This amazing moment
It’s only 10:15 p.m. West Coast time, and I already have an election hangover. A storybook half moon, blurred by clouds and tilted, like a partly closed eye, hangs outside in the West. Just looking at the moon on it’s side like that reminds me how tired I am. Speaking with nervous Democratic friends this morning, I seemed less worried. I explained that I’ve already wrung myself out emotionally over the last few weeks or so and had little left to give in terms of anxiety. It was still amazing to watch the CNN map turn bluer than it has in a long time and to see Barack Obama’s electoral vote count rise so quickly that the race was called at about 8:00 p.m. PST. Obama’s speech was uplifting and echoed so many of the sentiments that drew so many supporters. He mentioned the familiar idea that we are not red states and blue states but the United States and that he would be serve every American regardless of how they voted.
John McCain’s concession speech was gracious and, ironically, one of the glorious moments of his presidential campain. I hope that the scattered booing that accompanied any mention of Barack Obama does not mean that the fear and frothing at the mouth about allegations of socialism, terrorist associations, Muslim schools and middle names, and race, will linger. Let the desire for a wise and inspiring president and a better international reputation for our country win over those who never wanted him to win.
As great as it was to witness a swift Obama victory, there are a few lingering things that I wonder about. Michelle Bachman of Minnesota won a second Senate tern despite her McCarthy-esque rant on MSNBC about the assessing members of Congress for holding “American” or “anti-American” views. Expressing her views in an interview with Chris Matthews resulted in nearly $1 million dollars donated for her opponent. Yet the people of Minnesota re-elected her, a woman who makes her state look more ridiculous and backward than any Garrison Keillor skit or heavy, “Fargo”-esque accent every could. And in Louisiana, McCain’s handy win of the presidential vote despite the Bush and the GOP’s utter failure in the Hurricane Katrina fiasco, makes one think that racism will die a long, hard death in the South. Obama even won in Indiana, a deeply red state.
I’m just thankful that, despite winning over 50% of the vote today, Obama’s acceptance speech and demeanor don’t suggest the hubris and ignorance that George W. Bush displayed in claiming a mandate in 2000 and 2004.
