Are the reoccuring issues of race and gender in the election progressing or regressing America?

That is to say, are the recent events in the election unifying the American public or further dividing us on the lines of race? Tell me what you think. **please leave out rants about the candidates** Arlene, have you been living in a cave for the last 8 years while the current president continuously made a spectacle of himself?

Public Comments

1. yes. And unfortunately, it's mostly the Democrats' fault. the democratic politics have ALWAYS played the race card. You'd never see the Republicans making such spectacles of themselves.
2. Things won't change if the topics aren't being discussed and I think this is bringing up the issues. I don't see it as a bad thing so far. It's an emotionally charged issue -- the media, politicians and other 'leaders' will tap into this opportunity to express and mobilize people and even exploit them. I think it's a time to see peoples true colors and to help eachother through it. But more than anything, you cannot accept cherry-picked statements in the press and take it at face value -- look at the entire speech, because such sensitive topics can be painted as something quite different than it is.
3. Bringing the issues out in the open is good. Racism has always been discussed but for the last twenty years misogyny has not. Young women by taking their rights for granted have lost ground. Before you argue against my last statement consider the negativity directed towards Senator Clinton because she is a woman. The comments in the media and on Y/A have been vile.
4. I think it is regressing.
5. I think the fact that a black man and a woman are running for president this time has simply revealed fault lines in the American character that have been more or less inactive for a long time now. Invisible. When someone says "I will vote for Hillary, and if she doesn't get the nomination, then McCain", you know they are skirting the true meaning of what they are pretty blatantly saying. There are other factors in play this election, for sure, such as personal history, soundness of judgment and experience. But the current president was elected without one scintilla more going for him in any of those three areas than Obama has, and the same people who slam Obama had no problem when it was W. Why? I think we both know the answer.
6. I think that America has come a long way. I grew in the south during the fifties and sixties. Believe we Have come a long way. No person of Color has ever gotten this far. It is not surprising that last cry of the voice of devision screams the loudest.