough different hats to really understand the value of being intentional about what you express to whom and in what terms.

Yeah, that… that line did not bother me at all.  “You can have a public opinion and a private opinion” Like DUH, that is absolutely what being a politician IS.  You have a conscience and an opinion but you serve the people.