Political Affilliation in the 2008 Election

The November 2008 presidential election is going to be an incredible testament in history. Never before has there been an African American or female candidate climb the ladder to reach political acclaim and run for presidency. Much debate has taken place in regards to both of these minorities running for president. A campaign so diverse and influential to society hasn't usurped America's voice as much as in the 2008 presidential election. Many citizens have voiced their decision, not based on quality of campaign, but based on the idea that they will be voting for "their own," by voting for a minority that represents their voice. The stereotype has been set that many African American individuals will vote for Barack Obama, and females will all vote for Hillary Clinton. I personally believe this stereotype to be unfair and incorrect, but are the presidential candidates exploiting these minorities to procure more votes? Perhaps.

I believe that the race for presidential election is an extremely controversial topic right now, because the country is in desperate need for change. Anyone can potentially inspire change, yet the candidates all have specific minorities that separate them, or distinguish them to the public. Is an African American democratic male better than a Caucasian democratic woman for the United States; and how will the voters decide?

In 2007, when Hillary Clinton announced her intention to run for president, she spoke poignantly to women, regarding issues that women have more concern over than their male counterparts (Feldman, Sentinel). At the Democratic Convention broadcast on Politics TV, Clinton speaks on how the country needs to change; that a conversation needs to be started because we as people "feel" that something has been lost. She continues to share about a mother's reaction to the No Child Left Behind Act, when the mother feels her children have been left behind. Her campaign is focused on the feelings of the people, specifically to target a woman audience. Men are often taught to not convey emotion in public since it can show weakness to others. Many women find the possibility of an emotion-filled president to be of great benefit to them, and many women are on board to vote for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 election. Mrs. Clinton is targeting her campaign towards a market of women, to reach a demographic that will condone emotion, and allow her to express freely how she would like to change the United States of America.

When Barack Obama started airing radio campaigns in South Carolina, it was clearly geared to the African American population. The ad slot was titled, "It's Time," and set to smooth saxophone music, that highlights Obama's heritage and professional history. Obama's spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, admits that "Obama is proud of his African American roots and outreach to the African American community is a key part of his campaign. (Psaki)

At the end of March, Barack Obama spoke on CNN, entitled, "A More Perfect Union" in which he describes some discrepancies made by Obama's former pastor, where he spoke blatantly about a need for people to vote for their own, because this will arise great change.
Obama says, "Race has not been an issue in this campaign... Race is an issue the nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We don't want to simplify, to stereotype, to amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality." He continues to speak about how the endemic of racism can be overcome, as we all work together to form a more perfect union that allows for change, growth, and respect for a better future. This speech has paved the way for more individuals to climb aboard the Obama campaign, and to allow African American's a sense of brotherhood.

I recently attended a concert titled, "Heart of the City Tour" performed by Mary J. Blige, and Jay-Z. During Jay-Z's performance, he had a video about how the country needed change, and showed a picture of George Bush with an X through it. This was subsequently followed by a large picture of Obama with his hands raised in victory. Jay-Z nodded his head, and proclaimed his support publicly. The majority of the crowd, was in applause, and supports my claim that African-Americans are voting for Obama to support voting for a democratic member that represents their interests and connection by race.
Both of the parties are utilizing their minorities as a benefit to their own campaigns. Great strides have been made in politics, where the main candidates for president are of a minority, it shows how much the country has changed, and how individuals are more open-minded for positive political change. Influence of these candidates does lie with their influence, for Hillary Clinton, among women, for Barack Obama, with the African American voters. Only America will decide who will be the front-runner in the next November 2008 election.

References

Hillary Clinton Targets Women's Vote, Linda Feldman. Acquired March 28, 2008. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0201/p01s04-uspo.html
A More Perfect Union, Barack Obama. Acquired March 28, 2008 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU
American's Conflicted on How to Discuss Race. CNN. Acquired March 28, 2008.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/03/31/discussing.race.ap/index.html?iref=werecommend

Obama and Oprah, Acquired March 26, 2008. www.oprah.com