America's Next Top President

Check this article out.

CNN received dozens of e-mails shortly after posting the story, which focuses largely on conversations about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that a CNN reporter observed at a hair salon in South Carolina whose customers are predominantly African-American.

The story states: "For these women, a unique, and most unexpected dilemma, presents itself: Should they vote their race, or should they vote their gender?"

An e-mailer named Tiffany responded sarcastically: "Duh, I'm a black woman and here I am at the voting booth. Duh, since I'm illiterate I'll pull down the lever for someone. Hm... Well, he black so I may vote for him... oh wait she a woman I may vote for her... What Ise gon' do? Oh lordy!"

I too am insulted at the idea that just because I am a person of color and a woman that I should be expected to automatically vote for Obama or Hillary. Why are white men allowed to look at the issues and judge for themselves and the rest of us are expected to take sides grade school style? That is racist and sexist and dumb. That is like if all the stupid people voted for Huckabee (please God let this not happen).

Still, I believe Obama and Hillary are the best candidates. I just think overall there are too many people running. It is like a reality show. It's like America's Next Top President. Why don't we just let Tyra decide? But then again she'd run into the same problem as Oprah. I hate that people are saying that Oprah is some kind of gender traitor because she is backing Obama. Don't even talk about Oprah unless you want to fight. I got a brick in my purse so watch it (remember, ladies -- something heavy inside something light = weapon). I think it is wonderful that Oprah is getting involved in politics. It is brave and exciting and gives me lots of hope for the future.

I think that is what I love about Obama -- he represents hope. I would not be voting for him just because I am a person of color. Race has so little to do with it! He is all about change -- a new beginning. His youthful optimism appeals to me and his hope for the future enthralls me and these issues transcend race completely. I would be voting for Hillary because she has already been president for eight years and did an awesome job. So my choice really for the next president is going to be very well thought out; I am between Barack and a familiar face.

Guess what America! People of color and women think! Just like white men! For reals!!!

Comments

[FididdlyDaily.blogspot.com]

If you're a person of color and a woman and you think, then you DO have to vote for Hillary or Obama. You do if you think, anyhow.

[Potterchik]

Thanks, Margaret Cho, for a dead-on assessment. I lean towards Hillary but I would be delighted to vote for ANY of the top three. It's grand to see the Dems running such a strong field of candidates for a change. To all you Hillary- or Obama-haters out there, THINK. This divisive crap will cost us the White House, in a year when no one seriously thought we could lose. Get behind the candidate, whichever one is it.

[mngeorge]

Sadly, a stereotypical trait of the Dems, talking down to the electorate is real.

"..(will they vote their race or gender).." is emblematic.

But worse is Pelosi's and Reid's rhetoric at every press meeting, comments seemingly directed to the mentality of a fifth grader. Those leaders are doing a lousy job of creating confidence in the party base, let alone the non-politicos re:independents.

Republicans successfully satisfy their base with rhetoric on god, gays, guns, and taxes, and the greedy, intolerant, the militarists and theocrats eat it up. The balance of the electorate remains starved for substance.

Will Dr. Dean and Emmanuel teach and turn the party to a substantive, confidence building dialogue ala Dean, Hart and W J Clinton? Obama should not be the sole enlightened politician. We all sure hope so..and it better be soon.

[belladawna]

thought some people might want to read the facts on the woman everyone loves to hate for some odd reason.

i still think she's more "qualified" to run this country than obama. here are her issues on environmental-http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/energy/ her health care- http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/
and "terrorist" - http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/iraq/

:)

[daddysboy]

You are what you eat I always say. Americans keep eating stupidity so Americans are becoming stupid. Incidentally, Oprah isn't stupid so I am not sure how that translates with her audience, but who the hell can fault anyone for wanting to support someone as charismatic and obviously a contender (Barack Obama) especially if you happen to share the same minority status, and home state? I am thrilled to see one of my favorite comedic talents join the discussion by the way.

[Rachel36]

The story states: "For these women, a unique, and most unexpected dilemma, presents itself: Should they vote their race, or should they vote their gender?

This is an unexpected dilemma for polsters all over nation, not just blacks, or women or black women.

[madnana]

Obama, Tiger Woods, and other multi-ethnic "stars" give those of us who grew up in the cesspool of overt racism hope for the future. When my father was graced with racially mixed great-grandchildren he said he hoped everyone intermarried and reproduced because when people couldn't readily identify what they thought was a person's "race" (I put that in quotes because race is an artificial construct that has its own interpersonal and political uses not borne out by science) there would of necessity be less prejudice. Obama has demonstrated his commitment to African Americans by his organizing and civil rights efforts in Chicago. His remarkable ability to listen and convey hope is part of his multi-ethnic background.
My dad also said that whatever people said outside the polling booth that they often demonstrate amazing common sense when faced with the awesome decision. The challenge this election will be to get African-Americans, women, and the general population of historically disenfranchised Americans to the polls to vote their best hope who is Obama.

[green12]

Follow this link to find out what Obama supports and other information concerning him and his family life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barak_Obama#Political_advocacy
Obama has demonstated through the life he has chosen to lead that he considers the interests of others in his best interests. His Washington experience is enough to lead him to the right people to get things done with Congressional cooperation.

[ibsteve2u]

"People of color and women think! Just like white men! For reals!!!"

I don't know what "-ism" it is, but at a minimum inferring that all white men think is make a huge assumption.

[Bilboo]

If anybody actually votes on the basis of "hope," then not all the stupid-people ballots will go to Huckabee.

[blackrome]

People of color are expected to vote their race and gender because that's what white men generally do. There's over two hundred years of historical precedent for it. Even when they're given an alternate choice, they tend to vote for the white guy. They just don't think about it because they don't consciously think about the fact that they're more comfortable voting for white men, because it's usually white men that are running.

Accusing others of voting their race or gender when historically, no one has done that more than white men--is just a backhanded way of questioning the qualifications of any woman or person of color who runs.

[blackrome]

You have to admit you have to be pretty stupid waiting for some guy to return from dying 2008 years ago.

Seems pretty stupid to me.

Keep Waiting.

[daez]

Margaret, you are not a "person of color." I've seen you; you're quite pasty.
Many Portugese, Spanish, Italians, Mediterraneans in general, Germans of Swabian extraction, Irish from the west, and Basques of Spain and France are as dark or darker than peoples from Northeast Asia (Northern China, Korea, parts of Japan), the Middle East, and Central and South America.
Old ideas of race and skin color just don't apply any more. Margaret, you have an important point to make, but your words--our words as a nation--fail us.
The biological realities of race are nothing compared to the childish ways we think and talk about race.
Let's work towards a language that reflects the biological and cultural realities of our times.

[duboisist]

The real problem is that American public are so used to hearing negative things said about women and black people that we often don't take notice when a new person says the same old things.
Barak Obama has said things that have been anti-women. He has said things that have been anti-gay, anti-Muslim, anti-black, anti-progressive, anti-immigrant and the ONLY reason he is being support by so many people WHO ARE IN POWER NOW is so they can stop any chance that they might lose their monopoly.

Notice how many comments attack people for "not being hateful enough toward Sen. Clinton." The rest of us overwhelmingly outnumber the bunch that have messed things up and OPPRESSED US for so long. But we have to build a coalition and work for each other's interests to counter the powerful opposition that will continue to try to stop us.
Instead, too many people are willing to back someone who let our OPPRESSORS REMAIN IN POWER. They keep using "divide and conquer" flattering of the naive and name-calling of everyone else.

Ms. Cho,
It's not a choice between two good candidates for change. Each of us have to choose whether we will be part of the movement against the injustices that exist in our society or do we want to cast a single ballot for someone who maintain the status quo, if not make things worse, because it makes us feel good.
I'm not falling for Barak T. Washington and I'm willing to fight along with Sen. Clinton. I'm asking you and all other people "of good will" to join me.
We need you. Now. Not later. Not maybe. NOW.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

You had me until you mentioned Hillary was a good candidate.

And then you completely lost me, when you mentioned Oprah and your childlike worship of America's greatest tv fraud. And don't even get me started on the unleashing of her degenerate Harpo offspring, Dr. Phil.

Oprah is synonymous with integrity, consistency and honesty: One week she presents a show encouraging women to not focus on, or be defined by, media pressure with regard to their appearance. The next week she presents a show encouraging women how to look 15 pounds thinner. She's a hypocrite of the worst ilk. She tells her viewers to give their money to charity, yet she tells Jamie Fox in the next breath, "I like to acquire property". Hold my long blonde hair while I vomit, please.