Race is winning the race

What if Sen. Barack Obama were white? Geraldine Ferraro essentially raised this question… What if Sen. Barack Obama were white? Geraldine Ferraro essentially raised this question during an interview with The Daily Breeze, a little-known newspaper in California. She is quoted as saying, “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman of any color, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.” Such a quote created quite a ruckus on the campaign and across news outlets. The media was up in arms questioning if she is a racist, her competency and – perhaps, above all – whether she’s right.

This election is deemed historic because of the many groundbreaking elements it represents. If Sen. Hillary Clinton wins, she will be the first female president of the United States. If Obama is elected, he will be the first black president of the United States. Sen. John McCain would be the oldest. Had Gov. Mitt Romney made it to win the Republican nomination and then the general election, he would be the first Mormon president. But stepping back, only the Democrats have “firsts” they can sell. Unless there is an underground city the size of California of registered Mormons I’m not aware of, Romney wasn’t going to carry the election by winning the Mormon vote. If anything, McCain’s geriatric status is a negative. Clinton is a woman, though. She has half the population to court. And Obama has the large black voting bloc. These are things the DNC can sell; things that help you become president.

So the question is begged: Was Ferraro right in saying that Obama wouldn’t be first in the race for the Democratic nomination if he weren’t black? The question could even be expanded to Clinton. If she weren’t a woman, would she be where she is today? Likely, the answers are yes and no, respectively.

Clinton wouldn’t be a senator if she weren’t a former first lady. Her eight years spent by Bill’s side – except those moments when he preferred someone else – gave her the credentials and national attention necessary to win a senate seat. Is it possible she could have made it as far if she weren’t married to former President Clinton? Anything is possible, but her chances would have been much, much slimmer.

If Clinton weren’t a woman, she wouldn’t be married to Bill Clinton and wouldn’t be in the running for president. She, of course, has other qualities (e.g. a lack of charisma, the inability to emotionally connect with voters and the most outrageously staged laugh ever). For the former first lady, the road to the White House is painted gold.

Obama has a lot going for him, too. He is the junior senator from Illinois with a whopping three years of United States senatorial service. He gave the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention as a mere state senator; so, we all know that he can deliver a speech. Aside from that, there is little else to say about his merits and qualifications. But why did he run for president? Why was Obama chosen to give that speech at the convention? Why is he even on the news? Because he is a symbol. The Democratic Party views him as the post-racial candidate, something you can’t be if you’re white. He is a symbol of the future, a godsend to the racial-minded elitists of this country.

The mainstream media pushed his candidacy because they, too, aspire to see a black man put in the Oval Office. Would the media have hailed the potential candidacy of a white male who gives good speeches? Would the Democratic base rally in historic numbers for a man with little name recognition who has spent extremely little time on the national stage? Would the DNC be willing to fight the Republican attack machine labeling its white, male candidate as inexperienced, untested and unprepared to lead? Naivety would lead to an affirmative response; reality reveals the true answer: No.

With that in mind, it is important to note that all candidates have something that inspires voters. And these characteristics do not come with a stigma; they are value-neutral. We, as voters, decide if the qualities are positive or negative. Sen. John Kerry was the Vietnam War veteran against the war in Iraq. Former President Clinton was the suave, charismatic southerner. President Ronald Reagan was the ultimate conservative. Hillary Clinton is the wife of Bill Clinton and Obama is the black orator of hope and change.

They each represent a quality Americans are attracted to. This doesn’t mean that Reagan and Clinton didn’t have other qualifications and characteristics that assisted them in their ascension to the presidency. And it definitely doesn’t limit Obama to being solely the black candidate.

Debate the content by e-mailing Gregg at gjs22@pitt.edu.