1 of 77

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

is offset by the bias for women, including many of those who say the candidate's sex is important to them. Another interpretation is that voters disliked voting for a woman less than they disliked voting for a black man.

I am troubled by Clinton's claim that she would do better among white voters. The implication was that people should vote against Obama not because he is black but because other white people will vote against him because he is black. This is similar to the position of white hotel owners before the civil rights act of 1964 who, while not racist themselves, claimed that they did not admit blacks because they would lose white customers.

The fact that black women voted overwhelmingly against the candidate of their sex in favor of the candidate of their race suggests one of two things, either they themselves are influenced by sexism or they assume that racism is the greater enemy.

A black man calling a liberal talk show declared "Racism is covert; sexism is overt." He supported Obama but he objected to displays of sexism such as the Hilary nutcracker and calls for Senator Clinton to quit running for president and "make me a sandwich." Although racism and sexism both exist in covert and overt forms, I believe the man was mostly right. While our culture has evolved to the point that we tend to suppress racial differences, we emphasize sexual differences. For a man to challenge a sexist joke is to call his own masculinity into question.

As I am writing this, Obama has already captured the Democratic nomination. Proof that Americans will not elect a woman president? No, just not this woman at this time.

Will Obama win against McCain? I think Obama is our most likely next president. George W. Bush has a 21% approval rating; he has no coat tails. I am a Democrat, but McCain, as a maverick who sometimes supports Democratic policies, was my favorite Republican. Unfortunately, he is a captive of his party. Ever since the voting rights act of 1965 and Nixon's Southern strategy, the Republicans have become the party of covert racism. It was the senior George Bush who used the black face of Willie Horton to scare white voters away from Dukakis.

I respect high profile black Republicans like Colin Powell (who is endorsing Obama) and Condaleeza Rice. I think they are both smarter than their boss, but I think they are out of touch with the middle and lower class, where the Democrats have their strength.

Franklin Roosevelt won over black voters by tackling economic issues that transcended race, Just as Obama is doing today. The last Democratic president before Roosevelt was Woodrow Wilson an avowed racist who segregated the armed forces. The Republicans lost a great opportunity with black voters by neglecting their interests. They lost Lincoln and gained Strom Thurmond.

Eleanor Roosevelt was, perhaps, the most politically active first lady until Hilary Clinton. In other times she might have been a candidate for president herself. In many third world countries, which are considered less progressive than ours, there is a tradition of passing power to the wives and daughters of popular or powerful leaders. Perhaps Hilary Clinton would have more credibility if she had achieved her great prominence on her own, like Margaret Thatcher. But Hilary has chosen from the options available to women, contributing to her husband's fame while breaking glass ceilings around her. Certainly we should not hold this against her any more than we held Ronald Reagan's acting career against him. Her time may come yet, hopefully after eight years of an Obama administration.

Learn more about this author, David Neil Bain.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Will Americans vote for a black man or white woman??
We want to hear your view. Write now!