First, I sincerely congratulate Obama on his win. Though I disagree with him on some policy issues, there were alot of things I liked about him. With that said, I’d like to reflect on some possible outcomes of an Obama presidency, things that I will have an interest in throughout the next four years.
Black Culture: If there is one thing this election showed, it is that the view that a Black person cannot be president, that racism continues to play a significant role in todays economy, was flat out wrong. Personally, I never doubted that a Black man can become president but many people I know did. An Obama presidency proved they were wrong and will be a strong argument against anybody who continues to believe that race plays a significant role in limiting minority upward mobility. How his presidency will affect the Black community is something to watch. John McWhorter, one of my favorite Black authors, has made the case throughout the whole Obama candidacy that Obama will have a tremendous affect on Black culture. For example, in June he wrote:
As often as not, the idea was that America could not seriously support a black man for its highest office.I didn’t get this. The America I live in today does not seem as deeply stamped by bigotry as these people seemed to think. It seemed as if, on this topic, I was talking to people who had woken up after 25 years and didn’t know how the country had changed. Couldn’t they see that this man’s color was only going to help?…Barack Obama’s success is the most powerful argument against this way of thinking in the entire four decades since recreational underdoggism was mistaken as deep thought. A black man clinching the Democratic presidential nomination — and rather easily at that — indicates that racism is a lot further “beneath the surface” than it used to be.
He has made the point repeatedly in his blogginghead interviews with Brown University economist Glenn Loury, see for example, how he uses the Obama presidency to demolish Loury’s argument on “institutional racism” here (all of the interviews, btw, are a must watch. See here for a list).
Add in the fact that Obama is not shy on criticizing absent fathers, bad behavior, and a lack of focus on education in the Black community and you get a very interesting combination.
Black Politics: Thomas Sowell long ago explained why it is in the interest of Democrats to continue to perpetuate a view of the world that sees racism as primary. He wrote:
If the share of the black vote that goes to the Democrats ever falls to 70 percent, it may be virtually impossible for the Democrats to win the White House or Congress, because they have long ago lost the white male vote and their support among other groups is eroding. Against that background, it is possible to understand their desperate efforts to keep blacks paranoid, not only about Republicans but about American society in general.
Liberal Democrats, especially, must keep blacks fearful of racism everywhere, including in an administration whose Cabinet includes people of Chinese, Japanese, Hispanic, and Jewish ancestry, and two consecutive black Secretaries of State. Blacks must be kept believing that their only hope lies with liberals.
If, for the sake of argument, the view that racism is a prevalent part of our culture is eroded…what are the long term implications on Black politics? Would this loosen the Democrats hold on Blacks? Something to keep an eye on.
The Bush Legacy: Obama’s choices in office could have, ironically enough, a positive affect on Bush’s legacy. For example, if Obama decides to take, even with the control of congress, a “pragmatic” approach to foreign policy and continues many of Bush’s more controversial positions, it could have a long run positive affect on how Bush’s legacy is viewed. Take Obama’s now ambiguous stand on Guantanamo bay. The AFP writes:
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Barack Obama’s presidential transition team said Tuesday it was working though the complicated issues involved in his campaign pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay “war on terror” camp in Cuba.
The Democratic president-elect is already under fierce pressure from human rights groups to close the controversial high-security facility but faces a legal minefield in deciding where to house inmates and how to try them.
“Senator Obama has said that he intends to close the facility at Guantanamo, that’s a complicated matter,” said his transition co-chair John Podesta.
“It’s under review … when we have something to say about that, we’ll say it,” Podesta said at the first news conference of the transition in Washington.
A complicated matter, huh? What to do with all the inmates inside? How will the judicial system work? Will GWB’s worries materialize? Will Obama find an alternative in name only to Guantanamo? Also, what will Obama’s position be on CIA interrogations? The continued Iraq war? The Patriot Act? How all this plays out will set the stage on how GWB is looked at in the future.
Inner City Liberal As President: I’ve always distinguished between inner city liberalism, which I find appealing on several grounds, and limousine liberalism which I find abhorrent on many grounds. Inner city liberalism is much more sincerely focused on problems of the poor. Concerns about jobs, equal treatment, human dignity and religion all play a role. Limousine liberalism is much more the rich mans religion: environmentalism, utopia, elitism and a general disdain for religion. Though I wouldn’t classify Obama as a complete inner city liberal - he does, after all, have alot of limousine liberalism in him - he is the closest there has ever been in the history of the presidency. So it will be interesting to see how this plays out in his politics and policies. How people view him and treat him.
It should be a very interesting next four years. 
Obama, President-elect, was voted into office by Black voters voting for a Black man; by the young voters who had no idea what the issues were or what Obamas political mind-set is; by Hispanic voters hoodwinked into believing that a minority will surely aid the plight of illegal aliens and by White voters (mostly liberal) that are still on the White guilt trip thinking we still need to make amends for slavery.
All combined, that was enough to give him the win over the more experienced candidate who was judged as being too old, for making a bad VP pick and assuming he would be another 4 years of Bush. Really simple, but not a good thing for America unless one prefers socialism.
I agree with your analysis on the potential effect of an Obama presidency in the black community. In the next four years we will see if Obama is able to reshape the mindset of many blacks or if, for political pandering reasons, he resorts to the victim mentality that is currently so prevalent in the African American community. only time will tell. Having said that, I think that in electing a President, the intent of every voter should be what’s best for the country as a whole rather than arriving at historical milestones or correcting past wrongs against one group. The debate is the same as it always has been, mainly, the role of government in our lives. In principle, conservatives are against big governments while liberals promote it. Obama is no different than other liberals in my opinion and for that reason he did not get my vote. But he is the President now and I wish him the best. Luis
I am more enthusiastic about the election of Barack Obama then I have been for any President-elect since Ronald Reagan in 1980.
I fondly recall President Reagan as a champion of such causes as lower spending (not lower taxes plus rampant borrowing), strong defense (not strong offense), and pro-immigration policies (such as qualified amnesty for the undocumented). And, of course, it’s simply unthinkable that the man who so strongly opposed the totalitarian communistic regimes in the Eastern Bloc would have ever endorsed torture, secret prisons, and blatant, unconstitutional violations of citizens’ civil liberties, as the current administration has.
Today, I do not see the qualities of Reagan in the Republican party. I am hopeful that we will see them in the administration of Barack Obama. We shall see.
HP… it’s been a long time & during this election I wondered what you thought about the Democratic victory. Some questions, out of pure curiosity:
Many people have been suggesting that Obama is our generation’s JFK, what do you think? I agree that he is very charismatic and seems to genuinely care for the underdogs, but to be compared to JFK? Wow!
Why have so many people been accusing Obama as having Socialist views? If you think about it, if it weren’t for the middle class, wealthy people wouldn’t be where they are at today… who do they think is buying their products and services to make them rich in the first place? Doesn’t their best consumer deserve a tax break? The people that are making over 250K have the chump change to give back to consumers, so why are they crying about it like Obama is going to cut their legs off from under them?
Look forward to what your thoughts
I don’t know what it is about Obama but there is something about him that is very appealing. I am an ardent right winger and the fact that I got so close to even considering voting for Obama says alot. So in this regard, if I was a betting man, I would put my money on Obama being considered one day, one of our greatest presidents…maybe somewhere near Reagan status - atleast according to many (though certainly not all) Americans.
Time will tell though and nothing in politics is certain. This does spell trouble though, to say the least, for the Republican party.
Regarding Obama’s socialist views…no, I don’t think his policies as stated are socialist…though I do think there is a strong argument to be made that Obama himself has many socialist tendencies. For more on this, I refer you to this great post by Cobb, a blog I read. See here. Do read the comments as well, as that is where alot of the good stuff is at.
I must be waaaay too skeptical because my very first impression of President - elect Obama came from his first major public foray at the 2004 Democratic convention. I listened for 3 - 5 minutes then turned to wife and said, “This SOB is a grifter…he’s able to make you want to believe the con.” She in turn, replied “You are your mother’s son.”
My mother had an uncanny ability to see through people and size them up for what they really were. I make no such claims for myself, but I am wary and skeptical. “Plan for the worst, hope for the best” I always say.
Best comment I’ve seen thus far was this very morning at Instapundit…meet the new boss, same as the old boss…who knew that rock & roll lyrics were so insightful.
Wealth redistribution_ socialist.
Create a national security force_ socialist.
Create a national youth organization_ socialist.
Obama leans so far to the left, he’s almost gone horizontal. The Domocrats under Obamas leadership will try to create a huge government with social services that will provide for each individuals needs for the cradle to the grave. That is socialism at its purest form. By removing everyones right to make any personal decisions because the government wants to decide for you is socialism. Obama will try to rid us of our democracy and once it’s gone it’s almost impossible to get it back. He is not to be trusted to do what is right for America.
Interesting to note that Obama had both an Absent Black Father and Absent White Mother.
@tacosam
That’s what makes me racially diverse. And I think that is good since race has always been a divisive issue here.