By Debra Houston | I entered the crowded waiting room for a routine exam in early December and found ladies in pink hospital gowns with their noses buried in magazines or otherwise staring into cellphones. Similarly attired, I sat down and asked, “Are they running behind?”
An avalanche of answers cascaded upon me. “I’ve been waiting two hours” was the most common refrain. I bit my lip, but surprisingly my question had broken the ice. Young and senior ladies, those of various complexions, and those with multicultural accents– strangers all — shared with one another their daily frustrations.
Perhaps the pink robes made us comfortable enough to share, like the pajama parties of our youths. Whatever reason, one topic stood tall and foreboding – terrorism. Once that ball started rolling, we soon came to a consensus – we were fearful. From the shooting at a church in Charleston to the one at an office party in San Bernardino, we agreed that nowhere is safe, not our shopping malls, schools, or even our homes. We didn’t assign blame to a political party, but remember, it’s 2016, and Americans often vote their fears.
Fast-forward two weeks. Sean Davis wrote in the online magazine The Federalist (December 18) that The New York Times had deleted a remark the president had made to a group of columnists. In the original December 17 edition, President Obama was quoted as saying he didn’t watch enough cable TV to appreciate American anxiety following the Paris and San Bernardino attacks. In the next day’s edition, the Times had scrubbed the remark.
No one expects presidents to know what ladies in pink gowns discuss in waiting rooms. And he’s not the first president to misgauge the pulse of America. But President Obama should know that the hot topic for women in 2016 is fear. We want our families safe. Republicans know this; they routinely remind Americans of the 2012 Benghazi attack that Mrs. Clinton blamed on a video. The Democratic response is always gun control, but the public understands that bad people will always have access to firearms, legal or not. Gun sales are through the roof now because good people feel the need to protect themselves and those they love.
As leader of his party, President Obama should understand that terror has quickened the American heartbeat. If not, voters may choose a Republican candidate who makes them feel safe by recognizing terrorism for what it is, over a Democrat who downplays their concerns and makes them feel like a target.
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