President Barack Obama - Yes He Did!
I hate to say I told you so, but I did ... I told you why I was backing Barack Obama in February, and guess what? I was right!
But you know what - this isn't about me but about a man who has defied the odds, confounded the pundits and ran his presidential campaign with unprecedented grace, style and foresight. He kept his focus on the policies and the real problems that need to be fixed for the people of America, whatever the race, creed or colour. Never once has he lowered himself to the personal attacks and gutter tactics of his rivals, while never forgetting the importance of family. President-elect Barack Obama.
Sounds good doesn't it?
As I type, I'm just overwhelmed with pride and excitement at his victory. You'd think I was living in Birmingham, Alabama not Birmingham, England!
In so many situations, us here in the UK have imitated the US, often in negative ways but why not now with something positive?
How long do you think it will be before we have something similar here - not necessarily a Black candidate but one who unites rather than divides people, rose to success but without forgetting where he/ she comes from and has a desire to make life better for all people?
How has his campaign and victory affected you?
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Veron Graham - telling it like it is.
You say "I told you so" as if anyone in the UK would ever have voted for McCain. I haven't yet met a British person who supported McCain and didn't want Obama to win. I can't say his win has affected me much although the news did make my day. If Obama could come over here and be PM that would be even better.
Hi Karin,
Thanks for the post.
The reason I said "I told you so" is because I came across many people who would have voted for McCain and doubted that a Black man could be elected as president.
Thanks for your honesty in saying that his win hasn't affected you much.
I know what you mean, it would be great to have a Barack Obama-type here. You seem pretty firm in your convictions so what will you be looking for in the candidate you choose in the next general election?
Anyway has the US election made you more determined to vote?
V
Always comical when the British become experts on American politics.
Barack Obama hardly ever "confounded the pundits" in America. He was favoured for over a year -- by the majority of the so-called pundits themselves. The majority of Americans are Democrat as well. Both the Senate and the House are Democrat run, etc. They are the flavour of the day and in power.
And focus on policies and "real problems"? May I ask you what they were as the majority of Americans saw them? Please, don't throw the so-called "world's" view on policies that America needs. Have you done your on the ground, day-in and day-out, living in America research? I live in inner-city Los Angeles and have yet to see policies that are effective long term in this area that has been controlled by Democrats for decades.
Many, many people here were not voting on policy issues. Howard Stern's (can't believe I'm plugging the guy) man Sal did an interview on the street. Sal inserted McCain's views (concerning abortion and the Iraq war) for Obama's when interviewing people who were voting for Obama. He even said that Palin was Obama's running mate! People voting for Obama felt like those ideas (McCain's) and his running mate choice (Palin) was good, when it was said that they were Obama's.
True, both candidates were focused on policies (with different tactics) but they were most often same policies and the same real problems. That's the way American politics work. You pick the top issues and popular opinions of the day -- because you have to live by the polls in modern day politics -- and then you try to speak to the issues more eloquently than the other guy. And then people still don't care about the issues but rather how charismatic the leader is.
46% of Americans still voted for McCain in spite of President Bush and his party being not liked by many of the same. Says something. I think because all they heard was rhetoric from the Obama side and saw a little more substance from McCain.
Martin said:
As an American I will support my President. However, Mr. Obama's past was not even remotely delved into by the leftist biased media in the US. Indeed, this next caption is an example of the media reporting on Obama:
"Smith, who also calls himself Steve Zacharanda in the hit video which was viewed almost 20,000 times in 48 hours, had taken a week's vacation to go to Miami to volunteer for Barack Obama's election campaign."
Smith is/was a Birmingam Mail Reporter and there are many more like him.
Where is the unbiased reporting when the reporters themselves are logging time campaining for a candidate? Where is the separation of the media from the politicians?
Where was the in-depth reporting on Obama's affiliation with known domestic terrorist William Ayers? Where was the reporting on his ties to known racist and anti-semite Louis Farakahn? What about his ties to criminal and slum lord Tony Rezko? What about his 20 years listening to the hate speech sermons of Reverend Wright? Where was the reporting on Obama's votes, in the Illinois Senate, for INFANTCIDE (not abortion, but his opposition to providing comfort care and treatment to children born of botched abortions claiming that if they were allowede to survive the mother might change her mind and keep the child. he would rather see them "disposed of" while still alive)? Why did Obama refuse release of records of his time at Occidental, Columbia and Harvard Universities (which would have shown his ties to Marxist socities there) and why did the media not push him on this? What about his admitted Cocaine use in the past and why was this not fully investogated (the Gore campaign thought it was necessary to release a DUI on GW Bush from over 20 years earlier on the eve of the 2000 election)? Where is the reporting on Obama's ties to ACORN and what involvement did he have in training ground workers to perpetrate voter fraud? Why was there no reporting that Obama has spent only 160 days in the Senate and avoided taking any positions on key issues by voting "Present" 120 time? I could go on, and on, and on.
Instead, the media go en masse to Alaska to dig up dirt on Sarah Palin - THE VP CANDIDATE, NOT THE PRES CANDIDATE. We here reports on the so called "Trooper Gate" and on the eve of the election she was absolved by the Statehouse of any ethics charges/violations (didn't hear about that did you). We have $150K in clothes purchases made by the GOP. It went unreported that the clothes were going to be auctioned off and the proceeds donated post-election to charity. Again, I could go on and on.
In addition to the clear media bias in Mr. Obama's favor, for whatever reason, anyone questioning his past, present or policies, was either labeled a racist or received a proctology exam. Look at Joe the Plumber for example. Obama was canvassing a neighbourhood and approached him. Joe asked a question about tax policy and Obama made the famous "redistribution" statement. Within hours, the attack dogs had Joe's private/personal government records in hand reporting to the world, through a very compliant media, nonsense like "he owes back taxes of $1000." They attacked a citizen because of the verbal gaffe made by Obama. Or, another example, I have repeatedly been labeled a racist on blogs when I pointed out that within 24 hours of the election Obama broke cardinal election promise #1 - Change, by appointing ex-Clinton political hacks (ie., Emmanual and others) to his inner circle, or when I challenge people to explain what policies of "change" Obama has set forth?
Again, I will support my President, however, it worries me that this candidate was never challenged or really vetted. I am extremely happy that a non-traditional candidate (ie, from the known political class regardless of race) has made it to, arguably, the most important civilian post in the world. I hope that he succeeds and makes my country and this world a better place. Hopefully, there is no buyer's remorse.
PS - I am an Independent, no party affiliation. I was not a fan of John McCain as a candidate, however, his past was known and fully vetted.
Hi Keith,
Thanks for the post. Nice to have another responding reader from across the pond!
Forgive me, but I don't recall saying I was any sort of expert on US politics. I am writing simply as a man who has received most of his inspiration from American leaders and activists, and has another in your president-elect.
My interest in him stretches back further than a year ago to the beginning of the campaign, when no-one gave him a chance.
I appreciate you have a much better handle on the effects of policies of your own leaders but from what I saw in this campaign, Senator Obama spoke concerning the very real fears ordinary folks have as an economic crisis unfolds around them - how they are going to pay their way. The McCain/ Palin ticket spent plenty of time on personal attacks against Obama, perhaps too much, if exit polls are to be believed.
Tell me, am I sensing some upset or at least concern on your part about the Obama/ Biden victory? Are you suggesting that the American system of electing a president is somehow unfair or that the electorate did not understand what they were doing?
By the way, I'd welcome your views on UK politics any day.
Hope you will reply.
Veron
Hi Martin, and thanks for your extensive reply.
I'm glad you wrote that you will support your president but the tone of your response doesn't suggest to me someone in support of Obama.
I among many Britons caught plenty of reports of Barack's supposedly criminal associations, militant/ Islamic heritage and questionable patriotism.
Are you speaking of the same leftist biased media who eight years ago went cool on the issue of George W Bush's 'win' over Al Gore?
By the way, I heard all about the 'Troopergate' scandal, among the other critisms, particularly of Sarah Palin. Her selection by John McCain, when she didn't appear to be ready for office - ask Colin Powell - didn't suggest him to be the great judge of character of folklore.
I believe he insulted the electorate by trying to woo Hillary Clinton's backers by simply wheeling in another woman.
At the end of the day, the votes have been cast and the result wasn't even close. What do you hope will happen, given your concerns about the process?
Hi Veron
I followed most events in the American elections.
In my view, unity and use of the 'right' vocabulary helped the Democrats to win.
Eeh! I learned something; people at 'grassroot level' in political terms have the power to change circumstances, when they choose to be actively involved.
A great message for us Brits!
Zoe
HI Veron,
Obamas triumph is not only an inspiration to the USA, but to the whole world.
Veron what I would like to know is, will we be able to call on the BME community if we had a candidate like Obama for Prime Minister/MP?
And, what are we doing to ensure the black vote becomes more relevant.
Love and best wishes
Jackei Grant
Yes, V
I an I like what you write, bred'ren.
I can't remember the last time everyone I know has been so positive about something what happen in America.
I hope that the young people see that they can be intelligent, study and work hard and achieve something in life.
Black people must realise that we can achieve, despite racism.
I hope that people recognise that racism nuh gone, is just that our bred'ren Barack set a mark, nuh true?
Respec'
Barry Levi
As much as I like your direct approach of "telling it like it is", the best we can do is to tell it as we "see" it. There is much deception around and Obama appears to be in the mix when it comes to that deception. I think that much of what goes on is manipulated from behind the scenes - ie: the shadow government. If we could see who is actually pulling the strings, I think that our decisions would be radically different.
Hi Donna,
Thanks for your kind comments. I'm not sure what you mean - what deception and how is President Obama 'in the mix?'
What makes you say this now? Has something happened that you'd like to share your opinions about?
Cheers,
Veron
www.GMAgency.co.uk
Donna, I do not understand this idea of deception behind Obama. If there is, do you think there is more than was say behind Bush and Cheney and if so why?
I think there are a lot of people who did not look behind the man in Obama, and took change as something that would mean, waving a magic wand around and everything would be cleared up.
Change, as Obama said, would take time. He has eight years of mess to clean up.
For instance, Afghanistan, I find it hilarious how many in America are saying this is Obama's War now and that if he puts troops into Afghanistan he is going back on campaign promises.
All that tells me is people have failed to check out for themselves the truth - and what is on the White House website.
He is withdrawing troops from Iraq, but anyone that thinks this is instantaneous is wholly wrong, he set out the reasons for finishing what was started in Afghanistan but with a timetable to an exit strategy, unlike Bush and Cheney.
I could go on, but I think people need to find out for themselves. I read a lot of American Press, and am appalled but some of the outright lies being spread, even in the mainstream media, and especially on partisan channels like Fox.
As VEron said, it would interesting to hear you elaborate more on your concerns and why this differs from any past admin which has been, imo no more or less influenced by lobbying or other influences.