Why do "some" people think America isn't ready for a black or female president?

Question

If that's the case, when will America be ready? 10, 20, 30 or even 50 years from now?



Note: Please, stick to the topic. This question isn't specifically about Obama or Hilary Clinton.

Answer 1

Anyone and everyone who says "America isn't ready for a black or female president" is either racist or sexist or both.

It is perfectly fine to say I don't like this or that candidate because of their politics. That is what the election process is all about. But when a person starts to define a candidate by his or her race or gender then there is without exception a personal predjudice involved. Reason? America is too diverse now for any group, race, gender, religion, or culture to be stereotyped as all the same. Blacks, whites, latinos, Asians, Europeans, and Africans all have widely varying political views, lifestyles, cultures, incomes and religious beliefs. Anybody who has not figured this out yet in 2007 is a flat out bigot or has been living alone in a cave for the last hundred years. It is more likely in today's America that a rich black man will have more in common with a rich white man than he will with a poor black man.

Is America ready? Of course. There are absolutely fine candidates with all different backgrounds. But "some" people will make an issue of it until its done. Europe and even the middle east is way ahead of us on this issue. Time for America to catch up.

Answer 2

Shameful but truth is I think America would prefer a woman president over a Black man sitting in the President's seat. I made this comment about five years before I knew anything about Obama or Hilary running. It would be a "big" event if either a woman or Black man were elected. I just look at history, women really had a Civil Rights movement that really pushed for the rights of women before the Black Civil Rights was successful. Blacks didn't see a big change until the Civil Rights movement in 1965 when Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for us. I don't when America will be ready, I just imagine a woman taking the presidency before a Black man, no matter how intelligent the man may be.

Answer 3

I guess some people are scared maybe?

However, I've heard people making false accusations that someone is a racist if they don't vote for Obama and you hate females if you don't vote for Hillary. What does that say about the person making such statements? Are they infact admitting to being all about race and gender?

I choose based on where the candidate stands on the issues then I research on how they handled it. I prefer a leader that takes the time to read new bills introduced before signing it.

Did you know the Amber Alert bill also had the rave act thrown into it by Biden and how many people didn't even take the time to read it?? Do you think you'd rather have a president who took the time to read that and take a stand against someone weaseling in a bill that had nothing to do with the original bill or would you rather have someone who just glanced and just voted yes so that they could just go home or to the golf course already?

This is what I think about and why I make my choices based on their record and if they are trustworthy and consistant enough.

Answer 4

There will always be racists and misogynists about. Just because they exist does not mean the rest of us are not "ready".

If there is a perception out there that the majority of us are not willing to vote for a woman and/or a black president, it is because the MSM loves to dredge up hatred and strife. What sort of news would it make if 99% of the "man-on-the-street" interviews turned out to be apathetic regarding the race or sex of the next president.?

It's that outlying opinion that makes the news simply because it *is* outside the norm. It's controversy that sells toothpaste, capri pants and automobiles, not pastoral agreement. The only reason the question is posed by the MSM is to elicit opposing viewpoints. It simply makes good TV (and op eds, and radio shows).

It is not only about advertising dollars. Talking about race, sex, religion, etc. serves one other key purpose in the eyes of the MSM. That of muddying the waters, obfuscating issues, and confusing voters. The more ignorant the populace is, the more they can be lead down the garden path.

It's only too bad that the path is paved with good intentions.

Answer 5

I believe America is ready for anything as long as includes change. A woman or black man would be welcomed. But you have to stand behind the convictions of the individual as a candidate. What is their platform? Their record and projections?
I know we will someday be there with the right ones in place. We may still get just that depending on what America decides to do. But more people voted for Sanjaya than any President? What does that tell us?
As for the some " " . The ones who like tags and titles and to corral us into groups to identify? It is a small minded group. I pray we find some open minds and awake people this election. I won't vote for the individual who happens to be a woman this time. Perhaps if she was a divorced single mother I would have. Thank you.

Answer 6

Because of Hilary, I don't think many of us are ready for a female president. I wouldn't vote for her but maybe someone else. I think more of us are ready for a black president. And I'd vote for Obama more because I agree with some of the things that he's said than because of skin color. (I disagree with many of the things Hilary has said).

Answer 7

I believe they are ready now. We still have a fair amount of racists and misogynists around, but not near the amount we used to endure. For instance, people are getting more used to seeing women in high positions in government. We have 90 women in Congress and one of them is two heartbeats away from the Presidency. Sadly enough, I think the prejudice toward a black President is a little stronger, but it's fading too. I think the people who claim that a woman or black has no chance are secretly hoping that is the case because of their own prejudices or the people they have surrounded themselves with in life - the friends they know, family members who are prejudiced either way, etc. That's all they know so they think all of American thinks like that, and we don't.

Answer 8

They don't want Condi to run?

Seriously, though, I think it's just because it hasn't happened yet. Some people have trouble adjusting to the prospect of a new thing. Then again, the idea that it's "time" suggests both that it wasn't "time," before, and that one shoud vote based on race or gender. Neither of those implications strike me as terribly enlightened.

Answer 9

I truely belive that a black female canidate would make a huge stride in race relations here in the USA. I would look at Condi as a serious canidate that could give the whole pack a run for the money.

Ofcorse, the race baiters and the "left", who you think wound embrace Condi, would be the first to try and tear her down.

When I think of the elite left, I see them talking about wanting to pick up a segment of society through increased social programs that have been proven to cause more harm then good. Think, "Give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he easts for a lifetime".

In my opinion, the left is no more interested in progressive race relations then they are in a free-market society.

Answer 10

A black female candidate has two obvious things against her. Many liberals don't believe that black people have credibilty and that they only serve liberal politicians by voting for them. That's why liberals are in favor of the programs that enslave many black Americans.

Many Conservatives don't believe that a woman is capable of making the tough decisions that the president has to make. Many conserverative still carry the notions that a woman's place is in the kitchen. (Which is where I'd like to be right now, instead of at work! lol)

I consider myself a conservative libertarian and I would vote for Condelezza Rice in second if she would run. In fact, I had our graphics department print out bumper stickers that read "Condi 08"