Which is the bigger handicap: Race or Gender?

[RoadRage]

I've seen lots of posts flying back and forth on this board (as well as many news sites, blogs, etc.) talking about how Hillary is totally unelectable because she is a female and Obama is totally unelectable because he is black.

Honestly, which of these two "issues" do you feel is bigger? Is more of this country gender or racially biased when it comes to people in power? Does it not really matter, and the guy who won't vote for a woman probably wouldn't vote for a black man as well?

Just curious.. i'm an Obama fan, but i'll happily vote for Hillary if she wins the nomination - so this is NOT a Hillary VS. Obama post at all!!!

[Vincardog]

1. Is it possible that one can be against Hill without it being about sex?

Can I oppose Obama because I do not like the direction he wants to lead us and not because of his 1/2 race?

[EffieBlack]

3. That was not the question

The OP asked whether race or gender was a bigger issue. They did not accuse YOU of voting against anyone because of their race or gender. It's wonderful that race or gender will not affect your vote. That does not mean that it won't affect the vote of some other people.

[RoadRage]

11. Yes.. but that's not my question

I am asking more of the general public.. which do YOU think is a bigger issue to Americans in general.. electing a black (or 1/2 black) man, or electing a women?

Not specifically Obama or Clinton.. issues aside, how many people who don't know either of these peoples positions will automatically NOT vote for them because of Race or Gender? That was my question!

[Vincardog]

13. On those terms the race issue is only relevant to the rePIGlicking voters. The KKK

and John Birchers deserted the Democratic party after the 1960 Civil rights movement. I believe the sex question is also more of a FUNgiMENTAL question. The bible thumpers will claim a womans place is in the delivery room or kitchen.

That being said I think the majority of the people have would have a bigger issue over race than sex.

It may not be true but it is my opinion.

[bunnies]

2. Race is the bigger 'american dream' story...

for the MSM, imho. Im sure theyre will be plenty of people who disagree though. And they're just as entitled to their opinion as I am.

[FreeState]

4. I dont think Americans care how Hillary acts according to her sex n/t

[Captain Hilts]

18. But they do. Hence, all the criticism for her not being 'warm' enough or being 'aggressive', etc.

[Sparkly]

5. I think gender biases are more pervasive and acceptable, but race may be more a "handicap"

The double-standards of sexism are insidious and pervasive, and widely accepted. I think many people don't even realize how conditioned they are.

However, I've read an argument that race may be a more difficult factor to overcome, based on math. The idea is that (assuming both are qualified) sexism against a woman may be buffered by the fact that 50+% of voters are women, and enough of them might vote for her because she's a woman to overcome the percentage that wouldn't vote for her because she's a woman. For a black man, the percentage of blacks is smaller, so the percentage of black voters who vote for him because he's black may not be enough to overcome the percentage that wouldn't vote for him because he's black. Just a theory -- I'm not sure we can know how much that self-identification plays into voting choice, vs. what I think are greater biases against women.

[Captain Hilts]

17. Yes, sexism is more pervasive and acceptable. But race here is a bigger hurdle in this arena. nt

[cadmium]

6. In general, I think race is a bigger handicap, but

I also think that Obama's style transcends race a bit more than H. Clinton's transcends gender.

[BlueJazz]

7. Black

[bunnies]

8. Word.

[BlueJazz]

20. Feeling

[Kahuna]

9. It's so stupid to INSIST that Hillary is more electable when there

is no previous example that would suggest that Hillary is any more electable than Obama. Both Hillary and share one attribute as all previous presidents.

[Alcibiades]

10. Do you mean a handicap in general, or a handicap in politics?

It's not as if these two things are the only ones that matter for either. Disability (unless acquired in a time of war) probably trumps either race or gender. Race (not being of any non-white race, but being Black, Native or non-white Hispanic) is certainly a bigger handicap than gender, and I think being a member of the LBGT community probably also trumps being female.

Being fat, ugly or stupid are also handicaps, but people feel somehow that these categories of people are not deserving of anyone's sympathy. Being poor is also a handicap, but most people feel this is because the poor "suck at life" and therefore deserve what they get.

As far as I can tell, being a sociopathic asshole isn't any kind of handicap at all, and probably helps you to get ahead in life.

[RoadRage]

14. Haha!

Yes.. i did mean in particular association with this presidential race. And, I too would think that stupidity would be a HUGE Handicap, but George has seemed to ride that carpet for 7 years to far away lands without any problem...

I guess I don't know if this particular issue is nullified also by many people who would say they'd never vote for Hillary for "X" reason (ie they don't like Bill, don't like a certain policy, etc.) but gender is the REAL reason). Likewise for Obama.. i wonder how many say they won't vote for him because of one of his policies or stances, but race is REALLY the reason as well.

It's almost impossible to get to the roots of these biases.. but fun to debate!

[stillcool]

12. I don't know what 'much of this country'...

is anymore. Too much bullshit is tossed around as meaning something. Do most of the people that bother to vote, only do so out of fear?...because they are of the homophobic, racist, and misogynistic mind set?

[loyalsister]

15. Interesting choice of words

Ibelieve I remember reading a book by Shirley Chisholm ("Unbought and Unbossed") where she used the word handicap to state that the discrimination that she felt most was based on her sex.

[Bitwit1234]

16. I think both to a certain extent.

But people dis Hillary more for her sex than they do Obama for his race. In fact he gets a pass, because people are afraid to talk about Obama's race, they think they will be called racist. And that shouldn't be the case because he goes after Hillary because of her "gender". And then he enlists black people to rally round him.

I think race and gender should be out in the open and talked about...

[bobbolink]

19. Bought and paid for by the corporations is the BIGGEST handicap!

And guaranteed to run our nation into the ground.

[sniffa]

21. it depends on who your candidate is