In this regard, throughout American history, the political pundits have argued about who was going to be the next president and why, but one of the foremost factors that has not been included in their analysis has been gender and race. Indeed, to date, it would have been completely accurate to predict that it was a foregone conclusion that the next president would be "a rich white guy." Today, though, for the first time in America's history, the electorate is faced with some new choices that may spell the end of the good ol' boy cabal that has always seemed to control the political process in one fashion or another. In fact, the United States may be fielding its first viable black and female candidates ever during the next presidential election, and it the question is no longer a matter of "is America ready for a black or female president?" The question today, perhaps for the first time in the nation's history, will truly be, "Who will assume the mantle of presidential leadership next?" instead of "just another rich white guy."
Summary and Key Points of Claiming the Mantle.
As the title of the book implies, the main point of Butler's book is that despite their best efforts to design a presidential nomination and election process that ensures everyone a fair chance, political leaders have managed to identify loopholes and alternatives that help to ensure their candidate is selected and that he (the gender reference here is usually correct) receives any campaign financing that is available to help him along the way. In a process termed, "compression" and "front-loading" during the primary process, Butler notes that, leading presidential candidates are able to secure financing based on their eligibility for matching public funds that helps to propel them further...
A candidate who gets a burst of momentum can ride it much further than in past years.... In the 'Seven Dwarfs' scenario, the
race now goes not to the swift but to the first one to leap out of the starting gate after the bell sounds" (p. 123). The process is also cumulative: "Success at each stage of the campaign enhances the
success of all of the others" (p. 71).
While it would seem that there are a number of unknowns and variables involved in the process, the "unintended consequences" of how things actually work today suggest that the system can be manipulated in many ways to the advantage of some candidates that emerge as early frontrunners to the distinct disadvantage of others who might not enjoy the financial ability to compete in spite of being a superior
presidential candidate. In sum, the author maintains through this book that even though the powers-that-be might be using legal and above-board tactics in their machinations, these processes continue to unfairly favor the rich and powerful over others.
Analysis and Critique of Author's
Methodology.
The author develops his arguments concerning how the political processes currently in
place unfairly benefit early frontrunners in presidential campaigns is presented in two
