How We Will Feel if Obama Wins
On the morning of Nov. 5, if Sen. Barack Obama is the president-elect, I think most people -- regardless of their party or ideology -- will take pride in the fact that America is a purple nation, not a red vs. blue one, and will feel good about their country and government again.
Of course, there will be many angry and disappointed John McCain supporters and Republican conservatives. But I believe that most people, even some of the most disappointed Republicans, will experience a "holy mackerel" moment.
"Holy mackerel! Look what America has just done. We have just elected an African-American president of the United States!"
To appreciate the reason why that reaction is likely to be widespread, a brief review of American history is in order.
It was in 1620 -- 388 years ago -- when the first Africans arrived in chains at or near Jamestown, Va., and became the first group of America's slaves. Since then, we can trace an unbroken string of moral failures by many of our nation's leaders and by most Americans in dealing with slavery, racism and racial discrimination over the years.
For example, our esteemed founders -- Washington, Jefferson, even Benjamin Franklin -- knew and said that slavery was morally evil. But they also owned slaves. As a political compromise, they agreed to guarantee the continuance of slavery by not outlawing it in the Constitution. They even agreed to write into the Constitution that a slave would be counted as 60 percent of a free American.
Even the greatest president of all, Abraham Lincoln, who saved the Union and opposed slavery as immoral, never openly supported the abolition of slavery, only its containment in the Southern states.
He supported fugitive-slave laws that returned escaped slaves to their masters, though he knew they would face certain brutality or even death.
And his great executive act of emancipation in 1863 was hardly that at all. As we know, the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves only in the rebellious Confederate states (where he could do little to liberate them) and continued slavery in the Union's Northern and border states (where he had the power to free them).
Even amending the Constitution to free all slaves and guarantee their due process and equal-protection rights as U.S. citizens -- through passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments immediately after the Civil War -- became just another broken promise for former slaves.
The substitute for actual slavery was de facto economic and social slavery, as white America looked away. For the next hundred years or more, blacks continued to suffer the humiliation of "Jim Crow" laws in the South, the violence and lynchings of the KKK, and the deprivation of racial segregation in public schools, the workplace, public accommodations, even on the playing fields of our great national pastime.
Then came Jackie Robinson in 1947 -- the first black to be permitted to break the color barrier and play major league baseball. His mentor and sponsor, Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, made Robinson promise to suffer in silence the racial hatred and abuse that would be expected, and courageously suffer he did.
But there was one day and one gesture that made a difference, even for a brief moment. Early in the 1947 season, during pre-game warm-ups when the Dodgers took their first road trip to Cincinnati, Robinson was the object of an especially hateful torrent of epithets and threats from fans. His teammates, as had become their custom, ignored what was happening -- but one did not, the team captain. His name was Harold Reese, a small-statured shortstop, otherwise known as "Pee Wee," from Louisville, KY.
Reese, a product of a segregated society who had never shaken a black man's hand before he met Robinson and hadn't done anything to help Robinson when he arrived, listened to the vitriol and invective from the stands and made a decision. He slowly and conspicuously walked over to Robinson and put his arm around him.
Those who witnessed the moment reported that the stands suddenly fell silent. That dramatic gesture, at least for that day, sent a message of hope (perhaps it could be called the audacity of hope) that some day in the far distant future, America would lose its moral stain of racism.
So now, after all this painful U.S. history of mistreatment of blacks in the land of the free, most of us will be grateful at how far we have come as a country if Mr. Obama is elected president.
That does not change the fact that people of good will oppose his candidacy for a variety of valid reasons and believe that Mr. McCain would make a better president.
And they will not change their minds or find their concerns alleviated on Nov. 5 just because Mr. Obama is the first black to be elected president, nor should they.
But I am betting they will feel proud to be an American and know the rest of the world will be marveling, too, at what America has just done.
They might even think a thought similar to the closing of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities -- it is a far, far better thing that we do than we have ever done.
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Lanny Davis is a prominent Washington lawyer and a political analyst. From 1996 to 1998, he served as special counsel to President Clinton. From 2005 to 2006, he served on President Bush's five-member Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. This article appeared in the Washington Times on Monday, October 27, 2008.
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I enjoyed your article. It made me sad to think how really cruel people were conditioned to be and how some of that has been realized in this election. It does also make me proud of how people are trying to turn the page and move on past that kind of thinking. Great article!
I, as a white male, approaching (perhaps in) middle-age, will experience temporary relief with an Obama win for President. We can all take a couple of deep breaths, unwind for a second or two,...
And then we all need to get back to work. Getting the better person elected President is only the very beginning of the hard work we are all going to have to do to get our country going on the right track again.
What are you, as a honest, hard-working, proud American prepared to do to get us through the next couple of years? The President is a leader (most of the time - George Bush being the exception to that rule), but the leader can only try to lead. The people still have to do all the heavy lifting.
Can you do that too?
Mr. Davis,
While I applaud the sentiment you present here today, I cannot help but feel this is rather disingenuous. I read your posts during the primary. I read the things you and others said to the media in support of the candidate you supported at the time, Sen. Clinton. Much of it could not be distinguished from some the vitriol spread today by the McCain campaign. In contrast, one cannot find similarly vile statements from persons on the Obama campaign with regard to Sen. Clinton.
Leading up to the South Carolina primary, supporters of Mrs. Clinton -- including you -- made comments which invoked age-old racial stereotypes and race-baiting. From Ohio to Puerto Rico, the comments continued. In May, after the meeting of the Rules and Bylaws committee, you, sir, and Harold Ickes continued the fight and did so with the use of race-based comments.
Now today, you are climbing on the back of the bandwagon. A johnny-come-lately cheerleader for a campaign you did not support, a man you could not bring yourself to believe in, and yet, you will speak in terms of "we". Well, "we" were not there when Sen. Obama launched his campaign in Springfield, and "we" were not there throughout the long --sometimes bitter -- campaign.
In short, please do not condescend to tell those of us who were here first what "we" will be feeling if (when) Sen. Obama wins.
Exactly.
Too little, too late from your, Mr. Davis.
You were a follower, not a leader.
Anyone who votes for or does not vote for Obama because he is black does themselves and their nation a grave injustice. I am well aware of our nation's past when it comes to injustice based on race, color, national origin, age, sex and disability. But to even incinuate that we will be a better nation if Obama wins because it shows racial unity is both racist on its face and absurd.
Don't take me wrong, McCain is no prize either.
What matters in foreign policy is experience. What matters with the economy is whether the numbers add up. Judging from Obama's comments concerning foreign policy, he has a lot to learn. And, if you examine his economic proposals closely, you'll find his numbers do not add up. McCain's experience is a plus but his economic plan falls short.
Look to each candidate's world view and decide whether you want an America where making it to the top is nearly impossible because we are being held back by our government's social engineering. Or, whether you believe that citizens have a duty to do the right thing and give the oppressed avenues to seek justice. Do you believe Americans have a right to own guns to protect their own home?
Somewhere in the middle, we'll find the answer. We always have. In my opinion no matter how we vote, this is a no-win, no-win election.
Good luck on election day and may your candidate prevail.
Spot on, Lanny. Frankly, I never imagined I'd see it in my lifetime as I've only got about two more administrations left. I always thought, like many of the most fundamental changes, it would come when and where we least expected it. Here it is!
Now if only my desire for more economic justice and parity can come closer to being realized. Wonder where the leadership for that will come from?
People put WAY too much emphasis on race (or gender), truth be told, I used to believe that this country could've and would have elected a black person, a woman or both in the same... Provided someone who the country felt was qualified (and actually had the background and resume to prove it) was on the ticket. Personally Id have voted for Powell had he run after the first gulf war, and I would have LOVED to see Mrs Rice in this election on the ticket.
Nonsense.
Jackie Robinson was an outstanding accomplished product of this country, an American citizen athelete of character and former US Army officer, undoubtedly qualified for the role of pioneering major league baseball player and more. He was initially disliked primarily because of his race, and the audacity of his efforts, but accomplished much and took this nation to a brave new level with his ability and intelligence. To favorably compare Obama with Robinson dishonors Robinson.
Many Americans of various different ethnic persuasions, including black people, see Obama as an unqualified affirmative action candidate of questionable American citizenship and character, unfit for the American presidency and leadership of the free world. It's doubtful that he would be embraced except by those who would quickly profit from his ascension.
And you would say the same about Jackie Robinson if he was running for President.
Strange comment. Don't see the logic. Probably my fault. Perhaps the basis for your comfort with Obama can be explained. other than on the tenuous basis of commonality of race. Or is that sufficient, even when we know dishonest black people in power can be just as incompetent, arrogant, abusive, and dangerous as any others.
How right you are robXdion! I don't know who he thinks he's fooling.
Amazing. Since when did being born in Hawaii mean that your American citizenship was somehow questionable? What makes the McCain/Palin camp fit for the presidency? Absolutely nothing that I've seen so far, and there is only one week left until the election. If the right wants to show the American people what they are all about, they'd better get to letting us know immediately. Stop waisting time telling us about what Mr. Obama is not going to do and let us know what the h*!! your're gonna do to move this country forward. Sorry, we don't need a receipt because we're not buying your argument!
What a crock! The only people that see Obama as unqualified are the non-thinking kool-aid drinking troglodytes which therefore are devoid of any debate.
Always using someone from the past, who you say you respect, to try to make the point that there are "some" black people whom you respect. There is not anything that Obama could have done or not done, for that matter, to gain respect from you. Nothing! The fact that you base your disapproval on downright lies and to be so silly to bring up affirmative action as if that is the only reason that he is in the position that he is in now speaks volumes. It speaks the truth that you do not state. You are definitely considering race as a factor in this campaign and it would be more of a nod to you, even if just for your own self-respect, to be honest about it. Bigotry and cowardice have become quite common during this campaign. Using obvious lies and deceit to express discontent. In the end, you are not changing anyone's views and not even actually stating your own "true" thoughts though you may hide those feelings even from yourself because who wants to look in the mirror and know that they are one of the disgusting people that contributes the the divisiveness in this world. No, it's better to question "citizenship". Well, if it makes you feel better, but you're not fooling anyone else. To thine own self be true.
I will be full of joy and hope. And I will laugh my head off, listening to my racist father spinning in his grave!
You must be very fortunate in your family and social circle, Mr. Davis. The Palin/ McCain supporters I know will be writhing on the floor, foaming at the mouth, spitting the words "Communist!" , "Baby-killer!" and "Terrorist Muslim....
I'm going to be walking on eggshells, lying, and keeping my pride in America very, very quiet.
Thanks anyway for the happy fantasy.
Hey Lanny, now why couldn't you factor this into your primary commentary on Hillary's campaign when she decided to use race against Obama like she was a Republican? All of that crying about black voters and you're just now realizing they are tired of being disrespected? And why the anger when Rev. Wright says virtually the same things?
Makes you think, doesn't it?
Yes it does. That's why this selective outrage is ridiculous. And what's more incensing is black commentators won't call it out. It's like black people have to keep silent and endure insults until whites realize how morally wrong they've been.
Thank you.
HAPPY AS HEAVEN....
The most frequent feeling here and abroad will be a deep sigh of relief that the GW Bush tyranny is coming to an end.
There will be so many feelings:
That a Black American can be president is the most obvious. What I also feel is a vindication that doing the right thing and aspiring for more really means something. As AAs, we were always told by our parents to strive for the best, especially those of us born after 1954. When I see Obama, I see me, and I see that perhaps my country my finally place some value on who I am as a citizen. We are about the same age, both attended white colleges and found success in our chosen fields. This is a day that I have long dreamed of.
But before any out there try to trivialize this into "he's just voting for the Black guy," consider that there has been an AA candidate for POTUS since Shirley Chisholm in 1972. They did not garner the Black vote or any other vote. Alan Keyes?
I keep thinking back to his speech in Iowa, where the entire nation saw him, standing alone without an entourage. My wife looked at me and said what many said that night: "You know, he really could be president.
It feels good to be a citizen today -- win or lose.
Proud to be an American, indeed!
Go Obama!
Nice job, Mr. Davis. I cannot wait for November 5th, it will be a beautiful thing.
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