Primaries more about stereotypes than issues
Barack Obama has been said to be not black enough to be president.
It’s been said that Hillary Clinton isn’t feminine enough to be taken seriously.
And then there’s John Edwards. Poor Caucasian male. He wasn’t different enough to be in this race.
As the caucuses have come, gone and continued to other parts of the country, I’ve already become disenchanted with the presidential race — and there’s still a grueling nine months ahead of me to endure.
Why the disenchantment? This has been a race of stereotypes, and it’s not necessarily any of their faults. It’s hard to avoid when every question in the past debates has been race- or gender-related with general finger pointing. Oh, the joys of democracy.
In the recent Democratic debate held in Las Vegas, moderators singled out both Obama and Clinton on the issues of race and gender because (gasp!) as a voter, I didn’t realize that Obama was black and Clinton was a woman. Boy, do I feel silly!
At another debate in South Carolina, a moderator mentioned that former president Bill Clinton may have been our first black president. While Clinton does play the saxophone and appreciates jazz music, any kind of dance competition, as Obama suggested, would settle this once and for all.
On that note, they should play Flo-Rida featuring T-Pain’s song, “Low.” Not only will Clinton be dumbfounded when he hears “Applebottom jeans and the boots with the fur,” but something tells me Obama already has a pair of Reeboks with the straps. My money would be on Obama.
As far as Clinton goes, her colleagues have made this primary season a spectacle. Past criticisms have called the New York senator too masculine. But the very second she shows emotion and, heaven forbid, sheds a tear or two, it targets her as being the weak woman. Maybe she watched a really sad commercial right before. So? Give the woman some Kleenex and move on.
And while Obama and Clinton signify history in the making, the long-gone Edwards has a southern accent. Cue the yawns now. Been there. Done that. America is a tough crowd, John. Perhaps take up fire throwing next time. Or maybe the electric guitar — chicks dig rock stars.
But rock concerts and dance competitions aside, I want to know what happened to the issues of this presidential race? Health care, anyone? What about Social Security? Or how about that little thing the United States is involved in right now — oh yeah, the war in Iraq?
While I’m proud to witness and participate in perhaps one of the most defining moments in U.S. presidential history, I also don’t think race and gender should be the focus of every question. I’d be happy to get any Democrat in office at this point.
As a famous songwriter once said, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white — or male or female.
Krystal Bick is a columnist for The Nevada Sagebrush. She can be reached at editor@nevadasagebrush.com.
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