The candidate of colour

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti in Miami, USA

The presumptive nomination of Illinois Senator Barrack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate caused frenzied celebrations in the US while many, even his detractors, saw his nomination as a defining and historic one in US political history.

For in the United States, there had been little or no place for a black president, or a coloured candidate.

Besides the joy his nomination evoked, Barack Obama would go down in history also as the first African-American presidential candidate of a major political party. Interestingly, he manages to combine pop star popularity with something close to the feelings inspired by the late Dr. Martin Luther King. In a sense, to some, Obamania is a religion.

But the nomination of Obama naturally does not inspire everyone, certainly not the Republicans who refer to Obama as a 'na‹ve politician still groping around' and blames the media for building up candidates beyond their call. 

As Obamania gripped the country, his opponent and Republican candidate, John McCain responded to the Democratic selection on a cryptic note. "The American people did not get to know me yesterday. They are just getting to know Senator Barack Obama." He added: "If it is about change, he (Obama) is about the wrong change."

Burying hatchets

In the meantime, there are other issues the Democrats have to resolve such as burying hatchets and consolidating the party. More importantly, they need to settle on a vice presidential nominee.

New York Senator Hillary Clinton responded to Tuesday's selection of Obama after a long fought battle for the candidature claiming; "I am not making any decisions." But in hours, she appeared composed and ready to move to the next stage, announcing her wish to be his running mate and called her campaign to an end on Saturday (7). There is no question that Clinton enjoys much confidence among a sizeable number of Democrats, has white American support and the women voters behind her-strengths that Obama can certainly benefit from.

Obama's own reaction to his presumptive nomination was to say: "Tonight, after 54 hard-fought contests, our primary season has finally come to an end." While the 46- year-old candidate was received by an outpouring of cheers there was Senator Clinton in New York stating: "It had been an honour to contest the primaries with him."

Clinton congratulating Obama and his supporters added: "He deserves immense credit for the extraordinary race he has run."

Obama and Clinton drew more than 17 million votes each with Obama winning 34 contests and Clinton, 23. They split Texas with Clinton winning the primary and Obama, the caucus.

Coloured President

Despite the gripping Obamania, there were many skeptics who still found it difficult to trust a coloured president to lead the nation.

Obama detractors claim that he is immature and far too new to lead the world's political powerbase and finds him over-sympathetic to 'unnecessary sensibilities.'

With the announcement of the Democratic candidate, Republican campaigners  remained  unaffected by the frenzied response only  expressing their happiness that the bitter battle between senators Obama and Clinton has finally ended, leaving their own candidate, John MCain with a 'real opponent.'

According to Chairman, Republican Party of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Robert S. Frost, Obama has certainly taken giant strides as a new politician. "He is not the man he was in January. He has evolved, become a brilliant orator, and captured the imagination of the youth. It is just that the change he promises is dangerous," notes Frost.

And why? Frost like most Conservatives find Obama too willing to make outlandish promises, some of which are not even unrealistic in his thinking such as holding talks with organisations and countries with which America has strained relationships, without any preconditions.

Further, Republicans critique Obama for being allegedly willing to talk with the Hamas and Hisbullah that would not make any American confident at the same time, risking America's well established Israeli ties thereby jeopardising the Jewish vote.

Inspirational presence

Elisa Rise-Jones, a shop keeper in downtown Cleveland felt that as much as she liked his inspirational presence in national politics, she as a citizen was worried that if elected, Obama just might give expression to some of these pledges and compromise national security.

This is where the Republicans believe their candidate is strongest. They heavily rely on McCain's ability to settle the Iraqi issue without compromising US national security and a withdrawal of troops when Iraq is ready to handle its own affairs. What is more, they find it amusing that Obama had already promised an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

"It is unrealistic. Impossible. If elected and if he wants to do that, he will be viewed as a weak president. The US does not suffer weak presidents," notes Political Coordinator, Republican Party office of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Dave Luketic.

The Republicans add that there are some 4090 US causalities in Iraq and it is important for Obama to understand this. "He can't appreciate the troops if he fails to understand the mission, "critiques Frost.

As such, his detractors feel that Obama is a mere combination of John Lenon, Bob Dylan and Michael Jackson with immense public appeal. "People are mixing style with substance. However, he is a politically savvy man. If he needs to survive in this race, he will alter his stance on Iraq. When he does, he will run a severe credibility risk."

Youthful and vibrant

Despite all of the above, if any candidate in recent American history has managed to cut across class and colour and reached out to the youth in an entirely new way, it is Barack Obama. He is on U Tube and Facebook, domains meant for youth and his own website is youthful and vibrant. His marketing strategy has been so good that it will prove difficult to sell any other candidate to the average American youth.

From Washington DC to San Francisco, to Cleveland to Miami, this factor remained the same. Youth felt bonded and driven by a desire to share Obama's mission.

While the older generation may view his policy stances ranging from withdrawal of troops from Iraq to controlling guns, the same are viewed by the American youth population as positives. His policies on more government controlled health care facilities and gun control to combat the rising wave of crime are lauded by the youth while some skeptics question whether the presidential nominee feared US citizens' maturity in owning and prudently using a personal weapon.

As for the African American community in the US, Barack Obama is hope itself. The issue of race is deeply embedded in the US psyche though not evident at all times. Nevertheless, colour remains a decisive factor in many of life's issues - be it education or job opportunities.

The nomination of Senator Obama is a defining and perhaps the biggest moment for the African American community in the United States. They feel deeply about 'identity politics' and  feel that Obama can give expression to that identity in a positive manner. Yet, they harbour their own fears, chief among them that the coloured candidate would fall prey to the massive white community of voters. Besides, they fear Obama's life would be under serious threat based on his colour  alone.

Nation's destiny

More over, there are many who feel for all the positive dislike among the large majority of Americans towards the Bush administration, this single factor - colour is likely to decide the next US President.

"I still believe that for all the freedom this country speaks of and enjoys, the country is still not ready for a woman president or a coloured president. In November, sadly, my theory might be proven right," adds Lee Ann Hopkins, a restaurant keeper in South Beach, Miami.

This August, Democrats will formally endorse Senator Obama as their presidential candidate at the Democratic Party Convention in Denver, Colorado. Democrats are all agog, that the party can certainly change the destiny of the nation.

There is so much of hope riding on Barack Obama. It is a responsibility he is aware of. Following his presumptive nomination, Obama said to many thousands of his supporters, "The journey is difficult. The road will be long.  I take this road with humility. But I have immense faith."

Meanwhile, Student Coordinator for Youth Voices for Justice, Jonathan Lykes says, "There has never been anyone more inspirational, both for coloured and white Americans since Martin Luther King. After all it is a belief. It is perception that this one coloured man, with the backing of an entire nation could give America a new identity, a new lease and a future that is inclusive."

Jonathan, like many of his own age is an Obama well wisher. There are millions of Jonathans in the United States, waiting to cast their maiden vote for change. And the candidate who promises changes and is very different. To them, Obama is the ultimate inspiration and beacon of hope.

To the vast majority of Africans who have moved to the US as slaves and gradually won their freedom and parity of status, Obama is their identity and symbol.