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Obama

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Each presidential election is historic in its own right so to claim an Obama or Clinton win will somehow make this election more historic cheapens the election process. It is true this could be the first time ever a women or African-American could serve as president. However, a ploy to continually focus on the race, gender, or any other physical characteristic should create a personal sense of injustice in each candidate. Obama, Clinton, and McCain should not believe a specific life experience gives them an absolute claim to the Whitehouse.

If it is the common belief that racial or gender qualifications make this election historic, this is a sad indictment of American society. Dr. Martin Luther King once described his desire to see a society that would look at person's character rather than those things that have preoccupied the media's coverage of this presidential race. While Dr. King would feel a since of pride that an African-American has withered the primary season as a front-runner, one might question whether the description of Senator Obama as the African-American candidate could cause Dr. King some uneasiness. The same goes for Senator Clinton, a true feminist wants a female in the Whitehouse, but the perfect feminist in the most idealistic scenario should prefer Senator Clinton be seen as Senator Clinton rather than Senator Clinton the women. Senator McCain should not rely upon his silver hair and age as why he should enter the Whitehouse. While he may equate his age and white hair are credentials for experience, he should not assume this will curry favor with senior citizens. Race, gender, age are considered as taboo in any hiring process and should be in the presidential race.

No one questions the race or gender of any of the three candidates. If Senator Obama wins the presidency, he will be the first African-American president. If Senator Clinton wins, she will be the first women to serve as commander-in-chief. Pundits believe it is a foregone conclusion a democrat will win the Whitehouse in 2008, and the nation will see a first. However, Senator McCain could win. If this is the case, Senator McCain will be the first president who received medals for his service in the Vietnam War and spent more time as a prisoner of war than Senator Obama has served in the senate and flew more missions under enemy fire than Senator Clinton.

Learn more about this author, Robert Dixon.
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