It's not because he's black ...

[Myrina]

... President Obama was elected because HE WAS THE SMARTEST MO-FO IN THE RACE.

Lets not let the media reduce this to a 'black vs. white' thing, as historic though that may be.
That's an incredible dis-service to President Obama and his amazingly intelligent, charming & graceful wife.

America would be well served, at some point, to get to where Dr. King alluded - 'judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character'. This should be a huge step in that direction.

When I attended rallies, watched the debates, and ultimately stepped into that voting booth, I didn't see a 'black' candidate vs. a 'white' candidate - I saw an accomplished, incredibly SMART MAN with a vision and a plan and a spine of steel vs. a doddering old fool, devoid of ideas and relying on people's most base instincts of fear and ignorance.

I voted for 'THE SMART ONE'. :patriot:

[annabanana]

1. This deserves a BIG K & R to counter the media crap I'm seeing

They are trying to marginalize him.

SMART AMERICANS AROUND THE WORLD REJOICE!!

[sellitman]

2. Race was just a bonus not the prize.

A HUGE bonus but we absolutely elected the best person for the job.

No doubts here.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. I politely disagree

He was elected because:

1) Bush is a Republican, and his being the most unpopular president in American history has greatly tainted all Republicans;

2) The meltdown of the US economy points directly back at the Republicans;

3) A string of scandals has associated the Republican Party with corruption in the minds of many Americans;

4) McCain ran a very inept, baffling campaign which turned off a lot of voters.

Don't get me wrong, Obama is intelligent and charismatic. But except for the points listed above, the race would have been much, MUCH closer.

[Cresent City Kid]

4. It is bigger than that

I supported Obama on policy, and his style, grace, and intelligence were icing on the cake. The history that was made is the story now, but as events unfold, his inner qualities will be the story, not his skin.

I celebrated for my own reasons when I heard the news, but I thought of all the African-Americans I knew and worked beside in New Orleans. I thought of the woman I shared my water with in Katrina's aftermath, and of the people in my neigborhood who were never farther from hope than in those days. I thought of those who worked tough jobs, many with 2 jobs, cris-crossing the city on busses as I did. As I saw the tears on faces last night, all this hit home and I shed a few myself.

Obama's victory was big enough to include a celebration of history changing, smart policy becoming law, and everything else. The racial part of the victory isn't the whole victory, but it's not smaller than they're saying it is. He will make as much history with his actions as he has by winning the posiition with his ethnic background.

Whether you agree with me or not, you have to admit that a discussion about what's important in his victory is a good one to have.

[Myrina]

8. I totally agree w/ you ...

I am a single mom with a bi-racial 17 year old daughter. I TOTALLY understand the significance of this election.

I just don't want the historical "talking points" reduced to "he only won because he's African American and the AA community would only come out to vote for a Black candidate." That insults their intelligence and investment in the process, and reduces President Obama to literally being a 'token'.

I would like to think that we as a country are (close, anyway) to being bigger than that.


:hi:

[Dora]

5. Thank you for saying what I've been thinking all morning.

It's about his ideas, his education, his VALUES, his skills as a communicator, and his qualities as a leader.

The only reason his race is relevant to any discussion is that it represents at long last the opportunity to prove our American racists wrong. And that will come with time, and in the meantime I think we ought to stop dwelling on his color, and start focusing on his actions.

[atommom]

6. Well said! Though his race adds another dimension to the race that we

can't ignore. It makes the victory that much sweeter.

[cobalt1999]

7. Yes, but it's also true the AA communities did vote and turnout because he was black.

Same intelligence, same message, same experience, but make him white and he would not have collected 99% of the black vote.

Don't misunderstand, he would have won easily anyway, but being black WAS a factor...just not the only factor.

[TexasObserver]

9. Obama was elected in spite of being black, not because of it.

He's an outstanding candidate, with an incredible gift for understanding how it all fits together. He's got patience and thoughtfulness.

If he had been white, he'd have won by 16, instead of 6, points.

[codjh9]

10. Well HELL YEAH! I voted for him because he was (duh!) the best candidate - race/color/sex had

nothing to do with it!

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. That's why I voted for him. For his intelligence and grace!

[MJkcj]

12. to me it was not about the color of his skin but about the content of his character......... BUT....

Obama is an exceptional once in a lifetime kind of man and I am thrilled that he will be our president and for me it was not about the color of his skin

HOWEVER i can understand why it is got to an unbelievable victory for the AA community. To now for the first time ever be able to say with conviction to their children that one day they could be president.