Obama: Time's "Person of the Year"

NEW YORK — President-elect Barack Obama has won another contest: He's been named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2008.

The magazine has named Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Gov. Sarah Palin and Chinese director Zhang Yimou as runners-up.

Last year's winner was Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Previous individual winners have included Bono, President George W. Bush and Amazon.com CEO and founder Jeff Bezos.

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On the Net: http://www.time.com/

Comments

[BCubedReg]

This wasn't too unexpected.

[politisophical]

i like obama as much as the next person... but he looks like a black panther in his college pictures...lol, good times

[Fongenie]

I like the Black Panthers.

[Copeword]

This was a reasonable choice.

[Chip W]

Not a difficult choice this year.

[RightWingMarine]

Time magazine isn't endorsing the messiah, they're just recognizing that he had a significant influence in 2008. The president elect always wins now

[liarsclub75]

Perfect choice!!

[SirHenryClinton]

The cover art is excellent, most excellent. Very flattering of our President-elect (first one in twelve years). When compared to the cover art for previous occupants of the White House, it is clearly the most dignified.

http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19600104,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19620105,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19650101,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19770103,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19810105,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19910107,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19930104,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20001225,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20041227,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20081229,00.html

Notice a pattern here?
PS. I always knew that Clinton was really a Republican.

[SirHenryClinton]

Sorry, the links are broken, Huffington's web admin should fix this. Cut and paste to see the covers.

[adsandiego]

the Time's cover of BO was designed by Shepard Fairey, same guy who designed the now famous "Change" poster.

http://store.barackobama.com/v/vspfiles/photos/PO26951-2.jpg

[Gladys1963]

Love it--that graphic and his entire brand ID program were brilliant.

[hamchunk]

Just curious about something: How many people that voted for PE Obama voted for him STRICTLY on his merits and how many voted for him believing he must be above reproach, culturally-diverse and naturally enlightened because he is an African-American? The reason I ask is I have always been fascinated by the hidden, covert racism of some on the left-wing spectrum of political affiliations, which is based not on merit but soley on minority status. Some seem to not believe a minority candidate can make it only on actions and merit but needs to be handed such positions because of their minority demographic. It just seems some voters on the left look for anything that they find to be, what they consider "diverse and/ or different", and support it based soley on that fact. Though I know I am risking hearing from some angry posters here but I would like to see some opinions on this matter. And, no, I am not a Republican, before that thread starts.

[LyssaBarnes]

Don't have a high opinion as to the thought processes of your fellow Americans, do you?

The election was about change. Obama just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

[jrcjr]

I've seen this written before, but it still has to be one of the stupidest things I've ever heard about the election.

[bbflute]

I'm not experienced with any hidden, covert racism of the left - having been blinded by racism from the so-called right. Though I suppose that makes the so-called right's racism overt and open. Do you mean to say that everybody is racist? either they are hidden/covert or open/overt? I don't think so. You are correct, though, in noting that the left does not consider "diverse and/or different" a handicap. BTW - soley is not a word, try solely next time. JMHO.

[iswideopen]

hamchunk:
You, just as the republicans did, underestimated the intelligence of the American electorate. Justify it, spin it, PE Obama won with a mandate. Keep playing mind games with yourself until you are satisfied; because you, to the rest of the electorate, are irrelevant.

[Chip W]

A valid question. I've heard speculation that Obama's race may have actually helped him.
My view, I think, is not an unusual one. I've seen a man with traits I respect, who happens to be black. His youth and lack of experience go against him; I've instead looked at the person. Intelligence, breadth of perspective (that's a big one), aware of his own limitations and eager to get the viewpoints of others. I think he genuinely wants to be a decent person. He's future oriented, and I think his purpose is to move the U.S. towards a positive future. In his victory speech, he said "This is not about me." I believe him. I believe this is a very confident man who isn't ego motivated.
And other things I don't think of. I see someone whose personal traits match very well with the role that should be played by the Guy in the White House.
I'm still open, let things play out, but this may be an exceptional person.

[mesut]

I like your assessment!! As an African-American female I was somewhat insulted that people believed ALL black people voted for PE Obama because of his color. Well, I guess it's safe to say that SOME did and others he had to win over. I began to listen to PE Obama and became impressed with him. The color of his skin didn't do that nor the many campaign promises that I knew would be questionable because who knew the mess Bush is leaving behind. I think like you, I saw a man confident enough to keep going when naysayers were throwing him under the bus. There is a quality about PE Obama that is totally fascinating. I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing what he does beginning Jan 20, 2009

[smag]

I think that this is a perfect selection. Last year's man of the year was Vladimir Putin.

[petrosbasileus]

Do you think that was witty of you to say? Because, to be entirely honest, it came off as abrasive and stupid.

[smag]

I'm sorry that you understood what I said. I was simply trying to point out similarities.

[MadxAsxHell]

Time Mag has ALWAYS made this the most significant person in the world that year, good or evil. It's hard to imagine ANYONE even as close to significant in the world as Barack Obama this year. For the first time someone from the sub-population associated with being the descendants of American slaves (even though he himself is not) will be President.

He's also the first person to get elected out of the Senate in this century, the first since 48 years ago(JFK), the second since 88 years ago(Warren G. Harding) and the third since 128 years ago(Garfield).

He's the first Hawaiian, the first not born in the 48 states, and the first with a non-European name.

He's the first Democrat to win a majority and not a plurality since 1976 (when Carter did it)--32 years.

He's gotten young people to FINALLY vote at decent levels.

He's had the best transition team since 1980 for Ronald Reagan (if you are being generous to Reagan).

He's caused a large portion of the world to breathe a HUGE sigh of relief and the belief that America can come back to sanity and maybe be a nation that can be admired again.

Yeah, Person of the Year is a no-brainer.

[bmwracer]

No surprise... And well-deserved for many many reasons. :)

[tuttlemsm]

What's amazing is that Time actually went with common sense for once and didn't give the award to some sort of esoteric abstraction like "Straw Men" or something.

[TheStudentPundit]

I love Obama, but lets be real, I knew he was going to be person of the year back in May when it was without a doubt clear he was going to get the Democratic Nomination. Obama probably knew even before that. He's just awesome!

[Fongenie]

lol.

[BarefootSoul83]

and somewhere in Chicago a community is missing its organizer....*tear*

[gardenbookie]

Congratulations, President (elect) Barak Obama. It couldn't happen to a better man.