Interracial couples cannot be elected to the White House: What do you say to this?

[Black.Knight]

I would like to ask the audience whether, in practice, the situation of marriage heterogamy amongst minority candidates would be a liability, a serious impediment or a de facto bar on the respective candidates' prospects of assuming political office as a State Governor, State Representative, State Senator, US Congressman, US Senator, US Secretary of State, US Vice-President, as well as President of the United States? I would welcome an informed answer from any member of the audience.

Note: Strictly speaking, Barack Obama is a Mulatto instead of African American, which means that the Obamas are actually an interracial couple instead of Black. Consequently, Obama's election as President of the United States on 23rd November 2008 is a turning-point in the history of U.S. Elections because he is the first minority candidate to ever be elected to the Office of President of the United States; but it's not a turning point in terms of the fact the Obamas are not generally considered to be an interracial couple. On the contrary, conservatives will generally accept the Obamas on the basis that they are considered to be another example of marriage homogamy, which means they are not the first interracial couple to be elected to the White House. The one-drop rule (which designates Obama as "Black" instead of White or Mulatto) is a social construct, which is a legacy of Jim Crow laws in the American Deep South.

What I am trying to establish is whether it's conceivable that a Black-white or Asian-white interracial couple might be elected to the White House in the next 20 to 30 years. I would appreciate a definitive answer from any member of the audience.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

No I don't think so. I hate to say it, but some things about our country change very slowly and the nature of our politics is one of them. I doubt I'd even see such a thing in my lifetime, and I'm only 24 years old.

 

[Rakhel]

One small fact. Obama's father was Kenyan. A country in Africa. This does, in fact, make him more of an African American than those who are using political correctness to boast their claim.

 

[Kathryn]

This whole "first Black President" thing has really ticked me off from the beginning, and I TOTALLY agree with the OP about the throwback to the Jim Crow era. TOTALLY.

Barack Obama is biracial. He is half "black" and half "white." Sheeze, even those terms make me cringe a little. But let's get real - he's got about half African ancestry and about half European ancestry. Negroid and caucasian, if you will.

My children are multiracial - African, European, Native American, and Jewish. What's amazing to me is that so many people still insist on classifying them as "black." My, my, my - just how are they going to pidgeon hole my GRANDCHILDREN - with their added mixture of Hispanic and Korean? Just how would you categorize THIS child:

Or THIS one?

What are they - QUADROONS? Sheeze.

Wonder what label their children are going to have slapped on them:

Personally, I will be glad to see the day when racial categories aren't such a big issue. For that reason alone, if no other, I was glad to see the Obamas move into the White House. It's a step in the right direction when it comes to the issue of race in this country.

As for me, at least I put my money where my mouth is. As one of my friends said, our family seems to have started it's own new racial category - considering how prolific we are!

 

[Songbird]

I don't have an answer for the OP, but one of the most charged moments of Obama's election for me was how it prompted my then-10-year-old mixed niece to stop drawing self-portraits of herself as white. Her acceptance of her appearance trumped many political issues for me.

 

[Kathryn]

I guess every family's experiences differ.

My multiracial kids have never, for one moment, seemed to have any sort of issue with their color or their self esteem. But we've grown up around the military and military communities, which are so multiracial that simply black, white, latino or asian "pure" race people seem like a rarity.

Honestly, look out at a playground on a military installation. The mixture of races is amazing - and beautiful.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Mixed race people often seem to have a beauty and vigour only found in hybrids.

What is interesting in the British Conservative party is that the Chairman is not only sits in the Lords but is also Muslim and Female. ( Might seem strange in a right wing party.)BBC News - Baroness Warsi becomes new Conservative Party chairman

 

[Rakhel]

I guess every family's experiences differ.

My multiracial kids have never, for one moment, seemed to have any sort of issue with their color or their self esteem. But we've grown up around the military and military communities, which are so multiracial that simply black, white, latino or asian "pure" race people seem like a rarity.

Honestly, look out at a playground on a military installation. The mixture of races is amazing - and beautiful.

This may be why I can't stand PC talk. I grew up on military installations and never saw skin color as being as important as it was to those who lived outside the military.

 

[HonestJoe]

Obviously it shouldn't matter but I'm sure it would.

I suspect it would be a fundamental issue with a small minority but a similar minority wouldn't have voted for Obama on the same principal and he got in. I can't help thinking that a white candidate with a minority partner could even have an advantage though but the other way around could give them slightly more trouble than a minority candidate alone.

On the whole though, I do think that the fundamental politics and individual qualities of a candidate are now the primary concern and racial issues are very much secondary so a good candidate could win regardless of their race or that of their partner.

In contrast, I think an openly gay candidate would be an entirely different kettle of fish. An actual Muslim wouldn't stand a chance.

 

[gnomon]

I would like to ask the audience whether, in practice, the situation of marriage heterogamy amongst minority candidates would be a liability, a serious impediment or a de facto bar on the respective candidates' prospects of assuming political office as a State Governor, State Representative, State Senator, US Congressman, US Senator, US Secretary of State, US Vice-President, as well as President of the United States? I would welcome an informed answer from any member of the audience.

Note: Strictly speaking, Barack Obama is a Mulatto instead of African American, which means that the Obamas are actually an interracial couple instead of Black. Consequently, Obama's election as President of the United States on 23rd November 2008 is a turning-point in the history of U.S. Elections because he is the first minority candidate to ever be elected to the Office of President of the United States; but it's not a turning point in terms of the fact the Obamas are not generally considered to be an interracial couple. On the contrary, conservatives will generally accept the Obamas on the basis that they are considered to be another example of marriage homogamy, which means they are not the first interracial couple to be elected to the White House. The one-drop rule (which designates Obama as "Black" instead of White or Mulatto) is a social construct, which is a legacy of Jim Crow laws in the American Deep South.

What I am trying to establish is whether it's conceivable that a Black-white or Asian-white interracial couple might be elected to the White House in the next 20 to 30 years. I would appreciate a definitive answer from any member of the audience.

It's possible.

That is the only definitive answer anyone can give.

 

[hindupridemn]

What qualifies as mixed "race"? Is someone of German and Irish heritage mixed race?

 

[Kathryn]

Race and ethnicity are not the same thing.

No matter how politically incorrect it may seem, there are clearly several major different races of man - "red and yellow, black and white - they are precious in His sight" in other words.

They can and do migrate all over the globe, and create many fascinating mixtures of people, but clearly some people are all or mostly one or the other major racial/genetic make-up.

Interesting article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(U.S._Census)

 

[TJ73]

Anything is possible especially if the opposing party has a particularly weak candidate and the one described in the OP, or a homosexual or Muslim was extremely dynamic.

 

[Black.Knight]

Obviously it shouldn't matter but I'm sure it would.

On the whole though, I do think that the fundamental politics and individual qualities of a candidate are now the primary concern and racial issues are very much secondary so a good candidate could win regardless of their race or that of their partner.

I appreciate what you're saying, but you are judging U.S. Elections according to the standards here in this country (UK). Generally speaking, I agree that a good candidate could win regardless of their race or that of their partner; but this is only true of Elections in Britain and other Commonwealth realms such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. I am sure that the majority of British voters have no problem with a minority candidate who is married to a White person. For instance, George Lee was the Conservative Party's "star" candidate for the Constituency of Holborn and St. Pancras in the May 2010 General Election, which was in spite of the fact his wife Sally is English:
ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog: Former policeman George Lee describes a busy week on the campaign trail as candidate for Holborn and St Pancras - including a visit from David Cameron and George Osborne
[youtube]Z-K9YSmgkRI[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-K9YSmgkRI
Dimsum - The success of George Lee: where would it all lead to?
He's full of eastern promise | Daisy Waugh - Times Online
Meet the Tories' soldier of fortune - Telegraph
Camden news: Conservative | George Lee | intrigue | challenger | Holborn and St Pancras | Frank Dobson | election | Twitter | Poster | Milk Tray man
Highgate People | Elections 2010: Conservative PPC George Lee talks to Highgate People

George Lee came third in the General Election on 6th May 2010 and failed in his bid to become the first ever Chinese MP in Britain; but the disappointing result is not a reflection of Lee's inability as a Chinese candidate. Lee contested the constituency of Frank Dobson, which is historically considered to be a safe seat for the Labour Party. Moreover, the Chinese in Britain do not have the required numerical strength to be elected to Parliament in the first place; which was a fundamental mistake by leaders in the Conservative Party who shortlisted George as their "star" candidate.

A further notable example of an interracial couple in the House of Commons is David Lammy MP, the Former Minister for Constitutional Affairs - a new political office introduced by the Blair Government, which supplanted the original role of a Lord Chancellor - and his Scottish-born wife, Nicola Green:
BBC NEWS | UK | Politics | The man tipped for the top
David Lammy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicola Green - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dulwhich Picture Gallery: Nicola Green

A further notable example is the Former Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson, who held a Vice-Regal title in relation to the British Monarch, which was in spite of Clarkson being twice married to White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant males in her adoptive country; which is a Commonwealth realm headed by Queen Elizabeth II:
Adrienne Clarkson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stephen Clarkson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Ralston Saul - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[youtube]Mr-3v9eFhX8[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr-3v9eFhX8
Adrienne Clarkson Presents | Facebook
Clarkson, Adrienne Louise - The Canadian Encyclopedia
Adrienne Clarkson - Governor General Canada 1999-2005 - Biography Adrienne Clarkson
CBC-TV: Life and Times - Adrienne Clarkson
Biography of Clarkson, Adrienne - Archontology.org
Adrienne Clarkson

Last but not least, the last Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, was a Former de facto Head of State of Canada, which is in spite of her husband being French:
Jean-Daniel Lafond photos - Google Search
Bibliographie / Biographie. Qui est Michaëlle Jean? | Actualité au Cameroun | Actualité en Afrique
Michaëlle Jean - Canada - CBC News
Michaelle Jean - Governor General of Canada - Biography of Michaelle Jean
Michaëlle Jean - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jean-Daniel Lafond - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biography of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada
Biography of His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond
The Governor General of Canada > Governor General Michaëlle Jean
The Governor General of Canada > Jean-Daniel Lafond
Michaelle Jean - Zimbio
Jean-Daniel Lafond - Zimbio

Consequently, it's pretty obvious that America is the only country in the civilized world which still has a chip on it's shoulders with regards to interracial marriage amongst the political candidates as well as leaders on Capitol Hill. America is the only country in the Anglo-sphere which still practices racial segregation amongst high-profile, respected figures such as the politicians in Congress and the U.S. Government. America is the only country in the Anglo-sphere which advocates marriage homogamy as a precondition for the candidates to assume high-profile political titles such as Gubernatorial Chief Executive, State Representative, State Senator, US Congressman, US Senator, US Secretary of State, US Vice-President, as well as President of the United States. Ethnic homogamy is a legacy of Jim Crow or anti-miscegenation laws in the United States, which were never in place at any time during the history of the British Empire.

 

[Black.Knight]

Consequently, there’s an incessant evil at the very heart of America's Government and legislative process, U.S. politics, and elections in general. America’s system of Government is rotten to the core, because the United States is the only nation state in the Western world which has a de facto system of Apartheid at the very heart of Government and the legislative process, U.S. politics, public opinion, as well as electioneering in general.

On the contrary, interracial couples are not to be seen as a problem in U.S. elections, but public opinion is itself at fault which is an incessant problem we have to redress. U.S. Public opinion is a legacy of Jim Crow, which is completely outdated, as much as it’s inappropriate in our modern society.

According to the Ninth Amendment of the US Constitution, “The listing of individual rights in the Constitution and Bill of Rights is not meant to be comprehensive; and that the other rights not specifically mentioned are retained by the people.”

Consequently, the Ninth Amendment is consistent with Article 5 (the Right to Liberty and Security), Article 8 (The Right to Privacy), Article 9 (Freedom of Conscience and religion), Article 10 (Freedom of expression), and Article 12 (The Right to marry) of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is enshrined by the Human Rights Act 1998 in the United Kingdom.

Unless there is a legitimate reason to do otherwise, the State has no right to intervene, derogate or compromise the rights of U.S. citizens, such as the individual’s right to have a sexual preference towards White people (i.e. Black-White, Hispanic-White, and Asian-White interracial dating or marriage in the US), which is under remit of the Ninth Amendment of the US Constitution as well as the Convention Rights as defined by case law in several states across the EU.

Despite the progress, leaps and bounds made in terms of race relations in the U.S. since the Civil Rights Act of 1965, America is still a backward country in terms of its race relations, which is in view of the ongoing practice of ethnic homogamy amongst the candidates who wish to stand for political office in the United States. Contrast the situation in America with that of Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia – Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is known to have at least one in-law who is Chinese – and you will see that there’s no comparison at all between America and the British Commonwealth.

De facto, America is still a backward country when it comes to interracial marriage or race relations as a general issue in the U.S. Recent census data from the UK and Canada show that the percentage of Whites who objected to the prospect of a Black or Asian in-law was at 12% and 9%, respectively; whereas, the respective figure is about 33% in the United States. This highlights the extent of racial prejudice amongst the White voters in America, which is the underlying-basis of ethnic homogamy amongst the vast majority of high-profile candidates for political office in the United States. Racial prejudice is a problem of the political majority, which does not in anyway reflect on the individual qualities, capabilities or merit of the respective candidates. Society itself is at fault; not the respective candidates who wish to stand for political office in the U.S.

Ethnic homogamy amongst political leaders in America is a contemporary sign of White supremacy in the U.S. in this modern age. Whereas, it’s only the interest of Whites to protect their territory, it’s not the interest of other groups to do likewise. Racial segregation in U.S. politics is a manifestation of White prejudice, which must be resisted at whatever the cost. Consequently, the best way to challenge White supremacy is for the respective candidate to date or marry a White person, which is the last thing that racial bigots want to see happen in America. Henceforth, the political elite should take steps to promote race equality, interracial dating, and marriage amongst the candidates who wish to stand for political office, because it's the only way to safeguard the democratic institutions of a free society such as America.

Needless to say, America’s total population of 300 million people is vastly outnumbered by the rest of the global community of 5.5 billion people. The vast majority of people across the globe do not want to be U.S. citizens, because most people are perfectly happy to stay in their own country (See above). The U.S. Government has a serious tendency to overestimate the extent of America’s cultural or political soft power, as the vast majority of people in developed countries have no desire whatsoever to be Citizens of the United States.

Therefore, unless the U.S. Government, Congress, FBI, CIA or the popular media would be well advised to observe or respect the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens, America has no right whatsoever to expect the loyalty of its immigrant descended population. For the majority of peoples in the British Commonwealth, it’s much better for them to declare their allegiance to the Queen instead of the United States of America.

 

[Engyo]

One could conceivably call the Obamas an interracial couple, since she is of African-American descent on both sides and he is not.

full disclosure - my wife is of "mixed race" and I am Anglo-American.

 

[Kathryn]

My family is multiracial (white, black, hispanic, and asian) and we have always moved freely and lived openly and without fear or negative ramifications, right here in the southern United States.

One in seven marriages in the United States are interracial marriage. Huzzah! Lots of beautiful babies in the making!

 

[Alceste]

Kathryn, I'd categorize your grandchildren as "adorable".

 

[Kathryn]

Why, thank you, Alceste!