Here's a piece from The New Yorker on growing speculation over Sen. McCain's options for the VP slot. While I still hold that it's long shot that Secretary Rice will be chosen by McCain, it's a fascinating thing to ponder. The race/gender factor, at least for me, is a non-issue and unfortunately the article gives excessive attention to race and gender instead of the issues. It's the Democrats who obsess about such things as race and gender and, by extension, perceived racism and sexism in America. A ticket combining Ms. Rice's qualifications with Sen. McCain's experience would certainly prove a powerful one. Here's an excerpt from the piece:
To deal first with the obvious: Rice may be “only” the second woman and the second African-American to be Secretary of State, but she is indisputably the highest-ranking black female official ever to have served in any branch of the United States government. Her nomination to a constitutional executive office would cost McCain the votes of his party’s hardened racists and incorrigible misogynists. They are surely fewer in number, though, than the people who would like to participate in breaking the glass ceiling of race or gender but, given the choice, would rather do so in a more timid way, and/or without abandoning their party. And with Rice on the ticket the Republicans could attack Clinton or Obama with far less restraint.
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/03/17/080317taco_talk_hertzberg
No comments:
Post a Comment