In Politics, Does Race Trump Gender?

Politico: Caroline Kennedy Faces Stiff Criticism While Roland Burris Is Largely Unscathed

(The Politico)  This story was written by Roger Simon

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How come Roland Burris has had such an easy time getting to the U.S. Senate while Caroline Kennedy has had such a hard time?

Could it be that the race card trumps the gender card in U.S. politics?

Well, yes. It could be.

Once supporters of Roland Burris made his appointment to the Senate all about race, the deal was done, though it took a few days for Senate leaders to wake up to the fact.

At a news conference in Chicago, Rep. Bobby Rush, who represents a district on the South Side of Chicago, said that the mere criticizing of Burris was akin to lynching.

Rush then went on to say: “I don’t think that anyone, any U.S. senator who is sitting right now, would want to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated in the U.S. Senate. I don’t think they want to go on record doing that.”

After Burris was turned away from the Senate when he tried to get seated last week, Rush went on “Hardball” and told Chris Matthews, “It reminded me of the dogs being sicced on children in Birmingham, Ala. That’s what it reminded me of.”

And that was that.

Those Democrats who had once opposed Burris for accepting a job from a governor who has been arrested for trying to sell the job caved. They were not going to try to stand up to the race card. Even Barack Obama caved, deciding that the whole brouhaha was something he did not need on the eve of his historic inauguration.

But if the appointment of Roland Burris proves anything, it proves that the election of Obama does not usher in an era of “post-racial” politics in America. Race is very much alive as an issue.

What about gender, however? Supporters of Hillary Clinton observed repeatedly during her presidential campaign that black men in America were legally given the vote before women were. Their point was that women were also an oppressed class and that the gender card was legitimate.

Though it hasn’t seemed to help Caroline Kennedy much. Here is a woman who is a lawyer and an author and who has a fine record of public service and is not tainted in the least. (We know she is not tainted because if any Kennedy gets tainted, we hear about it immediately.)

I am not saying Caroline Kennedy has lived a tough life. Quite the opposite. She has lived a privileged life. (Though having your father and uncle assassinated is not exactly an easy thing to live with or overcome.)

But one thing has always struck me about the Kennedy family: The women don’t get in trouble, but they also don’t get elected to higher office.

Caroline Kennedy’s cousin, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, was elected as lieutenant governor of Maryland but failed in her attempt to win the governorship in an overwhelmingly Democratic state.

Caroline Kennedy announced weeks ago that she would like to be appointed to fill Hillary Clinton’s seat. But unlike the racial arguments being made on behalf of Burris, the airwaves were not filled with anyone saying that a Senate seat held by one woman had to be filled by another woman.

True, the Senate already has women. In fact, women make up 17 percent of the Senate. But women make up 51 percent of the country and so you could argue that they are still seriously underrepresented in that body.

Sarah Palin recently complained that Caroline Kennedy was getting much easier treatment by the press than Palin had gotten, but in reality Kennedy has gotten a pretty vigorous going-over by reporters.

A better comparison for Palin to make would have been the patty-cake treatment Roland Burris has gotten from the press.

Where does Roland Burris stand on the fighting in Gaza?

Where does he stand on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

How does he feel about Obama’s financial bailout plan?

In fact, where does Burris stand on any major issue?

Who knows? Let’s just seat the guy and get it over with!

Caroline Kennedy got asked serious questions about serious issues, and some thought her answers were vague and inarticulate. Fair enough.

But how come she got asked them and Roland Burris did not?

In the end, Caroline Kennedy may get appointed to the Senate. But if she is, it won’t be because her supporters played the gender card.

And that’s because there is no such card to play.

[sean5002]

*******

comparing Burris to Caroline is this some kind of joke.put their public service office records together and lets see who comes out on top ... its not even close, MR. Burris have a PHD along with his long resume in serving in public office, If caroline last name was Foster would we even be having this conversation.

And racism still looms large in this country , You can go to any FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES across this nation and still be hard press to see any Blacks on their Boards... but i Bet you could see MORE WOMEN. Which render this article POINTLESS.

There is still undeniable gender warfare going on in the U.S. Caroline Kennedy is one of a long list of women to feel the effects.

[CGSuddeath]

As a black person I can tell you that this is a stupid double standard.Burris is tainted and he knows it.This loser who is on a major ego trip (Senator on the gravestone)is using the race card for personal gain and it angers me.

[czhnder]

Maybe it''s because Burris has experience and Kennedy has NONE!?

[jtdev1]

Oh, my name is Caroline "Kennedy" and I want that senate seat, so give it to me....


Thats BS... Is she really the only one qualified to be a senator?

[enviro_wacko]

The question should be -- Does CBS race and gender bate to sell what passes for news and analysis?

[enviro_wacko]

Funny isn''''t how ''''racist'''' works to district from a total liar and boondoggle with no experience whatsoever and a crazy freaking communist ideology!

All I can say is I''''ll swun!

Posted by TexHillGirl at 01:01 PM : Jan 14, 2009


Isn''t it a little early in the day to be so drunk that your comments are this unintelligible?

[platteman]

We don''t have a race problem, we do have a gender problem. CK is just a rich woman who has had everything handed to her. Her uncle is a drunk and can''t drive. She has everything that anyone could ever want. 400 million dollars and has to do nothing. you know... you know...
you know..... you know.....etc.

[enviro_wacko]

The funniest moment in the 2008 campaign was when Oprah had to choose between racism and sexism when she had to choose between Obama and Hillary.

Racism won, and she endorsed Obama.

Then she snarled at some reporter, "Don''''t play me small."

HAHAHAHAHAHA "small" wasn''''t the word I was thinking of...

Posted by repo_man_08 at 01:15 PM : Jan 14, 2009

So let me get this straight -- it''s funny to you that Oprah happens to belong to two distinct groups that have been historically oppressed? Either you are very easily entertained or and a racist/chauvinist. Either way, your ignorance is showing.

[enviro_wacko]

We don''''t have a race problem, we do have a gender problem. CK is just a rich woman who has had everything handed to her. Her uncle is a drunk and can''''t drive. She has everything that anyone could ever want. 400 million dollars and has to do nothing. you know... you know...
you know..... you know.....etc.

Posted by Platteman at 01:19 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Most Democrats just love her. Oh, and didn''t Democrats hand Republicans their hat in the last election? I believe they did. Maybe you should learn to live with it.

[denny1233-2009]

Get off this nonsense. Gender gap cr--ap! Caroline Kennedy is an airhead, plain and simple. She is lucky she tie her shoes. She is not qualified for a seat in the senate. Where was this outrage when Sarah Palin was being lynched? Because she is the daughter of JFK and a liberal,does not give her a free pass to the senate. It was bad enough when Hillary had the seat.

[erasmus606]

HAHAHAHAHAHA "small" wasn''''t the word I was thinking of...

Posted by repo_man_08 at 01:15 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Careful! I might repossess that tow truck of yours.

[clowry1611]

does any of this really matter???? i mean c''mon! the idiot got his way and is a senator, woo-freakin''-hoo! caroline will throw a kennedy tantrum and get her way too. and none of it has anything to do with race or ***. roland bought his seat from blago for whatever price was agreed upon, and kennedy has the name and the money. end of story. course that does not roll off the press as nice and frilly as cbs would like i guess

[bobs1066]

The Chicago Way trumps Camelot.

[erasmus606]

Posted by repo_man_08 at 01:27 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Now why would I want a broken down tow truck?
The paint is probably peeling, the doors are probably hanging by the hinges, and that hook thingy on the back is probably bent out of shape.

[concorde5]

There is a big difference between Burris and Kennedy. First of all Burris was APPOINTED by the Governor. Kennedy hasn''t been appointed yet. If the Governor appoints Kennedy I bet she has an easier time than Burris had getting seated. Remember Burris wasn''t the first choice of Blago. The first guy refused to take the seat. And Remember Burris was refused his seat by the Senate when he tried to assume it.

Burris has been legally Appointed to the senate by the Governor. It is a legitimate appointment and the Senate had no right to refuse him.

This article makes so many assumptions that are simply not correct it makes me wonder if Politico is biased.

[clowry1611]

yeah if gore had won there would not have been a war on terror, because he would be too worried about all the global warming, oh my! nevermind that 3 more national monument types would have been blown to bits by binny and his gang of virgin lovers. oh and guess what. FEMA would have still took that long to get to New Orleans cuz of the whole global warming thing again.

[takebackusa]

If Al Gore was president on 9/11/2001

we''''d be apolgizing to Al Qaeda after he commissioned noted terror expert Osama bin Laden to track down the REAL CULPRITS behind the 9/11 attack. OBL would have found that the US government destroyed the WTC itself to make the Arab world look bad.

Gore would still be looking for the "renegades" in the US government who carried out the attack.

We''''d be paying reparations to the Taliban, and we''''d be spending billions of dollars to eliminate all steel in the USA to help conserve the Earth''''s diminishing magnetic field.


Posted by repo_man_08 at 01:33 PM : Jan 14, 2009

WOW - still relying on your crystal ball huh? Even though it didn''t work for you in the last election? You can reply with "gerbbils". I''m so happy you learned a new word today.

[concorde5]

Gore wouldn''t have let Bin Laden go free like Bush did. Gore wouldn''t have diverted us into this rediculous war in Iraq. Gore wouldn''t have the country on the verge of a second great depression.

[ldvuong]

What if Obama was white, or female, without any experience in leadership or foreign policy?

[takebackusa]

What if Obama was white, or female, without any experience in leadership or foreign policy?


Posted by LDVUONG at 01:39 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Then he would be Sarah Palin?

[clowry1611]

if obama was white we would be ramping up for the presidential inauguration for Pres. Clinton (hillary that is)

[concorde5]

He would still be smarter than palin

[concorde5]

Gender didn''t cause hillary to lose. Her vote in favor of the Iraq war cost her the election.

[denny1233-2009]

If Al Gore was President, there wouldn''''t have been a 9/11. 9/11 was caused by a deliberate act of negligence by the republicans in order to hijack a country''''s destiny.


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Posted by william412 at 01:37 PM : Jan 14, 2009

William412-YOU ARE A MONUMENTAL MORON A--SSHOLE! THIS STATEMENT SHOWS NOT ONLY YOUR IGNORANCE,BUT IT IS BLATENTLY IDIOTIC.YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN, A MONUMENTAL A--SSHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ejcspau]

Women have been disrespected for many more centuries than the blacks. Of course, women are strong, so we take it because in the end, we take care of everything. Blacks perpetuate racism. It''s all in their head.

[concorde5]

Denny.... Bush was pretty negligent about 911. Remember he got a report that was entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside US" or something to that effect. He ignored the report then after we were struck, he failed to get Bin Laden. And after all that he diverted us away from Bin Laden when he went after Saddam.

He was very negligent. He will go down as the worst president in history.

[clowry1611]

that is what is so funny about you obamaniacs...you blindly follow him no matter what. someone says strip away the fact he is black or male. which leaves you with a white woman with very little political experience, hardly any foreign diplomacy at all. and yet you still follow him like a lap dog. now i know the vast majority are just saying "i would vote for him regardless of color or gender" when in fact there is no way the guy gets elected if he is female and white. he would not have been able to get the minority vote from hillary in that situation

[clowry1611]

He was very negligent. He will go down as the worst president in history.

Posted by concorde5 at 01:47 PM : Jan 14, 2009
----------------------------------------------------

let''s see how obama does vefore we start handing out awards!

[krescera]

Apart from his race,Burris has a long,apparently honest political record in Illinois,of all places.That itself sets him apart from any scion of any political dynasty, black or white.

[concorde5]

Palin is an insult to women. Obama put himself through Harvard. Could Palin make it more than a couple days at Harvard? I don''t think so..

Obama has forgotten more than Palin will Ever know.

[takebackusa]

The only person who thinks Hussein is smarter than Sarah Palin is


Posted by DaVicar3 at 01:49 PM : Jan 14, 2009

80% of America?

[takebackusa]

let''''s see how obama does vefore we start handing out awards!


Posted by clowry1611 at 01:49 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Good idea. He hasn''t taken office yet and the right-wing is already starting to blame him for everything

[denny1233-2009]

Denny.... Bush was pretty negligent about 911. Remember he got a report that was entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside US" or something to that effect. He ignored the report then after we were struck, he failed to get Bin Laden. And after all that he diverted us away from Bin Laden when he went after Saddam.

He was very negligent. He will go down as the worst president in history.

YEAH,AND HOW ABOUT THE DOG IN HEAT ARKANSAS TRAILER TRASH PRESIDENT,SLICK WILLIE WHO THE SUDANESE OFFERED A CAPTURED BIN LADEN TO HIM.HE WAS TO BUSY GETTING A HUMMER FROM MONICA TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION. WHERE DOES HE GO ON THE LIST OF THE WORST? PRETTY CLOSE TO JIMMY CARTER

[takebackusa]

Palin is an insult to women. Obama put himself through Harvard. Could Palin make it more than a couple days at Harvard? I don''''t think so..

Obama has forgotten more than Palin will Ever know.


Posted by concorde5 at 01:51 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Let''s give her the benefit of the doubt concorde. After all, She went to 5 colleges in 6 years to get a 4 year degree. Surely ONE of them might have been Harvard. LOL

[clowry1611]

Let''''s give her the benefit of the doubt concorde. After all, She went to 5 colleges in 6 years to get a 4 year degree. Surely ONE of them might have been Harvard. LOL

Posted by takebackusa at 01:58 PM : Jan 14, 2009
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Watch pickin on those that took more than 4 years to complete the degree. some of us had to work and are still paying back our student loans to put OURSELVES thru school. not everyone gets to check that magical box entitled "african/american"/whatever the minority box says nowadays on the college apps. not to hard for universities to fill their quota on white guys, lol

[spinproof]

Apart from his race,Burris has a long,apparently honest political record in Illinois,of all places.That itself sets him apart from any scion of any political dynasty, black or white.

Posted by krescera at 01:50 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Not so fast, there is evidence that when Burris benefits personally he appears shady, like when he was running for Governor and pressed a Death Penalty case against an obviously innocent man over the objections of other prosecutors trying to win an election!

Source:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/16981.html

[denny1233-2009]

Palin is an insult to women. Obama put himself through Harvard. Could Palin make it more than a couple days at Harvard? I don''''''''t think so..

Obama has forgotten more than Palin will Ever know.


Posted by concorde5 at 01:51 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Let''''s give her the benefit of the doubt concorde. After all, She went to 5 colleges in 6 years to get a 4 year degree. Surely ONE of them might have been Harvard. LOL



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Posted by takebackusa

HEY MORONS,JUST BECAUSE YOU GO TO HARVARD THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE ELITE.YOU DON''T NEED A DEGREE FROM HARVARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT STATEMENTS LIKE THIS, FROM IDIOTS LIKE YOU ARE MADE BY PEOPLE WHO WERE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL ON THE"SHORT BUS"

[takebackusa]

Watch pickin on those that took more than 4 years to complete the degree. some of us had to work and are still paying back our student loans to put OURSELVES thru school. not everyone gets to check that magical box entitled "african/american"/whatever the minority box says nowadays on the college apps. not to hard for universities to fill their quota on white guys, lol


Posted by clowry1611 at 02:02 PM : Jan 14, 2009

True. Obama did the same thing. Came from a poor family, worked his way up and just paid back his student loans 4 years ago. And guess what - he attend take 5 colleges to do it

[takebackusa]

he attend take 5 colleges to do it


Posted by takebackusa at 02:06 PM : Jan 14, 2009

TYPO - should be - he DIDN''T attend 5 colleges to do it

[takebackusa]

Oh, too funny, the Harvard graduate tried to buy his own senate seat for his pal Valerie Jarrett so she could represent the intersts of Iran in the US senate...got his arse in a huge crack for which he still might be arrested....AND YOU THINK THAT''''S SMART?


Posted by TexHillGirl at 02:07 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Totally silly for me to ask, I know, but I''ll chance it anyway - You have a link for this?? Because Rush said so doesn''t count

[concorde5]

Obama was the best person for the Job. That''s why he got elected. The country was tired of the same old chit! Hillary was good but I personally think he vote in favor of war in Iraq cost her the election, not her gender

[notopennshut]

This is the kind of "affirmative" action that must be totally abolished, and let people accept responsibility for themselves. Yeah, Burris and co. played the race card and won. This is one reason why the blacks cannot advance because they depend on this issue to get ahead. If Blago had appointed someone white, it would have been the end of the story and seat will remain "un-seated". We are past the era of slavery and have been for too long to keep on making this as an excuse for failure or obligation. Look at all the rest of the non-European immigrants who have come to these shores over the last 50 years - see how they have managed to make good for themselves and their children, and not depend on any of those "affirmative" actions only. Sure, there have been failures too, but that''s just life. It''s time for these so-called African Americans to realize that moving ahead means shouldering the responsibilities on themselves and not just on the shoulders of others.

[takebackusa]

HEY MORONS,JUST BECAUSE YOU GO TO HARVARD THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE ELITE.YOU DON''''T NEED A DEGREE FROM HARVARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT STATEMENTS LIKE THIS, FROM IDIOTS LIKE YOU ARE MADE BY PEOPLE WHO WERE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL ON THE"SHORT BUS"


Posted by denny1233 at 02:04 PM : Jan 14, 2009

And attending 5 colleges in 6 years to get a 4 year degree means???

[concorde5]

Palin was dumber than Bush. And that''s saying something. I know many women who say they were insulted by Palin. She made all women look stupid.

And her recent tv appearances haven''t helped at all.

[denny1233-2009]

HEY MORONS,JUST BECAUSE YOU GO TO HARVARD THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE ELITE.YOU DON''''''''T NEED A DEGREE FROM HARVARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT STATEMENTS LIKE THIS, FROM IDIOTS LIKE YOU ARE MADE BY PEOPLE WHO WERE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL ON THE"SHORT BUS"


Posted by denny1233 at 02:04 PM : Jan 14, 2009

And attending 5 colleges in 6 years to get a 4 year degree means???



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Posted by takebackusa

SHE IS STILL SMARTER THAN A *** LIKE YOU!!!

[concorde5]

TexHillGirl.....That was the dumbest post I''ve seen thus far.

[takebackusa]

SHE IS STILL SMARTER THAN A *** LIKE YOU!!!


Posted by denny1233 at 02:14 PM : Jan 14, 2009

I guess so, since I got my degree in 4 1/2 years from only one university. Imagine how smart I would be if I went to 5 colleges

[takebackusa]

Those were all UGLY LIB women who were just jealous.


Posted by Eliphord at 02:16 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Now this poster really shows superior inteligence LOL

[concorde5]

This article is rediculous for many reasons. First of all Burris was Appointed by the Governor. That makes it a legal and legitimate appointment and the Senate had no right to refuse to seat him. Secondly Burris was not the first choice, the first guy refused the seat.

Kennedy hasn''t been appointed. And when she is appointed I bet she has a lot easier time assuming her seat than Burris had. Remember he was turned away when he first tried to assume his seat.

These issues have nothing to do with race or gender. It has to do whith the state''s rights to appoint who they choose as senator. That''s it. Politico has twisted this into a race issue.