By Philip Fernando for Asian Tribune
Los Angeles, 05 November, (Asiantribune.com): Senator Barack Obama won the U S presidency in a near landslide becoming the first black man in history to do so. The cool demeanor of the victor triumphed over the dour negativism of the vanquished. John McCain conceded defeat last night. The stunningly triumphant feat of Obama signified an epochal dousing of the country’s smoldering Black and White race relations. It was like the check valve inside an alternator suddenly functioning smoothly regulating directionality of current flow. Red states turned blue inside the United States of America. Suddenly, jubilation and trumpeted exuberance overtook the nation in stark contrast to the Obama’s refusal to be drawn into any vicious counter-attack on McCain for weeks. 
President-elect Barack Obama smiles as he gives his acceptance speech at Grant Park in Chicago Tuesday night, Nov. 4, 2008.
Light emitting diodes illuminated the political landscape to mesmerize the nation by their color-changing kinetic effects. Obama electrified the entire two-year campaign with multiple shades of gorgeous color as his inspirational voice reached crescendo on November 4th 2008, winning the White House with consummate ease. He will become the 44th president on January 20th, 2009.
The long ordeal was like a dream. At his exotic “boutique politique,” Obama the avant-garde designer offered high-performance diodes bristling on a blue circuit board, wittily mounted on a pair of pliers with the back drop of Greek columns to exemplify his political wizardry. Obama reached the magical 270 electoral votes number within two hours after the polls closed. Obama successfully dimmed all other lights that challenged him trying to outshine the march towards victory.
John McCain’s problems of his own making were many. There were no McCain Ads in Florida until September; Obama out-spent him to five to one million dollars on Ads in October alone. Republicans had a voter registration edge of 280,000 in 2006, while Obama had a 660,000 in edge in 2008. That was a strategic error by McCain.
Sarah Palin was not focused. Her wardrobe was too expensive. Obama got over $ 700 million to McCain’s $ 450 million in their war chests. McCain did not concentrate on early voting and let Obama beat him,
U.S. President-elect Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) arrives to speak to supporters during his election night rally after being declared the winner of the 2008 U.S. Presidential Campaign in Chicago, November 4, 2008.
On top of all that unfettered capitalism died a natural death under 8 years of Bush governance. Now US government has a stake in ownership of banks, insurance companies and finance corporations. There are no more coddled monopolies and no more free wheeling or deregulated version of market economy, brokerages, hedge funds and non-banks. The stake on healthcare, education and infra-structure now dominates the political scene.
His marquee speech on race in Philadelphia early this year defined the campaign as Obama stayed above the fray on conflicting issues. His approach to problem solving received top billing from all critics. Amidst the grueling marathon lasting over 2 years, Obama had time to visit his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng and ailing grand mother Madelyn Dunham in Honolulu and talk fondly of his grandfather Stanley Dunham. His grand mother passed away yesterday.
Obama often spoke of his mother S. Ann Soetoro, a teen mother who later got a Ph.D. in anthropology. She lived in Indonesia and married again. “When I think about my mother, I think that there was a certain combination of being grounded in who she was, what she believed in. But also a certain recklessness. She wasn’t comfortable seeing life confined to a certain box” Obama used to say.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
A great victory for one
A great victory for one skinny black man, a monumental victory for all of mankind – a victory that once-and-for-all closes the debate of ethnic, color, and religious superiority of one people over another. America has indeed transcended prejudice and hopefully, has paved the way for similar changes in attitudes throughout the world.
Bigots of all kinds should take note that their petite philosophies of superiority are quickly becoming extinct and replaced by secular and respectful attitudes – to the extent that differences among humans are not merely tolerated but celebrated. In Sri Lanka, those who claim that the island is the exclusive domain of a particular ethnic group should learn from this historic event today, and begin to view all human beings as equals, each person with an inalienable right in the land where it was born. It is in the backdrop of this great celebration of democracy, sad to say, that the latest APRC proposals still insists on a “special place” for Buddhism in Sri Lanka, thereby implicitly marginalizing the value of other religions while trivializing the time-tested greatness of the Buddhist religion.
If Sri Lanka is ever to forge ahead as a modern state in the 21st century, there’s only one way – and that is, as have proven by Americans on this historic day, Lankans too must transcend their narrow views about ethnicity and religion – the fundamental problem in Sri Lanka.
[Incidentally, this commentator predicted Obama’s victory as early as in June, “It shall be Barack Obama all the way to the White House …” (see http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/11576#comment-18708) and exactly one month ago also predicted a 65% victory for the Obama-Biden ticket, “expect a minimal 65% electoral victory for Obama-Biden on November” (see http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/13506#comment-20516). With just 4 states yet to be called, the actual Obama-Biden electoral vote margin … 69%!]
It is a historic day not
It is a historic day not only for America, but for the rest of the world. It is a lesson for those who divide and rule. Mr. Obama's success was due to his ability to win the hearts and minds of all parties and not just the black majority.
We Sri Lankans have a lesson to learn here. Those who seek ethnic divisions will never succeed. If a minority person has to come to power, he has to be a unifying force.
May he succeed in his new role as the President of the greatest country on earth. World is full of expectations. We are with you Mr. Obama. Your success is our success.
This is a fantastic victory
This is a fantastic victory for the ideals that have been held out to the world as uniquely American: Equality, Liberty and Democracy, and brings new hope to all the peoples of the world.
Despite the hurdles placed before him as an African American on this journey to the White House, and despite all the subtleties used to drive home the 'racial' factor into this Presidential race, a factor that makes some White people in America still uncomfortable with the idea of a Black as President, this fantastic goal was achieved. America has demonstrated its true self after 232 years of independence, and the non-violent Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King.
It was largely accomplished through a meticulous strategy of Obama's disciplined campaign that did not waver in its tactics, as opposed to the McCain campaign that was lashing around, all tactics and NO strategy. It was also achieved through the dedicated efforts of a lot of people, young people particularly, who believed in the American ideal and braved all the obstacles to get the Obama message across. President Elect Obama was also helped by all the blunders of the Bush administration to which Sen McCain was closely linked.
The message this holds out to Sri Lankans is that parochial politics in which Minorities continue to assert their aspirations through ethnic or religious parties does not provide the opportunities for acceptance in positions of leadership representing an entire nation.
Had Obama belonged to a political party that represented ONLY African Americans, he could NEVER have achieved what he has done.
The whole world joins in wishing President Elect Obama the very best of luck as he steps out with his team onto finding solutions for the most daunting problems that are even as now, on his plate. The world wants a CHANGE of direction, and for this new path to be led by the USA and its new President. Good Luck!!
Cameon OBAMA, My
Cameon OBAMA, My Congratulations!
Some called him leftist,
Some called him leftist, some Muslim, some too young to hold the office of presidency. Expert were making hair-splitting arguments. BUT SENATOR OBAMA WON. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Obama won despite all the
Obama won despite all the Sri Lankan-style divisive and racist statements, etc., employed by many during the course of the long and hard fought campaign. And as someone pointed out, a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. And I am very, very proud to have been able to cast my vote for Obama. Obama's approach,outlook and calm demeanor instils hope in people across all segments of society.
Obama's victory heralds the deep diappointment of the American electorate with politics as usual. I feel it is high time that the Sri Lankan electorate, also, realises that it the politics as usual that is dragging a country, with so much potential, into an abyss. People need to wake up in the same manner the American electorate has woken up.
More than the win, it is the
More than the win, it is the defeat which carries the significance, not of McCain, but of terrorists who wants to have ethnic or religious enclaves all over the world!.
COMMENT::::> Most organised
COMMENT::::>
Most organised campaigner won.
We MUST not see this as a AFRICAN-AMERICAN winning. It is the best strategy that won.
IT IS NOT AS A REPRESENTATIVE of AFRICAN AMERICANS only that made B.OBAMA the president of USA.
There are NO Ethnic Parties in USA like in Sri Lanka. TNA,SLMC etc...60 year old ethnic parties.
EVEN in Sri Lanka if a Tamil or a Muslim can come up and express the views of the majority of people in Sri Lanka then he can become the president of Sri Lanka. No doubt.....
Another point is that Barrack Obama is not really your "AFRICAN-AMERICAN" ---He is more your good migrant. He is a 2nd generation African-American the OLDER African Americans have been in AMERICAS for nearly 600 years >>>THOSE THAT CAME AS SLAVES under the whites(Anglo-saxon/celtic).
May You Live Long & Prosper
Heartiest congratulations Mr
Heartiest congratulations Mr Obama- the President Elect!!!!!
Mr Obama transcended ethnic/ religious superiority and identified himself with the majority. He saw himself as an American first and chose to be a Christian and part of the majority. He did not peddle his blackness, Muslim heritage or didn't try to carve out a State for the Blacks / moslems in the US. He identifies himself with the average countrymen (who is White , Christian and speaks English) and respects the majority ethos and culture. In fact he is part of the average citizenry of the US. It's a little wonder Mr Obama won. In fact for those who feel really up themselves thinking they "prediced" the election of Obama- there was really no doubt about it even to a pre-schooler!!!! There was really no second person in sight behind Mr Obama in this race to the White House.
For those insufferable morons who are jumping up and down thinking that Obama election gives the Sinhala Buddhist majority of SL a "lesson" in "transcending race" , "respecting everyone" etc - my condolences!!! You still have got the wrong end of the stick and it is well and truly up your posterior end with no hope of ever being able to be retrieved! Therefore, you will continue to be a right royal pain in the posterior for quite some time!!!!!!!!
Sri Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist majority country and will remain so for quite some time to come. The majority Sinhala Buddhists are the ONLY people who elect people of other ethnic/ religious origins to represent them in Parliament. This is a fact! Any person regardless of ethnicity/ religion or whatever who feels themselves as being Sri Lankans and can respect and identify themselves with the majority culture and ethos never had any problem of coming through to the highest echelons of power and will not have any problems in the future- ever! It is the minority racists, religious bigots who think they are superior to the majority Sinhala Buddhists, who want to wipe the country's ancient Sinhala Buddhist heritage under the carpet, who want to bury the country's only historic cronicle "Mahavansa", and want to pay homage to Mother India who will NEVER raise their ugly heads in SL. And that's a promise!!!!!!!! Get over it!!!!!!!!!
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