MORE THAN DEMOCRATS ELECTED OBAMA
As political hacks begin to power up for the arrival of a new president, it is important to recognize who put Barack Obama in the White House. It was far more than members of the Democratic Party. And Obama must realize that he is not the traditionally elected official who owes it all to one of the political parties. The Democrats have made a mess of their own party, and they could not have elected Obama. In fact, the two elections of a man of such low caliber as George W. Bush is ample testimony to the impotence of the Democrat Party.
Obama owes much to a wider group of supporters. His very campaign was outside the norm as he ushered in large numbers of new voters via the electronic networks. Expectations are high. Demands will be forthcoming. He will have to have keen insight into a wide spectrum of humane and progressive programs. Being a liberal will not be enough.
Obama's feet will be held to the fire (hopefully) by the likes of Democrats, democrats, liberals, progressives, greens, academics, the poor, the underserved, labor unions, international organizations (including UN groups of Americans), youth, social democrats, universal health care advocates, intellectuals, minorities, separation of church and state groups, peace groups, the left-wing, humane right-wingers, tolerance groups, disabled, anti-war coalitions, more humane capitalists, and a wide array of others. Our new president will have to deal with the expectations of these power groupings. Let us wish him well.
We need this breath of fresh air. We have been hard-pressed to see much value in any of the presidents since Harry S. Truman, with some exceptions in JFK. I have personally had to hold my nose when voting for President of the United States for many years. We are at a crossroads in American history. I hope Barack Obama is up to it. He is being left a horrible mess from the Reagan-Clinton-Bush years.
