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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Some Americans are not. But as more of the voting populace sees the maverick John ("The tax cuts are working; Make the surge permenant") McCain wander to and fro from every position he's held in his political universe; they should be suitably repelled. Maybe that six to twelve percent of those who grew up before 1963, when it was simply inconceivable that a person of color could occupy the Oval Office, will stay at home and view the election on their TVs. Perhaps they will wonder if man will ever set foot on the moon, too.
Why is the question of "Is America ready for a Black President" still in the news. America is ready for a person who has the intelligence, experience and foreign policy sense to be President IMO, they have picked the WRONG PERSON. He has had very little experience in government, even though most of you say that the little time in the Senate is enough experience. I do not believe you really believe that. You are so strung up on his smiles, waves, arrogance and speaking qualities, you think that is all a President needs. You have not given any thought to what he says he 'WILL DO'. Do you realize that the President cannot do ANYTHING without the Congress approval? (except G.W.) Beside his charisma, and arrogance, he has nothing going for him. He has never disowned Wright. The only thing he has done is resign from that church and that was for more votes. He has said he would never disown Rev. Wright anymore than he would disown his family. (and I heard him say those words) One more thing, he looks down on everyone. My opinion of Obama, is he never has his head equal to anyone, he is always looking down at everyone. IF HE WINS, IT WILL "ONLY BE BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET" and people who have been caught up in his 'WORDS", that is all he has. NO MATTER HIS SKIN COLOR, THAT HAS NO BEARINIG ON HIS EXPERIENCE.
There is really nothing to fear but FEAR itself, my dear. How can a gentleman's Gentleman be arrogant. Have you not realy been paying attention? Obama has not resorted to any of the back-lash he has endured with arragance, - either from the press, opponents, et al.
Come on, let's be fair... your unattentiveness is a sign of arrangance. You cannot deny the congeniality of the man who will become president.
You know I am just about sick and fed up with your kind of HATRED TACTICS. If you choose 'not to vote for the man, that's your privilege, however, look back over the many many years that we have had people in office with supposedly "ALL OR MOST OF THE CREDENTIALS' that the 'system' claims are needed to run the country, and yet 'look at where we are'. Get a grip on yourselves, and be honest with yoursevles first, then you can be honest about who and why you vote for certain people. It has little to do with wheter or not he truly has the so-called 'NEEDED' requirements to take over the office, now does it, really? Because if that's what is 'really needed, then, we best just keep waiting until JESUS returns.
Come on Smaggie. You say Obama has no experience. I bet you voted for Bush both times, and I bet you though GWB was "reaaaalllllyyyyy" experienced, right? So, based on your lack of judgement for voting for GWB twice, I guess we can conclude that you have zero experience in picking a good candidate for president. So, why should any sane person listen to anything you have to say in your critizism of Obama's supposedly lack of expericence?
Please, think for yourself. Do you really think that Obama will do anything by himself? His decision- making ability during his primary campaign is indicative of what type of president he will be. He knows how to delegate duties to the right people. That's what a successful president must know how to do. Obama has the Intellectual accuity" to make the right decisions; hence, with the right and capable people executing his plans, we will have a successful presidency. What killed Bush was placing unqualified individuals in key decision-making positions based on race and cronysm! We have seen what his many years of experience has brought us. Stop spouting out the media talking points and engage in real critical thinking. Do you think that if Obama makes Colin Powell or Sam Nunn or Joe Biden or Bill Richardson his Secretary of State, all the experiences these people have accumulated will escape them because they are working under Obama?
I am a 54 yr old white guy but I have to say I am glad Obama is the candidate. I am voting for him. He will bring some freshness to the Presidency. His wife, has a PHD and is well qualified to assist him. I fear that he will be assassinated by those with small minds, so his choice for VP will be a very important choice. But I believe Obama is up to the task of turning our country in a better direction.
We are ending the worst Presidency this country has ever seen and I hope the voters remember that when they go to the poles. Help Obama into the presidency.
Michael - www.michae
Yeah white males are so so evil. What can be done about them?
Don't push the election along these lines, it's embarrassing. It's already going to be highly embarrassing to see Obama make his Democratic acceptance speech on the anniversary of "I Have A Dream."
Base on character, not color and quit wasting people's time. Wait, that's what political discussion's about - nevermind. Screw issues, it's all politics.
And I hope that Obama doesn't go picking another white guy for VP.
Hillary ought to be the Vice President.
McCain is a white male, but Obama is not a black male, he is a mixed race, black and white. So if voters go my race for whom will they vote if they do not want to vote for a white male? This argument does not hold any water if you consider the fact that Obama is also part white and he definately is male.
I think people who are fed up with the Republican administration will give their vote to the Democrat, no matter what race, color, or creed that happen to be.
My suggestion is to go for the person who most closely represents your beliefs on how the United States should be led for the next 4 years. The voters will decide who is the best candidate. So, voters please be very careful this time when you cast your vote. The future of our country depends on it.
Obama is considered a black American, according to the U nited States Constitution. The "one drop" rule.
The time for the white man to lead exclusively has come and gone. It wasn't so much the primary campaigns that brought that to the fore as much as the exclusively white-man-
The same could be said for the many supposedly patrician-type leaders in Congress and on the national scene who mirrored each other's statements to little avail. Ah, but I digress . . . .
HuffPost's Pick
"...that all men are created equal..." When we elect Barack Obama president we will not have achieved the dream that is the foundation of our nation, we will not have achieved Dr. King's Dream, but we will be one mighty step closer to healing a wound that has infected and inflicted us since our nation's inception. When people ask me, a white, male, conservative, if our nation is ready for a "black president," I tell them I think our nation deserves a qualified president and Obama is leagues ahead of his opponent. His republican opponent is simply another term of more of the same (war and more war, tax cuts for the wealthy, no economic plan and a professed ignorance of economics, a healthcare "plan" with the cornerstone tenet "don't get sick," uncaring government, and embracing scientific ignorance with no vision for fossil fuel independence); we can ill afford to go down that path again.
Excellent post.
Bravissimo!
A very fine Huffpost Pick.
What does the color of his skin have to do with it?
Color of skin and gender are not key factors in deciding who our leaders should be nor have they been -- it was insulting to suggest that if I am a female, I must be for Hillary Clinton, or that if I liked Edwards, I didn't want a black president -- all of that is a diversion from the real issues we face.
What matters is that our next president be a leader capable of representing everyone in this country -- not just rich or poor, black or white or asian or hispanic (or any combination thereof), gay or straight, married or single. We are all in deep trouble if the fundamental economic and social problems (e.g.,drug addiction, crime, gangs, the failure of the education system) are not addressed -- the repercussions of all of the failed policies will eventually affect everyone.
We have to look beyond our own individual interests -- this election cannot be about who can sling the most mud or give a snappy reply that gets "news" coverage. If we're all out of work, have lost our homes and transportation, cannot feed ourselves or our families, get medical care when we need it, then everything else will be irrelevant.
Everyone agrees the color of his skin should not be the prime consideration, his competence and policies should.
BUT.
There have been 25 presidents since Lincon and America is around 15% black, so if we had a government that represented us *all* about 3 of those presidents should have been black.
Putting an end to that injustice is not a minor consideration, taking a real step in the direction of ending the status of blacks in the US as second class citizens is not a minor consideration, taking a major step in the direction making blacks feel they are respected members of our society is *not* a minor consideration.
In this election based on competence and ability to motivate alone Obama is a slam dunk, but to call it racism to also feel the desire to see a black man finally make in into the oval office after over 200 years of having blacks systematically shut out of it is the most twisted disingenuous crap imaginable.
If Obama gets the presidency that day is going to be the most exciting uplifting political even this middle aged white man has ever witnessed.
Everything. This has been the major subject on this post for months. Read the comments, it is a bunch of "progressives" calling each other racists.
Whatever happened to the meet the "press" aspect? The moderator shouldn't be as important as having a panel of journalists grilling a politician. It would be great to have a "round table" panel with journalists on one side and a couple of politicians on the other side.
America not ready for White or Black but America wants only the one who can lead to nation with high profile. Also quality and status of super power president is measured not by race, religion, skin, and male or female. It is measured principally by his idealism, experiences, and super power spirit. But Obama is already out of American idealism, also he has no super power spirit and experience to lead the super power nation with high profile. He wants to talk with Osama Bin Laden or terrorists that word is more then enough to stop him in time. If he elected that would be super power sunset time and heading to the worst.
It would not be wrong to say that 2008 is not an election year this is White House business year and current situation the historic super power white house is on sale now. Who are the brokers now ? Every American feel free and vote for Obama but very near future please don't cry for America.
When did Obama say he would talk to Osama bin Laden? That's certainly not well known. Maybe it'll be helpful to cite a source that is not your own rectum.
I'm sure I'm losing my mind (?) with talk of rectums, etc. (Are we really sinking to this level?) . . .
Why are we even talking about Obama and Osama when we should be focusing on the fact that the Bush family and the bin Laden family are close personal and business friends? When every flight in the US was grounded after the 9/11/01 attacks, members of the bin Laden family were put on planes and allowed to leave the country.
We cannot let FOX or any of the main news media control the discussion of the candidates.
I'm probably just exceptionally dense, but what is it you're trying to say? By the way, Obama has never, never, advocated talking with "terrorists" or "Osama bin Laden." That's out of the right-wing slime bucket, but there are folks gullible enough to believe anything especially when they rely on real big thinkers like Fox News, with gyms like "terrorist fist stab," for their "facts."
Well Bella. GWB had experience as a governor and a father as a President, and look what he did to this country. What's your point other than you are probably a racist.
How many americans died due to terrorism last year Bella? More died getting out of bed. Maybe we should start a war on beds?
'Terrorism', as defined by our glorious leader, is a 7th order issue lower than toothpaste standards, stair regulations and the dangers of farm equipment. Important as all these issues are, the crucial concerns, the first order issues, are global warming, conflict due to resource scarcity, and the dangers of US and Russian weapons of mass destruction (nukes).
On the first order issues, there is only one leader, Barack Obama. McCain is old and his time is past. If we are to save our planet for our children, we need to give them the opportunity to make the fundamental changes we all require to save our world, not granddad. Its not his age that is the problem as such, as his loss of imagination and lack of knowledge as to what the future holds for us all in our very near future. We have little time and McCain alas is just no longer (if he ever was) quick enough to handle the enormous challenges swirling around us.
The question should be...
"Is America ready for another career Washington insider with status quo ideas?"
Agrees that question makes much more sense. While America pats itself on the back for FINALLY even seriously thinking about electing a woman or an African-American, I just think it's terrible it took so long.
Vote for who you think will do the job best. That may not be established Dem or established Rep. Fuck it, vote on principle and conscience, not expediency.
You people need to get over putting race issues into this campaign because it is getting old and trite. In my own opinion, it doesn't matter if it is another white male, a black male or a female. As long as he or she is able to move beyond race and sex in this country. I have sat here observing the media via fox news and to tell you the truth, they are an embarrassment to America as I am sure that I am not the only one in Italy watching. You have Steve Doocey, and Sean hannity constantly race baiting. Then I had to deal with the ,"i'm getting the white working class votes| from Clinton, and Reverend Wright jumping on his fifteen minutes of fame bandwagon. Oh, and let's not forget about the whole, "Harriet Christian rant" and the two airheads on TV claiming Sexism and not being able to cite specific examples from the Obama campaign but instead point out the actions of supporters when they weren't even dignified enough to denounce christian. The world is watching. I honestly think people will be even more biased against Americans as a result. It is bad enough that most people think that we are all "loud, and arrogant but now we have proven that we aren't as far socially as we claim. By the way, I am a person of color.
i didn't expect so many commenters here to be tired of the same old "race" punditry. As a result, I am smiling.
Are you f*%*ng kidding!! Anyone who votes based on race or gender needs to seriously examine their own motivations and values. If we are truly a society striving for equality, this kind of a discussion is insulting to an informed electorate.
Having said that, this cowboy will support Obama in the upcoming election for a reason that may surprise you; his election poster. Every other candidate has a poster with their name front & center. Obama's say, "Change". What this reveals is the primary goal of a candidate and Obama's is the only one that's not about "self", but about a goal. I can get behind that.
I agree. Obama seems to realize what it means to be a public servant. That's refreshing.
As far as the Bush Administration goes, I imagine that they use the phrase "public servant" just to crack each other up when they need a laugh.
I think about 57 million dummies voted for Bush in 04. Today I got two emails going around. One with pictures of Obama's Afro relatives in native dress or Muslim attire and attacking him as a covert jihadist. and the other one really crazy, saying he is the "Manchurian Candidate" of radical Islam that is taking over this country from the inside. This is just the beginning of the attack on Obama from the Republicans and the their "swift boating" lunatics.
I point this out because it shows a real flaw in the Democrats and their quest for the Presidency and leadership of the "free world".
Bush has more failures as President than any leader in History. McCain is a 72 year old carbon copy that will say anything, or kiss any butt to get elected. So you would think the Demos had a clear cut trip to the White house. But instead what do they do? They nominate a target for the right, with a huge racial and religious bullseye, and in second place another target with almost as big a bullseye in her legacy of political brand hatred.
While on the sidelines, giving speeches at commencement excercises, is a Nobel prize winner and Oscar winner and former Vice President and, should have been President, Al Gore.
All Gore needed was a push from the Demo powers and financiers and they chose to support Obama and Hillary. At times the evidence seems overwhelming, the Dems are unfit to lead.
Wasn't the Manchurian Candidate about a guy who was incarcerated in a Prisoner of War Camp in Southeast for years and then came home and....
Uh Oh.
I love the story that Tim Russert told about an Iowan during the Democratic Primaries who told him he'd never vote for Obama because of his crazy Christian Minister in Chicago.
The he added, "plus, I hear he's a Muslim."
Russert, told him "You can't have it both ways," to let him that there was an obvious flaw in his list of prejudices against Obama.
They're out there and not getting any brighter.
Tim Russert spoke with class and dignity - please do not attempt to alter his words or ideals with a misplaced comment.
Fact: Obama was raised with maternal Atheist views and paternal Muslim religious instruction and schooling. It wasn't until after college, and a mainstream political agenda, that Obama was led to the teachings of Wright and Black Liberation Theology. This radical minister was his only "Christian" instructor and mentor for 20 years.
Likewise, 'The Manchurian Candidate', as it pertains to this election, was based less on the horror of being a prisoner of war and more on the possibility that some anti-government, powerful source may use an known candidate for his own hidden agenda. You can either agree with that premise, or not. However, to quote the quote you attributed to Mr. Russert, "You can't have it both ways."
You're suggesting that Democrats should pander to racists, that we should be concerned for the feelings of those freaks out there who won't vote for an African American. I disagree. I think racists should be marginalized, not sought after and accommodated. GWB has a 25% approval rating and that will be McCain's base. Those people should not be determining the direction of this nation. I like Al Gore. I'd like to see Gore as president, but he made it clear that he was not interested. It's a waste of time to talk about Gore. We need to elect Obama.
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