President Obama: A Newsnight Special

I Think it is commendable that a black person is elected President in 2008. However, i think it would be even more impressive IF an Indigenous person (Red Indian) was even elected a Senator? That would really be something to shout about!

Surely he is just as much white as he is black? Why then is he described solely as 'black', rather than of 'mixed race'? Just how much 'white' inheritance do you need to call yourself 'white'? It seems that many people with one 'black' grandparent, with the other three being 'white', call themselves 'black'.

CNN's analysis showed that in the south Democrats electing to congress consistantly did better than Obama. So Yes its a significant moment, but No we have not entered a "post racial era".

historic..yawn..black..zzz...change....snore....

that is what we'll get from the yapparrazzi.

the real questions are things like

given the usa has to borrow money to pay off the interest on its existing trillion plus loans how is the Presy going borrow more money and either not have interest rates at 15% or end up with mass commodity inflation that trashes everyones savings?

they might have left him the white house but 'president' cheney has left nothing in the coffers.

can we have a review of 'president' cheneys 8 years in office?

The election of Barack Obama signals the first fruit of post racial era. Alot of cultivation, planting and watering for this era has been an ongoing work since the days of Rev King. Today the world enjoyed the first fruit of those sacrifices and hard work made years before.
-Charles Ngoje (Church Minister)

I've not been a believer in the 'and with one jump he was free' school of problem solving. But nevertheless I am pleased Obama has been elected and the world has high hopes for him. I hope he's up to the job.

Now watch the race to be the first European to get to meet him.

Apart from the fact that he is not black but of mixed-race, I really hope it ushers in a new era. In 60 years I have witnessed black children being thrown out of schools in Alabama through to today.
But we all had high hopes when Blair was elected - and as we know the hopes are in tatters.
I truly hope the same is not true of Obama - but thank God we now see the back of the dreadful Bush!

Yes we are now free from racism today God has anointed a good Leader to lead us through this hard time the whole world is rejoicing its like when Solomon was made King and the whole world rejoiced

let us hope that this is just another small step for man, but one giant leap for mankind

The look on the faces of the people in the audience listening to Barack's speech after the result was announced, said it all. You could see something very special in their eyes and it was very moving. I personally feel hopeful for everyone for the future now, so please ... Heaven, keep him safe for what lies ahead.

For those of us who fought for Civil Rights for Black People and the end to the Vietnam War back in the 60's , this day is a great day for us ! No matter what happens from this day on we will always have this victory to cherish.
It's now for the youth of the current generation of Americans to work with president Obama to renew our country and win back our integrity and humanity and put an end to poverty and war.


We HAVE overcome ! Now let us go forward !

E.P.Aliferis

Q: "Do you think the election of Barack Obama shows we've entered a post-racial era?"

A: I had hoped it would be, but you've disappointed me with this:
"A Newsnight Special will look at the global reaction to the election of the first black president of the United States"

Isn't the whole point of "post-racial" that race doesn't matter?
The longer you (Newsnight) make it the focus of attention, the more you show your own inability to ignore race; in other words, you are still, even if unwittingly, racist yourself.

Though his experience of life as a black in the USA is as relevant as his education or his life abroad,
the colour of his skin is of no more importance than his height, weight or shoe size.

Let's drop the topic and get on with creating a truly "post-racial" society.

It says much about the desire of the coloured people to be counted as citizens and not as a sub-class because of the colour of their skins.

I think that the oppononents have much to learn and will make life very difficult for Barack personally and the democrats generally.

"Do you think the election of Barack Obama shows we've entered a post-racial era?"
No -- for the simple reason that Obama was elected precisely because he is black (albeit by the population in all its diversity). Every headline makes specific reference to his being black. In my view, this entrenches the racial era; it does not allow us to go beyond it, as the whole deal was forged in a furnace fanned by the fires of white vs. black. None of this means that obama won't be a good president, or a unifying one. He certainly talks the talk. Let's see if he walks the walk.

I think out T.V. stations have been on overkill with Presidential elections, for goodness sake it has had more air time than our own domestic politics, we keep hearing the same thing over and over again, that a country who is meant to be in economic decline spending all that money promoting just 2 candidates is just disgraceful, just imagine how many starving African children that would feed !
Can we please get back to reality

I am deeply worried. Although I welcome Obama's strong and concrete victory in the election and the wave of goodwill that will generate around the world, I am deeply worried at what we face in the coming year.

Joe Biden, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Colin Powell and others (in a position to know) in recent days have made remarks alluding to a large and terrible planned event coming within months of Obama winning the Presidency, that will test Obama's mettle "in the same way that Kennedy was tested". Something really big will take place that will change his presidency and make him deeply unpopular.

https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/biden-to-suppor.html

https://www.nypost.com/seven/10212008/news/politics/joe_doh_puts_o_in_crisis_mode_134547.htm


What is this great and terrible event? Who is planning it and to what purpose....

Please try and find out.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

"Do you think the election of Barack Obama shows we've entered a post-racial era?"

No. It just reflects the dramatic change in American demographics which signal its decline. The Civil Rights movement will, sadly, prove to have been its nemesis as the data shows that America is slowly killing off its golden geese just as the EU and other Liberal Democracies are.

A pedantic point but an important one: Obama is not the president until he is sworn in. He is the president-elect.

The election of Obama has serious implications for us. In the new globalised world, the countries that will prosper and dominate are those that transcend the old conservative ideology of closed borders and anti immigration.

The election of Obama is an acceptance of the fact the soon, white people will be a minority in America and it will truly be a multi-racial society. It is these countries- those that encourage new people to come to them to fund their growth and capture skills.

America might now just have a chance of remaining one of the world super powers in this new world economy. But if we don't realise the implications of the new world we are in, we will fast become a forgotten nation among the new powers of the world.

Neither of the two main parties have policies to make Britain a new world power.

Distraction over.

What is important in the new world order?

Clue in the question.

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/gallery/GPN-2001-000009.jpg

Celtic Lion

I just wonder how the American people will react when they realise that the new President cannot work a miracle, with their economy and their many wars that are ongoing, Will the dream fade?

POST-RACIAL ERA?

Like in Tito's Yugoslavia - you mean? With a question like that, post-rational is nearer the mark.

I am very pleased that Obama has been elected, but I hope that no-one expects too much of him given the appalling economic and security situations he is going to have to deal with. There is a lot of goodwill, and he will have to move fast to capitalise on that.
I think it will make a difference to attitudes towards the USA across the world. As one commentator said last night, just imagine the reaction in the Middle East to an American president called Barack Hussein Obama! That fact alone has a lot of positive potential.

Exciting and historic times!

I stayed up all night to watch the US Elections coverage by BBC - which incidentally was a lot better than CNN!
Although I would normally have rooted for McCain his campaign was run very badly and final straw was choice of Sarah Palin -- therefore, since Hillary Clinton was not selected I thought Obama's victory was significant and very important for the US and the world at large and congratulate him and the Democratic Party for their success in both the Presidential race and Senate and House.

I do not think that election of Obama is in any way going to change the cultural skyscape or portend any major trend. As a matter of fact the heigjhtened expectations are likley to result in a greater despodency, as the expectations might not be met.
The afro-Amercians are likely to be in a greater shock. In case Obama helps them, he is likely to be l;abelled colour conscious and partisan' and in case he is just not show special consideration to the black community, then he is likely to be treated as a traitor. It is a real catch 22 situation .
This dichotomy is going to haunt Obama and the result might not be particularly palatable.
He is constarined by the geo-political, cultural and historical forces and here is going to his tragedy

Not sure that the US has entered a post-racial era but believe for once the US citizens and voters selected the best candidate for the job. However, results from Southern States like Georgia, S Carolina, Missourri, Tennessee, Texas and others I believe were cast for McCain because of the unease that Southerners have about blacks!

Several friends living in Louisiana and Texas were very opposed to the selection of Obama as the Democratic candidate - unfortunate that they still hold such views.

Whew massive sigh of relief for a few weeks after the primaries I thought the Americans might play the very nasty race card and return another grey haired Republican to the White House. In many respects he is in for a tough ride but he couldn't do any more damage to the US image than the existing incumbant has already done. US voters have restored my faith in humanity.

The victory of Senetor Obama Baraka has made history in two ways. For Black Americans and for America as a country where justice and democracy prevails.

The mass America once again shown the world, they practice what they preach!

James Costa - Saudi Arabia

FINE WORDS VS HARSH REALITY

charlesngoje (#5) Fine words Charles, but how is Obama and his party going to deal with these awkward and growing harsh realities?

It isn't as if great efforts haven't been made over many years.

As one of the (white) founders of the student anti-apartheid movement at the beginning of the 1960s, I would never have thought that it would take so long for our work to come to fruition. On the other hand, neither would I have expected its ultimate achievement to be so spectacular; we would have settled for freedom, as eventually happened in South Africa. But Obama’s success is much more important than mere racial politics. We must hope that he lives up to his image as the new JFK, and really does take the world in a new direction.

As yet the reaction to the Obama win seems to be based on two extremes. At one there are widespread over-hyped expectations that his win will by itself resolve all the problems facing the US and the world; Obama as the new super-hero. At the other there are the much more pessimistic predictions of the experts who correctly point out the scale of the problems, and they question whether any mere mortal can succeed; Obama as the weak novice. Both these extremes focus on the almost magical abilities of Obama, on who he is.

I believe that the reality is much more to do with what he is not. Thus the most important fact is that his victory signals that we are at the end of a truly depressing period of corrupt political mismanagement. This started with the seemingly benign economic feudalism reintroduced by Thatcher and Reagan. Central to this approach was the belief that money was primarily generated by the new rich; the speculators, especially in the financial markets. Everything was, therefore, done to attract these new money magnets. The benefit to the state were to come from ‘trickle-down’. The millions and billions they earned, virtually tax-free, would support numbers of ‘servants’; their cleaners and chauffeurs, as well as the service industries, such as two Michelin star restaurants, they used. Of course the recent financial crash has shown just how hollow was this argument and, on both sides of the Atlantic, the increasingly regressive tax policies which were meant to attract them have started to be reversed. Redistribution, from the rich to the poor, can at last, after a quarter of a century, be discussed in polite circles.

In the UK this was as far as Reaganomics went, since the Blair revolution of 1997 returned social policy to a more or less socialist basis. In the US, however, the same time-frame saw the neo-cons capture the electoral processes. Dick Cheney and his cronies, not least Karl Rove, settled on the initially successful theory that electorates could be controlled by fear; though even they could not have expected the gift of 9/11, which was brilliantly used to justify something approaching a police state. In the Bush second term, however, they fell into the trap of pushing the envelope too far, so that their supporters were starting to look like those that entrenched Hitler in power. As catastrophe theory would predict, they have now fallen off the cliff. Assuming Obama, as much of a pragmatist as Tony Blair, consolidates his position at the centre, or just a bit left of that, Republicans are surely doomed to something like the decade or wandering in the wilderness that the Tories experienced in the UK. Happy to blame McCain for being too liberal, they are already heading for the exit.

Obama’s new ‘socialism’ will take some time to achieve full acceptance by the US electorate, still brainwashed to an extent by the decades long propaganda of the neo-cons. He needs to learn the lessons of Tony Blair if he is not to be another one-term idealist. But he will immediately be welcomed, with open arms, by governments across the wider world. We should all be better off.

LIES DAMNED LIES AND NICENESS

Oh P - lease! Let him/her/dontknow who is without prejudice IN ANY AREA OF HUMAN INTERACTION cast the first gold nugget of perfection.

If any blogger can look into their own inner workings and declare they are free from selectivity (whether visceral of cerebral) - at times - then I am on the wrong planet and will

get me coat.

Indeed, the victory of Obama has taken us to post racial era. I remembered a former Democratic vice presidential nominee (the first woman to be so nominated) said Obama would'nt have make any impact if he were white.

I was skeptic about the election at a point but knowing that these are matured people I believe maturity will be displayed - and that was done.

I sincerely hope we Africans will learn from this. That one day a defeated contestant will conratulate the winner and our leaders will give way for "Free and Fair Elections".

Hope this is just a pipe dream; BUT will be a REALITY!

The Color of the 2008 US presidential election

The new president of the United States is Barack Obama. To most people this news came as no surprise. Purple states becoming blue, red states acquiring a shade of purple, but the most important color of all is black. What was a big win for the democrats will go down as a monumental victory for racism. As the arms race ended with the atomic bomb, and the space race ending with the moon, maybe a racism race has now come to an end with the first ever African American president.

The selection of the american people for Mr. Obama is a very clear sign of " RACES DESCRIMINATION IN A AMERICA IS A THING OF THE PAST" and it is good sign of big changes in america for good.

A DIFFERENT VIEW (#29)

"Thus the most important fact is that his victory signals that we are at the end of a truly depressing period of corrupt political mismanagement."

Obama had more money, better troops and better weaponry. I don't see that as better politics.

"He needs to learn the lessons of Tony Blair"

From my first comment, he seems to have done so. I find what Blair 'teaches' anathema, both politically and in human terms.

No I personally don't Obama was elected because he was the best candidate and America wanted and needed a change. Even if Obama was white he would have had an even higher majority there are still some in America who did not vote for him because he is a Black American

I wish him well but will his actions match his rhetoric?
As with all "Messiahs" he will end up being pilloried (or heaven forbid-shot) when, probably through no fault of his but that of the system and events, he will be unable to deliver.
He did mention this in his acceptance speech that it might take the next term (if he is elected).
I am pleased for all the many different reasons why he got elected so let's not rain on his parade.
Unfortunately this euphoria won't last, as Blair found out and we will find we are lumbered with the same old problems with politicians promising a lot but delivering little.

We will see this phenominum when Cameron strides into Downing St. to the cheers of the masses as Labour and Brown are thrown out for "change". Those few of us that are left within the party will be in the same plight as the Republicans, so, as I have written before, watch out for the in-fighting for those that like blood sports on recriminations why we lost.

It's just a politician running a better campaign than his opponent. Racism has not been obliterated by this.

Last night Americans were witness to history. Last night I got to witness history, a history I believed would not happen in my lifetime. Last night my pride in the United States and in my fellow Americans soared as high as when I was a child and got goose bumps singing patriotic songs.

Barak Obama was not elected because he is Black, white or mixed race, but we have entered an era where people of any color can dream the dream of attaining the highest office in the land. Perhaps it took someone of “mixed race” (are we not all mixed race to some extent and how much Black do you need to be considered Black?) without roots in slavery to break that color barrier. He has opened the door for all Americans of all colors.

Now it is up to Americans to uphold the ideal Obama has achieved.

at present,to guide properly,it is requiredhonourable peron mr.obama.
i am very grateful

i always pary for him to properguide the u.s.a.&try his best to rise up economical problems

Does it really matter whether he is black, white or mixed race? The fact is he his a brilliant, relatively young man, with an active intelligence. After the idiot who has posed as the US President for the last 8 years that is great. The most positive thing to be drawn from this election, I think, is that the American people actually appeared to accept the responsibility that comes with being the world's major super-power, and elected someone who can read. Poor guy has a ghastly job awaiting, so I wish him very good luck.

SHAKESPEARE MUST HAVE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT CHARISMA AND ORATORY?

I mistrust orators because I know "I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT"? My mistrust mounts when an orator tells me (orates to me) that he going to fix the world;
because when I say stuff like that, I have lost my grip on reality.

Charisma worries me because it HAS NOT BEEN EARNED - like good looks and a good voice are unearned - yet it leads to a self-belief; sometimes messianic self-belief.

Euphoric masses worry me because the words: "Don't do that, it will only encourage him" are so relevant, and because the mentality of crowds is even poorer than the mentality of voters - individually.

I would finish with: "remember you are not a god" but Tony didn't hear me, so why bother?
Doh!

#42

........and as the General drove into Rome leading his conquering army, a slave stood next to him to whisper in his ear..

all glory is fleeting.

Celtic Lion

Hooray for Obama. As my name indicates I live in a country where racial politics is still alive, well and kicking! I think the Americans have got it just right when they refer to men like Obama as "African Americans". The sooner we stop referring to colour (and even the "Newsnight" team have referred to the President-Elect's skin colour) the better. How fantastic that an immigrant's son can both aspire to and achieve high public office?

Great to see Obama in office, but all this promise of change could come back to haunt him if it doesn't work out.

Like Kennedy in 1960 and Johnson's Great Society, Obama should look back and be realistic about what he can achieve otherwise it may come back to haunt him in 2012...

The Barak Obama presidency has arrived safely and in peace and as he has vowed to work for peace and security in the states we wish him that peace from Nigeria throughout his tenure as president and beyond.
The haardworking and young president Obama has made history and more historic unfoldings will follow his tenure as president.

Tochukwu C. Ipere esq
CNN International Correspondent
9da268390433

The Barak Obama presidency has arrived safely and in peace and as he has vowed to work for peace and security in the states we wish him that peace from Nigeria throughout his tenure as president and beyond.
The hard working and young president Obama has made history and more historic unfoldings will follow his tenure as president.

Tochukwu C. Ipere esq
CNN International Correspondent
9da268390433

I am thrilled to death to see Barack Obama elected, but it is more because I believe that he is the man for the job now! Yes, he is half white, but "whites" have forever had some kind of name other that white for people who were not "white", Coloreds, mulattos, and plenty not so nice, and unfortunately have regarded someone not "pure" white as not white in a derogatory way, much as the Nazis saw the Jews as less than human, and if you had ANY Jewish blood in you, you might as well have been "full-blooded". I hope having seen Barack's face on TV so frequently these last months will make a Black face less of "the other" to people, and I think to a degree it has. I was genuinely surprised that we didn't seen to see the "Bradley" effect in this election: people telling pollsters they would vote for Bradley for mayor because they didn't want to be seen as racist, and then voting against him. So maybe we have made some progress. I know we've come a long way since I was marching in Civil Rights marches in the 60's, but it's not enough, yet. BTW I am a white 61YOA female.

The question is loaded in itself as some of earlier writers have pointed out. Post-racial? Why not breaking with Anti-intellectual? That is likely much more important at this moment.

This is a very good time to drop old colonial hang ups. Race is not a useful human characteristic. Neither is the skin colour. We now know much more about the shared DNA and the common origins of humanity for this to be an increasingly irrelevant question.

Please, BBC Newsnight do not fall into these easy/simplistic categorisations. We and the world deserve better- your coverage should break new ground not wallow in the exploration of the outdated categories. Did not the last night commentators mention Rainbow Nation! Yes, lets move on....

While we were intoxicated, thanks to being overfed the American Election. Our Un-elected Prime Minister, Who promised us a referendum. Has sneeked behind our backs and Ratified The Lisbon Treaty. I knew he was a snake, but such betrayal...
We should revolt! Kerb this unpatriotic, pathetic government. They have lied and lied. Who do they think will vote for them.
Certainly not the vast majority of us, who feel nothing but disgust.

GOOD SHIP LOLLYPOP BLEARS

Hazel is just complaining (on PM) about bloggers.
If the blogs ever get within a hundred miles of being as inconsequential and vacuous as the Blears blather, I shall leave the stage.

Between the overt racism of Obama's black/mixed race supporters and the gushy, outpourings of the white liberals on their guilt trip, it is easy to forget that Obama was clearly the better candidate and won purely on merit.

I think that the voter statistics are very telling and if anything it shows that more people voted from all ethnic backgrounds than in previous years. Barack Obama has been elected because he was clearly the better man for the job. I think that race is becomming less of an issue but actually it is more that a significant portion of people were compelled to vote for a candidate that they could relate to and that is a clearly charismatic leader.

Now we shall see if the United States is really United !!

ONE WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT

BoulderSue (#48) Many people have highly erroneous assumptions about the demographic composition of the USA's electorate and population trends (as they do about Europe). They also have erroneous views about racial laws in Germany in the 1930s.

The fact is that before mid century, Whites in the USA will be a minority. The largest non-White group in the USA is Hispanic (although many class themselves as White). The harsh reality is that if trends continue the way they are, Whites in the USA and Europe will decline and ultimately die out. This trend in Eastern Europe is dramatic, in Russia especially.

Germany was fighting for its economic and political survivial in the 1920s and 1930s and it surprises some to learn that Germany adopted Jewish racial determination laws/rules (how else do Jews identify group membership except racially?) in order to protect Germany from demographic decimation, exactly what we are seeing happening to Europeans today in fact. Today, perhaps becausue of what was done to Germany in the late 1940s, many Europeans are now so confused that they actually celebrate their own imminent demise.

lilashana (#49) "Race is not a useful human characteristic."

This is not true. The opposite is the case.

Things Barack Obama should do now to become not just the first black president, but a great president.

1. Capture Osama bin laden alive and put him on trial in an international court. Out of Iraq and rebuild Afghanistan.
2. Start a program to put Humans (man and women) on mars within the next 8 years.
3. End American dependence on Oil, by building renewable and nuclear power plants, a massive research program into fusion reactors similar to that propose by Dr Robert Bussard.
Thus switching from petrol /Gas to electric car
4. Make million dollar bonuses to bankers a criminal offence.
5. Tax the rich to pay for better education and healthcare for the poor.

Most of this could also go for Brittan and a British prime minister to. Putting a man on mars may be a bit of a hard sell, but Brittan would be Great Brittan again.

But we would never have a black prime minister, not because he is black but because he would almost certainly be working class.

Hi

Please ensure Paxo is asking the right questions tonight!
Some USA citizens seem to be scared of socialism...why?
Hopefully, should be a great programme tonight, especially as Jeremy is respected over the pond...as he is here (thought I`d better put that in!).
Congratulations to the USA & Mr President Elect Obama...

Sharky57

This election is not a triumph for anyone it is simply a reprisal - all we hear is the colour of his skin on every verse. Did anyone consider the political cause that he represents - we are sick to death of the socialist nanny state that we have here in the UK. The Americans will get one hell of a hangover from what they have just done without considering the proposition. That is not to say everyone loved Bush and his administration for the Invasion of Iraq. If colour of a man's skin is going to change the world how come there is so much trouble in Africa?

NUB (#50 Shrinkingviole)

Britain has a government that does just as it (and its paymasters) please(s). It is the Government that Blair built.

Blair was swept to power because we wanted CHANGE. Blair was a charismatic orator with money and an effective party 'machine' behind him. The parallel with Obama is all too clear. When Blair could no longer hang on to the prize, another desperate wannabe slid into the seat, and Blair took off like a cartoon character with his pants on fire.

We all know what he did, who died: individually, in multiples or in masses.
Leadership is not an orated acceptance speech, to the little people - LEADERSHIP IS AS LEADERSHIP DOES.

Let's hope Lisbon is Brown's Iraq.

Barrie (#51) Notice how many posters make assertions which they sincerely hold to be true but which are in fact false. When one appreciates the full scale of this, it can be quite jading, especially when they then start arguing/abusing.

I look at Obama and I see in his eyes the knowledge of his mixed race background and the prejudice his race had to endure yet after his speech last night I was inspired by his rhetoric about hope for the future and how we can play a part in a better world, compare that with our own Prime Minister with his betrayal over the Lisbon treaty, his brown nosing of the energy companies, his refusal to answer the question of why we should bale out banks and not other more worthy enterprises....and doesn't he look shifty, no wonder. That's what happens with unelected leaders.

ON ANOTHER PLANET

tyger117 (#57) "5. Tax the rich to pay for better education and healthcare for the poor."

What if people are poor and have bad health largely because of their genes? What will 'better education and healthare' for the poor amount to if that's the case?

I AM GETTING CONFUSED NOW.

Constant talk of leaving discrimination behind - in varying degrees. 'A new dawn has broken - has it not?' (T Blair) But I just heard that 3 million 'new' black voters voted mostly for Obama and some millions of Latinos swapped from prior Bush voting to Obama. Surely that is strong evidence for a 'non white' prejudice? Does (so called) 'racism' only work one way?

I am still nervous of any legal-minded, Christian, charismatic, wannabe orator, whether he is called Tony OR Barack. The parallels are stark.

I am afraid that we have all become intimidated with regard to race and also criticism of the black races. Why when they seem to be able to say whatever they like about the white man. This was a white mans country whatever anybody likes to say about it. There are some that do not like the way that the nations skin colour is changing. I was born many years ago now and grew up to be proud of this country. It has done a great deal for the rest of the world for which again I am proud. All I ever hear is how it has exploited everywhere. All I can think is, what a world it would have been without the help and assistance over the years by the English ably assisted by the Scots and Welsh also the Irish, yes the British Isles. We have all been exploited at some time there are those that exploit and those that are exploited, which I am afraid will never alter. I am sad to see this country become, as they say multi-culltural. So you can emagine how I feel to see the Americans vote for a black,coloured dark skinned, you see I am not too sure how I shoul refer to him. I hope they do not live to regret it. Righthon.

No doubt for many people in the US, and certainly the minorities suffering from the daily racism in the US, this is a very great day. And I can only share their joy and hapiness on this occasion. I also share their hope for a better US where health care, education, and infrastructure are in need of great repair. And I share theirs and others people's hope his election will finally lead to a better world with an end to the bullying, war mongering and blatant interference by the US in the affairs of other countries. However the fact that one of the biggest sponsors of his campaign was the bank Goldman Sachs kings of speculation, to name just one, proves one should be carefull. Will he be the first US president who not only stopped the wars busy right now but who never started another one, directly or through one or more of its vazals like Rwanda and Ethiopia? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

It is historic. I guess many here are too young to remember the bitterness of the struggle for civil rights in the 1960s. In the course of my lifetime there has been the emergence of the civil rights movement, desegregation and all that has followed; yet I still doubted that America was ready for a non white President this time.

I was impressed with McCain`s generous and gracious speech accepting defeat. As before in his campaign he has gone out of his way to promote decency in the treatment of his opponent and demonstrates that he, and many of his generation, has adapted to the idea of a truly pluralistic America. Perhaps the most important thing this election does is to make clear that skin colour or race is no longer a barrier to advancement in America. Once Obama`s Presidency begins America will have truly crossed over this watershed and it will be business as usual, but there will be no going back.
One day America will have Presidential candidates of Hispanic or Asian descent and it will be considered unimportant and unremarkable, all that will matter will be that persons character, policies and record.

Obama exudes confidence and certainly can articulate a national mood. In many ways that is the most important thing that popular American leaders such as Kennedy and Reagan provided, leadership in emotional buoyancy and optimism. I doubt Obama can fulfil a fraction of the the great expectations he has raised, but he seems able to promote a hope for a better future and a feeling one it is possible; particularly important following the recent years of bad news, uncertainty and pessimism.

This election renews the promise of America as a land of freedom and equality and a land of opportunity. Obama is also likely to relase the Americans spirit of `can do`, the potential of all its people is America`s greatest resource.

8.50 p.m.

A black prime minister? Dizzy Rascal (It was Hip Hop wot dun it) just pushed back the possibility by 50 years. Init?

Even after 10 years of education, education, education. Init man?

How do people get to be like that? I was born more articulate.

Obama's victory shows that American are trying to see beyond racial lines. Significantly Britain should be next. An Asian Prime Minister, or a Black one........ I wonder which Party will encourage the first one.

in Martin Luther Kings speech of i have a dream he said that one day his four children would live in a nation that where they would not be judged by their color but the content of their character. i think today America has reached this epoch. I, from an international perspective am congratulating a nation as a whole for making the write choice and congratulating Obama for making all of us proud. Today marks the beginning of a revolution in American politics and the world would be taken by storm. CONGRATULATIONS mr president a battle won with the greatest of honors.

05/11/08

Today you posed a question: could the same scene that took place in America, the election of a first black President, every take place in the U.K?

My answer is no. Not due to ignorance or racism or division, (Britain it could be argued is far more integrated than the U.S), but due to a general lack of understanding. This lack of understanding of what it is to be Black British was demonstrated in your show today. Black British people are just that....British. This does not seem to be understood my the vast majority of British people, including those in the media. Will the BBC ask a pop group like Girls Aloud to give their opinion on the election of David Cameron if it comes to pass? No. So why would the BBC ask a mainstream artist, Dizzy Rascal to come along side one of only 3 Black British politicians to speak on the issue of Black politics? Like white Britons we are fully aware of the separation of that which is meant to inform and that which is meant to entertain; a separation which made this interview not only embarrassing to watch but border line ridiculous.
Dizzy Rascal is not an expert on politics or the economy or an expert in Black British cultural studies...he is an entertainer...so why have him on the show about a pivotal political moment in history as a representative of the black community. Was there no other Black professors, politicians or even more fitting Black student who could have been called in???? It was after-all the new enthusiasm of the young first time voters that helped Obama campaign, so why not speck to a young Black British voter on their views of the next British election?
These are the true representative of the mass Black British community, not an entertainer whose final suggestion that politicians use Hip Hop told of his true intentions on the show: to promote and speak for HIMSELF.
Black British people are professionals, academics, teacher, student but this is not the picture depicted in the media. In the eyes of the media we are clearly fun-seeking, hooded clowns, who can never be serious. Not every Black person is urban, hip or cool. Stop perpetuating this depiction, which is in fact the embodiment of urban youth culture, regardless of race.
We can be serious and taken seriously, if only you give us the opportunity.

ON ANOTHER PLANET

tyger117 (#57) "5. Tax the rich to pay for better education and healthcare for the poor."

What if people are poor and have bad health largely because of their genes? What will 'better education and healthare' for the poor amount to if that's the case?

Hnmmm

Seems I live on a less misanthropic planet than yours!

My views


Up until the $700 billion bailout (socialism for the rich) McCain had a (slim) chance.

Is it a historical election ? , yes , but I think the state of the economy won it for Mr Obama.

To quote a 1992 phrase-
"It's the economy, stupid."
That says it all !

Seriously, what are your viewing figures for programmes like this? I am just not watching this twaddle, its not factual news just piles of rhetoric, multi channel tv never looked so good!

When you see Dickens modified by the BBC to accomodate a black actress a Black prime minister is inevitable, who knows we might even get to vote them in!

ON ANOTHER PLANET

tyger117 (#57) "5. Tax the rich to pay for better education and healthcare for the poor."

What if people are poor and have bad health largely because of their genes? What will 'better education and healthare' for the poor amount to if that's the case?

...........................

What kind of Nazi eugenics theory is this?????

BELIEVING/TELLING UNTRUTHS IS NOT PHILANTHROPIC

tyger117 (#72) "Seems I live on a less misanthropic planet than yours!"

Perhaps, I live on Earth where do you hail from?

Look into the links that I've provided in earlier posts. All too many posters don't appear to allow empircal realities to sully what they believe.

Why do so many people think that saying things which sound good, but which are not true, is any less harmful than saying other things which are false?

ON ANOTHER PLANET

tyger117 (#57) "5. Tax the rich to pay for better education and healthcare for the poor."

What if people are poor and have bad health largely because of their genes? What will 'better education and healthare' for the poor amount to if that's the case?

Hnmmm

Seems I live on a less misanthropic planet than yours!

P.S

Physiology and particularly IQ testing is a pseudo science at best.

With all this coverage given to US elections, you would be forgiven for thinking that 70% of new British laws come from the USA. But actually...
70% of laws passed in UK come from the EU
but
70% of British media coverage comes from the USA

Tony Blair was criticised for being a poodle to the USA, but the BBC has shown itself to be an even bigger poodle to America.

The newsnight special on Barack Obama was an excellent summation of the rise to power of Mr. Obama. However the programme raised and then trivialised the issue of non anglo saxon leader for the role of British PM. Having Baroness Amos and Dizee Rascal maybe hip ( that's Dizee Rascal not Baroness Amos!!) but it failed to address the critical issue of the failure of the non anglo saxon people in political representation in UK. Whilst people like Bill Morris,Trevor Phillips , Shami Chakraborti and odd Asian MP do often make the headlines they are always in the role of protester rather than the powerful. The issue of political representation for the non anglo saxon races needs greater understanding and scrutiny but here's some thoughts :
1. There are no senior non white British political leaders. It could be argued that whilst American states &cities have produced good & bad non white leaders as either mayors or governors, US electorate has got used to viewing African Americans in powerful roles. The focus on Westminster means that unless the black/ asian person gets into one of top three jobs in the country (PM/ FS/ HS) the chances of non white leaders remains remote;
2. British media & society tend to showcase people of Carribean origin in areas of sporting execellence and Asians in areas of business success. How therefore can the British electorate ever trust a non white political leader for their party
3. There is still no sense of Britishness amongst all of the people's of United Kingdom. People black or white in the US are united by their shared belonging / pride in being American. With the focus by successive British governments for taxation and revenue expediency to offer devolution and with political correctness being observed when treating people of Asian/ West Indian birth, the focus for the debate has always been on the past not the present. Present domicile should always matter more than past origins. The collective idea of Britishness needs to be the first step in electing the an Obama for the UK.

tyger117 (#78) "Physiology and particularly IQ testing is a pseudo science at best."

Who told you that? Certainly not anyone who knows what they're talking about.

PS. I think you meant psychology. Look up ETS, NCLB and UK SATs.

Why would anyone think we have entered a post-racial era by the election of one man?
By describing him as "the first black man" or "first African American" to enter the White House is racist. I thought he was American

sllehynnarg

Moondust87 (#76) "What kind of Nazi eugenics theory is this?????"

Oh, you know, the kind that's driven by the empirical evidence rather than evangelical rhetoric.

Look up Head Start (which began in LBJs time) and the other links I've provided.

Although, I'm not persuaded that education is all it's cracked up to be. Must be the 'nazi' in me eh?

Why is it that in an hour-long programme which concentrated on the fact that Obama is the first black president of the United States, the Newsnight producers could only find one black person to comment - especially for that final round table? There must be some non-white pundits out there...

Jadedjean .77 Look into the links that I've provided in earlier posts. All too many posters don't appear to allow empircal realities to sully what they believe.

Why do so many people think that saying things which sound good, but which are not true, is any less harmful than saying other things which are false?

…………………

If you believe the content of the links you provided to be the absolute truth then you are deluding yourself, academic papers can be nonsense to!!

Using the terms true and false without giving a concrete example is meaningless!

HALLELUJAH

Barrie (#64) "Constant talk of leaving discrimination behind - in varying degrees."

Come, come Barrie, it's just like not leaving any children behind. Which is also very 'good' isn't it as it's just like 'Every Child Matters' here. You have to appreciate that there are people out there who are miracle workers, i.e who have powers.

One just has to believe.

Remember the inverse correlation between intelligence and religiosity?

Oops there's that 'nazi eugenics' hopeless pseudoscience stuff popping out again...

Hail Mary, Hail Mary, Hail Mary.

tyger117 (#78) "Physiology and particularly IQ testing is a pseudo science at best."

Who told you that? Certainly not anyone who knows what they're talking about.

PS. I think you meant psychology. Look up ETS, NCLB and UK SATs.

Yes I did mean psychology, but Physiology seems quit apt after reading some of that Eugenics nonsense.
You really believe all this testing is meaningful? There are so many things wrong with it It’s just so obvious to anyone with even half a brain that you teach to pass the tests, this is not real education. Yes you really can train yourself to pass IQ tests with a higher score, than if you had never seen one before!

The list of the problems with testing is endless

What are you testing for, is this correct thing to be looking for (Who decides this)!!!

An analogy may be selective breading, you can bread the perfect bulldog but it can’t breath and suffers all its life, because someone decided a flat face was cute!!

Good to see Arianna Huffington on Newsnight - I like and read The Huffington Post regularly online.
Obama's win is a step in the right direction for the U.S, however I am not completely convinced that he can shake off the special interest groups who are funders of Congressmen and Senators again of both parties. Domestically they will (try to) restrict courses of action that can be taken to rebuild the financial system in a different way as they would lose control and power. Sources have quoted congressmen who said that George Bush was told to prepare for martial law if the bailout didn't happen. The Federal Reserve need to be nationalised (mind you the Presidents who advocated this in the past have been assassinated or nearly assassinated - probably a coincidence)
The traditional media is also run (mostly) by the same groups and in the past have dumbed down opinion but the Internet has defeated them.
In Foreign policy (as Nadar said) policy will not change as the Pro-Israel lobby is too powerful - Obama paid his respects quite early in the campaign - and this is the key to U.S foreign policy.
Keeping the military busy has become essential component of the U.S industry. So the belligerant attitude to Russia,Iran etc will continue and new theaters of war (Pakistan,South America will be sought)
If China calls in it's part of the $10 trillion debt the U.S is sunk. For the moment China can't afford to lose the U.S market but it could get there.
And Bush and his mates are still there for a couple of months with nothing left to lose....
Good luck Mr Obama and don't let the bastards get you !!

NOT FOR EVANGELISTS

Have a look above, but put your thinking cap on first. Alternatively, talk to any inner city teacher.

See: 'Ethnicity and Education: The Evidence on Minority Ethnic Pupils aged 5 - 16', and nore - it's not because the entire British education system is racist.

Maybe this has something to do with it?

Question: Why are there more black people in prison than university even though we now send half the population into higher education? Why is well over half the prison population of the USA black when they don't comprise anywhere near half the USA population?

Why is it considered racist to state statistical truths? We have the same problem in the UK and it appears to be genetic. The Black community knows this. The government knows this. Why do some people not know this?

How will Obama do anything about this when the white population is projected to start declining in absolute terms by mid century. Why should the USA end up any different from Africa or S. American countries like Brazil under the circumstances? Have you seen how they anre inclined deal with it?

tyger117 (#85) "??????? If you believe the content of the links you provided to be the absolute truth then you are deluding yourself, academic papers can be nonsense to!!"

You appear puzzled. Good. Do as you are told and you might learn something to your advantage.

Consider this a benevolent, pro bono, public service.

"...entering a post-racial era?"...it's time to realize that we aren't racially different simply because we're all part of the same, human race. "Post-racial" as a concept or thoughtline should be changed to a realization we should treat everyone, no matter their creed, belief, culture, homeland, color, language, etc., respectfully.

Obama also represents America that is a blending of peoples and their creeds, beliefs, cultures, homelands, colors, languages, etc. That is a reality and attitude that would be leading change...for the world!

It's definitely a historical event for the U.S. and, probably, hopefully, the world.

ObamaNot yet a post-racial era but slowly chipping away to let everybody realise that we are but one race; hopefully with good results in one of the most difficult times to enter a new presidential post for the one nation estimated to be the most important in the world today...

#89 has been refered to blogdog, and understandably so as whilst one link was a BBC news piece on Brazil which referred to the second video link, the latter was shocking but is widely available.

I have no doubt that most people posting here only have the best intentions, but the reality is that those who have experience in Criminal Justice systems are impelled to protect the majority from minortities who have no qualms about taking advantage of naivety. This crosses races, but he truth is that some groups are more over-represented than others, and when this happens, one has to ask why, or else one isn't thinking rationally at all.

Borak Hussain Obama the first Afro American personality as US president is a historic and the need of the hour. I like to congrulate the newly elevted president and the people of USA for their choose as BARAK HUSSAIN OBAMA as the president. We firmly belive the personality and spirit we followed during his campaign will continue . He is capable to do the required changes in the policy of US for World peace, tollerance , financial crisis and all outstanding issues. Gun point can never shought peace . He must think about the messive damages made to IRAQ, Afganistan ...................
We are lokking forward for the comming deeds and his commitment. Whole world will remember BORAK HUSSAIN OBAMA for his mankind and peace formula this is my expectation.
Finally I like to say ALHAMDULILLA may Allah shower his blessing for those who up hold the supremicy of Allah.

I rejoiced when Obama won, but the idea that that is an end of racism in america seems to be nonsense. Racism is alive and well in the USA and the UK. Look at the margin of vistory of the REpublicans county by county in Mississippi, Louisiana, etc and in Oklahoma in which no county went DEmocrat THe real measure of when racism is substantially reduced is when there is an African American Republican president.

Re the various comments about socialism on this blog, it is certainly not the case that socialism necesarily leads to society getting poorer and those who say otherwise are only interested in a further redisribution of income and facilities from the poor to the middle class.Personally in any case as a reluctantly middle class but left-wing person I do not care if we all get a bit poorer as long as some of the wealth is redistributed. I bet that will please some of the other contributors. I shall enjoy observing the capitalist fury it generates.

Barrie 64

You make a good point. The only thing that demonstrates any evidence of 'post racialism' is the amount of white people that voted for Obama.

Many of them didn't vote for him because he is black, but because his ideals are different, both from Bush and McCain.

The fact is that we are not at that point in this country. We (many in the UK) don't vote on 'merit' if it comes down to a choice of black (or 'Asian') and white ('British'). Asian people get elected in areas with a high proportion of Asian people, and white people get elected where it's mostly white people.

We can't go anywhere until we move beyond this. It is fundamentally irrational to vote in this way.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

PRE-SELECTION? (#97)

"Asian people get elected in areas with a high proportion of Asian people, and white people get elected where it's mostly white people."

Isn't that because the cynical parties put up 'appropriate' candidates when they can get away with it? (Did Hazel mention 'cynical' at all?) Surely that is what an unprincipled group, out to win at all cost, would do?

I tend to understand, and even accept, if sadly, many of NickThorsnby's (97) points.

FWIW, ignoring the race factor (if allowed by the media), I could see the logic in voting trends because:

1) He wasn't Mr. Bush
2) He wasn't Republican
3) He wasn't from a tired, incumbent party
4) He wasn't 'not young'
5) He didn't have a VP who was 'distracting'
6) He was well supported by most media, and a pretty hefty ad budget taboot
7) He represented/s 'change'

All pretty potent, in my view. Though hardly the best basis of picking a leader or party. Mind you, if I was in Glenrothes today...

At least the system here gives slightly better senses of choice.

There' is what 'is', and that can often be different to what one wishes it to be, no matter how hard you click your red heels together. Rationality is not often present, and hence it, or rather its lack, has to be recognised, allowed for and worked around.

However in this, many things can help, or hinder, progress. Often in the way information is communicated by those in...'authority'.

For instance I was watching the BBC Breakfast 'News' this morning and was reminded of the Charlie Higson artist character in the 'Fast Show'.

I do presume President Obama does have more going for him than what the BBC and those it has selected (or got in touch to say what they want to hear in return for plugging a book/website/column, etc) to talk to might suggest.

Now I, for one, would be very keen to learn more on the postive aspects of his administration's governance by way of policy. And, if possible, without stepping on any residual guilt-ridden taboos, where there may be problems as well.