Ms. President?

I heartily endorse the prospect of a female president of the United States. In fact, last March, I published a commentary on a dream contest between Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice for the 2008 presidential election. Because I really believe either one of these women would do a far better job as president than any of the male contenders already pounding their chests and sharpening their rhetoric for this quadrennial political battle.

But, in a preemptive strike at these male pretenders to the Oval office, ABC launches a television series tomorrow night called Commander-in-Chief. It stars Geena Davis as a female who was placed on a presidential ticket as a political stunt but then becomes president when the real one dies unexpectedly. And, you can bet your campaign contributions (by tuning-in) that President Davis will tackle domestic and international affairs with all of the skill and sensitivity of a mother disciplining her unruly child (and never ever let her husband forget he’s a man, ‘cause she’s a W-O-M-A-N!)

Clearly, the producers of this political series hope to transform or prepare the American consciousness to accept a female as president. But I fear a backlash against this long-overdue prospect if people are offended by this patently obvious use of the Davis character to telegraph a Hillary Clinton presidency.

Nevertheless, if the TV show survives and if Hillary and Condi give the American people this dream contest in 2008, then it’s entirely possible that the weekly diet of elect-Hillary propaganda will wear thin by election night and redound to Condi’s favour.

Hail to the chief!

Click here for a “quick take” on the top five female contenders for 2008….

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