The Diversity that Could Be 2008

Posted By Craig

I know it is way too early to start speculating about the presidential hopefuls for 2008, but trust me; I am not the only one who has this on their mind. On radio talk shows and cable news stations alike, 2008 seems to be closer than it is. I have been thinking about the list of hopefuls that will possibly take the call in three years time, and what strikes me the most is that this field could be quite diverse.


Every president that we have had has been a white male, most often than not from a family of wealth. Of course there are exceptions such as Abraham Lincoln, but even by the time he was elected, he has acquired a good deal of money. But America has seemed to accept this fact, and eagerly await the match up between two wealthy white guys. However, the tide could very quickly be turning to include much more diversity. Yes you have had Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and the ever present Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton are always involved. But in 2008, diversity may really play in a role in getting the next president elected.

There have been talks for months, perhaps even years, that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) gearing up for a run for the White House. Her recent voting record in the Senate may support this contention. She seems to vote right down the middle, a tactic her husband Bill Clinton made famous for getting elected. Bill understood that you talk liberal, but vote moderate. This policy seems to be working well for Hillary in her run-up to the nomination as well.

However, it is not just women who will be seen, you can’t count out Al Sharpton as running, but the Democrats may have two fierce competitors for Mrs. Clinton; Sen. Harold Ford of Tennessee and Sen. Obama Barak of Illinois. Both these men of color have built a huge amount of respect amongst their peers and their party. Harold Ford is an excellent speaker, and full of charisma. Obama Barak is dignified and stoic. Just these three potential contenders alone could wreak havoc for republicans.

Nevertheless, don’t count out the republicans and their ability to add diversity. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is building quite a portfolio as her time as S.O.S. She has made numerous visits around the world in just a short time, and even played hardball with some of the world’s staunchest leaders. But even her hard exterior gives way to her soft speech when needed; like trying to quell differences with Europe over the past few months. An intelligent Africa-American woman, she could shake things up in the Republican Party, which may explain why Dick Cheney refuses to run.

A lot of noise has been made about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and his possible run for president. The only problem, the constitution does not allow foreign born entities from running for America’s top office. A line from the Article II section I reads,

“No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”

So unless the constitution is changed, Arnold is a no go. And even though I am a Republican, I don’t feel that the law should be changed. The founders of this county thought it important enough to add this clause, and I see why. The temptation of loyalty to one’s home country could be too strong. Maybe that line of thinking is outdated, but I doubt that if George W. Bush went to Europe and rose to political power in a country there, they would be foaming at the mouth to change any such clause that they may have.
Arnold, you are leader of the sixth largerst economy in the worle, the world! California does more business, has more commerce than Arnold’s home nation of Austria. To many, that fact alone is a resolute fact that they have done well. Don’t spit on the founding fathers to try and get a famous face in the White House.

This is just a sample of the potential candidates for their respective parties in 2008. There is still just over 2 years for America to find out who, if any of the above metnioned run, but isn’t the thought of a diverse nomination process somewhat exciting? I know it is for me.