Quote:
Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst
[COLOR=darkred]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.
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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.