Focus 2008: Is America Ready to elect a Female or Black President?

By Brigitte L. Nacos
While still trying to digest last week’s electoral earthquake, a growing number of politicians and pundits are already looking ahead to the presidential election in two years. Handicapping the chances of sure and likely candidates, an op-ed article in today’s Washington Post raises an interesting question: “Is America too Racist for Barack? Too Sexist for Hillary?” According to polls, the overwhelming majority of Americans say that they would vote for a qualified female or black candidate for President. It is difficult to assess how many of those survey respondents gave what they perceived as a politically correct answer. Judging from what has unfolded in the last days and weeks, there is reason to believe that racial and gender biases are still alive and well in America. But it is another question, whether such prejudices are strong enough to keep qualified black and female candidates from winning the presidential nomination of their party and the highest office in the land. The political futures of U.S.Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are most likely to be affected by the state of gender and race politics. 

Women and African-Americans have come a long way in the political realm. When U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi becomes the Speaker of the House, women will shatter the political glass ceiling again as they did when Madeleine Albright was sworn in as the first female Secretary of State and when Geraldine Ferraro was nominated as the first female vice-presidential candidate of a major party. African-Americans, too, climb up the political ladder as manifested by governor-elect Deval Patrick in Massachusetts. And then there is Condoleezza Rice as the first female National Security Advisor and now the first female/ black Secretary of State.

But one needs to recall the racist undertone in the Tennessee senatorial race that may have prevented Representative Herold Ford Jr. from becoming the state’s first black U.S.senator since reconstruction, to understand how quickly the prejudices of the past can be awakened. Or think of
Virginia’s senatorial contest with Senator George Allen’s “macaca” remark and back-and-forth accusations of racial and gender prejudices. In New York’s senatorial race between the incumbent Hillary Clinton and challenger John Spencer, the underdog attacked his opponent’s ugliness, accused her of having spent a fortune to improve her looks, and mocked her husband for not having married a pretty girl. One could not possibly imagine such a punch under the belt against a male candidate for whatever political office. 

Although certainly not revealing gender biases, the mainstream media continue to cover male and female politicians quite differently. Take the future House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Her coverage in the Washington Post followed the traditional news of female politicians that focus on their family background and their personal appearance. Thus, one story explained how Pelosi learned her political skills from her father, the one-time mayor of Baltimore, and the ability to balance politics and family from her mother. An article in the Style section was devoted to what she wore and how she looked: 

“The California Democrat was dressed in a blue-gray pantsuit with a blouse in a similar but slightly deeper hue. She wore a necklace that was a complementary mix of colors. Nowhere on her person did there appear to be a flag, an eagle or any other booming statement of patriotism that can so quickly transform a workday ensemble into a Fourth of July costume. Holding a news conference in front of flags was plenty; she did not feel compelled to drape herself in one.

Pelosi's suit was by Giorgio Armani -- the Italian master of neutral tones and modern power dressing -- and she wore it well. She looked polished and tasteful in front of the cameras. It is tempting to even go so far as to say that she looked chic, which in the world beyond Washington would be considered a compliment, but in the context of politics is an observation fraught with insinuations of partisanship and condescension.”

What does all of this tell us about the prospect of a black or female president? It does not bode well for the chances of a black candidate in 2008, when conservative columnists like David Brooks of the New York Times and Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post encourage the Senator Obama to run. In the Post article, Benjamin Wallace-Wells writes that gender “may have become part of the political wall paper. When Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. and Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steel ran for Senate this fall, their race was mentioned in virtually every story; when Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Claire McCaskill ran, their gender was barely notices. Don’t bet on it. Particularly not, if a woman runs for president of the United States.

                                                           *

What I wrote above does not mean that I nor anyone else should vote for a presidential candidates because they are females or members of a racial/ethnic minority. Of course, the yard stick must always be the qualification of candidates--not their gender or racial and ethnic markers.

 

Comments

[Tiffany Jeltema]

What you said as a footnote is actually what I fear the most if Clinton or Obama run for office: that people will vote for them JUST because her sex or his race (or do the opposite and not vote).

Overall, I think a large number of Americans do not give a lot of their time or attention to politics - we're too busy with our own lives and issues of immediacy to bother. Candidates who could be distinguished solely on appearance would make it easier for people to choose who to vote for versus having to pick apart differences from one white male to another.

I think voter turnout would definitely be at an all-time high!

[DARCY]

Senator Clinton is more than qualified to be the next US President. But the facts are she is a female. It's is unfortunate that Americans are in the year 2008, but small minded in reference male vs female rolls.

Senator Obma is american black man. He is also qualified to be the next US President. The problem here how many american black men have become President of the US. NONE!

This is an example of small minded Americans are that they have "state that they are voteing for the best person for the job. NOT TRUE!!!!"

Most Americans will vote what is in their hearts! But the other half will base their vote on COLOR or GENDER!
So lets end all of the campainging and just give the job to McCAIN.