In theory, I agree with Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt's statement that "It would be wonderful to get away from the gender and ethnicity focus.  A candidate is a candidate." But I believe there's no excaping the implications of this election in terms of gender and race. We are witnessing this year an amazing historic moment that I expect we'll all be asked about by our grandchildren.
 
I was also attempting to take a gender and race-neutral stance in evaluating candidates, but Gloria Steinem's recent op-ed piece in the New York Times cured me of that notion. 
 
Women Are Never Front-Runners
By GLORIA STEINEM
Published: January 8, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/opinion/08steinem.html?scp=1&sq=steinem
 
------------------------
Harriet Vardiman Smith
Clearinghouse Project Director
and Interim Acting Center Director
Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning
Texas A&M University
Website:  www-tcall.tamu.edu <http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/> 
 
Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.
-- H. G. Wells (author, historian and utopian)

________________________________

From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Katherine G
Sent: Wed 1/9/2008 9:52 AM
To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1500] Re: Democratic Party Election Results



It would be wonderful to get away from the gender and ethnicity focus.  A
candidate is a candidate.  Body parts and skin color should have nothing to
do with it.  I am voting for a President, not a body (unless you want to
argue that we are voting for the candidate's brain, but that's more about
how they make policy).  It irks me when people believe, "I'm a woman, so I
must vote for Clinton" or "I'm African-American so I must vote for Obama."
I want the person who can do the job and make our country and world a better
place to live in.

Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt





-----Original Message-----
From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov]On Behalf Of McNutt Jr,
William R
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 10:08 AM
To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1499] Re: Democratic Party Election Results


One of the things that I, as a southerner, am excited about, is that the
fact that an African American and a woman are the top contenders for a
major party is not subject to a lot of commentary.

I'm hoping that this is a sign that we have turned a corner.

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Daphne Greenberg
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:12 AM
To: povertyracewomen at nifl.gov
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1498] Democratic Party Election Results

As I asked last week, after the Iowa results, I am wondering today,
after the New Hampshire results, if adult literacy learners and teachers
are talking to each other (whether in formal civics classes or in
informal hallway conversations) about the fact that a female and an
African American are top contenders in one of the party's election
results. Are learners engaged in this presidential election-are adult
literacy classes talking about the results?
----------------------------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------
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