CNN Projection

[Rapscallion]

I have to agree partially with DaleDuke on this one. Headlines, low in actual detail though they may be, have been pretty much mentioning the 'the potential first black president'. Er, what about his other qualities? I'm sure he has some.

Rapscallion

[anriana]

Nope. Not being sarcastic. I don't give a damn that Obama is part black. He's a person just like the other couple hundred million in the USA. There's nothing special about being black. Black people are people just like everyone else.

That is why I don't think this was such a historical election.

I'm assuming you're a white male?

It's historic because it shows that America, or at least the majority of Americans, have overcome their prejudices and black people are considered "just like everyone else." It shows that despite all the attempts at Othering Obama, people still voted for him.

[daleduke17]

I'm assuming you're a white male?

And this makes a difference, how? Shouldn't it be a great thing that a white male is saying "Who cares if Obama is black?"

Honestly, I don't see a big deal what color his skin is. I think he isn't going to be that great of a President. I don't think McCain would have been that, either.

[Saydrah]

http://i35.tinypic.com/2isy02.jpg

That's why it matters.

[AdminAssistant]

On GMA, Chris Cuomo mentioned that he saw a woman practically faint when they put all of the presidents on the screen. He said, "You know, 12 of those guys owned slaves". And the woman responded, "That stain is washed away"

America does still have a ways to go - but there is a triumph in electing the best person to be President, and not letting his race get in the way.

[Fashion Lad!]

Basically with all the hype about Obama being black, we just solidify the fact that we are a nation that still pays too much attention to our race or ethnicity. There's a first time for everything. Just because it's the first, doesn't mean it's historic. If another democrat ran like Obama did, they more than likely would have won.

While the race I'm most concerned with is still being figured out, I do hope somehing changes. But, I think people tend to think a lot more is broken than what really is.

Minnesota State Senate seat is still too close to call. It'll probably come down to the absentee ballots. ARGH!

Norm Coleman (Rep) * 1,211,642 42%
Al Franken (Dem) 1,211,167 42%
Dean Barkley (Inp) 437,381 15%

[BlaqueKatt]

History teachers 100 years from now will be asking their students, "Who knows who the first black President was?"

I actually hope they won't-it's putting skin color before anything else-as if the color of his skin is more important than anything he may accomplish. Sorry I'm cringing everytime I hear that, if all he is remembered for in the future is that he was black.....well.....

when I say which president freed the slaves? you know exactly who I mean.
When I ask who was the first Republican president? you have no clue.*

The 44th president of the united states should be defined by and remembered in history for his actions not his skin color, anything less is insulting and disingenuous.

Sorry being born with more melanin than some people have is not noteworthy.


*hint they are one in the same-both apply to the same man, but his actions not his party defined him-did you learn in history class what party he was in, no you learned what he did.

[thrifty]

It matters because all the African American students at the school I work at, now truly believe they could one day be POTUS.

[SimplyAnother]

Why does it matter that he's got dark skin?

Because, when the constitution of this country was written, blacks were counted as 3/5ths a person. Because, even after the constitution was amended, we still had Jim Crow Laws. Because, as recent as 50 years ago it was illegal in many states for a black person to marry a white person.

Because, the civil rights movement wasn't just for giggles and kicks. Because as as recent as the 1960's black people were still righting to exercise their right to vote and facing physical retribution.

Because as little as 60 years ago, in many places throughout the US black children and white children could not attend the same schools. Because even AFTER Brown some school systems, rather than integrate--closed down for all students.

Because It shows where we've finally come as a nation.

It pretend that it ISN'T a big deal, well, that's just ridiculous. It IS a big deal.

The fact that he was born with dark skin, he had no control over, but the fact that he has done what he has done...it's not a fluke and it is important.



(Yes, Lincoln was a republican, but it is also true that the Republican and Democratic parties of today are NOT the same parties they were in 1863. They aren't even the same parties they were in 1953. They have both evolved, for better or worse)

[BlaqueKatt]

It pretend that it ISN'T a big deal, well, that's just ridiculous. It IS a big deal.

Was it noteworthy that JFK was the first Roman Catholic elected?
Or that Regan was the first actor elected?



ok so if he were a scientist that developed a cure for all forms of cancer rather than getting elected president(which 43 people have done before him) would the papers be proclaiming "Black scientist invents/discovers cure for cancer"? No they'd just say "scientist discovers cure for cancer"

Was it amazing that all the previous presidents got elected?

Why should skin color make a difference?

Answer: it shouldn't, and to me and several other people I know it doesn't, at all.

The constitution says ANY natural-born citizen over the age of 35, he is a natural born citizen, therefore he had as much of a chance as anyone else over the age of 35. Claiming he's special because he has darker skin than our previous leaders-We are not the first country to have a non-caucasian leader, heck England's had female leaders-I really don't remember as much of a deal made over that as we're making over Obama.

[Sylvia727]

My feeling is that it's important in a historical sense, but not relevant to the man's abilities. "In 2008 the USA elected her first black president", rather than "Barack Obama is the first black president". Yes, he overcame obstacles created by his skin color, but his actions as a president are far more important than his journey to get there. In many venues, the hype about how Obama is the first black president outweighs the hype about his plans for our country, and that's just wrong.

In a historical sense electing the first black president is an important sign of how much times have changed. But I don't think that's overwhelmingly relevant to Obama. I hope, at least, that he didn't say to himself, "I want to be the first black president of America!" but rather that he said to himself, "I want to be the best president America has ever had!" Skin tone should be irrelevant. It isn't yet, and that's why it's still a worthy topic of discussion, but there's a difference between sociopolitical discussion and politically-correct rabble-rousing.

[SimplyAnother]

Was it noteworthy that JFK was the first Roman Catholic elected?
Or that Regan was the first actor elected?

Actually it was a huge deal that JFK was Catholic.

Like it or not, it is noteworthy when a barrier is broken.

Other countries have had non white leaders, yes. Other countries have had female leaders, yes. We're not talking about other countries. We're talking about the United States. When we finally do get a woman to elected president, it will be a big deal.

[Slytovhand]

43, with Obama being 44. But, 219 (1789 was Washington's first year) /4 (election being every fourth year) would equal 54. So, it is pretty close to being the actual number. Really, 42 MEN have been President (Cleveland had two separate terms) but, that is splitting hairs.

(my emphasis)

But 1 woman wouldn't be...

But, to be just as sarcastic... every instant is another point in history... so what?

[Slytovhand]

It's historic because it shows that America, or at least the majority of Americans, have overcome their prejudices and black people are considered "just like everyone else." It shows that despite all the attempts at Othering Obama, people still voted for him.

Sorry, Anriana, I wouldn't agree with this. For that matter, as most of the rest of this thread, and all the bloody references to your new president in our media keep on about... his skin colour did make a massive difference!

Sure, maybe Bush did enough to make sure the Republicans didn't have a chance (but who knows??), but certainly there is a massive percentage out there who voted for Obama because of his skin colour... and that makes people prejudiced! (becuase then they've just ignored McCain's and Obama's political stances and policies.. and that's just plain ignorant! I mean... what if a non-caucasian person was running for the Republicans instead? What if a Hilary Clinton was up there instead??)

[Boozy]

Was it noteworthy that JFK was the first Roman Catholic elected?
Or that Regan was the first actor elected?

First question: Yes.

Second question: Of course not. Actors have never been an oppressed minority.