Thoughts on the Democratic Primary, Sexism and Racism

Note: The feelings expressed below may not reflect the thoughts of all Popanalia contributers. But where else was I supposed to post it?

The Democratic battle gets more twisted and bitter as John McCain putters about the country pandering to the Christian Right and delivering promises of continued warfare in his patronizing, grandfather-tells-a-bedtime-story cadence. And Hillary continues her slow but inevitable death, determined to bring the entire Democratic party down with her.

This morning I heard a Clinton supporter on NPR complain that no one tried to force Teddy Kennedy out of the race before the convention so why should Hillary stand down? What a spectacularly terrible example! Bitter in-party fighting has repeatedly dogged the Democratic party, a la Kennedy's bid to upset sitting President Carter during the 1980 primary. The only reason that isn't remembered as a worse political bungle is because immediately after losing the nomination to Carter, Kennedy gave a tremendous pro-Carter speech at the convention. Would Hillary do that for Barack? One would have to doubt her sincerity at this point. And anyway, Reagan creamed Carter in '80. I'd hate to see that old bag of dust McCain, the false maverick, get such a lucky break this year.

Barack Obama has officially been labeled 'potentially our first Black President.' His father was black and from Africa, his mother white and from Kansas. So, black + white = Black? Would it be different if his father were white and his mother black? Or does any addition of nonwhite ancestry nullify the whiteness? This smacks of "separate but equal" racism to me. In Plessy v. Ferguson, Plessy was 7/8ths white, but that still wasn't "white enough" and he was denied seating in the white railroad car. It is deeply disturbing to see this type of classification still happening openly in America, even if the segregation has been revoked from the laws.

When do we decide as a nation to move past racial classification? It's not even accurate! My wife, Dana, is half Mexican. When she fills out forms that ask for her race, many times her choices boil down to one of two: "Hispanic" or "Caucasian (non-Hispanic)." Does being half Mexican make her Hispanic? Her father was born here in the U.S., both his parents immigrated from Mexico, so she doesn't really feel Hispanic. Even if she identifies as white, though, she feels disqualified from choosing Caucasian because it specifically says "Non-Hispanic" You can see how frustrating these questions can be for mixed race individuals.

Hillary Clinton told the Washington Post yesterday that "It does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by the comments by people who are nothing but misogynists." There are die hard Hillary supporters now proclaiming that if she does not win the nomination they will openly campaign against Barack Obama. I fail to see how this would dispel any sexism that has been proliferated in the media. If anything it would add fuel to their fire by portraying feminists as short sighted and uncompromising.

If Hillary had a problem with how gender was being discussed she should have addressed it head on in the early stages of the race. Obama did this with his well-received 'Race Speech' titled "A More Perfect Union" and delivered on March 18, 2008. Obama's speech may not have changed the way voters refer to his race or how it affects the perception of his electability. It did set a line with the media. Hillary never set that line and she has to live with that.

Of course it is abhorrent that either one of them should have to take an aggressive stance on issues of equality. But America is full of thoughtful individuals willing to reexamine their previously held stereotypes (I hope). I'm sure there are many voters for both Democratic candidates who never would have considered voting for a (__insert racist/sexist term here__) prior to this election. The candidates should both be proud of even the slightest positive shift they may have instigated. To deem any vote for Barack Obama as an insult against all women is sick. This sort of psychological guilt trip is counterproductive to all work for equal rights. And for Clinton's supporters to back John McCain is playground politics of the lowest order.

Voters need to align their support with the general election candidate that has the best policies to help individuals of all genders, races, economic stations, religions, and every other counter intuitive all-inclusive label under the sun; regardless of the gender, race, economic station, religion or other label that may apply to that candidate. I can't believe there are people who'd mortgage the entire nation's well-being to get back at a few media pundits who made incendiary comments. Remember: Media pundits get paid to say stupid things. It's what they do. Everyone needs to look at the big picture and, as Bill Clinton said earlier this year, "chill out."