Is America Ready for a Minority President?

[Aurora6]

UVA students debate minority role in '08

By: Kate Hartmann - Cavalier Daily
Oct 19, 2007 01:22 PM EST

A student charged Bill Richardson doesn't address Latino issues.

Is America ready for a minority president?

A discussion sponsored by University Democrats and Sigma Gamma Rho Inc. sorority posed that and other questions to a panel of representatives from various student groups this week.

Moderator Eugene Resnick, University Democrats minorities and women's affairs coordinator, noted the importance of the upcoming presidential election, given that it is the first time in history several major presidential candidates are from groups typically underrepresented in the political field.

"We are all here because we care about our country and the presidential election next year," Resnick said. "All the panelists on this stage believe that this will be the most important election of our generation."

One issue addressed was that the candidates must strike a balance between representing their communities and appealing to the mainstream.

Latino Student Union President Carolina Ferrerosa said Democratic contender Bill Richardson, for example, has not received as much support as might be expected from the Latino community because he has not addressed serious Latino issues.

On the other hand, Hoos for Hillary President Meg Barry said if a minority candidate "pulls the gender [or race] card, they will alienate the mainstream."

Barry also noted how the candidates have all had to position themselves to combat stereotypes. Because some see women as weak and black men as domineering, she said to succeed in today's political climate, "Hillary has to become more masculine, and Obama has to become more feminine."

University Democrats President Sophia Brumby raised the debate of how appearance is more of an issue for Clinton than for male candidates.

Even her laugh has been characterized as a "cackle," comparing Hillary to a witch, or a "giggle," evoking the characterization of a little girl, Brumby noted. Both words connote femininity, but in a negative way, she said.

"There is always going to be that double standard," said Brooke Howard, Black Student Alliance political action chair.

Obama also receives biased treatment, Resnick said, commenting on how the media have focused on such factors as Obama's middle name, Hussein, the fact that Obama worships at a "black" church, his cigarette smoking and a false report about him attending an Islamic school as a child.

Fifth-year Education student Alicia Hines expressed frustration at the fact that each candidate is seen as the representative for his or her community.

"The community is not a monolith," she said, "There's not going to be one person that can speak for the whole community."

According to Tamara Dottin, a representative from Sigma Gamma Rho and BSA president, the purpose of the event was to raise awareness, promote discussion and instigate excitement about the presidential race among minority groups on grounds.

"So is America ready for a minority president?" Resnick asked the crowd.

The inquiry drew responses from the crowd that were less than conclusive. Some audience members answered with a straight "no."

"If this is how we're seeing it, as a 'black president' or a 'woman president,' then we're not ready," Dottin said.

Barry responded with a stab at the current president.

"Well, we're not ready for another George W. Bush," Barry said, adding that though America may not be ready for a minority leader, the minority candidates themselves have the ability to overcome such obstacles, as individual candidates can trump their minority status.

Kate Hartmann reports for the University of Virginia's Cavalier Daily. The Cavalier Daily is partnering with Campus Politico for the 2008 election.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6447.html

[DSTCHAOS]

America's not ready for a BLACK president. Not just a "minority" president. While men have male privilege under the patriarchy, the black male combination can buffer the effects of that in many contexts.

And America's not ready for a female president. If Hillary Clinton gets elected, it is only because of three reasons: 1) she was married to Bill so she's been in the White House and people have seen her politics, 2) she's the lesser of the two (female candidate vs. black male candidate) "Democrat evils" and 3) all of the Dem and Repub candidates suck so it was either Clinton or Donald Duck.

As an Independent, I'm voting for Donald Duck.

[Velocity_14]

Is American ready for a Minority President???














Hayle to tha naw!!!!!!

LOL....but, seriously, I do not feel that America is ready for reasons that I just feel to exhausted to get into right now. Maybe later...

[NinjaPoodle]

America is not ready but it needs to be.

[kizzie22]

Honestly, I don't see who would want to come in behind the donkey we have in office right now. It's going to take the next president their entire first term to straighten up Bush's mess.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by kizzie22

Honestly, I don't see who would want to come in behind the donkey we have in office right now. It's going to take the next president their entire first term to straighten up Bush's mess.

Somebody's gotta' do it and I would rather it be Obama.

[Phrozen1ne]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

And America's not ready for a female president. If Hillary Clinton gets elected, it is only because of three reasons: 1) she was married to Bill so she's been in the White House and people have seen her politics, 2) she's the lesser of the two (female candidate vs. black male candidate) "Democrat evils" and 3) all of the Dem and Repub candidates suck so it was either Clinton or Donald Duck.

I'm in agreement on that.

[PhDiva]

No, America is not ready for a minority president. We live segregated lives even without legal segregation so there is no way in hell that America is ready to truly embrace its diversity by putting a person of color and/or a woman into the White House.

I totally agree with SisterGreek DSTCHAOS, Hilary is simply the lesser of two "evils" - woman versus black. As far as most people are concerned, anyone who can still put WHITE in front of their gender, has a significant advantage over a black person whether male or female.

[rhoyaltempest]

Given this country's long history of racism and sexism, America may not be ready for a minority president but that doesn't mean that we don't need one. If we can't show diversity in leadership, things will never change and don't have a chance of changing overall...just my opinion. We weren't ready for Bush either obviously and I don't think we can get any worse than him.

[DSTCHAOS]

Having a black or woman president doesn't really show diversity in leadership. And it also doesn't mean that our society will change.

Either case, people should be elected based on their political platforms. Not based on their party affiliation, religion, race, sex and gender, sexual orientation, etc. So I don't think we "need" a minority president unless that person has something to offer besides being a minority.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Having a black or woman president doesn't really show diversity in leadership. And it also doesn't mean that our society will change.

Either case, people should be elected based on their political platforms. Not based on their party affiliation, religion, race, sex and gender, sexual orientation, etc. So I don't think we "need" a minority president unless that person has something to offer besides being a minority.

I think you know full well what I meant and it has nothing to do with choosing a minority who isn't qualified. So let me rephrase...we need a minority president who IS qualified. And yes we do "need" one since we all know that years upon years of White male leadership can't possibly be good for a diverse and progressive country, as we like to think we are. In my opinion both Hillary and Obama are qualified.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I think you know full well what I meant and it has nothing to do with choosing a minority who isn't qualified.

There are tons of people who don't vote based on qualifications or platform. They vote based on status group memberships. I have no reason to assume that you are or are not one of those people.

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

And yes we do "need" one since we all know that years upon years of White male leadership can't possibly be good for a diverse and progressive country, as we like to think we are.

I don't think that the U.S. is truly diverse and progressive beyond the surface. So white male presidents are what I expect from us. Having nonwhite and nonmale presidents won't make me change what I believe about this country's diversity and progression and its future.

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

In my opinion both Hillary and Obama are qualified.

I'm not a fan of their platforms. But I took this thread topic to not have to be specifically about Clinton and Obama. I answered it generally and just used those two candidates as the context.

[SeriousSigma22]

Why Not! The Old White Guys have held the Power for 43 times. It's time for a radical change.


Serioussigma22

[tld221]

Originally Posted by SeriousSigma22

Why Not! The Old White Guys have held the Power for 43 times. It's time for a radical change.


Serioussigma22

well this is going to get really circular, but just because you have a woman or a black candidate up for office doesnt mean were going to see "radical change." and they damn sure aren't gonna get in the White House and start spitting 100% gender/race equality. it would be nice, but they're running for presidency, to represent ALL, not just who/where they come from.

Is America ready for a minority president? No. But we weren't ready for any president that screwed up. Hell, our country wasn't even ready for Easy Mac, but it's here and we're dealing with it one day at a time.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by tld221

well this is going to get really circular

Extremely.