if you have to ask . . .

On NPR, they are asking the question, on successive nights, is America ready to elect a black president or a woman president?

I find it interesting that the question excludes anyone who isn't black or a woman. I think the assumption is that a "black president" would naturally be a black man. And that a "woman president" would have to be a white woman. No Hispanics or Asians to mess up the equation. Heaven forbid a woman of color get all uppity and presume to be worthy of such a position.

Reporters have posed the question to "average joes" and political movers and shakers. And, I think the short answer everyone is keeping mum is "well, if you have to ask . . . "

However, all is not doom and gloom. (Surprised ya'll didn't I? You totally expected me to all full of piss and vinegar, didn't you?) When John F. was running for president, people got up in arms over the fact he was catholic. However, in the last election, hardly anyone even bothered to notice that the vice president candidate wasn't even a christian. Frankly, this gives me hope that someday we won't even be asking can a black person or a non-male be president. Maybe someday, it will be leadership and values and positions and issues that actually get a president elected --- not how good they look on their photo-op morning run with the secret service.

However, all that aside, I think it's fun to say "Barack Obama" -- and therefore, we should have the opportunity to say it often.