Step 3: write the essay (a min. of 5 paragraphs,
with thesis and well developed paragraphs)
Regardless of the outcome in today’s elections,
there will be a first in Washington next January. Either the first
black man will be president or the first woman will be vice
president, capping what might be the most ground-breaking election
in America’s history. But these firsts don’t come without risks and
challenges for each candidate’s constituents. While it will take a
long time to know how race and gender affected the elections, once
the results are tallied . . . .
President Obama would ‘shake the world’
IU-Purdue University Indianapolis political science professor Brian
Vargus said race was downplayed during the election for a host of
reasons. He said polls indicate about 5 percent to 15 percent of
voters are likely to make their decision based on race. He said a
lot of the people who would not vote for Obama because he is black,
but there are many people who will vote for him based on race.
Even this presents a problem, said IU political science professor
Marjorie Hershey. "The biggest challenge for a lot of us is trying
to figure out how much of a role racial stereotyping and racial
prejudice is playing in a campaign," she said. "It’s difficult to
measure. It’s not something most people feel comfortable talking
about in polls."
Another problem, Hershey said, is voters might not even be aware how
race affects their decision. Hershey adds, "The likelihood is that
if Senator Obama were not black, his vote totals would be
substantially higher."
. . . . IU professor Ted Carmines, . . . said President Obama would
be an important symbol. "That doesn’t mean that all of the racial
differences will have suddenly disappeared."
The Sarah Palin effect
Hershey said vice presidents have almost no impact on how people
will vote. She acknowledged that Palin is a polarizing figure in the
election but said people vote for the top of the ticket, not the
bottom. [the president not the vice president]
. . . . This is one [other] reason why gender is less of an issue
than race. Another, Vargus said, is that women moved into higher
positions in the government. For instance, while there have been 35
women senators, there have only been five black senators. Currently,
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is third in line to take the presidency.
These indicate that – at least for the time being – women have
achieved more in political advances than blacks.
From here?
. . . .Kane said she hopes voters make their minds based on who’s
best for the country, despite the importance race and gender have
played in the elections. "That is a difference," she said, "but I
don’t think those are distinctions that make a candidate any more or
less worthy."