'Wrong' traits no longer roadblock for candidates

[sniffa]

A quick-fading political storm over Barack Obama's teen drug use shows how some issues that once would have torpedoed a candidate have lost their pop.

Traits that a decade or a generation ago would have automatically disqualified a candidate for higher office can be found in many of this year's top presidential candidates: Divorce, infidelity, "wrong" race, "wrong" gender, "wrong" religion, "wrong" age. None are now considered insurmountable.

snip

Similarly, Rudy Giuliani says that his affair with the woman to whom he is now married is far less important than his track record in governing.

And based on popular support for the Obama, Giuliani, Clinton, and Mitt Romney campaigns, many voters are willing to overlook other traits that once would have been nonstarters.

Blacks, women and people of a wide spectrum of religions have never found more political acceptance, historians say. At the same time, many voters are more willing to tolerate traits considered moral failings.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-uscamp1216,0,5755722.story

i agree, but i hope they hold any of that shit against Ghouliani. fuck him.

[babylonsister]

1. It's amazing what 4 years and a potential Dem landslide will do. nt

[Cha]

2. ghoul's track record in

governing is more perverted than his personal life.

Amadou Diallo doesn't sit too well with New Yorkers..

And then there's the Firemen in New York City..

snip~
.."When Giuliani declined their invitation, a letter was e-mailed to all 280,000 members of IAFF-- representing 85% of the nation's firefighters -- indicating that most of the association had not wanted to invite him anyways and then listed why. " The IAFF recognizes that Mayor Giuliani generally enjoys a favorable reputation as a result of his actions immediately after the tragedy of 9/11. Many people consider Rudy Giuliani "America's Mayor," and many of our members who don't yet know the real story, may also have a positive view of him. This letter is intended to make all of our members aware of the egregious acts Mayor Giuliani committed against our members, our fallen on 9/11, and our New York City union officers following that horrific day. Rest assured, our exclusion of Mayor Giuliani is not about any particular contractual or policy issue or disagreement. His actions post 9/11 rise to such an offensive and personal attack on our brother and sisterhood - and directly on our union - that the IAFF does not feel Rudy Giuliani deserves an audience of IAFF leaders and members at our own Presidential Forum. The disrespect that he exhibited to our 343 fallen FDNY brothers, their families and our New York City IAFF leadership in the wake of that tragic day has not been forgiven or forgotten."..

Much more..
http://www.populistamerica.com/giuliani_vs_the_firefighters

[laconicsax]

3. What's the 'wide spectrum' of religions finding acceptance?

I see the wide spectrum of one religion represented.