Race or Gender: A Reason to Vote For Someone?

Well, it's a lot like affirmative action, which I'd guess you don't agree with either. Both women and black people are disadvantaged groups in terms of the amount of power they have. That's all kinds of power -- social, economic and political. The Western world is still run by rich white men, so when somebody who isn't white or male (ok, so to run for President you pretty much have to be rich) gets one of the top jobs it helps to redress the balance and makes the world just a tiny bit fairer. I wouldn't vote for such a candidate if I didn't think they were capable of doing the job, because that would harm the cause of diversity more than anything (people would say stuff like 'we tried a woman president and she was terrible, which proves that women aren't capable'), but if I thought they were up to it I would have no hesitation in picking them over yet another white rich old man, regardless of what his qualifications were.

The current debate at my workplace is not voting for a woman or a black man. There is a group of democrats where I work that think Obama is the best thing since sliced bread but will not vote for him because he is black. I think that is stupid. If you agree with everything a candidate stands for and believe they are going to do a better job then Bush has done (not like that is going to be so hard to do) then it shouldn't matter if they are pink, purple, black, red, woman, man, a former actor or anything else.

I don't think it's a good or informed choice to vote for someone based on race or gender, however, I think that's just two of the many reasons vote for who they do. Whether consciously or not, we pick some people based on how we feel about them when we look at them. We are often ruled by our hearts, not by our heads. If we think a candidate looks funny, or is too fat, we think, hmmmmm, do I want that person representing me?

What does race or gender have to do with a persons ability to do a job, any job! That is something that has been argued for years. I feel this is the same for any job. I do not care if someone is green with purple poka-dots they should be hired or voted in only on their merits and abilities to do the job well. Honesty and integrity are what is important, not race, gender or how one looks.

I agree that voting solely based on gender or race doesn't make any sense. If Condi Rice ran for president, she sure wouldn't get my vote. As a Democrat, I support Clinton, Obama and Edwards for the direction they'd take the country - away from the mess the current brand of conservative ideology has landed us in. I do like Ron Paul's position on the war in Iraq, and US meddling in global affairs. But I'm opposed to his social-conservatism (pro-life, etc) and opposition to free trade agreements.

I would love to be able to vote for a Woman or a Black person for President for the first time in US history. I think it would say a lot for our country Finally! Unfortuately, both of these candidates are carring too much bagage for me to vote for either one of them. I wish that Colin Powell had run. I would vote for him in a minute. I think he would make an outstanding President, but he has too much integrity to run. I think you have to be a creep or a liar to be President. Right Now I do not see a single candidate that is running that is really worth voting for. That was true in the last election too. The truely honest and good people do not run. I do not think they could do the job. It would tear their morals to pieces. That is probably why Colin Powell did not run! Shalom~Adoniah

That is the worse reason to vote for someone. You know who wants a woman president those who believe in a woman's right to choice, not all women, but those specific and the ones who want a black president are more than likely ones who were happy when the police chiefs in those television shows were black, and the ones who had the moral right to tell us what to do were African-American. One should not choose a candidate to get what they want, but what the candidate can do for the country, his honesty, his morality, his leadership, and the way he protects America, not for his color or gender.

we need the first president who is going to show the world that he is not going to pander to the far left...he must stay the course in protecting what has already been won by the previous administrations..right now BO and Hilary are promising anything to get the oval office...such a waste of time and money..they will end in failure too

no gender and race are not the key to a great president..we need a man who has the experience and has see the heat of battle and suffered the tortures of the damned not just another photo opp king or queen..the demo two will talk the talk but can they talk the talk..methinks not Mc Cain will give it a good shot

i agree that a candidate's race or gender is not a way to vote for said person but i personally would love to see a woman president while i'm alive. even though i'm only 22 and have a long time to go still, i would love to see hilary in office. i do agree that a person should vote for the person they think is more honest, has a good record of service, and for their beliefs, but it doesn't mean anything. democrats will always vote for democrats and replublicans for republicans even if they don't like the person. i think we should do away with the whole political party in general, and just have people who state what they believe in and then choose kind of like a school election for president where there are no rules for voting. and it's still true that people will just pick their favorite instead of go with their own party.

I agree with you completely! It's a shame how some people instantly know they won't vote for someone just because of their color or gender. I personally think it is ridiculous!

I don't think there is anything wrong with voting for Hillary because she's a woman as long as you agree with all the things she stands for and the same goes for voting for a black man as long as you agree with the issues.A lot of people are going to vote for one or the other because part of it is a black man or a woman have never been the President in the United States.This is exciting for some and its about issues also.So race or gender can be part of a reason to vote for someone if you also believe that they can tackle the important issues facing our country.I'm for Hillary.

Race or gender is Not a reason alone to vote for someone. The same is also true of religion alone should not be a reason to not vote for someone. The candidate as a person and as an American should be our reason. We should be looking honestly at what the person would do for our country. What are the candidates stand on issues that are most important to us as citizens? It's petty and childish to base our choice, for or against, on gender or race. The media plays a huge role in the current drama. They make such a big issue out of Hillary and Obama being possible "firsts" that every other candidate is basically left out.