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President-Elect Barack Obama’s Tough Job Ahead
Published by Pamela Gentry on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 1:06 pm.By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
NEW YORK CITY (Nov. 7, 2008) – Since Election Day, I have traveled to three cities – by plane, train and automobile – and have spoken with complete strangers anxious to discuss the victory of President-Elect Barack Obama. I’ve overheard conversations on cell phones, in restaurants’ and while waiting in line about the impact of his win and the enormity of its historical impact.
It’s true Obama has written a new chapter in political history and will now be charged with leading the charge to improve our quality of life and international reputation, but he’ll also have to manage expectations.
But the folks I’ve spoken with – some ardent Obama supporters and some who weren’t – both had one thing in common, a sincere interest in how he’ll govern. Everyone wants to stay tuned in and up to date on the first Black president’s every move. He may become the first president to be a pop-culture icon while in the Oval Office.
Just think of his daily Cabinet meetings, policy speeches and news conferences; they will be debated and discussed in blogs and on social-networking Web sites, like Facebook and MySpace. I’m curious to see if his campaign communication system, which served him so well as a candidate, will be morphed into an even more effective outreach tool from the executive office. Obama’s campaign spoke directly to supporters during the election: Will folks now get text-messages and e-mails from the leader of the free world?
Not a bad idea.
While all the hype about the historic significance of his election is meaningful and relevant, it’s not going to be the only thing to define his presidency. One of my political junkies on Capitol Hill said something to me that bare repeating.
Using a baseball analogy, he asked me if the “historic” integration of Major League Baseball by Jackie Robinson changed how the game of baseball was played, or how a game was won. I replied, “I don’t think so.” After confirming my correct answer, he said, when Robinson stepped on the field he was expected to do everything his White counterparts had to do. The game of baseball wasn’t made easier, nor did the league lower expectations because Robinson was Black.
Even someone who isn’t an expert in baseball got it. The required skill set for the commander in chief is not going to get easier because a Black man is now in the job. If anything, the job may create greater challenges, but it’s doubtful he’ll get a pass.
I think he’s prepared the American people as best he can. It was evident in his speech Tuesday night from Chicago when he told the crowd, “There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can’t solve every problem.
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”
I hope we remember these words when he becomes the 44th president of the United States of America.
jfffnn, mr xenaphobia.. now, who is VALARIE JARRETT?. ANSWER THE QUESTION AND DONT FORGET TO MENTION THE COUNTRY SHE WAS BORN IN TOO?..
WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT YOU..
EDUCATION , YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT SERIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO.. JUST LIKE JARETT..
does obama have his own radio station..?, must put that out for the kenyans on youtube, am sure plenty of them would love to come on there to contribute as they have been backing obama LOOONG BEFORE IOWA.. !!!lol!!
now, mad max.( so appriopriate a discription) babylynn and the trogs… go an MEMO THE COUNTRY where VALARIE JARRETT was born and look it up on the map OF THE PLANET EARTH …then tell me why she is an african american again?. surely she should be loyal to the iranians dont you think?.having been born in iran because by your convoluted logic that is is the culture she was born into …
seriously, jfffnn, lynn, mad max , you all show that you lack education and have never been out of your state let alone have any knowledge of anything to do with the outside world..
isolated and insular to the core..
you have more in common with the redneck americans than you think.. ..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7718583.stm
heck even the irish are claiming obama as their son!! and they would be correct.. he has irish connections.. lol!!
go and eat that haters,!! you want to die cos his father is a kenyan,,, lol!!!!!(something you all had no problem with when you didnt believe he could pull this off.?) dont worry, he is a man of many parts…. there is plenty of them to go around,
obama girl, gets her crush on….lol!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7693995.stm
the whole world LOVES OBAMA .. IN A WAY THEY WOULD NEVER CARE ABOUT ANY OTHER AMERICAN..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7710949.stm
just a reminder on who voted obama in… lynn the crying man..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7710093.stm
your country is greater, far greater than you will ever be..because americans voted for change.. they didnt look at their skin colour to make that decision.. so dont you DARE TALK OF LOYALTY..lol!!!.. because IF THEY FOLLOWED THAT PRECIEPT.. MCMCAIN WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT PODIUM..
so ignorant… so stupid.. lol!!
illiterate with no more excuses for being so…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7710432.stm
america comes back to the international community welcome back america.. !!!
Olounwa,
You need to read more reputable American publications to improve your knowledge of African Americans. Every race has it’s misfits and do nothings’s…if we are to be an international community then why are you splitting hairs about who was born where…you contridict yoursel constantly…and everybody is outraged by your silly comments…I find them amusing..
Olounwa
Once again you show your ignorance ,Lynn is a name for borh males and females. In fact my middle name is Lynn. have you ever heard of Lynn Swann who ran for Gov. of Pennsylvannia ? There are many men with the name Lynn.You really should get out of that arrogant mindset it shows how shallow you are.Must be too much FAT around the brain.
mary .. what is contradictory and who exactly is spliting hairs..? when you hit on obama’s kenyan family , i reply so live with it.. an not a kenyan but i dont have to be to read the rapid racist xenaphobia you all put out … that bs is so over.. white people voted for obama too you know. what happened to jennifer hudsons family tells me all i need to know about your collective attidutes … no snitching and sellout whose terms are those..
jfffnn, now, in this culture, lynn is a WOMANS NAME. NO MAN IS CALLED LYNN … ONLY AMERICANS CAN GIVE THEMSELVES FEMALE NAMES .. IT DOES NOT TRANSLATE OVERSEAS..
yes, you are CORRECT.. ALL THAT FAT.. MUST BE COLLECTING IN MY BRAIN TOO!!!LOL!! (was wondering when you would bring that hairy old monster out lol!)
since you have run out of steam.. and you CANT ANSWER MY QUESTION.. SO, WHERE WAS JARRETT BORN AGAIN AND WHY IS SHE STILL CONSIDERED TO BE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN DESPITE THAT?.
jfffnn , you are tired and old and so washed out..
go home..
i have as much concern for the governor of pennslyvannia as you do for the Governor of Anambra state in eastern Nigeria , or the member of parliament for Kensington and Chelsea in london.. jfffnn, once again totally insular and isolated… give it a rest “lynn”…lol!!
jfffnn, you and all the others apart from sechris, are closet obama haters.. you all never believed for one moment that he would win and you are mad cos he has… you wanted jessie or al sharpton to win, but the truth is.. that would never have happened.. THEY ARE HATERS.. like you lot.. they both had has much chance as farrakhan of ever becoming president of the united states. oh, by the way jfffnn, is america not your country now.. or are you still denying it..?.lol!!
Olounwa
I will try one more time,it seems my blogs are not being posted .I never hated Obama,infact I voted for him at 7:25am on Nov, 4,2008. Please go to CNN.com and read about most Balcks in America doubted a Blackman would be elected. You must be out of your mind too think just because a person has doubts about a person being unelectable that equates to hate.I recommend you use your National health coverage too get some mental help. Where the hell do you get these crazy notions ?
so what the woman was born in Iran her parents were Americans and so is she. hell i was born in a hospital, does that make me a doctor?
Goodbye to the bush administration!!!!
jifffnn, DE NIAL.. IS NOT JUST A RIVER IN EGYPT!! you are , and always be , AND OBAMA HATER… now smoke that in your NHS PIPE and keep it…
later..hater…
Lynn
Judging from the photo i viewed of Olounwa I THINK she is female,albeit not a pretty picture
Olounwa
I don’t care who travels where,it is thier business. I see you have not been taking your psych. meds. because you seem to strangly equate doubting at the time an Obama nomination let alone victory with hate;How ABSURD. Then the craziest part is that you think I didn’t vote for him as If you was at my side when I voted.In order too be taken seriously quit making assinine comments,you come off as a looneytune.
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