In looking at the polls and comments from various blogs, news articles, and news reports I do not see that we are moving in a direction of intelligence. We appear to be mired in gender, race, and class. Women are voting for Clinton. Hispanics vote against Obama. White educated people vote for Obama. Bill Clinton slams blacks. The list is endless. But then this same population voted for Nixon, and the fast draw cowboy and look where we are at. I would love to think that the people in this nation will step up and choose a leader based on issues but they will vote for image and sound bite everytime. Perhaps as a species we have always been like this and always will be. It is so sad.

I find it insulting when the Congress of the United States of America place more imporance on what grown men in baseball may or may not have done more important than finding out why the trailers sent to house victims of Hurricane Katrina are toxic. Or why, there are so many foreclosures. I am a elected official in a small town in Westchester County New York where there are as many as 13 foreclosures.re in process. Why not investigate the mortgage industry. I currently pay $3.57 a gallon for mid grade gasoline. Obviously, there is a problemi The only conclusion that I can come to is that the company which produced these trailers and officials in the mortgate industry donate to a lot of political campaigns.

Faye,
I hope that all of this discussion some how brings us closer together. I think talking about these issues in the right manner and not downgrading one another while doing it is the way to go. But when it gets to be a bunch of arguing back and forth that really does nothing but turns people off.

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

I think classism will be a prejudice that will overtake race and gender bias in the near future , if we as a Nation don’t nip that in the bud.
I hear a lot of very angry words being thrown around about seeing wealth as an evil. Poverty, middle class or rich, we are Americans.
I will say Obama’s message may sound like a clueless hope to some, but he’s right about one thing. We need someone who makes us ALL to feel like we are in this together. Sometimes words can inspire action and yes, enough hope to fill the most cynical mind.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

Race and Gender..Who would have ever thought the two classes of people most ostracized in American History, would be in this very position today. The sad part is..That what African Americans and Women went through back then, is still evident today. And we call ourselves the National Power, HA!! We cant stop McCain from basically pointing out this very idea..during the Potomac Caucuses..and I quote “We are the Makers of History, Not Its Victims”….WOW..I can honestly say…that comment made me ashamed to be called an American..

With due respect to Ms. Wattleton’s hope, I would still like to pose this question: Given that racism is documented to be alive and well, and being mindful of the facts that Senator Obama is an inspirational speaker who comes across as honest and unjaded by Washington politics, and as someone who seem to have succeeded to provide hope to the masses what is Mr. Cooper and his political analyst team’s opinion on Senator Obama’s electability in November? With the bigger picture in mind I cannot help but think that if the Democrats would really like to win the November election Senator Clinton would probably be much more electable than Senator Obama. Maybe we are ready for a woman however, for a minority man?
On another note to the democratic strategists: Get ready to play the game in Ohio where religion, family values, patriotism and race play a vitally important role to allure voters.
Thank you for your expert opinion.
Sincerely,
AM

This is a very great topic that Anderson Cooper and the rest of the crew at CNN have brought to the fore. As I await its airing tomorrow, I have been struck by this thought: what would it take for Americans to judge each other not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character? In other words, why is race an issue, and more importantly, why has it become so important at this time in the presidential election? As a white American who lived and worked outside the United States, the issue of race hits me hard when ever I return to this country. When I am outside of the United States, I do not feel or taste the issue of race. I am not trying to be naive, but if solutions can not be found but the issue is just glossed over with these news presentations, it does no good. How often does the issue of race come up when a person of my race runs for public office or the presidency? Do the media give the same scrutiny to the issue of race when a member of my race runs for president? Or, is the media insinuating that when a minority is running for public office including the presidency, then the issue of race should come to the fore? Is it abnormal for a minority to run for the presidency? I do believe that this issue of race should be discussed everyday and not just during the election season.

I believe and Know that until America start telling the truth about the profit that so few took part in and how they used white people as slaves and the method that the rich use to Keep America divided by race, gender as we speak BaraK OBAMA won’t stand a chance of fairness. Hillary Clinton and Husband will play the race card as well as gender card to Keep the people from uniting under. one flag to save the sellout of America. Remember Hillary Clinton is not from New York. she ran to get a seat that was opening up for a true New yorker to run and win. Bill started NAFTA, not OBAMA . They already have a pass to come here and drive

Faye,
Over two hundred years we women have been waiting for equality.
Do we get a women’s history month too? How long will we sing this song? Even if Hillary wins this election women will still be knocking on the door of the good old boy’s club .
It is time for a Woman of substance and that Woman happens to be Hillary Clinton. None other will do.
Thank you

There is something that really disturbs me when a black women can not decide who to vote for because of race or sex. I just watched a black woman tell her story on CNN about how she was just at the voting booth and could not decide who to vote for, Clinton (because she is a woman) or Obama (because he is black). It really disgusts me when a person looks at race and sex as his/her deciding factor to his/her vote.

Not to get off the subject, but I hear people saying it is useless to vote at all and that they’ll just not vote this election. On the other hand, the primaries lately have had an increase in voter turnout.

I can’t see it getting any worse than it is, so may the best one win.

I think the true problem lies in individual’s perception, and false pretenses that have been established amongst us with stereotypes and other notions of individual’s capabilities. Nonetheless, these have no bearings on us as individuals and are own personal fundamental beliefs. I don’t think we can continue to allow division; we need to let our voices be heard.
Because each of these issues is equally important, I don’t think we can fail or undermine the prevalence by putting more emphasis on one issue more then the other. The fundamental thing that seems to be eluding us is that we are all United States Citizens. We cannot forget that. That makes as all one, whether you want to acknowledge that or not. Individuals of different faiths, race, gender, and economic status can and have fought side by side, shed blood for our freedoms, our beliefs and our ideals.
We should remember not to let superficial ideologies and factors that seemingly divide us and cause more problems for our great nation. Rather we should be under the notion that we as United States Citizens represent something more, something far better then the reality in which we have fallen. We need to have integrity, not only for ourselves as individuals but integrity for individuals we encounter, and hold them in the same regard and respect that we would have for a family member of a loved one. For in a time of great crisis or need, there is never a moment where we hesitate to lend out a hand to a fellow citizen in need. We don’t stop to see whether an individual is black, or white, man or woman, rich or poor, because on the grand scheme of it all, it is all irrelevant. Mind you a group that is not united is easier to control and manipulate. When we stand as one, we the people hold the power for change, for a better tomorrow and stand for something our founding fathers envisioned when we declared our independence. So it’s not a matter of looking at who is what, but looking at the integrity of the individuals, their character and their demeanor and holding people accountable for their actions and holding them true to their word.
The ultimate goal should be to empower others, strive for a common goal, and achieve it. It takes hope, perseverance and great strength to get up when things don’t work the first time. We hold the key to change, but we need to communicate the issues. And strive to leave this a better place for our future generations, like our forefathers did for us.

Looking forward a bit, it seems clear that us dem.s either want Hillary or Obama as president, pretty much 50/50. It would be wise for the two to get together, decide to think of the Office as a co-presidency/co-vice presidency and neither one be ‘offended’ to be V.P. On the other hand, if either one of them decide to put a white male on the ticket, just to try to attract a few stray independent voters, or to give the republicans less of a target to attack, that would clearly be going against the will of the people. The dem.s would look as weak as the repub.s have been saying we are all along.
Politics has never been about being nice and playing fair, so I don’t blame either one for ‘attack’ ads. But once that is all over with, they should get together and represent!!!

I agree with a comment that Pal Thmae made. I am also a caucasian American who spends time outside of the US, particulary in southern Africa. I don’t feel the race issue (and yes, it’s quite a US issue) like I do here in the US. Sad really.

The fact to the matter Faye, racism, sexism, and class distinction
are not extinct in America,
No matter where you live, the idea that a New Nation is coming
to your neighborhood in 2009, is just glorification for election.
Remember the new millennium, it was going to change us overnight,
didn’t happen did it. This economy is owned by the few rich, and
power and greed has filled their hearts.
The poor people, including poor whites are degraded every single
day. The problem of homelessness, and the youth who are becoming
cold blooded murders by taking bats to them, is seen across this
Country. The current economic crisis is ripping families apart.

One cannot erase our history, nor attempt to rewrite it. Is it what
it is. We all have to own up to our ancestors part, and our own
part. Our schools have a holiday for MLK, and Black History Month.
Can you tell me what woman we celebrate? Can the youth of today
name five women who were outstanding Americans? Do you
really believe the possiblity exist that a poor person in this country
will someday be a president?
So embedded are we, that 150 years later racism, sexism and
class differences thrive in each and every neighborhood, and seen
as erosion in the very fabric of society.

Ms. Wattleton - Was it a Freudian slip when you referred to Clinton as Senator Clinton and Obama as Mr. Obama (twice) during the “Race, Gender & Politics” telecast? I’m sure you know that Obama is the Senator from Illinois. Please be consistent!

Thanks,

BER/Los Angeles, CA

Faye Wattleton says she identifies with Barack Obama because he is black and she is black and blacks have a greater affinity for one another because they share a common slave lineage.
This is ridiculous! Obama has no slave lineage! In fact his (recent) black lineage goes back to polygamy and what seems to be a tendency for fathers to abandon their children.
This is cloudy logic at best.

Racism and sexism(and for that matter, all such “isms”) are equally obnoxious, but in different ways. Blacks get one “ism” thrown at
them — assumptions about their character, their intelligence, their law-abidngness(among other things), thrown at them, regardless of sex. Women get their competence, emotional reactions or non-reactions, their ability to do certain things, etc., etc., regardless of race. And classim? Well, that *is* a lot more subtle, but it’s there, and it affects *everybody*, one way or another. Let’s look at it this way: What if Hillary, instead of being a (relatively) well-off white woman, was instead, a poor black woman running for president(or at least what if she came from a “poor black” background)? Think about it.
Anne G

In Friday’s “Uncovering America” special on race and gender, Faye commented on a point that I’ve been waiting for someone to acknowledge: there are tensions between the black and asian communities that are undeniable. This is esp. true in a place like California. Any young asian american like myself will tell you that their parents discriminate strongly against blacks. This may not be the sole reason that Clinton is favored by the asian population, but it is a factor.
Another contributing factor that I have yet to hear anyone state is the difference in Obama’s and Clinton’s healthcare proposals. Many small business owners who are asian (and as racist as it may sound, there are many) do not have health insurance. Why wouldn’t they prefer Clinton, who is pushing for universal healthcare (vs. Obama, whose plan only covers young children)?

Anderson, this is wonderful subject. Thank you for the spotlight. My thoughts on this matter are that We Americans have always had everything we could ever dream of at our fingertips. This in itself is equality at all levels. Although that is not to say that our history has not been, to put it mildly, without sacrifice. America’s History includes not only African slavery but also England’s prisoners who were sent against their will to become indentured servants for the English lords, Native Americans losing there lands and dying from European diseases, and Salem witch hunts persecuting women and burning them at the stake for midwifery. Yes, even wealthy white men giving up all their wealth and land to have freedom from an oppressive king. The sacrifices have included men that gave up their lives in past wars so you and i could openly have this discussion, so that we can vote for a more perfect union by the people and for the people. We can say in American history that we have all sacrificed, without a doubt. Now, America, again we are at war: Men and Women, Native American, African American, European American, Mexican American, Asian American, Middle Eastern American… equally are in it together. I believe in my heart that each and every American is lucky and blessed to even know this hope, to have the ability to have this voice. We must stop this war, we must heal our planet, we must stop genocide everywhere. I like all the candidates, one more than the others but all of them have very good qualities. In November, with our history of sacrifices, we will hopefully be evolving toward a still more ‘perfect union’ with each vote that is cast. I for one, God willing, will be there ready to cast my Vote.

Rebecca Johnson
Lake Powell, Arizona

To Anne Gilbert - if Obama was white any of these questions would be moot. He would have lost long ago on his inability to provide specifics. Wasn’t he accused of Plagerism of Hillary’s economic plan this week by the Republicans. Hum, plagerism? wasn’t another of Oprah’s proteges accused of that last year. Seems like she’s in a rut.

Of course, he’s not white he’s black. I know he didn’t run as a black candidate, we didn’t actually find out he was African American until his campaign pulled all their campaign literature in SC and replace it with literature with his picture on it so the people of SC would know who they were voting for (it had nothing to do with the fact he was black, they just wanted them to recognize the candidate).

Of course that had nothing to do with him rising in the polls or Hillary falling.

Wake up people, you are voting for a black man for president just because he is black, not a candidate who has principles, policies and plans for America. Look how he is already craw fishing about public financing for the general financing although he pledged to do so last November if the Republican candidate did. ISN’T that one of the major campaign issues with him CAMPAIGN FINANCING. WAKE UP - WAKE UP - WAKE UP!!!

Oh, and Jessie Jackson? He’s calling black super delegates supporting Hillary and instead of arguing that he is a better candidate, he’s asking “Do you want to be the reason we don’t elect the first black president”. Google Lewis from Georgia. Again, are you voting for Obama because he is black or because you truly believe he will be the best President for America?

My wife is from Argentina. They just elected their first woman president there.Maybe it will happen here too.