Why Obama is Good for America

Whatever happens in 2008 November presidential election in the United States, the spectrum of American political history will never be the same. When on July 4, 1776, the founding fathers of America declared “All men are created equal and have the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” little did they know that it will take another two hundred and thirty two years to itch closer to the actualization of the declaration. Barack Obama represents in its entirety the “American Dream”.

While Obama is challenging the way things are done in Washington, getting new people interested in the process and seems to be inspiring a new generation. In Missouri, more than 780,000 voters participated in the Democratic primary — a 47 percent increase over the previous record. In New Hampshire more than 529,711 residents voted in the Democratic and Republican primaries, smashing the state’s presidential primary record of 396,385 set in 2000. On Super Tuesday alone, turnout records were set in 15 states where both parties held Feb. 5 primaries. Twelve states saw record-breaking Democratic turnout while 11 set Republican turnout records. Both the Democratic and Republican candidates seem to be telling Americans that government is their bus and that they should all come in and have a seat. As Obama became the presumptive democratic nominee, the big question mark still hanging on the his neck however is; Is he good for America?

From all indications, Obama’s presidency will inspire the African American kids and other minorities. He will make them stop worrying about their place in America because they can be all they want in America. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of JF Kennedy agreed with this when she wrote in the New York Times piece “A President Like My Father” that Obama could be the first president like her father, one who can inspire “a new generation of Americans.” It is believed that he will inspire a new generation of Americans who have almost disengaged from the political process. With his diverse background it is hoped that he will heal the wound of racism. With his international outlook the rest of the world think he will repair the damage done by the Bush administration in international affairs starting with the Iraq war. With a childhood spent partly in Asia, among Muslims, no public relations campaign could do more than Obama's mere presence in the White House to defuse anti-American passion around the world especially in the Muslim countries.

With Obama, America will hopefully be seeking another dimension in relating with the world through engagement, international diplomacy, as he has repeatedly stated on his campaign trail. If he succeeds in ending the war in Iraq and solving the Middle East problem, America will stand tall again in the comity of nations and along side her allies. America will save money currently being spent in Iraq at $5000 dollars a second and use it to beef up America’s floundering economy.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama says race is an issue that America cannot ignore. By challenging Americans to address the issue of race, he may be the one to lead America out of this present tip toeing around the issue of race. According to New York Times editorial of March 19, 2008 ‘What is evident is that Barack Obama not only cleared the air over a particular controversy - he raised the discussion of race and religion to a higher plane.” But his reference to Reverend Wright as his "spiritual mentor” and his attendance of the church where hate-mongering and racist utterances from his former pastor for two decades now appears to be a contradiction of his stance as a one who unites. The controversial statement by Obama’s wife Michele that; “for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change” further raises question as to whether Obama is resonating with mainstream American values.

Already in this campaign many have been questioning if Obama is really a mainstream candidate or just a flash in the pan. Former President Clinton first raised the question in South C. when he said that "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina in '84 and '88. Also, Geraldine Ferraro, Walter Mondale's vice-presidential pick in 1984 and former top Hillary Clinton ally said that, “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any colour) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept." Obama supporters, such as former Gov. Jim Hodges disagrees saying that Obama’s win in South Carolina cannot be written off as Jesse Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 S.C. caucus victories were. He added that Obama proved he could appeal to a broad group of voters. “It was a first round knockout,” Hodges said. “( Jackson) didn’t win like this. Nobody’s won like this.” And can Barack Obama now avoid being seen as a black candidate, rather than a candidate who happens to be a black man?

Obamas’ association with controversial Antoin Rezko, a former fundraiser who is on trial facing extortion charges is raising a lot of questions on his message of change and a different approach to politics in Washington. Antoin Rezko helped raise up to $250,000 for the Illinois senators past political campaigns, nearly $90,000 more than the Obama campaign previously acknowledged. Obama also recently told the editorial boards of the Chicago Tribune that it was a mistake for him to purchase his Chicago home at less than the asking price on the same day that the wife of Rezko, purchased an adjoining vacant lot from the same seller. Although Obama has not been implicated or accused of any wrong doing, and has since donated $150,000 to charity that Rezko brought into the campaign, the question of dealings between the two men and how much in all Rezko raised still remain. Just yesterday, a federal jury found Antoin Rezko, guilty of 16 of 24 counts in his Illinois corruption trial, the Associated Press reported.

In the editorial piece endorsing Hillary Clinton, NY Times state that “The potential upside of a great Obama presidency is enticing, but this country faces huge problems, and will no doubt be facing more that we can’t foresee. The next president needs to start immediately on challenges that will require concrete solutions, resolve, and the ability to make government work. Mrs. Clinton is more qualified, right now, to be president.” However, in his own endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama by Gov. Bill Richardson a former Democratic presidential candidate, referred to Obama as an "extraordinary American." He said that "Barack Obama will make a great and historic president," and that "[It] is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our nation and you [Obama] are a once-in-a-lifetime leader."

According to Mark Nepo; to change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and be transformed is to be a pilgrim. America has journeyed and appears to be ready for ‘change’. McCain and Obama are all promising change from the Bush administration, but what of leadership and experience? While Obama is said to be lacking the experience and leadership credentials, he has consistently claimed that leadership is not so much about familiar techniques in Washington as it is about opening of hearts. McCain’s gaffe on Al-Qaeda being trained in Iran and sent back to fight in Iraq has raised questions on what experience really is. Obama has questioned the benefits of experience riddled with whirl wind of bad judgment from those that supported the Iraqi war “that shouldn’t have been authorized in the first place”.  That is still rhetoric. The question on his experience still remains - a seemingly weakness that he has to address especially if he wins the democratic race.

Questions has been asked; “how much is Obama worth?” And some simple answers provided; whatever someone is willing to pay. Obama may not be the perfect president America is looking for. In fact, he will not solve all the problems of America. He has his weaknesses. While he draws his strength from young people and those with college degrees, he performs poorly when it comes to people over 65 and people without college degrees. He is thus looking like a candidate who cannot compete in the big states with Blue Collar workers and traditional democrats where he continues to lose to Clinton. This further raises question as to his electability. Obama is however, not just good for America because he will be the first black president and a source of inspiration to the rest of the minorities here and in the rest of the world. He is good for America because of what he promised to take to the White House – inspiration, hope, candor, economic revival, restoration of quality and confidence in our public schools.

Americans have been excited by the current democratic process with record turn outs. In Pennsylvania, a record number of 4,044,952 democrats and 3,215,478 republicans are registered for the primary. Harry A. VanSickle, the state’s elections commissioner said “it’s kind of incredible” just before he announced the record numbers. But between stimulus and response, there lies a space. In that space lies the freedom and power of Americans to choose their response. The current race for the White House has ignited a fire of hope in Americans for the first time since Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. How do they respond?

Paraphrasing Kofi Anan, - the former secretary of UN: To live is to choose. But to choose well, Americans must know who their candidates are and what they stand for, where they want to go and why they want to get there. That is the beauty of the democratic process. Opportunity however they said is a funny thing. Sometimes it’s lost, other times it’s missed. Half the time, it’s blown. With the two candidates that still have a realistic chance of becoming the 42^nd president on the United State, Americans have a choice.  And the choice they make is ultimately their own responsibility.

Robot  # 1 | 04.06.2008 21:55

...Read the full article.

akuluouno  # 2 | 05.06.2008 05:45

Dear CO, I think you should have titled it "Why Obama is Good for Nigeria":mad::mad: If he were a Nigerian the majority white tribe would have ganged up with the minority Latino tribe to either cross carpet, push him out through undemocratic means while invoking tibal sentiments or religious sentiments just like our founding fathers and political pundits Awo, Zik and Bello did to each other in their time and their successors have continued to to do to one another today:rolleyes::rolleyes: It is the Obama phenomenon that makes the average American want to die for his country seeing that indeed it is a land of opportunity. Ours is a land where your name, tribe, religion, zone, sex, height and such other ill-fitting considerations are first trashed out before the content of your character comes close for consideration:evil::evil:

Donn  # 3 | 05.06.2008 06:17

Obama's emergence as the Democratic candidate will go a long way in strengtening not only the the black man, but other race's beleif and confidence in himself. It will go a long way in re-enforcing our beleif that there's really nothing you can't acheive with focus, commitment and determination. All hands must now be on deck to ensure that 'change' truly comes by November. He must take politically correct decisions from now on and that will start from his choice of running mate. Personally, I beleive Hillary Clinton will be a good choice to take care of the class of voters that don't see what we see in him.....but he will need to reassure us that he can tolerate and contain Hillary because Hillary will be the most powerful Vice President in history. If he prooves the capacity to be in 'charge'......then Hillary is it.

K_Station  # 4 | 05.06.2008 23:45

=Robot;4295050939>..And can Barack Obama now avoid being seen as a black candidate, rather than a candidate who happens to be a black man? I'm proud of Barack Obama and he's no doubt such an inspirational leader. However the last time I checked Obama is as much a black person as he is a white person. His achievements from a racial perspective bears false hopes for the black race and that was why blacks (I mean real black people like his wife, Michelle) in America were reluctant to support him until they realise the white folks are ready to back him. In all, I wish him well in this new phase of the presidential campaign.