I'll go ahead and say that I couldn't be happier that Barack took it. I think this stands to greatly strengthen his campaign and hurt Hillary. I'm more than ok with both!
One interesting thing I've hear a number of times now, and it surprises me, is that many people are shocked because they never thought such a predominantly white state would vote so decidedly for a black man. Honestly, race had very little to do with my support for Obama. Sure, he's black--everyone know that and, of the people I know, it doesn't matter what color (or gender, for that matter) a person in this race happens to be. What matters is the quality of the candidate, their positions, etc. Man, when I hear Obama speaking, I couldn't care less what he
looks like; his speaking ability is just incredible, and he presents his arguments with such knowledge, confidence, poise, etc., you just can't help but at least respect his points, whether or not you agree with them. Race is the last thing that matters!
I was saddened the last time I went to Houston, TX, for a medical checkup. I rode a cab a couple times with a black cab driver. Pretty nice guy, and very opinionated! We got on the topic of politics, and he found out that I'm an Obama supporter. Upon hearing this, he told me that I was wasting my time--that America would never elect a black man. It was sobering to hear this from a black man, and I told him that, where I come from, I really don't think race is as much of an issue. He told me I was probably mistaken, and even if I was right about Iowa, that the rest of the country (he said Texas, specifically) wouldn't do it. We parted ways disagreeing, not about who would be the best candidate, but about whether or not America was accepting enough to elect a black man President of the United States. To hear this attitude from a black man was sobering, and I hope he's wrong.
After the Iowa caucus, I've heard from a lot of political commentators that one of the biggest benefits of Obama's victory here is that it might show black voters in other states that, unlike they contend, Barack is electable, because it's now clear that white people will vote for him. True, maybe some states are different than others, but I was sure proud that Iowa set a precedent that a state with 93% white people would strongly support a black candidate. Personally, I hate that this is even an issue nowadays, and I sure hope that this race can prove that America really has come far enough to set aside race, creed, and gender as criteria for the position of President. I hope that, someday, I can run into that cab driver and say, "Look, America's full of good people, and I think that ignorance is in a hard retreat." I hope that's really the case, and Iowa's not just a fluke--that the country as a whole really has come far enough to look beyond the color of one's skin
Thanks,
Chris
