does anyone else just feel that it would sort of "break tradition" to a woman as president? I mean I got the s

when Condoleeza Rice was undergoing confirmation hearing to become secretary of state, it just looked like a single black woman amid a sea of incriminating white males. I can just remember thinking how very strange it looked and saying to myself, "is this really talking place?" I guess it is just because throughout history blacks have always been discriminated against, and I had never ever seen a black, let alone a woman, in a position of such discrete political power. In a way it almost scared me, like I thought "is something going to happen to her, being a black female in that position?" And it sounds crazy, but I am getting the same incling about Hillary Clinton should she become president. Compared with everything I have ever seen or known throughout history it would just look impossible, like something was wrong with the picture. Even having current number 2 Barack Obama as president would look more plausible in my opinion. I guess what I am trying to say is, doesn't it seem to anyone else like having a female president would sort of break the American legacy of only having white male presidents? I mean I know that sounds wierd and we can go beyond that, but throughout history and everything I have known it has always just been white males, almost as if white males are the only ones who are truly capable of taking on the job since there have never been any presidents of other races or genders. And I suppose I may be supressing an underlying fear that a female may not be able to handle the job. Does anyone else see what I mean?

Public Comments

1. Based on your reasoning, then, we should never have a woman as president because we haven't had one before? I'm sorry, but just because it doesn't look right to people who can't get in step with the modern world is no reason to be against it.
2. If we refused to do things simply because we had not done them before, man would never have crawled out of the ocean and started his climb up the food chain. Can a woman do a worse job than the current batch of losers? I am so appalled by the servile way the Republicans endorse the antidemocratic behaviour of their leadership that I have already decided that patriotism would be best expressed by voting for whatever candidate the Democrats put forward, eben if she is a black left handed lesbian who howls at the moon. We cannot afford another President whose contempt for dissent is equalled only by his servility to his corporatist owners.
3. You are by definition a tradionalist, thus you will be left in the past like most traditions. It may not happen this time, but if your qualifactions for leaders are color or sex you are only limiting yourself. I am personally looking for folks that seem intellegent and are willing to act. Those that have overcome attitudes like yours, no matter how softly put, often excel and have special characteristics that make them good leaders. I want more options, not less...
4. Although I'm sure it will take some time for everyone to adjust to saying "MRS. President", as far as I'm concerned it would serve to break a barrier that women have long fought to overcome in DC. Hillary has long been said to be the only woman that would have a chance at winning the presidency, so for that historic moment alone I'm hoping she does!
5. "I guess what I am trying to say is, doesn't it seem to anyone else like having a female president would sort of break the American legacy of only having white male presidents?" Yes, it would break the long standing tradition of white male presidents, but there's no basis behind having a tradition of white male presidents. Fact is, of those running, white males have done best. In this day and age, we do not discriminate (or try not to) so sex and race are not qualifiers for president. The only way it would look odd if Hillary won would be because she's female, and this would be a first, but it wouldn't be bad on those grounds (I have plenty of other reasons to oppose Hillary). "I mean I know that sounds wierd and we can go beyond that, but throughout history and everything I have known it has always just been white males, almost as if white males are the only ones who are truly capable of taking on the job since there have never been any presidents of other races or genders." Well, this is entirely correct. Good thing you used the word 'almost'. Just because it's been that way since the US was formed doesn't mean it necessarily always has to be, or somehow this is the only correct path.
6. I welcome a female president. I just don't want it to be HIllary. I'm thinking, "let's break 2 traditions at once and have Queen Latifa for president."
7. I wish Rice had ran I think she would have been a great president. We are ready for a Woman president, just not Hillary (I don't really consider her female anyway. more like an "it". ) We are ready for a Black president too, just not Obama. anyone who says he won't wear our flag on his suit shouldn't be our president. Colin Powell still would be a great choice for President, I would totally support him. By saying some things you have said it is just fear of change is all it is.
8. Traditions sometimes need to change. Just as Tevia found out in "Fiddler On The Roof" when his daughters selected their husbands rather than a yenta.
9. Here's the classic question. If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you too? What's wrong with having a female president? She'll probably do the job better than any other president.
10. You've got to be kidding. You're worried that it would break some kind of tradition? Look outside the US, plenty of countries have had women chief executives, some of them not even white! Under your premise, FDR should never have been elected because we had never had a handicapped president before. JFK should have never been elected because we "traditionally" only voted for Protestant Christians and he was a Catholic and only 1 generation removed from Ireland. Heck, Washington should never have been elected because we "traditionally" had always been ruled by a king, not an elected official. Join us all in the real world. The real tradition in America is that we all do our best to pick the best candidate for the job and forget whether he or she matches all the others. If the voters elect Hillary Clinton or any other woman, it will be because they believe she is the best person for the job. So, why does Obama as president look more plausible to you? Because he pees standing up? "Traditionally" he would no more fit than Hillary Clinton would. You're just a misogynist chauvinist trying to hide behind tradition to justify backward thinking.