By now this question has been all over the news. Some of you may even have been asked it yourselves. Is America ready for a (female / African-American / (gasp!) Mormon) president? My questions is, does anybody care? Well, before I get attacked, let me explain. I think it would be great if we elected a president that, for stereotypical and bigoted reasons, would not have been electable a generation or two before or even 10 years ago. What I have a problem with is the fact that this seems to be turning into the issue, and not whether these people are qualified or not to begin with. Quite simply, I think a lot of people are making this an issue because we want to believe that this is an issue, and by then believing that this is an issue, we will make it an issue. It’s a vicious cycle. Are we really, as a country, not past the stage where we can elect a minority to our highest office? Or do we just think we’re not past that stage. According to a poll of U.S. adults from October of 2006, 61% of those surveyed said they think Americans are ready to elect a woman as president. Well, that’s kind of sad, but what’s interesting is that in an earlier poll from 2003, when asked if personally, would you be willing to vote for a minority candidate, about 90% said they would (the data was for a female, black, or Jewish president). Some of this can be attributed to the fact that individuals do not want to appear biased when asked for their personal thoughts, but a lot of it, I believe (or maybe hope), is that as a country, Americans are a lot more tolerant than we like to give ourselves credit for. Now I’m not naive…we still do have a long way to go, and we have come a long way in recent years, but how about we talk about the real issues and leave it for individuals to decide whether gender / race / religion is an issue for them.
One last question, could being female / black / Mormon actually help any of the candidates?
2008 Election Watch 
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February 15, 2007 at 10:25 pm
jtg714
i honestly believe that most of the country is ready for someone other than a middle aged white male to lead us. looking at how much the country has changed over the past half century, i think the new generation of voters is much more diverse in their thought process in large part because we were raised in a more accepting society.
while not intentional, i think a lot of senior citizens have a more close minded thought process because they were raised in that type of environment. the civil rights movement in the 60’s dramatically changed the thought process of citizens, and opened the minds of younger generations. those who were raised prior to that time period often didn’t even think of the possibility of a non-white or non-male president because they were raised in a society that was not nearly as accepting. as time moves on, the percentage of the population that was raised in a less diverse time period is decreasing, which only increases the percentage of voters that were raised in a time period of higher acceptance. i know that this is not a reason anyone ever mentions, but i personally think it is slowly playing a part in the views of americans and the potential for a minority to win the Presidency.
as for the issue of americans making racial/gender/religous factors an issue in the election, i think this is happening because, like it or not, it is THE issue. if hilliary clinton, barack obama, or any other non-white male candidate becomes the President, not only will it be the first time in history that it has happened, but it will also show truely how far our country has come. considering where the country was 50 years ago, this would be a tremendous celebration of the growth of the American viewpoint, and show the world that we are willing to change as a country. my only hope is that if this does happen, the candidate who wins only win because they are qualified, not because people want hitch their vote to the hot topic of the moment. after all, someone needs to stay focused the other issues, so it may as well be the winner.
February 16, 2007 at 12:02 am
rubyrigby
G –
Sorry, but I have to say that I think you’re wrong. I think that the race/gender/religion card is an issue for people. As much as there are a number of people who are blind to this, there are still people with their reservations – are women too sensitive to run a country? Can a black man really know the values of white, mid-class America?
I think there are many people who will answer those questions and vote against the candidate based solely on their response. And that is why it is an issue in the media and on the lips of people at the water cooler.
Another factor to consider is that minorities go to the polls less often than white counterparts. According to the US Census bureau, 67% of whites voted in the last election, 60% of blacks, 44% of Asians, and 47% of Hispanics.
I think this issue also covers religion. Sadly, I think this country will only elect someone who looks like them – a white, middle aged man who goes home for Christmas and understands their values (because in 2004, the number one reason for their votes was “moral values“).
And for these reasons, it’s been debated about, and will continue to be debated about until the primaries (where I think only white male candidates will come out triumphant).
But, of course, I’d loved to be proved wrong!
February 16, 2007 at 1:04 pm
gdancik
I’m glad to see that a few of you responded….Here’s a little more about what I was trying to say. Undoubtedly, I think there are many people who still will not vote for a candidate because of color, gender, religion, etc, and there certainly is a difference, as evidenced in polls, about how senior citizens are likely to feel this way when compared with everybody else. I guess what bothers me is that when I hear people ask, for example, “Is America ready for a female president?”, I sense a tone in their voices which sounds to me like they’re really asking, “Oh my God, I can’t believe this…is America really ready for female president?” As if we’re being asked if we’re prepared for a violent snowstorm or hurricane, as if this were a bad thing, that for some reason we needed to prepare for in the first place. That’s why I really wish the media would leave this issue alone. Because I don’t want them to lead people into thinking that a large percentage of Americans are not ready when in fact people don’t see this as an issue (as evidenced in the poll). I also think that, for the most part, political ideology will trump gender and race when it comes to voting (I’m less sure about religion). If Condoleeze Rice ran for President, I don’t think people would not vote for her because she’s black (or female). People wouldn’t vote for her because she’s Condoleeza Rice.
February 16, 2007 at 5:51 pm
rubyrigby
Interesting that you think religion might play a bigger part then race or gender. Any particular reason why?
As for the media – would, “America is a warm and happy place and bases their votes solely on the issues, not for any other reason” sell newspapers? No. Would, “Can America vote a minority into office?” sell more newspapers? Yes! People buy controversy, and that’s why the media covers it this way. Yes, it would be nice if the media led the witness by saying its not a big deal, but that won’t happen.
February 16, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Brent
Elect Leiberman. He is the only Democrat I would ever vote for. I already did in 2000.
February 18, 2007 at 4:32 pm
gdancik
It’s nice to see that the Pew Research Center agrees with me! ( link )
Not only are more people open to the idea of a black president, but importantly, the results for several recent bipartisan gubernatorial elections have been consistent with polls done prior to the elections, indicating that those surveyed are not falsely claiming that they will vote for minority candidates so as not to appear prejudiced.
As for religion, I think religious belief does, in a fundamental sense, guide one’s morality and determine how one views the world. Not all of this is relevant to one’s ability to lead, though some of it is. But I can understand (though not necessarily agree) why someone with deep religious beliefs would not vote for a candidate of an alternative faith.
April 25, 2007 at 11:12 am
Alex
Thank You