zom-zom wrote:

iembalm wrote:When an openly gay president is elected I will consider it a step forward. Black/female....demographically inevitable. For John T. Voter to support a gay Chief Executive when all his indoctrination pulls in the other direction will be the real (ahem) coup in this country.

Gay? Why bring that into the debate? Who cares?

Because it would indicate that a more hard-wired, to my way of thinking, prejudice has been overcome. Which is what the poster is asking about, isn't it? A barometer for the country's tolerance?

**By the way, didn't mean to hijack the thread here. I admit this is only my kneejerk response to the question.**

iembalm wrote:
Because it would indicate that a more hard-wired, to my way of thinking, prejudice has been overcome. Which is what the poster is asking about, isn't it? A barometer for the country's tolerance?

I think that racism is just as "hard-wired" as homophobia is. It's just swept under the rug more often because it's become a taboo issue.

People don't admit that they're racists in the way that they admit that they dislike gay people, because the latter is backed up by Biblical dogma.

I wanted to post "Who cares! as long as there's free beer on Campus!"... but then I realised you're being serious.

New Zealand has had 2 Women as Prime Minister, a proper transvestite as a member of parliment... and even a proper weed smoking Rasta guy in there too! And NZ is really culturally conservative. Every American I talk to this about think's it's great. No one has ever been shocked or suprised.

So I'm don't really understand why you haven't a had a female or black prez already. Why is this?

There will not be a minority or female president, until there is a minority or female vice-president.

In this country, these days, it's all about regular visibility. People seem to need to get used to the thought is all that I'm saying, and hear how said minority or female speaks and handles themselves on the job. Right now, we only are exposed to all of the shilling and gladhanding that has somehow become necessary to obtain the job.


We may indeed puncture this parameter in the upcoming election, but the above is my gut feel.

STF wrote:

lemur68 wrote:Sadly, there are still people in this country who would not vote for a woman or minority solely for being a woman or minority.

I don't think I there will a black or woman president in my lifetime, though a woman is more likely.

SO SO wrong in my opinion. We'll have a black male president long before we'll have a female president. So many people still think a woman could not do the job, and would be viewed as unqualified by a LOT of other nations. Not to ignore the HUGE problem with racism in this country and around the world, but just think of the voting population of the US.

I can't believe I just posted in this thread.

NerblyBear wrote:The Republican candidate has no chance at the 2008 election unless something catastrophic happens before that point. I'm no big fan of Democrats, but I'd love to see Obama get the ticket.

What makes you think Obama will be any better?

NerblyBear wrote:I think it might end up being Edwards, though, unfortunately. He seems like another Clinton to me.

Edwards hasn't got a chance.

edit: It's all about charisma and personality, and Edwards serious lacks in both. Voting in America is whoever has the best propaganda, and it merely becomes a popularity contest.

There are 40 million African-Americans living in the US today. Are we still considered a minority?

*shuffles out of thread*

I seriously doubt Hillary will be electable in 2008. I just can't see it happening. Besides the gender factor (which is unfortunate), many people just don't have respect for her. She's an easy target for the Republicans to demonize. Of course there's the matter of her philandering husband, whom the Republicans have cast as the most amoral scumbag of the 20th Century ('oral' in the Oval Office! What a despicable, disrespetful sleazebucket!") In the wake of the Lewinsky scandal, their marriage has been described as one of political convenience instead of wholesome family values.

Then there's the perception that she forsook her own home state to run for a Congressional seat in NY, which implies that her true allegiances are dubious.

Finally, her voting record is all over the fucking place. I'm sure they'll pull the same "flip-flop" trump they used on Kerry.

Obama's fairly new to Washington, and that might be used against him, but they also have a lot less political dirt to throw around.

The way I see it, if he were just a black man it would be a lot easier for him. But the mixed-cultural background he comes from--especially his Muslim upbringing in early life--might come into play in a subtle, underhanded way. Hell, FOX News already reported that he was educated in a "Madrassa," a type of Islamic religious school that has been portrayed very negatively here in the US media as indoctrination centers for future terrorists.

I worry for the future of this country. As I see it, he 2-party system is definitely broken. We need a way to open up the playing field for new influences in our government.

I don't really think Clinton or Obama can hold the public's interest for another 16 months, either. Seriously impossible.