Not necessarily radical change in terms of policies and processes but radical change in terms of Blacks/Minorities (especially the youth) seeing that they could actually one day become president. Because of the current climate, this is something that most Blacks/Minorities (even among the qualified) do not seriously even consider.

Exactly! I still don't know who I'm voting for because I'm choosing the lesser of more than two evils in both parties to narrow my November vote down to the lesser of two evils. America's not even radical enough to get away from a two-party system. So how radical can our country be to get ready for a minority president? It's definitely time for a change, but I don't think the real change will begin until the elections of 2012.

So simply put, no, we're not ready. It would be great to see it happen, but I don't see it happening in '08. :(

After reading these posts and black peolpe saying America is not ready for a minority President appears to be self hatred at best. Low self esteem at worst. Dont be ashamed or hate your pwn culture. Black people are intelligent, successful and can handle themselves inthe White House as anyone esle can

well WE, the 12% of the American population, know this, but do THEY?

I tend to believe that most of them do. Dont assume that because youare black,that white people automatically thnk youare inferior. I grew up in amulti cultural environment and I have seen good people and bad people of all races.

yeah yeah multiculturalism... if we're asking ourselves if America is ready for a black/woman president when the first 43 have been white/male, then how multicultural is that? If we were ready for one, don't you think that he/she wouldve already been elected?

yes theres good and bad in everyone, regardless of race, but i dont know any white ppl whove had nooses or burned crosses on their lawns. anyone who would do such would do it to those they felt superior over.

I do. They are called Jews

And what is wrong with multiculturism? Isnt that what Jesus preacehs? isnt that what Martin L. King talked about? If its wrong to follow them, then I am wrong

Since you're jumping to conclusions, I'm going to jump to the conclusion that you don't read too well. To assume self-hatred, low self esteem and all the rest is an insult. The question was is America ready. Not "are there black people capable of being President."

There are some self-hating and low self-esteem black people whose opinions on this topic may be indicative of that. But I didn't see that in anyone's posts in this thread.

Many of "them" do. But having a minority president goes above and beyond that acknowledgement.

I think that the thread question is an unfair one and it insults the intelligence of the average modern American by thinking that a person's physical attributes implicitly makes him/her less qualified to be an effective leader. We already know that given Clinton's and Obama's current tenures as senators, as well as their frontrunner statuses in the Democratic primaries and high campaign funds raised that their "minority" status is of minimal, if any, importance.

My question to all of you would be: Given these factors, why do you REALLY want a minority as POTUS? Personally I think the real reason why so many want a minority as President is more for ego-driven and special interest treatment reasons than if the minority candidates are really and truly qualified for the position.

Let's be fair. Perhaps by addressing this, in all fairness would risk taking the thread off topic, but I have not read one post in this thread that really addressed any of the major issues that the POTUS would have to deal with should they become elected.

What about their stance on Iraq, the economy (which in now in imminent danger of a major depression), the NAU/SPP, the need to overhaul or abolish the Federal Reserve, the Patriot Act/Real ID Act/the stripping of our civil liberties? What about those issues? How have they addressed those and more importantly, do you agree with their stances?

I ask these because I think the average American has grossly underestimated the danger America is in, and by the time it has been fully realized, it will be too late to recoup the losses. This is not the time to pontificate whether America is ready for a minority president, the present state of our country makes it grossly irrelevant.

On a lighter note, I do applaud Hillary and Barack for their acheivements despite their minority status.

Race and gender aren't just "physical attributes." They are status groups whose memberships denote power and privilege or the lack thereof in many instances. The average modern American may or may not be all that intelligent (based on what intellect entails) but they are observant of their social world enough to know that.

As for Obama and Clinton's stances on the relevant issues, their stances may not matter if the consensus is that a voting majority does not want a woman or a black person in office yet for whatever reasons. Plus, discussing their stances on issues is a political discussion but I don't think this type of a discussion is really one of politics.

I believe that Clinton may be voted in office but America has at least 1 more election before it is ready to receive a racial and ethnic (or even religious and sexual orientation) minority president. And that will be based on overall social progression. This is the first racial and ethnic minority candidate that many Americans even see as a viable option so there is room for improvement.

Then the discussion is by default trivial, because:

1. Race and gender does bring with it cultural aspects which can make for various inherent political issues because of the variance of cultures and their different standards of living and coexisting.

2. It begs my original question: What would having a minority as POTUS accomplish that wouldn't be accomplished by a non-minority if we ignore their individual stances on issues?

I don't think the real issue is whether America is ready for a minority POTUS; it obviously is to see two minority candidates come this far. I think we need to be honest with ourselves and just say the real reason we want a minority as POTUS is because we think our minority group will get special favors (pandering), or to snub our nose at the white man and say "We've arrived." (ego-driven).

Well don't include me in that thinking. Considering how our government works between the three branches, unless the majority of all of those members are women or people of color (I hate the word minority) then special favors and snubbing won't happen.

IMO the president really doesn't run the country, those who surround him or her do. The key is electing a president who will have good judgement in selecting those people.