Kwabena Sam-Brew, a 38-year-old immigrant from Ghana, doubted that Nana, his 5-year-old American-born daughter, would remember the rally that effectively crowned Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee Tuesday night.
But Mr. Sam-Brew said he would describe it to her: “I will tell her, ”˜Tonight is the night that all Americans became one.’ ”
Mr. Sam-Brew, a bus driver living in Cottage Grove, Minn., said Mr. Obama’s achievement would change the nation’s image around the world, and change the mind-set of Americans, too.
“We as black people now have hope that we have never, ever had,” Mr. Sam-Brew said. “I have new goals for my little girl. She can’t give me any excuses because she’s black.”
In his remarks Tuesday, Mr. Obama did not mention becoming the first American of color with a real chance at being president of the United States, and, of course, most of the Democrats who had voted for him were white. But for that very reason, many African-Americans exulted Wednesday in a political triumph that they believed they would never live to see. Many expressed hope that their children would draw strength from the moment.
‘Tonight is the night that all Americans became one.†“She can’t give me any excuses because she’s black.â€
I like both of these quotes……this gentlemen and his daughter have wonderful days ahead……
It will also dramatically alter our checkbooks and savings accounts!!!
Yes, Already, it will be hard to carry on without the fiscal restraint and foresightedness of the Bush administration.
I’m not a democrat, but I’m glad for Mr. Obama. And I’m glad for people who are encouraged by his win. I always heard that America is the place where any kid can grow up to be president. Now that comes closer to sounding true.
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
H.L. Mencken (1880-1956) [i]Time[/i]
We may be close with this election.
downright moron ?
c’mon libraryjim – with the current administration, any candidate is an exponential upgrade in IQ
Bob,
You know very well that I disagree with you on that one. Bush may have his problems in communication, but a moron — uh-uh! After all, he got higher grades than Al Gore.
Unfortunately, he is not a conservative, either.
Libraryjim, note that you called Obama a moron. This is an insult and is untrue. Obama generally writes his own speeches. He wrote two books. And editor of the Harvard Law Review. And he didn’t get into Columbia with bad grades on the basis of his father’s connections. Bush has had everything handed to him. Perhaps if you could convince me that Bush had been a middle class kid with “C” grades he could have gone to Yale, I might submit there is a legitimate comparison to Obama.
Obama worked for it and had no family connections to speak of. Unless you want to redefine the word “moron” I expect more from you.
[i] This name-calling is taking the thread off track. Please stop. [/i]
-Elf Lady
Given that a record number of Americans turned out to vote for a black man and a white woman to be President, I think it is a great day for America. I hope they all return to confirm that choice in November.
[blockquote]It will also dramatically alter our checkbooks and savings accounts!!![/blockquote]
That’s an other hope. Certainly the incumbent has dramatically altered my checkbook, savings account and 401(k) portfolio — and it hasn’t been a pretty sight. (My current money market return is running about half the rate of inflation, so that’s actually losing “real” dollars; my stock funds have been in the red all year (for the second time since 2001) even before factoring in inflation.
It’s time my generation turned the reins over to the younger generation.
I have nothing against either a black man or a woman (of any race) running for president. However, neither one of the ones running in this past race would get my vote on the basis of their radical leftist Political philosophy. If someone like J. C. Watts ran, of what I know of him, I would give him my support. A woman of similar stature and political philosophy to Margaret Thatcher would likewise get my vote. Barak and Hillary — no way!
I’m not even too keen on McCain, but of the three, I think he would be the one to cause the LEAST damage to American society through his philosophies, which still touch on the socialist.
But as Sean Hannity said last week:
America has weathered bad presidents before, and come through it, she will do so again.
It was my hope that we were going to have Hillary running against Condy. That would have been an easy choice.
[size=1][color=red][url=http://resurrectioncommunitypersonal.blogspot.com/]The Rabbit[/url][/color][color=gray].[/color][/size]
Library Jim, what has Obama said that makes you think he’s a socialist? He’s hung out with socialists, but … Jesus himself hung out with sinners. Obama seems to hang out with behavioralists and libertarian paternalists. If you can name me one socialist on his staff, I’ll change my mind.
Perhaps you might look at the community organizing movement. It was anti-state, and often anti-socialistic. More closely, it was anarchic, believing that communities should take power, and that politicians needed to be held accountable to their constituents.
Otherwise, you’re just repeating hearsay and inaccuracies.
John, Library Jim thinks everyone is “socialist” except him. He even thinks that McCain is a socialist.
But given the classical definition of socialism — government ownership of the means of production — perhaps he’s right about McCain, or at least the Republicans. After all, the Secretary of the Treasury is promoting government ownership of corporations. He’s been in the Middle East trying to get the governments there to buy American corporations.
No, I said McCain’s policies TOUCH on the socialist. Not that he IS a socialist.
By the way, if you want to see how good Government control of health care will be, take a look at Walter Reed or the DMV or the Social Security Administration offices. IF you like what you see there, you will LOVE Governement controlled Health care systems.
By the way, Obama hangs out with, and considers his Mentors, anti-American black liberation theologians; known domestic terrorists; and now-convicted swindlers. That’s not the same as hanging out with sinners and calling them to repentance. Obama actually courts them and gives speeches with them and appoints them to his advisory boards. He doesn’t just accept the endorsement of the Democratic Socialist party, he courted it. He even admits that a lot of his political views were shaped by the socialist conferences he attended at Cooper Union and the African cultural fairs in Brooklyn.
The National Journal calls Obama the #1 most liberal senator currently serving.
HIs website offers some even more troubling news about how he views public education:
“Obama’s comprehensive “Zero to Five” plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. Unlike other early childhood education plans, Obama’s plan places key emphasis at early care and education for infants, which is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten. Obama will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote state “zero to five” efforts and help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-schoolâ€
Now that’s scary. It’s not enough that the public schools are undermining Christian family principles, now he wants to extend it. “womb to the tomb” is how Mrs. Clinton’s health care system was termed in her attempts during Bill’s first term, well, this now extends to Obama’s government control over our lives!
That’s definatly socialism.
Jim Elliott
One more thing: in terms of the term ‘voluntary’ above, please remember that kindergarten was considered ‘voluntary’ when it was first introduced, and is now mandatory.
[blockquote]By the way, if you want to see how good Government control of health care will be, take a look at Walter Reed[/blockquote]
Yes, a good example of how McCain has taken care of veterans while he was a member of Congress. (And he wants to skimp on G.I. Bill to pay for extending tax breaks for the very wealthy. And then there is the condition of the barracks for our active duty troops.)
[blockquote]or the DMV[/blockquote]
Department of Motor Vehicles?
[blockquote]or the Social Security Administration offices.[/blockquote]
I’ve been covered by Medicare for 5 years. My experience so far is that it is better run and less a hassle than the employer provided private health care insurance programs that I had before I retired. In either event, you are dealing with bureaucracies. I don’t see much evidence that private bureaucracies, motivated by “the bottome line” more than the insured’s health, are any better than government bureaucracies.
[blockquote]IF you like what you see there, you will LOVE Governement controlled Health care systems.[/blockquote]
Frankly, I don’t know of anyone advocating government controlled health care systems. Probably McCain’s proposal would be more beneficial to me personally because his $2,500 tax credit would just about cover my Medicare Part B and supplement premiums. But what is wrong with it is that it discourages employer provided health insurance, which will hurt the working men and women, particularly those with preexisting medical conditions.
Library Jim, I don’t know where to begin. Because it sounds to me that your argument is primarily guilt by association. I admit, I am pretty sympathetic to socialism, but that’s a longer story. I’m probably more of a Georgian or a distributivist when questioned although I’ve had Keynsian sensibilities generally. Admittedly, I like Paris, Denmark, Iceland and Holland, and don’t mind the way those places work. And they’re socialist. I think you think “gulag” when someone uses the word “socialist” and if that’s what you mean, I’m on your team.
I will say that I’ve heard that VA hospitals are godsends to lots of veterans. However, if you’ve got a government not interested n governing, you’ll get problems. That’s the Republican schtick: get elected, destroy the bureaucracy and then blame the bureaucrats for all the problems. Wasn’t that Norquist’s plan? Look – in other countries that take governing seriously, they don’t buy the anti-government religion you espouse. In France, serving the government is only for the brightest and best. You simply could not get a job unless you go to the top schools. Thus, the government works differently. In this country, if you’re smart, you work for McKinsey or Goldman Sacs. Different cultures.
As far as black liberation theology goes (look, I’ve read several books), and I just think we’ll have to disagree about it. You should know I don’t think it is the best theology out there, but your contempt isn’t warranted. It’s anti-racism, and racism was a pretty important part of US culture for a long time, until it was completely eliminated by Lyndon Johnson and the Fair Housing Act (nope, no racism anywhere in the US). Insofar as white supremacy is a part of American culture, yes, BLT is definitely anti-American. You’re right. I hope you’re anti-that part of American culture as well. But you might not be. And that’s OK.
Was Obama on the board of a terrorist network with someone? Do reveal. Otherwise, its just guilt by association. Do you vet all your friends before you decide who’s in and who’s out? Look, I hope not. And I also hope Obama’s the sort of person who can hang with a Marxist and think for himself. Perhaps if you had read Dreams of our Fathers, you might note that he disagreed with Pastor Wright from the very beginning on the primacy of racial identity. Obama doesn’t mind hanging with people he disagrees with. That’s maturity. And leadership. If you want a president who doesn’t hang out with swindlers at some point, perhaps you might be more a communist than you think I am. Swindlers are why communists hate capitalism. Obama looks pretty clean from my vantage point. Especially given on the more important stuff (such as the influence of lobbyists – heard of Charlie Black?). If we’re going to compare Obama with McCain, well, I think Obama is going to do quite well.
Library Jim, all you have is guilt by association. That’s all. You don’t quote a single speech by Obama, nor do you quote any of his advisors. You only insinuate that because DSA supported him he “must” be a socialist. Who should they support? They’ll support at least someone who has good management skills who cares about all people.
“Obama actually courts them and gives speeches with them and appoints them to his advisory boards.” Libraryjim, what are you talking about? Personally, I think its a good idea to have a wide range of thinkers.
“The National Journal calls Obama the #1 most liberal senator currently serving.” So what? It’s a conservative magazine that routinely names the democratic nominee as “most liberal” for the purpose of using that in the election. John Kerry was the “most liberal.” I question the magazine’s methods. And since its the only thing conservatives seem to have on Obama, and you are using it yourself as the primary reason Obama is the worst person in the world, I am immediately suspicious.
Last, I do suggest you read about who Obama’s advisers actually are rather than get all whipped up with this anti-socialist fear mongering (communism lost, remember?). If you really want to learn about what he really thinks, read
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21491
break out of the cold war, Library Jim.
[i]comment deleted by elf.
Jim, wow, Your comment was way out of bounds in terms of an unnecessary, snarky and totally non-substantial (off-topic) attack on another commenter. –elfgirl[/i]
My apologies, Elves.