Summary: Today, during a campaign even in Salem, Oregon, sexism reared its ugly head one more time. She delivered her centerpiece line, “Everybody in this race is talking about change. But what does that mean?” What we can safely assume to be an ignorant man responded to this statement by waving a yellow sign and yelling three powerful words.
”Iron My Shirt”
Mrs. Clinton politely asked for the lights to be turned on and two men were abruptly removed. Once the crowd had settled down after this horrible act, Hillary responded with, “As I think has just been abundantly demonstrated, I am also running to break through the highest and hardest glass ceiling.” Before she had even finished her statement the crowd had erupted in cheer.
Impact on 2008 Election: While this occurrence has little affect on the 2008 election, it certainly raises a point that has become somewhat forgotten: prejudice. This is one of the few times in American history that we may have a president that is black or female. By the beginning of the primaries, race and gender had taken a backseat role. Instead, the real things were what a candidate was being judeged on. These were their stance on issues and their plans. Speaking for myself, I started hearing less and less about Obama’s race and more and more about his stances. Now however, this event shows me that prejudice in this country is still going strong. Acts like these make me disgusted and show the true color of people.
Focus Question: Do race and gender still play as big of a role as they did in fall and winter of 2007, or has the race for the White House been more about a candidate’s platform?
Do you think it’s feasible for a person of color or a female to run for presidency without their appearance being brought into play in the near future? Or do you think that it will take many elections with female and minority candidates for the human race to accept all individuals for who they are, not what they look like?
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/iron-my-shirt/
13 responses so far ↓
lindsayh // January 10, 2008 at 1:19 am |
I don’t think that race and gender are huge issues anymore, seeing as millions of people support either Clinton or Obama. At this point I would even say that just a few weeks ago, Romney’s religion played a bigger part in the media than race and gender. I think that the time in which a person’s race, religion, or gender is soon. Obviously those candidates were under some public scrutiny at first, but, other than the stupid “Iron my shirt” guy, I haven’t read any other articles about people saying distasteful things about the candidates.
Sarah P. // January 13, 2008 at 10:48 pm |
The only why reason race and gender are prominent and ongoing concerns for voters is because the media plays up on those aspects of the candidates. I think that, just like all presidential runs, race and gender and platform will be an issue throughout their term. But those issues won’t always be scrutinized as negative aspects of the four or eight years of their presidency. Take for instance Franklin D. Roosevelt and his polio. Once it was realized that he could not walk on his own, he was the target of negative media attention for weeks. But in 2008 we remember him not as a cripple, but as the president who got the U.S. through World War II relatively unscathed (except Pearl Harbor, which he couldn’t have stopped anyway). So while race, gender, and platform do take the front seat in a president’s term, I think leaders are remembered mostly for how they led this country, not that they were the first African-American or female president.
jessica123 // January 16, 2008 at 12:41 am |
I feel that people are making such a huge attempt to ignore a person’s race or gender that they can never actually forget it. Even if people claim that this makes no difference in their decision making, it is still a factor that is always in the back of their mind. People try so hard to ignore these physical pieces that they end up dwelling on them.
Mike S. // January 23, 2008 at 12:20 am |
I strongly feel that people are more concerned about platform. Jess I do feel that gender and race can not be forgotten completely but this isn’t due to human nature. This is due to what Sarah said the media. I do feel that as we come closer and closer to November 2008 platforms and promises and plans are what people want. At the same token do strongly feel Hilary is going to lose grip in the bread basket of America. I do feel that these people do not want her and not because she is a woman but because she Hilary Clinton.
08lgattozzi // January 23, 2008 at 1:37 am |
I also agree with Lindsey and Mike. In my opinion, in the beginning, many people questioned whether Obama’s race and Clinton’s gender would play a big factor in who people support. Clearly, as mentioned by Lindsey, these factors have been forgotten since both candidates have gained so many supporters and really showed America how strong they are as candidates in general. I feel that especially now, people are more concerned about the platform of the candidates and their plans as possoble future president. I think no matter what, there will always be people that will decriminate towards either candidate, but I do not think it is a large issue at this time.
08roconnor // January 23, 2008 at 4:13 am |
I think disagree with all these other comments. These primaries seem to be, especially Clinton’s campaign seems to be banking on the fact that she was married to a president who had a popular run and the fact that she is a woman. Obama seem’s to have played the race card to almost no etxtent while clinton has clearly played a gender card in the way she has emoted in public.
08cbifani // January 23, 2008 at 10:43 pm |
I agree with both Rob and Jessica. Clinton will lose many votes because people will dwell on the fact that she is a woman. No one would tell a male candidate to go iron his shirt. And as for Obama, lets be realistic, there are still many people in certain parts of the country who still have a racist mentality. Sexism and racism still play two major roles in our society, and I believe these two factors will be a major focus in the election. Super Tuesday will really tell us whether or not prejudice against race and gender still exists in our country today.
Bridget C. // January 24, 2008 at 2:09 am |
I think that there is no way to avoid the fact that gender and race will play a role in this election. Neither one is a topic that can be skipped over considering either Clinton or Obama would each be a first for either women or blacks as President. As Courtney said, racism and sexism both still play a role in our society, and many people are going to look at race and gender when choosing a candidate to vote for. Both race and gender are blatantly obvious and aren’t things that can be overlooked. I think both will play a major role in the 2008 election.
kevoco75 // January 24, 2008 at 11:56 pm |
I think that race and sex are still large parts of this election, but I also believe that the hype about these two aspects has died down significantly. Also I think that the candidate’s platforms are largely important. Both Barack and Hillary have been attacking each other’s platforms and about their “love” of Ronald Reagan, but so long as there is an African American and a woman running for president, the media will bring up that point and exploit it.
08avogel // January 25, 2008 at 2:14 am |
I think the fact that Obama is black and Clinton is a woman seemed to have been focused on more in the beginning of campaigning because everyone was caught by surprise. However, I do not believe that the prejudices have completely subsided, only possibily our recognition of its existance. Whoever was sexist or racist at the begginning of the campaign still is. Those who were simply surprised that both Clinton and Obama were running, however, have most likely come to view them as normal candidates by now and are focusing on their platforms, not their gender or race.
aslivingston // January 25, 2008 at 3:09 am |
Race and gender are only a large part in this election when either candidate brings them up in a positive light. I think the time of using the other candidate’s gender or race as an attack are over, or at least the opposing candidate will stop using this factor to attack their opponent. Since we are in the primaries and the democratic race is really down to Obama and Clinton, I think the playing field is down to experience, vision for the future, and past remarks/ flip flopping. Since the media does not want to look like it is using either race or gender to attack one of the presidential candidates I think they are moving more towards the real issues or at least away from these controversial subjects. When it comes down to the actual election I think race or gender will only make a difference when ignorant Americans choose not to vote for either candidate based on these issues. Honestly I think the percentage of voters who would vote based on race or gender is very small. So it shouldn’t make much difference.
Gerry Castro // January 26, 2008 at 4:46 am |
Race, religion, and gender will play a role in the 2008 election, however, their significance will be negligible. It is obvious that some Americans still cary in their minds the remnants of racism and sexism, however they are in the minority. The country has transcended the prejudices of the past. With so many people supporting Obama and Clinton it would be foolish to say that race and gender are playing a significant role.
akhazanovich // January 29, 2008 at 4:07 am |
I think that race and gender started these campagins but leadership, oratory skills, and ability to attract voters will finish them. The voting numbers show that prejudice will not be an issue in this election. Obama and Clinton are racking in the delegates, and are not slowing down. On one hand though, one could argue that race and gender are what are bringing in the votes, but the numbers will show quite the opposite. Clinton is bringing in a lot of the black vote, Obama is bringing in a lot of the white vote, and plenty of men and women are voting for Clinton and Obama. There will always be a small precentage of voters voting a prejudice, but they will have no real effect on the polls. Just like right winged wasps didnt prevent JFK getting elected, I do not believe Klan members and sexists will prevent Obama or Clinton from racking in delegates.