When someone asks, "Is this country ready for a black president'?...

[Philosoraptor]

I heard a t.v. anchorman ask that same weird question yesterday when they were discussing Barak Obama, and I'm always a little dumbstruck by the question.

Is this question silly, or is it a legitimate thing to ask in the shiny new 21st century? Does it need to be asked? I often hear the same question about a female president, as if it's too bizarre to even imagine.

I think the question should be, is America ready for a president who isn't a millionaire white guy in a blue/gray suit. or a Christian, or who isn't exactly like the last 15 presidents?

Would it be all that much of a shock to have a black female muslim married lesbian president? I guess it would maybe. But what about President Barak Obama? His wife, and colin powell's wife too both stated that they didn't want their husbands to run for president for fear of him being assassinated by crazy racists. The t.v. guy pointed out Mrs. Obama's statement as a reason why maybe America isn't ready for a black commander in chief.

I happen to think that yes, this country is finally ready for a black president, or even a gay president, or a muslim president, or a handicapped president, but there is always that little one percent who just can't stand the thought of change.

[Clark2008]

1. I think it's ready, but won't vote for it because of ingrained

prejudices that people don't even realize they have.

FWIW, I voted for Harold Ford Jr., so I KNOW I don't have them. :7

Seriously - there is a lot of racism that people don't even know is inside them, societal prejudice.

[Bassic]

17. I agree,

just look at how easily some people can start hating arabic muslims. I mean, I've known some very liberal people say some nasty thing, right after terrorist attacks, for example. They usually catch themselves, right after, but still. Nobody's completely immune to it sadly.

[thepurpose]

2. Yes. I liked the way you framed the question much better.

Why not start the debate with is America ready to prove to the world we really are a melting pot.

[Kagemusha]

3. How about, ready for a president who doesn't look/feel like Bush

Is the media ready? In their bones, can they imagine a leader who isn't southern, who isn't religious, who isn't well, carrying the mojo they aren't?

I think the media is not ready. And their main problem with Clinton is that he didn't fit that idea, in spite of the Southern drawl. He came close but he messed with an intern so he failed them.

After all, in the back of their minds, they're thinking (if you can call it thinking), if we don't have a religious southerner in office, how are all those nasty people going to stay in line?

Edit: Or "Forget America, who's gonna protect US?"

[Cocoa]

4. I think it's a terrible, irresponsible question

I think anyone who asks that question has a very heavy burden to support the idea that the country might not be "ready," whatever that might mean. I don't think they could support it, given Jesse Jackson's serious run more than 20 years ago.

[Bucky]

5. It's a stunningly superficial question. I wish it weren't a relevent question in our country

(on edit) ...in our stunningly superficial country.

[Perky]

6. I happen to think that the nation will embrace Barack Obama

Not because he is an african-american, nor in spite of it. I think he actually transcends race. I think he exudes something, and I really have not put a name on it yet, that inspires people unlike anyone since RFK and maybe his brother.

Maybe it is pent-up frustration dating back to 1984 but I think an perhaps naively hope that America wants a president who inspires us. I think that is what is so refreshing about Obama.

The Tiger Woods analogy is probably accurate. But Tiger Woods's appeal has nothing to do with him being African-Americn, he is just so far beyond the rest of the PGA and is genuinely a likable guy.

At this moment, I think the nation is ready to embrace something completely different in a president and the embrace transcends geography or even party or certainy race.

My view at the moment is that Obama is probably centrist, and while that will must assuredly frustrate many ...on DU, my sende at the same time is that he is the first centrist with vision.

I amy seem like I am gushing, but I actually am not sure would vote for him, largely because the challenges facing the nation are so duanting and the politcs so viral that he may be an utter failure as president.

[PADemD]

7. We're Ready

The first time I heard Barack Obama speak was his speech to the Democratic Convention. My reaction was, "WOW". He was that impressive. Whenever he's on TV, I tune in to listen. He's articulate, intelligent, and has a sense of humor. He also had the smarts to know that Iraq was not the place we should be going long before most other politicians. He'll have my vote and my money, too.

[jpwhite]

8. yes we are!!

I think this country is ready to have a president who is african-american. It is time to put the nail in the coffin of racism. It is time for us to stand up and say that racism is wrong and we aren't going to allow it anymore. If anyone wants to shoot Obama because he may run for president they will have to go through me first!!!

James
[e-mail]

[maine_raptor]

9. Call me cynical, but..........

Having lived through the Birmingham Bombings, Goodwin, Schwerner and Chaney, Medgar Evers, MLK, JFK, RFK, and all the others, I have to agree with the Senator's wife.

I'm not saying he could not be elected and do well as President, I think he would. I'm just worried that he wouldn't make it through his term.

After all, as you said Philosoraptor, there is that 1% and it only takes 1 of that 1%.

[sendero]

10. How can folks..

... condemn Michael Richards and then ask such a question? Racism is not gone, and it never will be. It is a legitimate question IMHO.

[Vinca]

11. At this point we'd just like a sane president. nt

[flobee1]

12. If not now, when?

Its got to happen sometime-and I think this is just the guy to do it

[bryant69]

13. We'll never have a handicapped president!

The problem is two fold though - there's having a black president and there's electing a black president - so far Obama has had a good run, but what sorts of things will be insinuated if he becomes a serious presidential candidate?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Philosoraptor]

15. why not a handicapped president?

Anyone with a brain could run the country, if a mentally handicapped man can do it, ...

[Bridget Burke]

20. Bzzzt! You didn't detect the sarcasm.

Did you ever hear of FDR?

My Mom said the press never emphasized his disability. But everyone knew he was crippled by polio.

[Philosoraptor]

23. Like they are currently hiding w's mental disabilities

and I ain't kiddin', that guy is seriously mentally unstable, yet the press and the citizenry will never admit it publicly.

[Bridget Burke]

27. W's definitely going downhill.

He impressed me as a half-bright aging fratboy when he ran for governor. But, at least, he could compose a sentence. Now he's in sad shape. (Almost enough to make me pity him.)

However, if his masters decide to dump him (after replacing Cheney with someone more human), all they need do is stop his medicine.

[Hav]

14. .

I don't think that from one day to the other, America will say "Ok, from now on we are ready".
It will be a development and it's possible that many won't even realize it until there is suddenly a strong black candidate winning the Presidency.
And it won't be about the candidate being black, it will be because the candidate is good or better than the alternative. It won't be should I vote for him or against him because he's black.

I think it's similar with women as head of state/Presidents. Then, too, there was a debate whether the country is ready for a female President. But for the majority of the voters, I suppose it was about the issues and the current political climate but not so much about the gender.

[baldguy]

16. Is this country ready for another white good-ol' boy corporate stooge?

[flamingpie2500]

18. this country is ready to run a black man--not ready to vote for one. IMHO

The Harold Ford ad said it all.

[Hav]

19. .

Yeah, plus in Obama's case, they'd probably take advantage of his name in all these spots: Barack Hussein Obama.
And enough will "accidentally" call him Osama like they accidentally use democrat instead of democratic.

[SmokingJacket]

21. What percentage of us are total asshole racists?

That's the question. I don't really know. There's a percentage of people who would never ever vote for a black person -- but are there so many it can't be overcome?

I've met those people, and it ain't pretty. But I don't know if they're like 2% of the white population or 35%.

[dubykc]

22. I think the country is ready for Obama to be president, but...

the constituency may not be. Look at the influx of white-supremacists/neo-nazi groups and their memberships. People don't need to be on the neo-nazi end of the spectrum to not vote for an African-American. Look at the posts on DU about Allen's racial slurs in the Virginia race against Webb as well as the huge support many in this country had and still have for people like Jesse Helms and George Wallace.

Unfortunately I think Obama running for President would bring the neo-nazi whackos crawling out of the woodwork. That alone is a good reason for the Senator's wife to be deeply concerned IMHO.

[gatorboy]

24. I think saying it's a small percent is reaching.

Especially in a year when so many individuals (Gibson, Allen...KRAMER!) have let their bigotry bubble to the surface for all to see. The silent racism of society is almost as bad as the open variety. Mainly because it's so difficult to tell just how many there are.

[leeroysphitz]

25. The country is more than ready for a GOOD president.

If he or she happens to be black then he or she happens to be black.

People need to get color blind real fast and we should all be focused on fixing the mess the con's have put us in.

[Philosoraptor]

26. We're waiting for a real leader instead of a DC creature