It used to be that politics was a competition between two rival parties, Democrats vs. Republicans, progressive vs. conservative, but a strange twist has been forming now that this new year has started in the presidential election. With the fact that the Republicans have no chance of winning the election (for the most part), the focus of the election has been what do the American people want to see more, the first black president or the first woman president.
Now the first black or female president will be a historic occasion, and one I feel is long overdue. But I think this hides from the true questions and primary issues of this presidential election. What will Barrack or Hillary do to turn around the situation we are in Iraq, build up our international reputation, and do about the embarrassment that is our healthcare, and economy. With most of last year to come up with answers, and not really coming up with anything at all, they turned to the easy way out. Play the race and gender card and make the issue about being a black victim and female victim, and how important it is for the aforementioned groups to get the White House, and to hell with qualifications!
Now Hillary and Barrack have gotten plenty of racist and sexist flack from the media and unhappy Republicans. Everyone probably has heard of the McCain fundraiser where one of the wealthy contributors asked him how he was going to deal with ‘the bitch’. And when it come to Hillary and women in general Chris Mathews shouldn’t be allowed to open his mouth. Then there was and is the FOX News ’story’ on how Barrack Obama was raised in a Muslim madrassa, which never happened and FOX keeps brining up occasionally since they seem to think the average retention rate for an American is a few months or so. And of course, the most recent stupidity on how Hillary’s crying was either weakness or a planned attempt at humanity really takes the cake. Hello, Reagan cried on television, Bill Clinton has cried on television, so guess what eventually Hillary would cry on television.
But now the candidates are using their race to their advantage. Barack has Oprah on his side, sendint the message “I’m black and its time for a black president.” Hillary stages sexist protesters at her own rallies, since the men yelling “Iron my shirt” were actually placed there by her campaign. And now her new vow, “No woman will be illegal” only the men who work and die in the fields to support their wives and kids will be.
And all this furor has created a frenzy and feeling of exaggerated importance over the gender or race of the presidential candidates. No one is asking how they will deal with the Iraq situation anymore. Hillary said she would end it, but when pressed into specifics, she pretty much toes the status quo. Barrack promised troop withdrawals, but doesn’t know how he’s gonna do it. As for our foreign relations, Hillary has a little gem. She says she’s cool nuking countries that harbor terrorists or are neutral towards terrorists. On healthcare, Hillary’s plan is new and different from her failed experiment back when her husband was in office, unfortunately it’s as complex and ineffective as the Republicans were saying the old plan would be. And as for John Edwards on these issues, no one knows, because no one really is asking him. He’s not black or female, so he’s not interesting enough of anyone to take seriously this election.
Combating sexism and racism is important, and if Hillary or Obama win it will be a major step forward for both groups. I am also not saying that Hillary or Obama are not good candidates. I am just saying we should be asking what they are going to do more for our country to determine our next president than what group do we feel more sorry for. Luckily Condoleeza Rice isn’t running, or both Obam and Hillary would be screwed.
