The Envelope Please...

And the 44th President of the United States of America is Barack Hussein Obama. Shortly after the voting booths closed on the Pacific Coast, it was a decisive victory for the Illinois Senator, coming away with 364 electoral votes to John McCain’s 163. 52% of the popular vote went Obama’s way to 46% for McCain. McCain conceded in a graceful way I expected from the Arizona Senator. Obama took the stage reiterating the change that will take place for the United States under his presidency. It was an historic day for the United States.

Obama winning seemed like a sigh of relief to supporters who had been holding their breath for the past six months, wondering if the Republicans were going to run away with another elections. News stations across the nation, afraid to call the game early after the debacle in 2000, and in an attempt to drum up ratings, billed the race to the White House “too close to call.” Obama’s landslide victory resulted in a simultaneous exhalation of air.

Shortly after Obama was christened President-elect, I got a text from a friend saying, “We did it!”

I replied back, “We’ve done nothing yet. But the wheels have started to turn.”

In no way, shape, or form did I say that to belittle my friend or to distance myself from the Obama camp. Barack Obama has won. That in and of itself is a step forward in progress for our country as a whole. It suggests some of the bigotry so deeply ensconced in our nation’s history has been eviscerated. But he as a President has done nothing yet. Between now and January 20th, 2009, he will be busy building his cabinet and prepping for when he does take office. This is an important first step. A President’s cabinet has huge influence over the President himself. Look no further than the Bush administration as an example (I’m looking at you Vice and Rummy). The important thing to remember though is Obama has done nothing yet. It will be up to us, the United States citizens to keep him correct. Should he slouch or break his promises, it is up to us to criticize and let our voice be heard, just as it was when we elected Obama to the Commander-In-Chief position. We can’t let Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert do all the grunt work.

Later in the evening, I called my father, a McCain supporter. He said to me, “It looks like your guy won.”

It’s true, the guy I was supporting in this election won. But the second he won, he ceased to be my guy. He became our guy. Our democratic voice was heard. I don’t expect people to simply endorse a President simply because he won, so I won’t say something like, “He’s now our President and you have to support him whether you like it or not.” On the contrary—I think it is up to Obama to prove he is the right man for the job and stick to the policies he promised his supporters in the first place. He also needs to convince the other half of the country that did not vote for him that he can handle such a lofty position. Actions speak louder than words and Obama needs to prove his actions are the right ones for the country and its people.

Noticing a lack of bread in my basket and a hankering for a peanut butter sandwich, I took to the streets in search of sliced staff of life. Driving down the road, people were honking at nothing and anything. In the parking lot, I could hear people shouting, “Obama” as they whizzed past. Entering the grocery store, people were doing the same thing—strangers uniting under the Obama banner. It was really a sight to behold. Never have I seen this kind of celebration for a President elect. Had Bob Dole won in 1996, maybe a similar ebullience would have been present, but I doubt. This display might have been exclusive to my area. Living in Los Angeles, one of the most liberal cities in the country, they were probably more vocal about Obama’s win than in other places. Furthermore, the part of Los Angeles I live in is largely a Black and Hispanic area. Given that Obama is the first Black President of the United States, I can see how they would be thrilled with the results of the elections.

This display is part of the appeal of Obama. He is able to unite people under a common cause. No other Democratic or Republican candidate for the 2008 election had that zeal. It is unique in a politician really in any election. His ability to bring people together is key to his term. A lot of his presidential legacy will be determined by if he can bring a country together that has been separated by a schism for roughly eight years, if not longer.

Returning home, I heard on the radio about Obama parties across the country. It’s great that people are celebrating. Like I said, it was a step forward for our country. Take a night to enjoy it, but it’s back to business now. It’s time to make sure those promises of change are not empty. At the same time, the election proved we have a long way to go. In California, Proposition 8, a proposal to ban gay marriage in California, passed. Not once did I think Prop 8 would actually pass, given the general outcry from everyone in Los Angeles and the huge number of people with influence strongly opposing Prop 8. But California is a big state. Apparently, much of the state is largely conservative. In fact, Bakersfield, CA is one of the most conservative cities in the nation. News to me. A black man is President, but same-sex couples cannot marry. One step forward, one step back.

In short, congratulations Obama. Congratulations America. The first step has been taken. But it’s a long road ahead of us. By Obama being elected, our economic crisis isn’t just magically going to fix itself, nor are our healthcare and social security problems. We still do not have a concrete exit strategy for our occupation in the Middle East. Our country still adheres to the adage that, “All men are created equal, but some men are created more equal than others.” The 2008 Presidential race was one for the history books, but I don’t think Obama wants his legacy to be only the “First Black President of the United States.” I think it would serve him well, and the people of the United States, to have his legacy be the change he promises. This is the beginning.