Obama a Winner

The battle for presidential nomination between Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton has captivated America. The fluctuating fortunes and exchanges between these two have eclipsed the fact that the Republican nominee has been finalized. The possibility of the first non-white (not black, as Obama has been at pains to remind us that he is mixed) or female president and the close unpredictable result that has the underdog Obama in front has piqued national interest across the board.

Imagine all this excitement for the primaries alone! Obama and Hilary are simply competing against each other in a nationwide internal party election so that the Democrats can determine who will be the party's presidential candidate to square off against Republican John McCain.

Obama's success has stunned the world. Against all odds, his popularity keeps growing. In the cut and thrust of the politics with Hilary, he has defended and counter-attacked well. A former First Lady, Senator Clinton is a formidable opponent and few would have thought that Obama could put up a fight, far less overcome the great Clinton. No matter what the outcome, we are witnessing a social revolution. It was the next step that American society needed to take after the civil rights movement. This is different, but no less significant. Whatever the result, Obama has sealed his place in American history. He has been a catalyst and agent of change and unity.

It has been said that followers can only see a crisis while leaders are able to discern the opportunity presented by a crisis. Obama's campaign was almost derailed by a farewell sermon delivered by his pastor and friend of 20 years, Rev Jeremiah a Wright.

The goodly reverend chose now, to say that the 9/11 terrorist attack which caused so much death and disaster was payback for what America did to other countries from the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in World War II to oppressing blacks by supporting the apartheid regime in South Africa.

And of course, white racism was the cause of all America's social problems. The eruption of public outrage was understandable and inevitable; he was condemned from all quarters and there were calls for Obama to explain how this man could be his mentor and friend.

Anybody else would have buckled under the pressure. The timing couldn't be worse. Instead, Obama delivered the speech on politics and race that America needed to hear but no one dared to make. He manfully took the bull by the horns and criticized the pastor's speech as 'wrong and divisive' and said he had hurt and "offended black and white alike." He said the remarks "expressed a profoundly distorted view of America - a view that sees white racism as endemic, that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America."

Obama instantly earned the respect and admiration of people for confronting such a flammable and delicate subject which no candidate dared touch but managed to manipulate and use against him. He both personified and challenged the conscience of America. He refused to disown Rev Wright and urged whites to accept the history of discrimination, fear and anger that prompted such feelings. "To simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races."

Demonstrating remarkable poise and balance, he also acknowledged the concerns of white Americans over black crime and reverse discrimination in favour of blacks (affirmative action), saying they were 'grounded in legitimate concerns'. Borrowing from Bill Cosby, he urged African-Americans to take responsibility for their own lives and stop blaming or depending on others for problems as the answer may lie in the "quintessentially American - and yes, conservative- notion of self help"

Obama has been able to capitalize on his DNA at a crucial time. Fathered by an African from Kenya and born to a white woman from Kansas, he cited the fact that his white grandmother as one who expressed open fear about black men when they passed her by on the street and freely used racial and ethnic stereotypes.

As I watched Obama's interview with Larry King on CNN, his simple answers had the hallmark of sincerity. The average American identifies with him because he speaks from the heart. He lacks the artificiality of the made-up and well-rehearsed Hilary. His 'flaws' have turned out to be his appeal. 'Big ears and a long face are no longer a turn off' one woman commented, in a country that's crazy for plastic surgery!  Make no mistake about it the dream of the pure white American born and bred president is in jeopardy.

By Anand Ramlogan 2008-03-30