LESSONS FROM OBAMA!

Lessons from Obama
When Barack Obama was elected President of the United States and gave his acceptance speech at midnight on 4 November 2008 ET, no one would have doubted that this was a profoundly historic and defining moment for all mankind. The election of Obama not only signaled the triumph of opportunity over disadvantage but it also heralded change over a stale and monotonous status quo. Above all, it reinforced the American dream, that any American can be whomever he wanted to be and do whatever he wanted to do. How could the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas be elected to the most powerful position in the world? How could a person raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas even aspire to this exalted and influential position? It is quite telling that, in his acceptance speech as President elect, Obama started off by saying: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

Obama’s historic election was also the triumph of education and sensitivity over self interest. It was a victory of modern technology over old fashioned bureaucracy, where the internet triumphed as an effective communications and fundraising tool. Through the internet, Obama collected voter information, sponsored blogs, and set up profiles on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and countless other Web sites. Above all, Obama addressed the American people directly about their interests, carefully avoiding reference to himself and his achievements, focusing only on what he offered the American people by way of service and a better standard of education, health care and the opportunities of employment.

When he started his campaign some 21 months ago Obama had no money or endorsements. His victory over his Democratic opponent Hilary Clinton who was the Democratic front-runner and former First Lady, whose reputation preceded her and who had money and endorsements behind her, was nothing short of phenomenal. To go onwards and defeat John McCain, decorated war hero and seasoned politician was monumental. Devon Dick, in his article Obama’s Bottom –Up Strategy in the Jamaica Gleaner has expressed the view that it is not primarily because Obama is bright, knowledgeable, charismatic, thoughtful, calm and eloquent. It is much more than that. It is because he used a bottom-up strategy during his campaign which informed his economic policies that gained traction with 66 million voters, a remarkable seven million more than McCain.

Obama raised more money than any other candidate in history. He used this funding to skillfully buy advertising space over the media and convey his superior oratorical prowess with messages of hope and inspiration. His passionate and uplifting oratory energised mass admiration and confidence in his leadership, leading to demonstrations overflowing with humanity, which inculcated a certain self-definition in the public mind and built enthusiasm and momentum. His calmness under pressure and discreet use of language appealed to the saner side of the voter. Obama also trapped his opponent John McCain into attacking him, which brought out McCain’s quick temper and personal approach to the election. It was, as a commentator said: "a rope and dope jabbing operation". Obama constantly reiterated that McCain voted 90 per cent of the time in the Senate with President Bush, whose popularity rates were down. Occasionally, these jibes were brazen, as, when Obama publicly dared McCain to bring up the Ayers connection before the third debate. McCain somewhat churlishly took the bait and in so doing lowered his esteem with the voter.

To say that there was no racial dimension in Obama’s candidacy for President of the most powerful nation in the world would be a gross inaccuracy. Some claimed that his candidacy was an exercise in affirmative action, and that it was grounded on the objectives of ambitious liberals to reach a short cut to racial reconciliation.

Some highlighted that the Pastor of Obama’s church, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, used incendiary language that was calculated to widen the racial divide, and that such views denigrated the noble stature of the nation and its greatness.

About race Obama said in one of his speeches: "I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together: unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction — towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren".

It is in this context that Obama’s reference to his black father is both poignant and relevant. He said: "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother — a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe".

In a way, all that Obama did was to appeal to the inner sense of decency of the American voter and reiterate with elegance and dignity the message of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted six decades ago, which carries the simple message: "All people are born fee; all people are born equal and so have equal rights. People can think for themselves and understand what’s going on around them. Everyone should act as brothers and sisters. It does not matter what race you are; it does not matter whether you are a man or a woman; it does not matter what language you speak, what your religion is, what your political opinions are, what country you come from or who your family is. It does not matter whether you are rich or poor. It does not matter what part of the world you come from; whether your country is a kingdom or republic - these rights and freedoms are meant to be enjoyed by everyone."


Ruwantissa Abeyratne
www island.lk