Q: Importance of Race/Gender/Religion etc in American Politics

[LSJ]

Warning - a quickly written thread

Why is it important?

On television I see so many news stories about support for Hillary among women based on her being a woman, and support for Obama by America's black population because he is black. And the whole thing about "OMG a black president!!11!!1!" or replace "black" with "female".

And there's the issue of whether or not Obama was a Muslim. Why should that matter? And how is it offensive to "accuse" someone of being a Muslim? Reminds me of 1930's with accusations of people being Jewish. And of course, candidates play up the religious role of "I'm a good Christian" to get votes.

Being gay is a death sentence if you are going national.

What is it about the US that makes certain attributes unrelated to your political skill or experience beneficial of harmful in politics?

Not that other countries don't see the same thing; its just, compared to Canada or elsewhere, that this is so much more visible in the USA.

Due to the population of a few states, an overly vocal minority of prejudiced people, some sort of vital cultural difference, or.... something that makes sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, and birthplace so important in elections.

[Rush Limbaugh]

Due to the population of a few states, an overly vocal minority of prejudiced people, some sort of vital cultural difference, or.... something that makes sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, and birthplace so important in elections.

No matter what others here may try to tell you we are still a christian nation and hold to christian principles. Its that simple. Its not some minority but the vast majority that hold these views here.

[Hound of Ulster]

The politics of this country is very fraught. Americans, despite our prosperity and liberty, have repeatly fallen pray to fear-mongering by demogogic politicans, often on these non-issue/issues.

[Burnum]

No matter what others here may try to tell you we are still a christian nation and hold to christian principles. Its that simple. Its not some minority but the vast majority that hold these views here.

Not really. It's all about fear. It seems too me that America is incapable of functioning without some sort of bogey man. Gays, communist and Muslims all seems too fit this role.

[Каие]

No matter what others here may try to tell you we are still a christian nation and hold to christian principles. Its that simple. Its not some minority but the vast majority that hold these views here.

Yeah right rush, all one has to do is visit America and watch American TV to debunk that.

Christian principles?
You mean Turn the other cheek, thou shalt not kill, gamble, honour thy parents and all that jazz?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7464925.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantan...detention_camp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War


Real Christian our bad. You're as secular as the Soviets.

[nce_wht_guy]

No matter what others here may try to tell you we are still a christian nation and hold to christian principles. Its that simple. Its not some minority but the vast majority that hold these views here.

What exactly is so ing christian about us? Last I checked we don't stone our kids for disobeying their parents. America has a christian population but we are not a country of cross worshiping barbarians...yet

[Viking Prince]

What exactly is so ing christian about us? Last I checked we don't stone our kids for disobeying their parents. America has a christian population but we are not a country of cross worshiping barbarians...yet

Not nice. Also not accurate. Your reference to stoning children is from where? Christians are "cross worshiping barbarians" may be your opinion, but I think that would make you a very small minority.

Your little faces do not make your statement any nicer either.

[PointOfViewGun]

What exactly is so ing christian about us? Last I checked we don't stone our kids for disobeying their parents. America has a christian population but we are not a country of cross worshiping barbarians...yet

I just saw a news about a tv channel getting a penalty because the girls ass was visible in one of the tv series episodes in US. Is that correct?

[nce_wht_guy]

I just saw a news about a tv channel getting a penalty because the girls ass was visible in one of the tv series episodes in US. Is that correct?

Try to be more specific. But, yeah that sounds like something that would happen here.

[PointOfViewGun]

Try to be more specific. But, yeah that sounds like something that would happen here.

Can't really remember the channel and the tv series but it's certainly the effect of religion.

[Viking Prince]

First, we all have some failings and biases that we would be best off without. So feel free to toss the following as rot if you wish.

Part of what you are seeing/hearing/reading regarding Senators Clinton and Obama has to do with the lack of real journalists reporting on the campaign. It is easy to do a poll and break the responses down by race, gender, age, and what not. And then throw the poll at the candidates and get responses. It is harder to actually find differences between the two candidates. Their own campaigns will also encourage this by cliaming little victories to the press from their own polling.

Are there political issues that are strictly ethnic or gender based. On most issues not really, but appearances can be deceiving.

The bulk of our nation wants good housing, good jobs, good education, etc. These issues may have differant levels of support or opposition by the breakdown of polling, but that does not make them gender or race based issues.

Your "Senator Obama's religion" example is a bit differant. The smears can work or they would not be done. Reasonable people can dismiss such rot and repeat the dismissal 1000's of times. It will not sink in to those who want to believe. If the fake issue did not exist, they would still not change their vote however. No differant than any common conspiracy theory.

[Richard]

I wasn't born, but was it the same in the UK with Thatcher? First woman PM and all that. Or not?

[Aziel]

I wasn't born, but was it the same in the UK with Thatcher? First woman PM and all that. Or not?

Well, Golda Meir was the first woman PM in the world as far as I know.

[Bessems]

It's because in the US political ideas do not play a significant role it is only about the person involved. They keep talking about things like, was he a 'war hero' or not. He or she has some strange friends. He or she goes to a church with some lunatic preacher. He or she is (not) a Christian (or Muslim). He or she is black or white etc.

All of this mumbo jumbo does not say anything about a potential candidate. People should listen to the ideas they have. But this seems to be not that important in US politics.

[Evil Maniac From Mars]

Well, Golda Meir was the first woman PM in the world as far as I know.

No, it was Khertek Anchimaa-Toka (Tuva), unless you're talking specifically about a PM (head of government), in which case it was Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka).

[PointOfViewGun]

Well, Golda Meir was the first woman PM in the world as far as I know.

She's the third female prime minister.

[Axeman]

Because the media is full of greedy pricks who will sell out any piece of information for a story?