Comments on: Race and Gender

By: Americaneocon

Americaneocon — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:47:50 +0000

We won’t talk about it any more? Are you kidding? Barack’s basking in the "Reverse Bradley Effect," whereby the most minute mention of race triggers earthquake-volume charges of insenstitivity through the media/political establishment. It’s like a goldmine.

Look what LAT said today:

"Throughout Obama’s campaign, foes have invoked his middle name as a kind of dual-use code word to remind voters of his African ancestry and call into question his Christian faith.

McCain had not arrived at the rally in time to hear Cunningham’s remarks. Asked whether Obama’s middle name — a family name of Arab descent — was appropriate fodder for political discourse, McCain said, ‘No, it is not. . . . I absolutely repudiate such comments.’"

Candidates can’t even say someone’s middle name without being attacked. Of course McCain was right to reject the innuendo, but it’s the larger level of fear of setting off any liberal 527 or radical blog, like FDL, who might rain down allegations for days, which will be picked up by NYT, and on and on.

Nope, we won’t be rid of race – the multi-culti hordes benefit too much from it.

By: Jammer

Jammer — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:24:36 +0000

I dont think its possible for some people to divorce that issue from their decision, and I say its fine. So long as the candidate passes the intellectual-issue test and seems capable of winning, things needed to be a front runner, I would expect and have no issue with people who would support Obama in part because he is black. I also have no issue with people voting for Sen. Clinton in part because she would be the first woman. That has motivated me in part to support her. I would expect many women to be supportive of a first woman president, and thats fine too. I wish more of them felt that way. The black community has certainly rallied to Obama, and thats to be fully expected, and thats fine too.

Once you break the gender and/or color barrier to the White House, these issues will start to recede and become less and less important with each election cycle. But now? Its a real issue and its all good. When Dems look up on that debate stage and see a super smart woman and a super smart African American vying equally for the White House, that excites the. It excites me. A lot of people notice and talk about it and they glow with pride. I just wish we could elect both of them to avoid the hard feelings certain to ensue from the group that doesnt get to break the White House barrier just yet.

By: wj

wj — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:33:51 +0000

A more reasonable view would be that, if other considerations lead to Obama being elected President, the fact that he is black will provide certain side-benefits in addition to the reasons that led to his election. Which is not to say that there won’t be some people who will vote for, or against, him based on his race. Just that, for those who make their decision based on other considerations, it is not out of line to recognize that his race will have consequences. And to recognize that, in dealing with the rest of the world, mostly those consequences will be positive.
In short, race is not a good reason to vote for him. But it will have consequences nevertheless.

By: sashal

sashal — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:20:50 +0000

I admit to the opposite prejudice.
I do not want another old white misguided and supported by the neoconservatives Bush III=McCain to win…

By: redfish

redfish — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:17:17 +0000

Well i think part of the point is that if it seems like Obama wins just because he’s black, that doesn’t help solve racial problems at all. It causes more division. However Obama might very well win for other reasons.