Letters to the Editor
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Selective Sight
Hey Joan,
I say this as a Berkeley-educated feminist. Your argument that Blacks have it easier achieving the highest levels is simply wrong. Look at the Senate. Obama is (I think) the third Black person to be in the Senate. On the other hand there are many women senators. We also have Nancy Pelosi who is our Speaker of the House. Also, if you look at CEO's in corporate America I don't think you'll find more Blacks than women either. As you should know, affirmative action benefited women more than any other group, yet most people don't even know that white women qualified for affirmative action.
If you have some studies or statistics to back up your claims I would be curious, but my understanding is that your wrong.
I do share your concerns that still many people don't think a woman or a black person would make a qualified president. There is no doubt that Clinton has been the subject of sexist attacks. I think it is less politically risky for her to raise this issue than for her him. Women are half the population whereas Blacks are truly a minority. Obama risks being portaryed as "angry" or "uppity" if he draws attention to remarks made against him. Indeed, many have already used these words to describe him. Indeed, I think there has been substantial subtle prejudice aimed in Obama's direction from Day One.
Think of how often people kept saying his middle name on cable news. Also, internet posters still write "B. Hussein Obama," instead of using his first and last name. All of this is an attempt to make him the Other. Also, the obsession with him not wearing a flag lapel pin, not having his hand over his heart during God Bless America. Then of course their was the obsession with getting Michelle's undergrad thesis and an intense focus on any comments she makes.
I haven't even gotten to Reverend Wright. Also, early in the campaign a Clinton supporter raised the question of if Obama had ever sold drugs under the guise that a Republican might bring that up ... I assure you I could go on but it is depressing.