A Racial Race...Seriously?

I read a "news" article recently that said that 1/3 of white women who identify themselves at Democrats did not want to vote for a black man for President.

What?

First, I'm not planning on voting for Barack Obama this year and the color of his skin has nothing to do with it. If Colin Powell were running, he'd have my vote. If Michael Steele were running, he'd have my vote. Both of these men have demonstrated to me, in different ways and under different circumstances, the qualities that I personally look for in a US President.

That said, I understand that there are some people for whom race does matter. I met some of them when I was in Texas last spring helping the campaign efforts for a candidate who is no longer among the contenders for the 2009-2013 Administration. I heard it. I shrugged it off as a "to each his or her own." In my book things balance out and besides, at least twice as many people told me that they were being told, in their churches, by their families, by their communities, to vote unified...to vote black.

I understand that the color of a candidate's skin might still figure into a Presidential vote. I also understand that the anatomical plumbing of a candidate (precisely, the presence or absence of a penis) might play into the decision making process of some. So does eye-color, the kind of clothes they wear, the timber of their voice. Some people *do* actually vote for a candidate based on nothing more than the alphabetical order of the person on the ballet box. This is America. We can't help the fact that yes, some people do just vote stupid.

What I want to know is this: Are the same pollsters who are trying to make this race about...well...race, asking how many African Americans are being encouraged to vote "black."

Why is it suddenly so important to dissect the white American woman? The last time anyone was this interested in what we thought as a group - well - they were trying to sell tampons, laundry detergent, and about 3,671 other kinds of cleaning products in general. We're used to being a "target audience" - we've been that ever since the advertisers figured out who does most of the household shopping.

But until recently, we haven't been that interesting as a political voice. And neither campaign is singing the songs about issues I care about. So let me make it easy:

• The Presidency should be an office sought for no other reason that the firm belief that it is the greatest sacrifice any person can make - to serve this country. And the person who seeks it should be able to prove to me that they care more about America than themselves. They should have already served.

• The United States is not an opportunity for intellectual gymnastics. Instead, it is one great big huge dysfunctional family - we fight amongst ourselves but nobody else better try and hurt one of us. If you don't come from a big dysfunctional family you won't get this - but this is what it boils down to - sometimes someone farts at the table, or leaves the toothpaste cap off, or "borrows" your sweater without asking, or about 325000 other wildly annoying things. You have to deal with it, you can't whine and it will never change. But fight one of us and you fight ALL of us.

• Both the President and the Vice President should be willing to stand up and say "knock that shit off" when people try stuff on them that we generally protect our citizens from. Things like violation of privacy, stereotypes, and unequal treatment. Things like accusations based on skin color or the presence of a vagina.

• The President and Vice President should be able to read and fully understand what they are reading. That includes things like the Fair Wage Act - an act which, had it passed, would have really screwed women in this country. It includes the economy, and while bailouts are a temporary fix they don't actually HELP the country in the long run despite what Suze Orman says. (Someone recently pointed out that had the bailout money been distributed to each citizen over the age of 18 instead of these piggy financial institutions run by, yes I'm going to say it, STUPID people, we'd have an economy!)

• The President and Vice President should have such a spirit of service to this country that every filthy rich entity, be they CEO's (or former CEO's), celebrities, and "special interest" groups should be absent from the picture - because there is absolutely nothing in it for them.

• The President and Vice President should be smart enough to know that the Presidency is a terrible position to hold but that short of dying in the line of duty there is no greater service. Oh wait...did I say that already? I guess I'm just a big fan of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson - two old white guys who'd been scarred in battle and neither of whom was perfect. Neither of whom could get elected today.

I don't vote because I'm a white woman. I vote because I'm an American and it isn't my right...it's my responsibility. It's a responsibility because people through the generations have sacrificed beyond measure so that my voice is heard. It is my responsibility to be smart about my decisions. Not to let heresay or brute force think for me.

So if you are one of the people making this race about race...or gender...do us all a favor and stay home. You ARE too stupid to vote.