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Diversity Training

Clinton and Obama may be breaking new presidential ground, but Hollywood beat them to the top decades ago.

By Joshua Alston | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Feb 11, 2008

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  • Posted By: techresmgt @ 01/10/2009 6:46:48 PM

    I think the media likes to stir the pot. Does us a favor? Report the news; that would be a refreshing change.

  • Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 02/05/2008 12:33:40 PM

    Too much is made of race and gender in the media. In my experience, most people don't focus on these things as something out of the ordinary anymore.

  • Posted By: dewcooper @ 02/05/2008 11:30:41 AM

    Will people stop acting like Hillary is the first woman to ever run for the presidency, or that Obama is the first black man to do so. Study history, neither is a groundbreaker...

  • Posted By: deezus @ 02/04/2008 2:42:18 PM

    @chad2008 I think the point of the story was that America is ready to accept a woman or a minority as presidential just as much as they are able to accept a white man. There's nothing wrong with a white man as president, its just refreshing to see there's also nothing wrong with a female or black person being the president, as far the country sees it.

  • Posted By: deezus @ 02/04/2008 2:41:13 PM

    @chad2008 I think the point of the story was that America is ready to accept a woman or a minority as presidential just as much as they are able to accept a white man. There's nothing wrong with a white man as president, its just refreshing to see there's also nothing wrong with a female or black person being the president, as far the country sees it.

  • Posted By: Prof D @ 02/04/2008 2:31:17 PM

    Actually, a woman was elected President of the U.S. in the science fiction classic, "Project Moonbase" (1954). The Madam President was played by the actress Ernestine Barrier, I believe. The cult class starred Hayden Rorke (of "I Dream of Jeannie" fame) and Donna Martell.

  • Posted By: cbernami @ 02/03/2008 11:08:44 AM

    We as a nation are doomed if we starting comparing TV and movies to the real world.

    • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 02/03/2008 3:40:02 PM

      I agree, cbernami. In the REAL world, white America will NEVER vote for a black person.

      • Posted By: CalexanderJ @ 02/04/2008 2:10:36 PM

        Obviously plenty of white Americans voted for a black person (Obama) over white candidates in the primaries so I don't quite understand your argument. Even if Barack doesn't win, he's getting plenty of support from people of all races.

        I'm glad we are finally getting to the place where we're judging candidates based on their merits, I'm not saying that racism and sexism don't exist anymore, but most people who are against Obama, are against him because of his PERCEIVED lack of experience, and not because they don't want to see a black man in the white house, likewise most people that are against Hillary seem to be against her for personality or policy reasons, and not because they don't think a woman can handle the job of President.. I guess you could question whether Barack and Hillary are being held to a higher standard, but regardless you can't argue that progress isn' t being made.

  • Posted By: chad2008 @ 02/04/2008 1:36:30 PM

    America is ready for a female president but that doesn't mean a white male wouldn't be a good choice. I will vote for the best person, regarless of gender. Visual diversity tells us nothing.

  • Posted By: shauntu @ 02/04/2008 12:30:30 PM

    Wasn't hte female president on Prison Break also the big baddie who even went so far as to assasinate the president?

  • Posted By: dreamer087 @ 02/04/2008 12:04:21 PM

    As much as I would like to agree with Raven and Cbernami that white people would not vote for a black person for president, the optimism and positive outlook of Obama has encouraged me to believe in the unbelieveable.

    Shola Ajiboye
    Crawfordsville, IN

  • Posted By: barrier @ 02/04/2008 11:19:03 AM

    MY MOTHER, ERNESTINE BARRER, PLAYED THE PRESIDENTOF THE UNITED STATES IN PROJECT MOONBASE, A FIFTIES SCENCE FICTION MOVIE. TOWARD THE END OF THE STORY, SHE IS PRESENTED AS THOUGH IT IS NATURAL THAT A WOMAN MIGHT BE HE PREISDENT IN THE FUTURE, AND NO BIG DEAL IS MADE OF IT.
    MIKE BARRIER
    BINGEN, WASHINGTON

  • Posted By: vlis11 @ 02/02/2008 8:50:27 PM

    I think the depiction of gays on MTV's The Real World had a far greater impact on how we perceive gays than Ellen coming out on her sitcom.

  • Posted By: vlis11 @ 02/02/2008 8:47:46 PM

    I think the depiction of gays on MTV's The Real World had a far greater impact on how we perceive gays than Ellen coming out on her sitcom.

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