Is America Ready?

Just a little over a month ago, midterm elections were held. The Democratic Party won back control of the House and Senate, as well as a majority of the nation’s governors offices. Already politicians are gearing up for the 2008 Presidential elections, with two names emerging as early frontrunners for the Democrats, New York Senator and former First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and first term Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

In last Sunday�s New York Times, political correspondent Adam Nagourney pondered the very practical question of whether or not America is ready to elect either a woman or an African American. Times and attitudes have changed over the years�there are more woman and Black lawmakers in Congress than ever before�but have they changed enough?

Without question, women and blacks have made significant progress in winning office. The new Congress will include 71 women � one of whom will be the first female speaker of the House � compared with 25 when Representative Geraldine Ferraro, a Queens Democrat, became the first woman to run as a major-party vice presidential candidate in 1984. There will be 43 blacks in the new Congress, compared with 13 when the Congressional Black Caucus was formed in 1969.

Attitudinally, many observers including prominent African Americans, believe a woman may occupy the Oval Office before a Black man.

�All evidence is that a white female has an advantage over a black male � for reasons of our cultural heritage,� said the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the civil rights leader who ran for president in 1984 and 1988. Still, he said, for African-American and female candidates, �It�s easier � emphatically so.�

Ms. Ferraro offered a similar sentiment. �I think it�s more realistic for a woman than it is for an African-American,� said Ms. Ferraro. �There is a certain amount of racism that exists in the United States � whether it�s conscious or not it�s true.�

Still others suggest that in order for a Black man to become President, who he is may be more important than his race.

David A. Bositis, senior political analyst with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a nonpartisan Washington group that studies black issues, said that it would certainly be hard, but not impossible for an African-American candidate to win.

�I certainly felt in the �90s that if Colin Powell had been nominated on a major party ticket, he would have had a very good chance to win,� Mr. Bositis said. �If it�s the right black candidate, I do think there is propensity to elect a black. But it has to be the right black candidate.�

So what do you think?

1. Who do you think is most likely to receive the Democratic Party nomination for President in 2008?
a. Hillary Rodham Clinton
b. Barack Obama
c. A White male candidate

2. Do you believe you will see a woman elected President in your lifetime?
a. Yes
b. No

3. Do you believe you will see an African American President in your lifetime?
a. Yes
b. No

4. Rank the following, from most likely to least likely, in terms of who could win a race for President?
a. Hillary Rodham Clinton
b. Barack Obama
c. Condoleeza Rice
d. Colin Powell

5. Which political party is most likely to have a woman or an African American elected President?
a. Democrats
b. Republicans