Gender and race aren't the reasons for Hillary and Obama's success

[gravity]

Judging from the past 200 years of US history, race and gender have always been barriers to entry to the political process, and this still continues today. Both Obama and Hillary have the extra challenging stereotypes when running their campaign, which the usual white men don't have to worry about.

The reasons that these candidates are successful is that they are very intelligent and masters of the political process. They didn't get to where they were by accident.

If Hillary was a man, she would have been president in 1992. For better or worst, she is one of the strongest and most ambitious women in this country and knows what it takes to win a campaign. Bill Clinton would have not have been president without her help and she probably wears the pants in that relationship. I bet she was running this country more than we are led on to believe. This country is still sexists, so she needed the help of a white male, Bill, to get her where she is today.

Obama is equally gifted in the political game, but in a different way. Remember 6 months ago, when America wasn't ready a black president. Obama's political skill allowed him to connect with all races, and he became the first black candidate to not be the black candidate, and got major support from all Americans regardless of race. Obama's gift is the ability to highlight the similarities in all Americans, regardless of race, religion, and political affiliations. He is able to connect with the sense of the American dream which is in all of us which makes him the success he is today.

Now bring black or female has the advantages of attracting a base of their demographics in the election, just like white men attract white men, but it does not mean that they are given an advantage.

[BattyDem]

1. Exactly! Gender and race have never helped anyone get elected.

If it did, there wouldn't be so many old, white guys in Congress!

[suston96]

4. Yeah, because we have had a woman and an African American running for President since forever.....

LMAO!

[BattyDem]

7. It's not just the presidency, it's all of the elected offices

Look at the House members, the Senators, the Governors ... the vast majority are white men. Anyone who believes race and/or gender is a "plus" when running for political office hasn't taken a look at our elected officials.

[elixir]

2. Good post, great thoughts.

[Blue_Roses]

3. this country has been on such an uneven playing field for so

long that it will take years for an election to place talking about just the issues. Sad, but true. However, this year shows to be a time in history that will turn the page on racism once and for all. Just the fact that people are listening and participating in the process is invigorating and hopeful.

[Cant trust em]

5. Geraldine probably had it backwards

It is possible thta Obama is such a gifted communicator that is is able to transcend his ethnicity which has historically been a barrier.

[earthside]

6. Tell It to Geraldine! n/t

[gravity]

8. kick