Election 2008 can be called one of the most important and intense elections in United States history. It could also be deemed as one of the ugliest plebiscites where personal affiliations or vignettes have become the centerpieces of campaigns, when in fact it should ideally be about the issues. It is not unheard of that elections do get messy during the final stretch of the race, but this year marks history in the making with an African American presidential candidate and a woman vice presidential candidate on each ticket. Race and gender are unavoidably issues that are mixed in along with the candidates’ political ideologies. As seen in debates, presidential views of a conservative and a liberal are clearly conveyed forcing voters to really think about where they stand and who they believe will genuinely carry on the promise of change.
The pronounced contrasts of the election are reflected in heated or argumentative conversations at the dinner table among family members with opposing views. Sometimes the case is simple in a Pilipino household. The parents choose to vote for John McCain because of his executive and military experience, while the children choose to vote for Barack Obama, who nearly thirty years younger than his opponent (the widest age gap in election history), literally and figuratively symbolizes progressive change for a nation starving for some sincerity and new domestic and international policies.
Benjamin Pimental wrote an article titled “Barack Obama through Pilipino American Eyes.” He cited a difference of opinion among Pilipino Americans on having an African American presidential candidate. Gayle Gatchalian wrote to Pimental about her experiences. “My entire family hates Barack Obama and I can’t have a decent conversation with them without a mention of Muslim, Hussein, and the myriad other issues that have come out that proves he is a decent human being,” she said in an e-mail. “I understand that it’s because they have something against black people, and my black friends have tried to explain it to me… Hearing or reading it from a fellow countryman truly made it all clear to me.”
Terry Bautista, a veteran of the San Francisco Bay Area movement against the Marcos regime offered a contrasting experience from Gatchalian. “Barack Obama has, so far, revealed his knowledge and support for Pilipinos, their history and culture, in the multicultural fabric of the U.S. He has recognized Pilipino American History month, Philippine Independence, the fight of our Pilipino World War veteranos. There are those of us who are excited that a person of color is running for the top office of this country, be it as it may that we strongly disagree about his readiness, experience, and his ability to serve as commander-in-chief. The next president will inherit some of the most serious problems that affect all of us.”
Babe Romualdez of the Philippine star wrote an article titled “Obama or McCain?” citing that “historically, Republicans have always been more supportive of the Philippines, from Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan and the two Bushes. Aside from being a staunch supporter of the US, the Philippines’ shared experiences with America during World War II have strengthened ties even more. To this day, many Pilipinos revere Douglas MacArthur as the country’s liberator from Japan. But, it was a Democrat like Bill Clinton who rekindled the “cold” relations that developed after the US withdrawal from Clark and Subic in 1992.” She also noted that the current president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Bill Clinton were former classmates at Georgetown University. Barack Obama on the other hand, received some flak for postponing his meeting with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, but still has the support of Pilipino Americans in all of the blue states.
In regards to civil rights issues, Barack Obama has the upper hand. He served as a civil rights lawyer for many years and has a specific, clear plan for civil rights. John McCain has no topic pertaining to civil rights (unless you consider immigration and border control as related) on his website. Obama’s Plan for Civil Rights include working to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails women’s and racial minorities' ability to challenge pay discrimination. He also plans to pass the Fair Pay Act to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. They will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation, expand hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act, and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section.
