What Constitutes a Minority Again?

Claire Light
January 23, 2008

Now I might be wrong as to the general message each candidate is trying to relay here, but collectively, what I'm hearing is: Don't vote for me just because I'm a woman/black/have a nice haircut, but don't forget how momentous it'd be if I were in office. I get that there's the usual amount of politicking that runs amok during primary season -- and will undoubtedly barrel through Election Day -- and a lot of that talk remains out of the hands of individual candidates, but what IS the central message about the role race, gender, and class play in these elections? And are they supposed to factor in to our choices at the ballot box at all?

Thoughts, anyone?

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Comments

Comments

RELAX wrote on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 9:32pm
ELAINE:We all have to be honost with ourselves. Race and gender is playing a major role in this primary, but I can honostly say we have come a long way.If you would have told me 6 months ago Barrack Obama had a slight iota of a chance at beating the Hillary machine, I wouldve have laughed, but I guess its a sign of the times, a new generation dawning, out with the old and in with the new.Barracks upbringing is unique, his stepfather is chinese and his younger sister is half Chinese, or Malaysian, which are decendents of Chinese. And he lived in Malayasia as a youth.The question we have to ask here is if an Asian American was runnign for president, would we vote for him because he is Asian? or will we vote for the best candidate?
ummm wrote on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 7:57pm
BARAK Obama spent some time in INDONESIA as a child, NOT Malaysia. And since when are the Malaysians 'descendents of' the Chinese? There are ethnic Chinese in both Indonesia and Malaysia but they weren't there 'first' so to speak. Given as fact that the first humans walked the Earth in what is now Kenya and the way people 'look' today and topography it seems that Malysia would be a more likely first stop on the eastward wanderings of those nomadic first persons before China.Actually an Asian American running for President couldn't even do so if he (or she) was 'Asian' - he or she would have to be American by birth in accordance with the Constitution to run for President.
RELAX wrote on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 9:37pm
UMMM:Thanks for the correction. There are a lot of Asians born in America, at least the last time I looked it was. Its true, Malaysians have a strong Chinese background, theres a large Desi, or Indian presence there as well and a mixture of other Asians. Look it up for yourself. Indonesia and Singapore share the same demogrphics.