After Obama, what will you prefer: a Woman, Gay or Divorced Man as US President?
@bantilesroger (341)
Philippines
January 29, 2009 4:49am CST
President Obama breached the color, social and racial barriers to the US Presidency. Earlier, President John F. Kennedy smashed the religious barrier. What barriers will be overcome next? Gender? Prejudices against gay and divorced persons? How about you, what kind of President would you like to have next: a Woman, a Gay, a Divorced Man or a Divorcee? How about a Muslim?
12 people like this
45 responses
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
29 Jan 09
I really cant understand whether this should be taken as a compliment to the originality and courage of the American population or something else! Personally, I wouldn’t really care if it was a gay or a divorced man, doesn’t make any difference to the gender! I would rather opt for the woman…this time I was really excited coz if not Obama then it would have been Hillary definitely and either way, America was making history!
3 people like this
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
29 Jan 09
This is a compliment to the vibrancy and resilience of your political system and its capacity to throw up surprises.
2 people like this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
30 Jan 09
its not my political system, I'm an Indian residing in India
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
Hi bantilesroger, I don't really think that it matters, it has to depend on policy. At the same time I think that all Americans, whether they supported him or not, should be proud that people put aside the prejudice of the past in electing Obama. It is good to see that things are changing in that way and I expect the next will be to see a woman elected, that will be no big deal anymore. I can't see being divorced making a big difference either. To elect an openly gay or lesbian would be another great step forward as would the election of a Muslim. Blessings.
3 people like this
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
31 Jan 09
Robert Frost's poem titled "The Road Not Taken" may be an apt reading at this juncture of history.
@amitksing (1323)
• India
29 Jan 09
I don't think Obama's being black should be projected a lot. He didn't become US president just because he is black, but because he has those qualities that US leadership needs today, and hence he deserves it!
I can stand any president, whether its a Woman, Gay, Muslim, Divorcee or even a monkey, if it has the qualities to lead a nation like US to prosperity, strength and development.
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
29 Jan 09
None of those lsabes matter even slightly. I'll vote for the best person for the job and/or the one whose vision for the future connects with my own. Nothing concerning gender, race, religion, social preferences, etc., etc. has anything at all to do with it.
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
1 Feb 09
"The one whose vision for the future connects with my own" - how I wish all candidates have that, and all Sovereign Citizens have too. In my country, it is not far off the mark to characterize our political system as the blind leading the blind, if not worse. Others have more graphic descriptions. Thank you for your comments.
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
29 Jan 09
As President (or Prime Minister in my case, as I'm in Australia), I'd just like a decent, HONEST person who can walk in another man's shoes. I don't care whether they are black, white, male, female, gay, straight or Calathumpian. Even if they are all of the above, goody-gumdrops and I don't care - but honesty and decency are paramount in my eyes.
3 people like this
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
31 Jan 09
You have mentioned values and virtues that we have to remind our leaders about, as well as our Sovereign Citizens. Our leaders are reflections and extensions of the Citizens who, as Sovereign, bear the ultimate responsibility for choosing leaders, the programs they will implement while in power, and the character and virtue they will bring to their office. Thank you for your comments.
@jakill (835)
•
29 Jan 09
Well, I'm not American, but in the spirit of this discussion, how about a woman in a lesbian partnership?
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
29 Jan 09
I really don't care about these issues. What I do care about is the character of the person entering office. Is this a good person that will actually do what was promised on the campain trail or was it all lies just to get the position and title. Once a president has held office they get paid that $100,000. salary for the rest of his/her life and still has body guards and other such rewards that continue after they are long gone from office.
@coolsid2007 (1030)
• India
29 Jan 09
Truth is stranger than fiction...by all means, considering the fact that we seldom see what needs to be seen, forces me to think that it can be anyone.... who has a better public display on his/her leadership skills.....
even more...these coming years are bringing lot of changes and therefore challenges...you never know what comes next...I can't miss out on alien too
1 person likes this
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
31 Jan 09
We live in very interesting times: epochal, pivotal. Thank you for your comments.
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
bantilesroger, I see your point, and it is a good one....by how about a President that will smash the barrier of "just plain honesty?"...no matter gender, color, or status?
1 person likes this
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
31 Jan 09
I know you mean to strengthen honesty in public office. Thank you for your comment.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
29 Jan 09
I wouldn't have a problem with any of those options as long as the person sincerely wanted to help the country. There are very few people like that now, they look at the office as a way to gather power and contacts so they can build their wealth in the future.
I would just as soon put a bunch of ten year olds in the office. They have common sense, they know you can't spend money you don't have and they'd kick some butt!
@quinnkl (1667)
• United States
30 Jan 09
Woman definitely! That is another reason this election was so interesting. It would have been historic no matter which democrat got the nomination and then won. WOW! By this happening, I think it has opened all doors. I certainly hope so. It is the 21st century, people, we need to get with the century!!! I love the fact that, as President Obama pointed out, now it is true again. ANYONE can become President of the United States! As it should be!
1 person likes this
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
29 Jan 09
Why are you raising this question?Obama is black.If he would be a white perhaps you would not raise such question.A president of a country is judged by his/her honesty.wisdom and ingrity of character.Not by his/her race,colour,gender and religion.I think Mr.Obama has all the qualities to be a president of a country.If the future President will be like Obama it will be good luck for US.
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
1 Feb 09
Many of us here watched the recent US elections with bated breath and were euphoric when President Obama was declared the winner. More than anything else, America is also a vision. Some historians describe the Founding Fathers as male, Protestant, white and propertied. The misconception that the highest office in the US should go only to a Protestant has already been smashed. President Obama shows that a non-white and a non-trust-fund baby can also get elected.
When shall the US have a First Gentleman?
I am a Filipino, but I was aghast when I was informed by a Filipino-American that she would not vote for Obama because the White House is not for a Black, because it will then be a Black House. I had very choice words for this Filipino-American, but I will not share them with you. Sorry for hoarding these words in my heart and in my mind.
Thank you too for your comments.
@LuckyLadyD (359)
• United States
31 Jan 09
Hi bantilesroger
Thank God I have my day to day worries dealing with my own survival and that of my family.
If I were to entertain these thoughts I would be pulling my hair out by now!
1 person likes this
@shakadoodoo (737)
• Dallas, Texas
29 Jan 09
I think it would be gender next since it has been in the making for so long.
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
31 Jan 09
As far I am concerned, you are not far off the mark. Thank you for your remarks.
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
1 Feb 09
It does not matter what the race, color or person is I vote for the person who I think can do a good job.
@michaeldadona (5684)
• Malaysia
29 Jan 09
![usa flag - [The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars.] - [The fifty stars on the flag represent the fifty U.S. states and the thirteen stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British Crown and became the first states in the Union. Nicknames for the flag include the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and the Star-Spangled Banner, also the name of the national anthem.] - [Because of its symbolism, the starred blue canton is called the "union".] - [This part of the flag can stand alone as a maritime flag called the Union Jack. Compared to the flags of many other nations, the flag of the United States is notably complex, leading to expressions such as Huaqíguó ("flower flag nation"), a Chinese name for America used in the 19th and early 20th centuries.] - My provenance Link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States](http://img.mylot.com/350x350/2132741.gif "usa flag - [The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars.] - [The fifty stars on the flag represent the fifty U.S. states and the thirteen stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British Crown and became the first states in the Union. Nicknames for the flag include the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and the Star-Spangled Banner, also the name of the national anthem.] - [Because of its symbolism, the starred blue canton is called the \"union\".] - [This part of the flag can stand alone as a maritime flag called the Union Jack. Compared to the flags of many other nations, the flag of the United States is notably complex, leading to expressions such as Huaqíguó (\"flower flag nation\"), a Chinese name for America used in the 19th and early 20th centuries.] - My provenance Link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States")
For what barriers overcome whom would be the next US President is gender: female. There are more potential politician women in US, qualified for that great post. Matter of fact, they are also from the grass root level in political arena and had being long time service in term of period of time. Such as Gloria La Riva, Elvena Lloyd-Duffie, Cynthia McKinney, Sarah Palin, Andrea Marie Psoras and Patricia Rubacky.
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
31 Jan 09
Thank you for this information. I will try to read more about these women.
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
1 Feb 09
"Get the job done" should be a strong factor in selecting a President, I agree. Thank you.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
29 Jan 09
I don't think that it should matter what ethnic or social group that a president is from. I also don't think that it matters what is religion is either. what matters is that he or she is the right person to take on the most important post in the United States of America. He or she should be a person who unites rather than divides a country. He or she should show respect and lend a helping hand to everyone who needs it. A country is judged on how it treats the youngest and the oldest of the population. These persons, plus those suffering from physical and mental illness should be protected. He or she should be tough enough to make tough decisions in the interests of ALL the people. One Love
@bantilesroger (341)
• Philippines
1 Feb 09
You have just described the character, virtues and abilities of a great President. I agree with you that the exact measure of a great nation or any social grouping is the way it treats the most vulnerable segment of its population. Thank you.
