It is kind of sad that politicians have to appeal to race or ethnicity all the time. It seems like if they constantly have to reassure their stances on ethnic basis to keep voters of all groups happy. Either they have to confirm and reaffirm their origins to please the ethnic group they come from or they have to demonstrate they will not favor their own groups to be supported by others. The thing is race and ethnicity are always an issue.
In one of the articles of this section, the author mentions that it is demonstrated that candidates that have refrained from relying on ethnic or racial approaches have managed effectively to earn diverse votes, president Obama being the clear example. Is it that the public is so programmed to overweight race and ethnicity because that's what politics offers? Then, the solution is relatively easy in my mind. Political candidates and their campaigns should consciously diminish the importance of these subjects; or better, they should give it the right weight. The problem really is that politicians could be permeated with racial and ethnic prejudices too.
But to be frank, this is not the only thing campaigns are based on that pisses me off. Religion is another area politicians need to show off if they want to be elected. Isn't America mature enough to understand what itself stands for? Separation of religion and state is the foundation of this nation - except for choosing candidates. If one is atheist or even practices a non-Christian religion, he/she is facing a potential defeat. It is not enough coming from a religious background; they have to demonstrate they practice it.
Sexual orientation and marital status are other aspects that are overrated. They must demonstrate they are heterosexual and belong to a perfect family [within the traditional scheme] like if those features would upgrade their abilities to administer or govern.
It looks and sounds very much like a double standard to me.
It is absurd that Williams, senate president in the state of Kentucky, launched attacks to governor Steve Beshear because he participated in a Hidu ceremony. First, nobody should make an issue of it in a country that preaches freedom of religion. Secondly, no public officer criticizes another official for participating in a Christian ceremony. Bush was criticized for wooing a black community in a church; but not for being part of a Christian religious activity. Again, Mr. Williams is making ethnicity a tool to judge an official.
Another interesting case is the one of republican congressman Marco Rubio. Does the fact that his parents left Cuba for economic reasons or political reasons make any difference in his abilities to serve in Congress? I doubt it. He is not more or less Cuban in any of the cases. Cuban-American candidates over inflate their Cubanship for the sake of votes too often.
Race and ethnicity are part of the American political landscape, which seems to have several weak sides still.
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