Obama wins Presidency
Rizwan Ghani
November 06, 2008
Barack Obama has won the national election to become 44th president of United States of America. Obama won 52 percent popular vote and his opponent John McCain got 47 percent votes. In terms of electoral votes, Obama won 339 votes against the required winning post of 270, leaving McCain with 162 votes. It is the biggest majority since Lyndon Johnson, 36th US president´s victory in 1963. Johnson was the first US president to occupy White House from the south of the country.
The majority mandate has made Obama a national president because the victory margins represent American masses support for him. Reportedly, 96 percent African-Americans voted for Obama. Similarly, 67 percent Latinos, 68 percent new voters and equal percentage of young voters voted for him. In total 67 percent of the American voters turned out to vote in America. Democrat victories in Florida, Virginia Colorado Iowa show that America has voted for change instead of following party politics.
The ´08 US Presidential election is also historic because Obama is the first African-American to be elected as country´s president. Obama´s victory shows that today´s America is not the America of 60´s with segregated hospitals and schools for African Americans. US Supreme Court´s 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision ending segregation.
It is widely opined that Obama victory has completed Martin Luther King JR.´s I-have-a- dream stated in his 1964 speech. It can be said-and rightly so-that Obama´s victory is the logical culmination of 147 year old American Civil Rights movement which started in 1861. Obama´s victory has completed the struggle for equality and voting rights. In a way it has reminded America of J. F. Kennedy who stood for character not color of skin and supported looking beyond race.
Personally, I think Obama succeeded in capturing the national sentiment by saying that there is no Republican or Democrat America, it is United States of America. The statement originally used by Obama in 2004, transcend the race barrier, projected image of unification which in all probability won hearts on both sides of the traditional red-blue partisan divide which helped Obama ultimately win the general election. Obama´s quoted Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of US in his concession speech to win the voters who didn´t vote for him. In his speech, Obama appealed for unity.
The observers and experts outside America believe that ´colorblind´ wave has overtaken American politics. The use of internet, chat shows and e-mail culture has allowed Obama campaign winning edge over traditional politics dependent on power centers, media and tricky campaign financing. Obama´s victory has successfully introduced a 5 dollar- 10 dollar campaign tactic to presidential election, which until now relied on state or private funding with inherent downsides.
It is opined that the large mandate allows Obama to hit the ground on the running. He needs to take some immediate steps to translate his promise of change into reality to provide relief at grassroots from his first day in office. In step with President Roosevelt who passed 15 major bills in his first year in office and Regan who introduced tax cuts and deregulation, Obama needs to introduce steps to restore integrity of government, clean justice department and close Guantanamo prison as part of improving country´s human rights record.
Similarly, Obama needs to bring America back into realm of international laws and accordingly invests in international platforms to secure peace and security for his country and rest of the world as part of his resolve to protect ´planet in peril´. In this regard there is an immediate need to end counterproductive preemptive use of force in third world countries including Pakistan. Instead, diplomacy, dialogue and international law should be used to end terrorism and solve complex issues including Palestine, Kashmir, Darfur, Chechnya and Afghanistan.
The clear majority of Democrats in Senate (56 seats) and Congress (251 seats) will allow party complete its agenda on domestic and international fronts including restoration of economy, generating jobs and improving country´s relations with rest of the world.
In all probability, Obama will have to review 700 billion dollar bailout package (that could expand to two trillion dollars ultimately). The question that he should be asking himself is, should his government be supporting the bailout at the cost of health care, education, infrastructure development, pension funds and inflation.
Instead, Democrats should support good business practices and allow financial institutions to fall that cannot stand on their own lest Democrats like Republicans want to allow status quo which allows bad business to compromise good business due to unregulated Credit Deposit Swap phenomenon and in turn threaten the entire financial edifice of the country and rest of the world. The new administration should bring culprits on Wall Street to book in accordance to law to end era of greed and individual gains at the cost of the country and to set precedence for future. The era of rewarding unscrupulous elements on Wall Street must end under Democrats watch.
The massive public mandate and Democratic Party numeric strength in both houses should enable Obama to adopt pro-public policies to serve main street not Wall Street. That is why Obama came to power. Obama in one of his interviews said that the central theme of his campaign was to help middle class America. Obama should uphold his vision to serve average American.
The financial policies adopted by Democrats in future will set the precedent for rest of the world. The issue at stake is not mere capitalism and trickle down (top to bottom) economies. It is the fate of some 100 million American (50 million without health care, 25 million living below federal poverty line and 5 million working two jobs to make ends meet, 2 million mortgage victims and about one million left jobless since start of financial meltdown) and two billion people in developing world who have been pushed to live below one dollar a day poverty limit.
The adoption of flawed Washington financial model coupled with corruption, inefficiency and lack of adequate infrastructure in developing world has been instrumental in turning poverty into a pandemic in the developing world, which in turn fueled and is fueling anti-American sentiments. Democrats need to address the issue of current financial crisis to address developing world´s issues because due to globalization of financial institutions they are very much part of international community. Obama therefore has to adopt all encompassing financial policy starting with Nov. 15 financial moot.
The show of jubilation displayed on Harlem Street in New York, an established symbol of civil rights struggle in the country, following Obama´s victory was reflected across the world. Kenya has announced a national holiday to celebrate Obama´s victory. World leaders have also congratulated Obama and shown readiness to work with him.
McCain fought an uphill battle against Obama. Leaving aside few spikes, Republicans never had a chance to win the presidency because of flawed Bush policies. Despite long election campaign, McCain failed to convincingly distance himself from ´albatross Bush policies´ which ultimately resulted in his defeat. The timing of financial meltdown, mortgage crisis, inflation and growing unemployment further undermined McCain´s prospects of victory. Similarly, McCain´s persistent position to provide solution to pocket book issues of ordinary American versus tax exemption to wealthy undermined whatever chances of success he ever had.
Some experts even go the extent of blaming Sarah Palin for undoing McCain campaign. However, it will be interesting to see how future unfolds as reports predict Palin to be the likely Republican Party leader. However, there are many who opine that despite clearance from the committee ´troopergate´ scandal is far from over, including costing Palin her governorship.
Reportedly, Obama is all set to start working in transition office that will be operational on 5 Nov. 08. It would be interesting to see the composition of Obama team in days to come. It should show the likely direction of Obama´s presidency.
Finally, Obama has made history by winning with a huge margin. The Democratic Party strength in both houses can help Obama to deliver on domestic front and global level including financial crisis, Iraq war and deteriorating Afghan situation. The ball therefore lies in Obama´s court to deliver in terms of being part of international community instead of undermining international laws/conventions and human rights, and respecting sovereignties of smaller states. He himself said the change has come to America. Can he walk the walk? Only time will tell.
The majority mandate has made Obama a national president because the victory margins represent American masses support for him. Reportedly, 96 percent African-Americans voted for Obama. Similarly, 67 percent Latinos, 68 percent new voters and equal percentage of young voters voted for him. In total 67 percent of the American voters turned out to vote in America. Democrat victories in Florida, Virginia Colorado Iowa show that America has voted for change instead of following party politics.
The ´08 US Presidential election is also historic because Obama is the first African-American to be elected as country´s president. Obama´s victory shows that today´s America is not the America of 60´s with segregated hospitals and schools for African Americans. US Supreme Court´s 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision ending segregation.
It is widely opined that Obama victory has completed Martin Luther King JR.´s I-have-a- dream stated in his 1964 speech. It can be said-and rightly so-that Obama´s victory is the logical culmination of 147 year old American Civil Rights movement which started in 1861. Obama´s victory has completed the struggle for equality and voting rights. In a way it has reminded America of J. F. Kennedy who stood for character not color of skin and supported looking beyond race.
Personally, I think Obama succeeded in capturing the national sentiment by saying that there is no Republican or Democrat America, it is United States of America. The statement originally used by Obama in 2004, transcend the race barrier, projected image of unification which in all probability won hearts on both sides of the traditional red-blue partisan divide which helped Obama ultimately win the general election. Obama´s quoted Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of US in his concession speech to win the voters who didn´t vote for him. In his speech, Obama appealed for unity.
The observers and experts outside America believe that ´colorblind´ wave has overtaken American politics. The use of internet, chat shows and e-mail culture has allowed Obama campaign winning edge over traditional politics dependent on power centers, media and tricky campaign financing. Obama´s victory has successfully introduced a 5 dollar- 10 dollar campaign tactic to presidential election, which until now relied on state or private funding with inherent downsides.
It is opined that the large mandate allows Obama to hit the ground on the running. He needs to take some immediate steps to translate his promise of change into reality to provide relief at grassroots from his first day in office. In step with President Roosevelt who passed 15 major bills in his first year in office and Regan who introduced tax cuts and deregulation, Obama needs to introduce steps to restore integrity of government, clean justice department and close Guantanamo prison as part of improving country´s human rights record.
Similarly, Obama needs to bring America back into realm of international laws and accordingly invests in international platforms to secure peace and security for his country and rest of the world as part of his resolve to protect ´planet in peril´. In this regard there is an immediate need to end counterproductive preemptive use of force in third world countries including Pakistan. Instead, diplomacy, dialogue and international law should be used to end terrorism and solve complex issues including Palestine, Kashmir, Darfur, Chechnya and Afghanistan.
The clear majority of Democrats in Senate (56 seats) and Congress (251 seats) will allow party complete its agenda on domestic and international fronts including restoration of economy, generating jobs and improving country´s relations with rest of the world.
In all probability, Obama will have to review 700 billion dollar bailout package (that could expand to two trillion dollars ultimately). The question that he should be asking himself is, should his government be supporting the bailout at the cost of health care, education, infrastructure development, pension funds and inflation.
Instead, Democrats should support good business practices and allow financial institutions to fall that cannot stand on their own lest Democrats like Republicans want to allow status quo which allows bad business to compromise good business due to unregulated Credit Deposit Swap phenomenon and in turn threaten the entire financial edifice of the country and rest of the world. The new administration should bring culprits on Wall Street to book in accordance to law to end era of greed and individual gains at the cost of the country and to set precedence for future. The era of rewarding unscrupulous elements on Wall Street must end under Democrats watch.
The massive public mandate and Democratic Party numeric strength in both houses should enable Obama to adopt pro-public policies to serve main street not Wall Street. That is why Obama came to power. Obama in one of his interviews said that the central theme of his campaign was to help middle class America. Obama should uphold his vision to serve average American.
The financial policies adopted by Democrats in future will set the precedent for rest of the world. The issue at stake is not mere capitalism and trickle down (top to bottom) economies. It is the fate of some 100 million American (50 million without health care, 25 million living below federal poverty line and 5 million working two jobs to make ends meet, 2 million mortgage victims and about one million left jobless since start of financial meltdown) and two billion people in developing world who have been pushed to live below one dollar a day poverty limit.
The adoption of flawed Washington financial model coupled with corruption, inefficiency and lack of adequate infrastructure in developing world has been instrumental in turning poverty into a pandemic in the developing world, which in turn fueled and is fueling anti-American sentiments. Democrats need to address the issue of current financial crisis to address developing world´s issues because due to globalization of financial institutions they are very much part of international community. Obama therefore has to adopt all encompassing financial policy starting with Nov. 15 financial moot.
The show of jubilation displayed on Harlem Street in New York, an established symbol of civil rights struggle in the country, following Obama´s victory was reflected across the world. Kenya has announced a national holiday to celebrate Obama´s victory. World leaders have also congratulated Obama and shown readiness to work with him.
McCain fought an uphill battle against Obama. Leaving aside few spikes, Republicans never had a chance to win the presidency because of flawed Bush policies. Despite long election campaign, McCain failed to convincingly distance himself from ´albatross Bush policies´ which ultimately resulted in his defeat. The timing of financial meltdown, mortgage crisis, inflation and growing unemployment further undermined McCain´s prospects of victory. Similarly, McCain´s persistent position to provide solution to pocket book issues of ordinary American versus tax exemption to wealthy undermined whatever chances of success he ever had.
Some experts even go the extent of blaming Sarah Palin for undoing McCain campaign. However, it will be interesting to see how future unfolds as reports predict Palin to be the likely Republican Party leader. However, there are many who opine that despite clearance from the committee ´troopergate´ scandal is far from over, including costing Palin her governorship.
Reportedly, Obama is all set to start working in transition office that will be operational on 5 Nov. 08. It would be interesting to see the composition of Obama team in days to come. It should show the likely direction of Obama´s presidency.
Finally, Obama has made history by winning with a huge margin. The Democratic Party strength in both houses can help Obama to deliver on domestic front and global level including financial crisis, Iraq war and deteriorating Afghan situation. The ball therefore lies in Obama´s court to deliver in terms of being part of international community instead of undermining international laws/conventions and human rights, and respecting sovereignties of smaller states. He himself said the change has come to America. Can he walk the walk? Only time will tell.
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