On Democracy Now! today...
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/14/race_and_gender_in_presidential_politicsRace and Gender in Presidential Politics: A Debate Between Gloria Steinem and Melissa Harris Lacewell
In the race for the Democratic nomination, a victory for either Senator Hillary Clinton or Senator Barack Obama—as the first woman or African American Democratic nominee—would be unprecedented in U.S. history. We host a discussion on race and gender politics with feminist pioneer, Gloria Steinem and Princeton University professor, Melissa Harris Lacewell.
The results from Iowa and New Hampshire have placed Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as the current frontrunners for the Democratic nomination. A victory for either of them, as the first woman or African American Democratic nominee, would be unprecedented in American history.
In recent days their differences over foreign and domestic policy have taken a backseat. Instead questions of race and gender have dominated the political contest between them. The debate came to a head over a comment made by Senator Clinton in an interview on Fox News. Clinton said, “Dr. King’s dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he was able to get through Congress something that President Kennedy was hopeful to do; presidents before had not even tried. But it took a president to get it done. That dream became a reality, the power of that dream became real in people’s lives because we had a president who said ’We’re going to do it’ and actually got it accomplished.”
After Clinton made those remarks, Senator Obama and several others criticized her for minimizing Dr. King"s role in securing the Civil Rights Act. NBC host Tim Russert questioned Senator Clinton about this on Sunday’s edition of Meet The Press. She emphasized that race or gender should have nothing to do with the campaign.
Today we host a discussion on race and gender politics in the race for the Democratic nomination
Gloria Steinem is a feminist icon and bestselling writer. She founded Ms. magazine and helped organize the National Women"s Political Caucus in the early 1970s and in 2004, co-founded the Women’s Media Center. Steinem recently wrote an op-ed for the New York Times supporting Hillary Clinton. It"s titled “Women are Never Front Runners.” She argues that Senator Obama could never have been a viable candidate if he were a woman and asks, “why is the sex barrier not taken as seriously as the racial one.”
Melissa Harris-Lacewell is Associate Professor of Politics and African-American Studies at Princeton University. She is the author of “Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought.” She is at work on a new book called “For Colored Girls Who’ve Considered Politics When Being Strong Wasn’t Enough.”
Gloria Steinem, feminist pioneer and best-selling author of several books including “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions.” In the early 70s she founded Ms. magazine and New York magazine and also helped organize the National Women’s Political Caucus. More recently she co-founded the Women’s Media Center in 2004.
Melissa Harris Lacewell, Associate Professor of Politics and African-American Studies at Princeton University. She is author of “Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought.” She is at work on a new book called “For Colored Girls Who’ve Considered Politics When Being Strong Wasn’t Enough.”
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