Post-Obama Politics: Will There be More Acceptance for Unorthodox Presidential Candidates?

As an outsider watching from afar, the U.S. 2008 presidential election and the victory of senator Barack Obama have truly stir up a lot of curiosity in me. So much so that I've decided now to post my first thread in ATS to satisfy my curiosity.

With what limited knowledge & observation one might have as an outsider, I'm quite intrigued with the way that people & mainstream media worldwide hailed the 'historical value' of Sen. Obama's victory. That is, as the historic victory of a demographically unorthodox figure (i.e. the 1st African-American/Black US president) and - to a somewhat lesser degree- as the victory of an unorthodox political ideal (Change?) that 'defies' the US political Status Quo (Republican status quo?).

What makes me curious is just how significant will this so-called 'historical values' affects the future of US & worldwide presidential elections. Something that I'd rather consult to fellow citizens (the real socio-political change powerhouse, as far as I'm concern) here, in ATS, than to mainstream media or political analysts.

The said curiosity is: will Sen. Obama's victory makes you more open to accept presidential candidates from demographically unorthodox (i.e those from ethnic/religious/gender/etc minorities) and/or politically unorthodox background (i.e. those upholding different political ideas/values/affiliation than the status quo), in your own respective countries?...

Thank you all for those of you who would kindly satisfy my curiosity with civil & decorous replies.

Disclaimer: I'm not a US citizen. I do not have any personal inclination/interest to either Barack Obama; his political ideals/views; the political parties/ideologies involved in the 2008 US presidential election or some racist/religious/ideological stance. The only motivation I have behind this thread is to learn about socio-political changes in the perpespective of ordinary citizens, just like myself.

Ref:
news.bbc.co.uk...
www.bbc.co.uk...
www.thejakartapost.com...
www.thejakartapost.com...’s-victory.html
www.reuters.com...
news.yahoo.com...
abcnews.go.com...
...etc



[edit on 6-11-2008 by KembaraLangit]

[edit on 6-11-2008 by KembaraLangit]

I think the candidates this election cycle were fairly diverse we had

Women Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin
African American Barack Obama
Hispanic Bill Richardson
Mormon Mitt Romney
Evangelical Mike Huckabee
Roman Catholic Joe Biden

In the next Election cycle I expect to see

Indian American Bobby Jindal

Jewish American Joe Lieberman was the VP candidate in 2000

I expect to see the candidates continue to get more diverse
We have a few Muslim members of Congress

I think Athiest or Pagan candidates are a few years away
and we have have openly homosexual members of Congress

Locally Candidates are very diverse, Lynn Boggs McDonald was running my represntative a few years back she is a African American female Republican .

Diversity is not a problem shared values are more important to most voters.



[edit on 11/6/2008 by DarkStormCrow]

reply to post by DarkStormCrow


Thank you for the information DarkStormCrow
I hope you won't mind addressing a few more curiosities of mine?

First is, when you say that...

Diversity is not a problem shared values are more important to most voters.

I wonder what do you mean exactly by shared values? Would you mind giving me some examples, please?

Secondly, considering all those names that you have quoted as the representation of the fairly diverse election cycle in the US, would you accept them, IF it shall one day be so, as presidential candidates?

Thank you again in advance...

[edit on 6-11-2008 by KembaraLangit]

I vote for candidates based one the following criteria.

Bill of Rights stances, especially 2nd amendment for me, and Religious Freedom
Abortion stance
National Defense
Taxes
Sates Rights
Economy
International Relations

I look for candidates that match my views or values on these items. I dont care what thier color, creed, religion, sex, orientation , or whatever criteria is out there.

I accept them as as candidates I may not give them my vote if I dont share thier values. I have a very different worldview than our present President elect Mr Obama. I disagree with him on almost everything I would not vote for him, however he will be the President and I will give him his chance , I suspect I will spend the next 4 years trying to fight most of his proposals, The opposition if you will.

Originally posted by DarkStormCrow
I vote for candidates based one the following criteria.
Bill of Rights stances, especially 2nd amendment for me, and Religious Freedom
Abortion stance
National Defense
Taxes
Sates Rights
Economy
International Relations
I look for candidates that match my views or values on these items. I dont care what thier color, creed, religion, sex, orientation , or whatever criteria is out there.
I accept them as as candidates I may not give them my vote if I dont share thier values. I have a very different worldview than our present President elect Mr Obama. I disagree with him on almost everything I would not vote for him, however he will be the President and I will give him his chance , I suspect I will spend the next 4 years trying to fight most of his proposals, The opposition if you will.

O.K. I really like & am indebted to your crystal clear answers DarkStormCrow
I've just lurk around the other threads related to Obama's victory & it seems so far that the political/common 'values' does play a stronger factor in people's (well,at least those in ATS) acceptance. However, I also see that some 'ideologically-related' stance are influencing a few people's 'acceptance' towards Obama's victory...
Conservatism; anti-Socialism/Communism etc..I wonder how much/far this type of 'stance' will affect future presidential elections in the US?

[edit on 6-11-2008 by KembaraLangit]