What would it take to elect a woman or a black man to the presidency in this country?

Question

What events would have to transpire to bring a majority of American voters to a point in their thinking that they would vote for a candidate, regardless of race or gender?

Have any of these things already happened?

Answer 1

Things have come a long way. Obama has a chance. Hillary has no chance, but a better qualified female candidate might.

We missed a chance when we didn't elect Barbra Jordan president. She would have made an excellent one as would Anne Richards.

I would suppose that if the day ever comes that the Republican party, my party, expels the KKK, we might have a person of color elected. The Klan and other religious/political reactionary groups are tough to counter without violence.

Answer 2

It wouldn't be things happening, other than another 9-11, because USA votes with its eyes and ears. What sounds good and what we see on TV and in the media. We don't think for ourselves..example: reelecting Bush for a second term and not getting upset when the election was a mess. And letting him do all of the things he is doing right now..sending trillions to Iraq, not doing anything in New Orleans, letting Americans go without medical coverage.
Pretend that today's politician ran on this agenda: "I will give you no medical coverage, I will bankrupt America and put the USA in further debt, I will turn foreign countries against us, and I will lower taxes for the rich and raise them for the poor. Oh, and I will cancel mental health benefits, Veterans health coverage, and take from the elderly and the schools. Please elect me!" He/she, regardless of race and gender, would be run out of town.
We Americans are lazy in politics. We don't want to make waves. We allow the parties to have the stupid conventions that the rest of the world laughs at, and we bully and are nasty to those who speak the truth.
What will it take? The person elected will be the one with the most media coverage, the most money to do so, the one who can get Oprah Winfrey to support them (she says a book is great..half of USA then buy it. Can't we do our own thinking?)
OK, we will elect a democrat this time. Then we will start demanding that they correct all of the things that the Republicans did wrong; next election, we will want a reverse. And so it goes. Nothing will change until we get out of the polarized situation of only two strong parties and a couple of weak ones. Black versus white never has worked, in any situation. There are compromises and there are middle grounds. Sadly, not in politics. Money speaks.!!! Not race, not gender, not religion, not common sense.
And the biggest joke of all: anyone can grow up to be president. Yeah, right!! And I have a bridge for sale if you believe that last statement.

Answer 3

Instead of them talking about what they would do for this country if they were president, to say "even if I am not the president, what I will still do for this country". Instead of talking about it, already have events set-up that is making America a better place. This will actually show if they know what the real problems are in America. President or not they are doing something to help and more people will flock to them like flies to sh*t. I don't want to vote for someone that is constantly making speeches about why they should be president. I want to vote for the man/woman (Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, etc) That I see on t.v walking into a school talking to teachers and parents about the drop out rate of young kids and how we are going to solve that problem. Instead of saying "when I become president, I'm bringing the troops home" I want to see them on t.v saying "well I don't have the authority to bring them home, but lets come up with a way to give them more food, water, and more bullet proof vest to stay alive out there". That's the president I want!

Answer 4

The American people will have had to reach the conclusion that they have to pick the best person regardless of their race or sex. If that best person is a woman or is black, or both, then that is the person who should be elected as president. I believe the events have already transpired to make that a definite possibility.

Answer 5

All it takes is a good candidate. Hillary has a strong popular vote going. I'm not giving an opinion because it's irrelevant. All that matters is if the person is qualified. Once there's a qualifying black man or woman who deserves to win, they will. Don't focus so much on color. It's the person. No "events" need to transpire. The color of the person has nothing to do w/their capabilities. God bless

Answer 6

One more decade. This election will be the stepping stone to get America comfortable with the idea; next elections - most likely the one after that, though - a women or an African American will have an equal shot at the presidency.

This isn't to say that it wont happen this round. It very well could happen - albeit, I hope it doesn't. Neither Clinton nor Obama have what it takes to steer America back on track. They are merely polished politicians piggy backing the new wave of progressive American thought.

Answer 7

Gender will be easy to handle by America better than the race.I think Obama has made a good showing,has given a good fight and thrown his best punches.
In the final analysis,when push gets to real shove,
:HILLARY WILL BEAT OBAMA,MARK MY WORDS.
BITTER FOR HIS FANS BUT IT IS THE TRUTH,CROWD PULLING DOES NOT AND HAS NEVER TRANSLATED TO ELECTION RESULTS BUT HELPS TO KEEP THE HOPE ALIVE,THUS MAKING THE RACE INTERESTING,REALLY
Obama remains a candidate for the next round and the Dems should continue grooming him with the hope of retaining power for a long term.
This time around,he has not got ALL it takes to get there,but he can.TIME WILL TELL.

Answer 8

there are to many men who wouldn't vote for a women just based on her gender. a black man would be more likely but still wouldn't happen because of the racists.

i think it'd be awesome for a black woman president :)

Answer 9

It would take a majority vote from the electoral college just like any other presidential candidate.

Answer 10

I think it would probably be the same as anyone else being elected. Nobody is different than anyone else. But i know they have to be born in the U.S. to be able to run for the Presidency. It may take a little more persuasion for the people to vote for that person, but I dont think it would be too hard.