The states had cast their votes and around 11:00 PM (US time), CNN gave the victory to Obama in 2008 based on the results and expectations. This was a historic moment as America would have a black president for the first time. What happened in the hours that followed? And what happened from there? The focus is on where America stood at the start of Obama’s presidency, not on the years that followed.
- Joy and resignation
- McCain and Obama’s speeches
- What happened next with Barack Obama?
Joy and resignation
More than 70,000 Obama supporters had gathered in Grant Park Chicago. When CNN (and other major news networks) gave the victory to Obama, there was delirious joy. People embraced each other and there were tears of joy. American flags waved in the air and people shouted their throats hoarse. A historic moment, because for the first time there was a black president. Just 40 years ago, the greatest activist for equal rights was shot and killed – Martin Luther King, Jr. – and now we saw a president of mixed descent. A CNN commentator emphasized this historic turnaround, but at the same time stated that the development is actually nothing more than normal for the current generation of Americans. The elderly have grown up with race riots, but their children aged 10-12 years do not experience that. It was either a black president or a female vice president. Both would go down in the history books as never seen before, but for today’s youth this was hardly surprising.
There were somber faces in the McCain camp. They had actually expected it, but still held on to that glimmer of hope. The reactions were mainly one of resignation: in such a historic race you could not deny the importance of a black president.
McCain and Obama’s speeches
McCain was the first to give his speech. He admitted his loss in front of thousands of supporters. John McCain was clearly emotional as he spoke about the special significance of this race. His supporters sometimes booed when McCain mentioned Obama, but he always tried to silence them. He held out both hands and made downward movements: ,Please., Although he had lost and was not happy about it, in the speech he left the door open for Obama to work together. McCain came across as resigned, but also honorable.
Obama (born 1961) gave his victory speech about an hour later. Together with his wife Michelle (b. 1964) and children Malia (b. 1998) and Sasha (b. 2001), he walked on stage to the loud cheers of the many spectators in the park. In the speech he was grave and serious. He emphasized the problems America was facing at that time. He kept the door open for everyone by saying that he may not receive everyone’s vote, but he will also listen to them and be their president. There was also room for cheerful notes, such as the puppy that his daughters will now get. There was a reference to his grandmother who had died the day before. Obama told the story of a 106-year-old woman. During her childhood there was slavery and she was not allowed to vote because of both her gender and her skin color. Now she had not only voted, but also for a colored candidate. There was also a note for those watching from abroad: a new morning of American leadership is coming.
After the speech, incoming Vice President Joe Biden entered, followed by both his and Obama’s family. There were kisses and hugs, a mixed scene of both white and black people together on stage. This time it wasn’t just one face (think Condoleeza Rice), but a real mix.
What happened next with Barack Obama?
Joy prevailed in the Obama camp, but there were several questions in those first hours, first of all about security. A black incoming president would probably not go down well with everyone. The people had spoken, but not everyone will agree with that, so an attack was a real danger. With all the hope people put on Obama’s shoulders, nothing now would have been worse than that. We can now look back on eight years of Obama and know that it did not come to that. What became clear, including during Obama’s visit to the Netherlands in 2014, was that the security of the American president is a huge undertaking.
Crisis and healthcare costs
But the ultimate question was: what should happen next for America? A government term is only four years and can only be extended once. How much could Obama do in four years (and maybe eight)? There was a global financial crisis, partly due to the collapsing housing market in America. Oil prices fell and there were hard blows elsewhere, such as in employment. Obama had won with many promises, with hope for change after eight years of Bush. How much of that could he deliver? Although the Dutch complain about health insurance, that is nothing compared to America, where many have no insurance. They cannot afford it or are simply not accepted. Anyone who then has to go to hospital incurs enormous debts. Hillary Clinton tried to get universal insurance off the ground and failed. Obama got his Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare by opponents, passed, but President Trump immediately made efforts to dismantle it.
Wars
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan also continued and Obama was clearly against that, but how could he withdraw troops without America being harmed? If he withdraws the troops and those countries become bogged down in civil wars, that will certainly not look good internationally. Obama had to walk a fine line between his promises and reality.
A divided America
Although Obama’s victory seems big with about 340 electoral votes, the race was much closer when you look at the ,popular vote,; the percentage of voters across the country. The victory for Obama is then much less clear with approximately 47% for McCain and 52% for Obama. Although the rest of the world was rooting for Obama, America is much more divided. Obama faced a tough job to remove the divisions and get everyone on the same page. Especially when it comes to controversial topics (in America) such as abortion, stem cell research, general health insurance and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Reputation abroad
America had developed a bad reputation in the world after eight years of Bush. The refusal to sign the Kyoto climate treaty, the wars and the super-American patriotism that makes the rest of the world believe that America doesn’t need anyone else, have all done their job. With a young, dynamic leader, there was hope elsewhere in the world for realism in the White House. Obama’s election was a real goosebump moment. What we already saw in the TV series 24 with a black David Palmer as president became reality with Barack Obama.
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