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Originally Posted by illdefined
unfortunately, this country is several generations away from voting a black candidate into office. this election in particular revealed much about our country.
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I guess I strongly disagree with this statement. In case you have forgotten, both parties strongly recruited Colin Powell prior to 2000. It was only his own recalcitrance that prevented him from being nominated. Had he chosen to do so and with 20/20 hindsight, I don't doubt that he would have been elected over either Gore or Bush. Regardless, the number of african-americans in positions of authority has, at least on a symbolic level, increased significantly. As secretary of state, Powell is (I think) number 5 on the succession list to president.
If an otherwise qualified african american ran on a program that supported a market economy and that was socially conservative, I have no doubt he (or she) would be elected. If, however, an african-american ran on the traditional liberal agenda, I do not doubt he (or she) would lose.