Is "white" the qualification that people are less willing to forgo, or is it "male"?

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Two for a Breakthrough
By Eugene Robinson
Friday, December 22, 2006; Page A33

For the moment let's assume that we've come far enough to seriously consider electing the first U.S. president who can be described without using both the adjectives "white" and "male." Who has the better chance of breaking through, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama? Is "white" the qualification that people are less willing to forgo, or is it "male"?

Obviously, the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination have plenty of qualifications other than race and gender -- Clinton's unique experience and tremendous political savvy, Obama's ability to move people with his stunning eloquence. I think the old rule of thumb still applies: Women and minorities don't reach the top just by being as good as anybody else; they have to be better.

Still, you almost want to feel sorry for someone like John Edwards, who's both experienced and eloquent -- but isn't being splashed all over magazine covers. He has the misfortune to be running in an election cycle when his major rivals are already making history, at least for now....

***

... I'm not counting either of them out. A couple of years ago, it would have been impossible to predict how thoroughly the Republican Party would self-destruct. The longer the country remains bogged down in Iraq, the stronger the yearning for "something new" -- and the better the chances become for two candidates, Clinton and Obama, whose novelty is instantly apparent. I hope they both formally get into the race and stay for the long haul....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/21/AR2006122101277.html

[Erika]

1. Obama represents peace among nations, religions, races

That is his appeal. He can draw the world together.

The GOP is like yesterday's meatloaf.

[lvx35]

4. Well said.

As a white male, I should mention that Obama appeals to me a great deal. He's half black half white, but I find this appealling in the same way that it was with Bob Marley...He seems like a bridge builder, the type that can bring us all together in something good.

[Erika]

7. Yep. He is what the U.S. wishes to project

A sense of togetherness. About time.

[snowbear]

5. Like yesterday's meatloaf... and like Aunt Edna's fruitcake that we'll re-gift...

....stale.. boring... unappealing.... BLAH.



(not Obama.. what Erika said... the GOP!!!! STALE, DULL, BORING... etc)

[LoZoccolo]

2. If you had two candidates equal in all respects except race and gender...

...you could start talking about the effect of "foregoing" on this election.

We do not have that between Clinton and Obama.

[Erika]

3. I don't think Clinton will run

Never have.

[snowbear]

6. Oops EDIT!!

Dayum!

It must be getting late.. I thought you said you didn't think Obama would run!

Good grief.. Me:

[Erika]

8. She's accomplished so very much and is a true lady

Why subject herself to the mean spiritedness and pure hatred from the right wingers who hate her husband and extend their hatred to her.

I don't think she's into masochism.

[izzie]

9. A man of color or a white women?

What about what each one thinks and stands for? I am willing to bet that will be way down on the list for many. I know many people who call them self Dem. that would be mad at voting for either. They just feel better voting for people like them self. So I would think since more women vote then men one of those two people should look at what women really want. I sure would vote for the 'man of color' as it stands now. He talks right to me. I think of him as a man who thinks good for a job as a President. I almost think how they do their thinking has turned out more important that what they think.

[Clark2008]

10. Edwards was already splashed everywhere - last time around.

What's the beef, WaPo? I don't feel sorry for him.

But, to the original question: In the purple states? Neither "white" nor "male" will they forgo. Sorry.

[patricia92243]

11. The South will not vote Black. I don't know if we can win without the South. n/t

[beaconess]

12. And you know this two years in advance how? n/t

[patricia92243]

13. I've lived in the South all my life, and it is amazing how much prejudice is still

alive and well. What really surprises me is how much young people are still prejudice. I thought a younger generation would be much more tolerant than they are.

It has only gone underground, but is still very much there.

[beaconess]

15. I'm sorry, but that's not a good enough justification for your claim

I've lived in the South a good part of my life, as well. And I've seen enormous change - one of the most important changes is the enormous voting strength of Blacks throughout the South.

I realize you probably mean well, but I think your attitude is terribly defeatest and counter-productive. None of us knows whether the South will vote for a Black man in two years. But claiming that the South won't vote for a Black candidate in 2008 is like saying that the South won't vote for a White candidate from the north in 2008 because John Kerry lost the South in 2004.

So much will depend upon 1) who the candidate is; 2) how the primaries shake out; 3) how he campaigns; 4) the condition of the country at the time; and so many other factors. But announcing two years in advance that a Black candidate can't win the South is, in my view, just not supportable.

[spooky3]

14. I love Eugene Robinson. His columns are always interesting.

Too bad he is grossly outnumbered by the likes of Novakula, George Will, Krauthammer, Samuelson, and the often right-leaning or too-enamored-of-the-parties-or-his-own-voice Broder and Cohen.