Strange Legacy

My Reflections on the Obama Victory

What a night it was last night! Before the election, I told many of my friends and family to watch Florida and Pennsylvania. I predicted that if Obama could carry those two states, the election would be over before midnight (MST); however, I never imagined it would end before 9:00pm. It was quite a sight to see Wolf Blitzer and his associates and CNN fumble to try and keep their coverage of the election interesting after the results became so apparently obvious to everyone. McCain delivered a classy concession, and Obama delivered a stirring and charismatic acceptance. It seems clear that expectations of an Obama presidency are very high, and the burden of history has clearly been laid on his shoulders. Now that the election is over, the real battles begin.

One of the biggest benefits I see to an Obama presidency is the immediate boost it will give to the image of the United State around the world. Under the Bush administration, world opinion of the U.S. descended to historic lows. Important alliances became strained, and foreign leaders frequently discovered that cooperation with the United States became toxic to their own political fortunes at home (e.g. Tony Blair of Great Britain). I’ve heard many here in the U.S. denigrate the importance world opinion; in fact, Barack Obama seemed to stumble a bit during the campaign as many here in the U.S. perceived his popularity abroad as a weakness rather than a strength. I think this is a big mistake. The time of U.S. unilateralism is over. We are facing too many challenges in the foreign policy arena to think that we can go it alone. If we are going to contain a resurgent Russia, a defiant Iran, a competitive China, and a dangerous North Korea, we are going to need the help of our friends. It’s nice to know that other democratic leaders worldwide can work with our president without worrying about the impact it will have on their political careers.

Another positive note in Obama’s victory is the break from the 50/50 pattern split we’ve seen in this nation during the last few elections. By achieving a substantial victory Obama has earned an important level of legitimacy as the president of the whole United States, not just “50% +1″. While there are many who are deeply concerned and discouraged by Obama’s victory the overall attitude of the nation is far more positive than it has been after any other recent election. This positive energy is something we desperately need at a time when the news cycle is perpetually negative.

A word of caution to Democrats who might interpret last night as a mandate to pursue a strong left-wing agenda: don’t forget about what happened in California with Proposition 8. The people of California voted strongly in favor of Obama (61% to 37%); nevertheless, they also voted for an amendment to the California constitution to only recognize marriage between a man and a woman (as opposed to homosexual marriages). It seems clear that the country is hungry for a change from the last eight years of Republican incompetence and corruption, but they are not interested in moving to the far left. The Republicans mistakenly thought they had a mandate after their victories in 2000 and 2004, and that arrogance led to their dramatic downfall in 2006 and 2008. Things can change quickly, and if Democrats aren’t careful they will find themselves repeating history in ways they won’t appreciate.

Ultimately, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican the outcome of last night’s election is not as positive (or negative) as you might think. Democrats who have felt disenfranchised for the last eight years are understandably thrilled at the prospect of winning the White House and strong majorities in Congress. But make no mistake – with this power comes enormous responsibility. The Democrats are inheriting a lot of problems; whether fair or not, they will be judged by their ability to solve them. For Republicans who find themselves in the depths of despair after the almost total implosion of their political party, don’t lose all hope. Yes, your situation is pretty grim, but the only way the Republican Party can revive itself after the Bush years is for the Democrats to begin making some serious mistakes of their own with their newfound power. History has shown that power tends to corrupt, and whether Democrat or Republican, politicians are politicians. It is likely only a matter of time before the same scandals that rocked the Republicans begin to shake the Democrats as well. A penitent Republican Party can then reassert itself on the national stage. Like the Phoenix, the Republican Party has to burn before it can rise again.

These are my thoughts as I reflect on the historic election that reached its climax last night. My final thought on this monumental event is simply this: how will I and all the other political junkies out there cope with the inevitable withdrawal following the close of this intense political drama?

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