Negative Choice for Next President

United States Democratic National Convention officially elected Hillary Rodham Clinton for its candidate in Presidential election this year. Japanese media reported the news with significance in U.S. history to raise first female candidate of one of the major parties. Knowing it well, Clinton appealed the meaning of having her for President. However, whether U.S. will have female or male President has mostly nothing to do with the future of the Japanese. Presidential election was fixed as a negative choice between politically amateur extremist and traditional establishment with little hope for change.

Japanese media reported DNC nomination of Clinton with her message from New York City that she made the biggest crack in the glass ceiling. “If some girls wakes up late and are watching TV, let me say, I might be the next President, and next, it’s you,” told Clinton, based on articles of Japanese newspaper. Her message is still staying on how precious for U.S. to have female President.

Strategy of Clinton campaign is focused on distinguishing her from Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Former Secretary of State in Bill Clinton administration, Madeline Albright, another prominent American figures of woman promotion, dismissed Trump as dictator paralleled with Saddam Hussein of Iraq or Kim Jong-un in North Korea.

Supposedly embracing hope for being the first first gentleman, Bill Clinton praised his wife as the best change-maker. But, it is not clear how she will change the course that Barack Obama has been forwarding. With necessity for offsetting protectionist argument of Trump, Clinton turned down her support for Trans-Pacific Partnership. If United States turned its back to it, Japan will be isolated in that new free-trade framework, which is highly unpopular in Japan.

One positive sign for Japan is preference to stronger alliance. “We believe that we are stronger when we work with our partners and allies, rather than try to go it alone,” described Democratic platform resolved in the convention. In the situation of unilateral advance of China to Pacific Ocean, strong message for alliance sounded comfortable for the Japanese.

Clinton’s victory in this fall is not guaranteed at all, anyway. Not only in Republican Party, Clinton has another rivals in Democrats, supporters for Bernie Sanders. While Sanders endorsed Clinton as the best choice for next President in the convention, the supporters still demanded his presidency with tears from arena. It will be crucial for Clinton to send stronger message for changing dominance of the establishments in politics and economy than Trump has been doing.