Is America Ready for Another White Male President?
During the Democratic Primaries, when discussing the chances of Obama and Clinton, with some frequency, the person with whom I was talking would lean in towards me and say "Do you really think America is ready for a black/woman president?" Like many people, I found the former question racist and the latter one sexist. As a white man, I also resented the implication that I somehow understood that America wasn't ready, whatever that meant.
Initially, I responded to these questions with anger, but then began to preempt them. Whenever the presidential election came up in discussion, which was about ten times a day, I began the conversation by leaning forward conspiratorially and say "The Republicans have a problem. America is not ready for another white male president." The responses I received were always similar. First a nod of agreement, than a look of confusion that a sputtering response like "you mean Obama I mean black president Clinton woman..."
When I first started doing this, I thought I was just making up a clever response, but as the election approaches, increasingly I believe that I am right in this assessment. During the recently completed primary season, roughly 35 million people voted for somebody who was not a white man. Clinton and Obama's overall vote total far exceeded that of all the white men in the race, for both parties, combined. In the Democratic Party, none of the three highly qualified white men, made it as far as Super Tuesday. Even in the early states when the Republican primary was still competitive and Republican voters could choose from a broad range of conservative white men, the majority of voters eschewed the white male options in both parties and voted for either Clinton or Obama.
I have never been accused of being an optimist, and would never assert that sexism or racism is somehow finished in American politics. Both were evident in full force, overtly and subtly, in the recently completed primary season. The latter will undoubtedly continue to lurk around the edges of the general election between now and November.
Nonetheless, there is increasing reason to believe that these tactics, although sure to be present, will be less effective in 2008. This is partially due to the deep and broad dissatisfaction with the Bush administration as it winds down, and the corresponding profound desire to see change which many Americans feel. It may, however, be due to something beyond that. During the primary season, Obama was able to appeal to an extremely broad swath of the electorate, while maintaining a strong base in several demographic groups as well. His strength in, for example, western states is very unusual for any Democrat, let alone an African American one. His early, and somewhat persistent, support among some Republicans is even more striking. Clinton's strength, in some states, among blue collar white men, was equally impressive.
Attempts to attack Obama through his former pastor, or his church, made far less of an impact than one might have expected, given the racial component to these approaches. Racially tinged criticisms of Michelle Obama have been similarly unsuccessful as have other efforts to portray Obama as the black candidate. Interestingly, the most successful attack on Obama in the primary was probably the attempt to portray him as an elitist. The inaccuracy of that attack notwithstanding, it should be noted that there was no racial component to the one critique that may have hurt him.
The broader political context -- that 2008 is shaping up to be a strongly Democratic year, is not the only factor driving this. Something is changing in American politics. Perhaps all those young people chanting "race doesn't matter" at Obama rallies in the early primary states were telling the truth, at least for many of their generation. While there are certainly still reservoirs of nasty and extreme racism among all age groups, it may be that among young people these views have been relegated to the fringes of political life, and that for many people of that generation race is not an important part of their vote decision.
Another possible explanation is that after a generation of the Democratic Party nominating presidential candidates who are liberal on social issues and who have been consistently attacked by the right as being out of touch with American values and captive of gays, African Americans etc, all of the voters who can be moved by appeals to intolerance have abandoned the Democratic Party years ago. The question of whether or not America is ready for an African American or female president, in addition to being offensive, is also irrelevant. Of course, there are probably many Americans who would not vote for either for president, but that is not how elections are decided. The real question should be are Americans who either voted for, or considered voting for a liberal like John Kerry in 2008 or Al Gore in 2004, ready to vote for an African American or woman candidate. To this question, the answer is an unambiguous yes. Racism is still alive and well in America, it is just effecting fewer vote decisions.
America is not, however, ready to elect another white male president who builds a message of intolerance into his campaign, because there are almost no voters left to pull away from the Democratic Party through appeals of this sort and, more importantly, a substantial number of voters who no longer have the stomach for this kind of campaign. This is particularly true this year. For Senator McCain, this means that he must resist the temptation to go to the well of intolerance, and more importantly, must control the wild cards around his campaign and the myriad independent and semi-independent efforts who might otherwise do this. McCain's campaign is fighting an uphill battle, but they can make it easier for themselves by recognizing just what it is for which America is not ready.
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Although we have seen a reduction in overt racism there has been an increase in "passive racism". What I mean by that is that people will bring up the fact and vehemently proclaim that they do not consider race or sex when looking at a candidate. I have found, like in discussions of tolerance, the people who cry this the loudest are the ones that are actually least tolerant, or in this case, are heavily weighting or considering race or sex in their decision. Many of these are the same people that, when discussing Obama's, McCain's, or Clinton's policies, will accuse somebody of racism or sexism when we say we don't agree with their policies. I will believe we, as a party and a people, have moved beyond racism and sexism when we can go at least one day without pointing out the Obama is a black man, Hillary is white, and McCain is an old white guy and actually can talk facts about their policies. Lets try to be the people that we proclaim that we are.
Don't think I'm ready yet lol
Obama on GOP: 'If They Bring a Knife to the Fight, We Bring a Gun'
@ 2:47 pm by Andy Barr
Barack Obama is warning supporters that the general election fight between him and John McCain may get ugly, but the Illinois senator is vowing not to back down.
"If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun," Obama said at a fundraiser in Philadelphia Friday, according to pool reports.
"We don't have a choice but to win," Obama said, joking that he has heard "folks in Philly like a good brawl. I've seen Eagles games."
Obama again said that the GOP will make try to make him look "scary" to voters.
Obama pledging to swing back at the GOP drew much applause from the crowd.
Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant said Obama's rhetoric abandons Obama's campaign themes of hope and change.
"In the last 24 hours, he’s completely abandoned his campaign’s call for ‘new politics’, equating the election to a ‘brawl’ and promising to ‘bring a gun,’" Conant said.
Whenever the presidential election came up in discussion, which was about ten times a day, I began the conversation by leaning forward conspiratorially and say "The Republicans have a problem. America is not ready for another white male president." The responses I received were always similar. First a nod of agreement, than a look of confusion that a sputtering response like "you mean Obama I mean black president Clinton woman..."
classic! that was beautiful :o)
Color or gender have nothing to do with who I am voting for. The Republicans are way too conservative on most issues.
We need to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan NOW, implement universal health care as soon as possible, re-regulate the energy industry, end "disaster capitalism", beef up inspections of necessary facilities, food and drugs, inspect and repair the infrastructure and discontinue our sabre rattling around the world. One thing has become very apparent during the last eight disastrous years: Corporate America cannot be trusted to police themselves.
I couldn't agree with you more. The last thing this country needs ia a rich, old, ultra right male. We need someone who knows the issues that real people face, especially the middle class. Things like healthcare (or the lack of), the war, the state of the economy, the environment. Clinton and Obama may be elite, but are are also the underdogs and understand struggle.
Since the MSM has used race as a tool in it's blunt force biased attack on true American values by those hiding in their carpeted offices who would always let others do any real fighting for them, they have the luxury to ask such inanely theatric questions, as part of their stylistics, which they think are so cool.
Once people begin to see Obama's limited Chicago-style governing precepts, emulated in places such as Detroit and Cleveland where failure is the standard operating procedure, leading to flight of business, jobs and the People's prosperity, maybe fewer people will be so blinded by the MSM's glittery support for Obama. Maybe that's why he is shielded by the MSM and is the apple in the eye of so many magic thinkers out there who imagine everything is free and it is all so easy. Elevating stylistics above actual thought imagines the people to be stupid beyond all imagination. Hey, let's just change style!
As a one-time believer, I've been lied to by these stylers so often out here in Sac. Ca. that I'm all lied out. MSM and it's lemming-magic thinker followers actually mimic the Pied Piper, who was real, who had a real tragic following in real historic happenings for those who' d like to look it up. C. K. McClatchy Co. has just lost more millions and has just had to fire hundreds more of it's glittery Obama supporters.
A friendly suggestion... if you want to sway people to your point of view, you may first want to learn what it is, and then say it in a way that someone can actually understand.
What?????
Not being a racist, I don't care in the least about the race of the President. I just want the President to do his job: Protect the rights of Americans by following the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to the letter.
Oops! Pete and Repete! I thought I lost the first one.
Well, I'm not a racist, so I don't care what race the President is. I just want him to protect the rights of Americans--ie, follow the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to the letter.
This is exactly why I am so proud of the new generation. Young people do not see color, or gender. They listen to issues, and support the candidate they think is better for our country.
My coworkers are in their twenties. I am amazed at their wisdom. Ist really refreshing to have an excellent and intelligent conversation. There is so much hope for our country! We are heading into some exciting times.
Obama-Any good, capable person 08
We have been on the "cusp" of a shift in American politics toward a more liberal viewpoint for over 20 years(according to the MSM)-it's never happened because the 20-something demographic doesn't end up voting-but AARP brings voters out in droves.
So the question isn't "Is America ready for another white male president". The question is, whether the Repubs that voted for Hiliary or Obama at the behest of Limbaugh made that much of a difference in the primaries, because I have a feeling that they'll end up voting for McCain in November. The other question would be, yes, a 20 year old may not have a problem voting for Obama, but if they won't vote, shouldn't the question be, will an 80 year old great-grandma vote for Obama?
my 76 yr old mom who is a great-grandma voted for Obama. She is also white and lives in the South. Go figure.
i;m a african american, i don't look at obama because he's black, looking at him because he represent change, a new face in washington and not the same old folks in a different chair doing to same ole same ole thing and never get anything done......
Indeed. Even if I were Republican, McCain is coming off like your old crotchety Grandpa who can't shut up about the way things used to be & wants to bring us back to Pleasantville, while Obama has his head in this century. The tuff-gruff old grouch thing stands out more than the white guy thing, Jees he wants to keep a war going just because that's how it's always been done. And the new generation really has gotten tired of the same old dinosaur thinking. Think about it--we're a nation of young thinkers who are tired of old white men making all the decisions. Just imagine when all these 3-5 term senators & congressmen begin to be replaced by younger, more in the present thinking. It'll be a new era in Washington, one that many have been praying for.
I believe the "state of affairs" in our county are so bad that the Americna people are ready for a CHANGE and will vote for the candidate who they believe can best lead the country in implementig change, wthout regard to ethnicity. Deparate times causes people to do desparate things--like vote for a Black candidate.
I will vote for Obama because of his policies, his intelligence, and his character.
Me, too.
Sorry, but I don't quite understand how the question of whether or not America is ready for an African American or a woman is offensive. Being offended at the notion that America might be too racist or too sexist gets us nowhere, and it certainly doesn't get us closer to the truth.
Also, "The inaccuracy of that attack notwithstanding, it should be noted that there was no racial component to the one critique that may have hurt him." - That assertion is wrong. One thing African Americans have learned is that historically, while whites have held blacks in contempt as somehow less than human, nothing gears up anti-black racism like an "uppity Negro," or in today's terms, a black elitist. Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe average Americans just hate "elitists," but that's not what history has to say.
Other than that, I agree. If I have to listen to another white man declare on Jan 31 how wonderfully diverse this "great" nation is, I fear I may vomit. And for what's it worth, if it makes former Clinton supporters happy, I'm tired of watching old white men age and get older.
I still dont see what the color of a persons skin has to do with their leadership ability.The only racisism ive seen in this campaign has come from the black folks who turned their backs on Sen.Clinton.White folks have supported Sen.Obama from the start.I dont care what race,gender,religion,or sexual orientation our next President is,As long as they are the best person for the job.I personaly dont think Sen.Obama is.As for the race issue,I think black America needs to get over it.Stuff that happened 40 years ago is old news.Move on or get out of the way so people can resolve the REAL PROBLEMS that face our great nation!Do you think the terrorist who want us dead care what color we are?How about the Big Oil Exs. who rob us daily?The GREEDY Drs.who wont help you if your uninnsured?The point im trying to make is there are are far more important things to consider than race when it comes to chosing a President.If race factors into your decission than do America a favor and stay home on election day PLEASE!!!!!
1 - We'll move on when the "stuff" actually stops. It hasn't. For example, a white man with a criminal record has as much chance at getting a job than a black man who's never had any trouble with the law. http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2007/09/white_convicts_as_likely_to_be.html
2 - Yes, I think the terrorist care. I haven't seen any evidence that they consider all Americans "the same." There are "rumors," at least where I come from, that they don't have all that much beef with African Americans, who've been victimized by American capitalism and imperialism as much as they have.
3 - Other than that, I agree with what you have to say. White Americans need to get over "stuff that happened 40 years ago." And according to many, many studies, they haven't.
You know what Big Jim? I apologize for not actually responding to the comment that disturbed me.
"the black folks who turned their backs on Sen.Clinton" ?!?!?!
What has she done that was so magnanimus that when a better candidate comes along, we should still vote for her? What is it that we owe her or her husband? Your logic is racialist if not outright racist. If you think we're voting for Obama out of identity politics, you're wrong. We supported him because all though he isn't as good on equality and racial justice as we'd like, he's much better than Clinton - as demonstrated by her campaign's race-baiting.
I stand by my comments. There is a general feeling amongst African Americans in my local community, at least, that Muslims around the world understand that African Americans are NOT their problem. There's a general feeling of empathy, for example, between African Americans and Palestinians. (Though, not African Americans and Al Qaeda.) We know that if the US would leave the Middle East to Middle Easterners, stop trying to control the oil, and quit interfering in other country's free and democratically elected governments, a lot of the issue would stop. Yes, there are those who are hoping for a global caliphate. But the young men and women they recruit to die for the cause are looking for clothes, food, and meaning to their lives. We won't defeat them by dismissing their concerns and throwing bombs at them.
yes you are right the youth do not see other races as people in the 50s 60s range or older becuase they are interacting with each other and not being kelpt apart like we have been so they see the lies that was told about black and women that they can not led and they are just not buying it thank god it's a new day
For me, I want the most qualified person to be President. The white guy is not him. I am so proud every time I hear Mr. Obama speak. I love that he has an inquiring mind, that he does not stumble when he expresses himself, yes that he even knows the difference between Shia and Sunni, and that he has a wonderful American success life story. The only reason I like the fact he is black (since he is heads above every other candidate that has run and the opposition also) is that it will demonstrate in such a graphic way, that America has grown up and that people can achieve the highest office in our country based on their leadership skills, their intellect, and the ideals of freedom being deeply espoused by that candidate. When Barack is sworn in with his hand on the CHRISTIAN Bible next January. I shall be in tears at the realization that the King vision is finally coming to pass. God bless you Mr. Obama and thank you for the substance of your run to be my President.
Couldn't agree with you more mari2JJ - it is not about the sex or race, I just want a candidate who believes in the entire population of this country, not just a select few with mega bucks. Obama is definitely the peoples candidate - as for tears, I have tears in my eyes everytime I see the look on the young faces and children in the audience as he walks by them. This is America as the founding fathers wanted it to become.
Where on EARTH have you been?? MOST QUALIFIED, there is not a SINGLE OBAMA voter who can name ONE thing he has EVER done? So, what qualifications are we talking about? Not saluting the American Flag? Throwing his grandmother under the bus? Not liking those who hunt, go to church, or choose to hang around people that are like them. Wait, maybe it's his constant seat in Wright's church, who thinks White people are the SKUNK of the EARTH??? I agree with Bill Clinton he IS a FAIRY TALE...and one that HE created!
Your ignorance abounds.
What has he done? How about coming out against the Iraq War when, as a state senator, the easy/safe path would have been to just keep his mouth shut? (And, of course, Senator Clinton voted in favor of the war resolution because it was politically expedient. And Senator McCain voted in favor of the war resolution because he was a true believer, which is even scarier.)
"White people are the SKUNK of the EARTH???"
Um, I think the cliche is "scum of the earth," although I don't think the Rev. Wright ever actually said that, let alone Senator Obama. It's a horror that the educational system in this country is in such bad shape that even a dropout would have this level of illiteracy.
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