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The view from Washington

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Will excitement over this historic Obama victory lead to new solutions?

It was indeed an historic moment to watch Americans put aside negative thoughts of race, racism, inexperience and fears of too-liberal policies to elect the first African-American president of the United States.

The scene was repeated across the country Tuesday night when Barack Obama - the son of a Kenyan father and white mother from Kansas - was declared the winner of one of the longest and most expensive American presidential races in U.S. history. Americans cheered, wept and danced in the streets to celebrate this victory. It was a remarkably peaceful reaction, with no violence from those who didn't want to see Obama win - but rather with calls for unity across political and racial lines. Sen. John McCain's concession speech was also remarkable and uplifting. An eloquent effort to heal the wounds of this bruising campaign, the speech was also an appropriate nod to not only the historic nature of Obama's win, but to the challenges that face this new leader.

It was a proud moment for the country, and it was a refreshing change to see the rest of the world finally cheering the United States. Journalists came from all over the world to cover the results of this election, and people from Mauritius to Malaysia to the small village in Kenya where Obama relatives live, were closely following the race and cheering the results with unusual vigor. A journalist from Nigeria told me at a press briefing on the eve of the election that people in her country have formed Obama for President groups. Even though they have no right to vote in this election, this was their way to show their support to a promising candidate with strong family ties to Africa.

This election was more than a referendum on politics or policies. In many ways it reflected a desire in the country to move beyond the negatives of the past, especially those related to race and inequality that have dogged this country for the past 40 years. It's amazing that 40 years ago blacks were not allowed to vote, that the races were segregated, and that black children could never have the hope or opportunity to have an equal education let alone successfully run for the presidency of the United States.

Obama's candidacy also spoke to the millions of immigrants who are now struggling to adapt to life in the United States. His victory offers to them and their children motivation and confirmation that hard work, education and persistence can have great results in a country that values and encourages individual achievement and success.

There were other important factors that helped the Obama victory, and sent McCain's campaign into a slump. The financial meltdown in the U.S. economy came in October - just a month before the elections. This virtually erased the momentum that McCain had coming out of his nominating convention in September. Normally voters turn against the party in power when the economy goes sour. According to exit polls during Election Day, correcting the economy was the #1 issue for voters.

Other issues included fatigue that many Americans felt over eight years of one-party rule, and also frustration over no exit strategy for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan or Iraq. Obama offered change from the status quo of leadership, and also offered a different solution for Iraq: a rapid withdrawal - which he might in the end find difficult to do. McCain, with a 26-year record in the Congress, suffered a double whammy: he couldn't overcome his association with the highly unpopular administration of George Bush, and his party was blamed for the economic downturn.

This election was also about personalities. An eloquent speaker, Obama had star power, youthful appeal (at age 47), a young and dynamic family that reminded many of the Kennedys, and an inspiring message for change.

He mobilized millions of Americans to vote (130 million voted, many waiting hours in long lines); he proved to African-Americans that he could fulfill a dream; and he was able to connect with people across cultural and racial divides, as he had a family story that many could relate to: the mixed-race son of a single mother who worked his way up the educational and political ladder. He also ran a very effective, well-organized campaign, mobilizing volunteers in every state and raising most of his campaign funds through small contributions via the Internet, which made people feel that they had a stake in his election.

Obama also benefited from demographic shifts in the American electorate. Tuesday's vote underscored the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural nature of American society, with Latinos and Asians voting in overwhelming numbers; young people also voted in record numbers; many states that had voted solidly Republican in the past went Democratic; and although the national vote indicated that Americans are more tolerant of an African-American candidate, it exposed some racial fault lines, as Republicans held on to most of the southern states - Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas - largely on the support of white voters.

Personally, I was caught up in the need for change, and I crossed party lines and voted for Obama, after having supported Republican presidents in the past, largely because I find their economic policies more in line with my own. But I did so with quite a bit of hesitation, because there are many things about Obama that bother me: whether a quick U.S. withdrawal from Iraq that he proposes could destabilize the region; his lack of experience in government; that the tax raises that he proposes could further stall the U.S. economy; that his anti-free trade positions could undo some important international trade agreements; and that his move to have the federal government become more involved in things like health care might lead to more socialized medicine.

I'm hoping that Obama, as did Clinton, will move to the center of the political spectrum once he is in office, and he won't be too swayed by the liberals in his party. This will have to be watched, however, as the Democrats will also control both Houses of Congress and as such will have enormous power to influence public policy, at least for the next two years.

But I do think an Obama presidency will go far toward repairing the poor image of America abroad, and this was an important factor in my vote. Traveling frequently overseas, and having a daughter with an American nationality studying in the U.K., I've learned first-hand how much the American government is disliked around the world. People say they like Americans, but not our government. As the leader of the free world and the biggest player in a global economy that is so interconnected through travel, communications, trade and education, America needs to restore its reputation as a country that promotes democratic values and respects diversity of cultures and opinions.

Obama's election has already had an impact in this area, as people across the world are very excited about this prospective leadership. Foreign leaders, even before the election, had voiced their preference for an Obama presidency, and now that he's been elected, it will be hard for them to say no when Obama asks for their help.

Obama has said that he will have a very different approach to foreign policy, and will work to repair damaged relations by reaching out to foreign leaders and consulting more with the international community than was done during the Bush presidency.

All this is positive, and is moving the country in a new, fresh direction. But Americans, as well as those who watch from afar, shouldn't get sidetracked by the high expectations for Obama's performance. Change will be gradual. Obama does not become president until Jan. 20. In the meantime, he must put together his administration -choosing who will head the various federal agencies from Education to the Pentagon (and a new U.S. ambassador to Mauritius will be appointed). Experts say that the way a president-elect handles this transition will say a lot about the kind of leader he will be. Once in office, Obama will have to work with a new Congress that will include former adversaries like John McCain. He must try to win their support, and that of the many Americans who did not vote for him.

It could take a year or more to see some concrete changes.

The challenges ahead are enormous and daunting. Repairing the economy will top the list, as will dealing with two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are also threats of terrorism in a dangerous post 9/11 world. Expectations are high, and the promises made for change are large. It's now up to Obama to prove to Americans that they made the right choice.

a m e r i c a n   s c e n e

WEEK-END --- dimanche 9 novembre 2008