An insult to black women? [in8sworld]

I've spent the last few days being very uncomfortable with what the mainstream news is considering a major topic of interest. In the run-up to the South Carolina Democratic primary, I've heard non-stop speculation regarding which way black women will vote. Reporters have gone into hair salons, and shopping centers and interviewed black women on the question; Will they vote for a black man, or a white woman and how are they dealing with this dilemma? I believe the question to be seriously insulting to black women - it presumes that they can not vote based on the candidate's position on issues, but will decide solely on race or gender.

For these women, a unique, and most unexpected dilemma, presents itself: Should they vote their race, or should they vote their gender? No other voting bloc in the country faces this choice.

Am I the only one that finds this repugnant?

Comments

[tom s.]

Actually no. See Crooked Timber for other people who find it repugnant.

[Swiss Miss]

The media only now finds it necessary to talk about the needs of black women, but only superficially and within the context of a horserace. That's what I find repugnant. There is nothing democratic about this media. I doubt they've actually given any air time to smaller black media enterprises on this issue, because those enterprises pose a threat to big media, though less so given the recent FCC rule changes, but that's another issue.

I don't spend one ounce of energy thinking about what the conglomerate media is saying because they have become merely a monopoly with the single-minded goal of protecting said monopoly. They stopped speaking truth to power a long time ago.

[Zen]

Do you think most people vote the issues? I don't.

[in8sworld]

I'd like the media to at least admit the possibility that people are *capable* of voting for a candidate based on the issues. What I was hearing was that while white voters might be swayed by Obama's stance on this or that, black voters would decide based on race or gender. I know that most people don't investigate each candidate's positions, or check their voting records - and as Swiss Miss points out, the big corporate media is only concerned with portraying everything in the most compelling way possible to get higher ratings.

Real journalism, at least on the major networks is dead.

[Klayton Elliot Kendall]

"I believe the question to be seriously insulting to black women - it presumes that they can not vote based on the candidate's position on issues, but will decide solely on race or gender."

Sure it's insulting, but then again, what are the candidates' positions on issues? Hillary and Obama are working very hard at being politically ambiguous. Presidential elections are popularity contests wherein people want charisma, not brains. Eight years of Bush proved that. The "black woman's dilemma" is insulting, but real. And that's unfortunate. But I think the candidates themselves are more to blame here than the media. I know that Obama is black, and I know that Hillary is a woman. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess. I mean, who are these people? Well, that's the last thing the candidates' handlers want us to know. I've watched almost all the debates, and it simply amazes me how people can talk for hours and hours and say absolutely nothing.