Ladipo Adamolekun
14 January 2009
column
HE hit the American scene like a thunderclap, up-ended our politics and shattered decades of conventional wisdom" - Time magazine (New York, USA), on why it chose Obama as its "Person of the Year" in 2008.
"Obama sounds like a dreamer... But he is a dreamer with hope" - Nigeria Notes, March 19, 2008.
Dream, hope and achievement
The observation about "a dreamer with hope" was made in the context of reviewing Obama's two widely praised books, one a memoir - "Dreams from my father" (1995 and 2004) - and the other, a political testament - "The audacity of hope. Thoughts on reclaiming the American dream" (2006).
On November 4, 2008, Obama's story reached its peak: from "a dreamer with hope" he became an historic achiever - the President-elect of the United States of America - the world's leading democracy, largest economy, and strongest military power.
He has also been referred to as "a visionary leader" and "a transformational figure" who will "electrify the world" - very high praises indeed.
At the Democratic Party Convention in 2000, Obama was figuratively and literally a political unknown.
At the subsequent Democratic Convention in 2004, his thoughtful and inspirational keynote address shot him to the limelight as a potential future leader of the party.
Thereafter, in four short years, he rose from becoming a Senator to becoming the President-elect of the United States of America. In less than a week, on January 20, 2009, he will be sworn in as the 44th President of the USA. What a journey! What a giddy ride! What history!
Obama has reached the mountain top that Martin Luther King dreamed about. Both men would qualify among the big dreamers of the post-Second World War era.
And as far as achievement goes, one can also compare Obama to Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison whose oeuvres has universalised the African-American experience - the culture of African-Americans is unimaginable without her books.
Similarly, the politics of African-Americans or African-Americans in US politics is henceforth unimaginable without the Obama story.
Indeed, as I observed in an earlier Note, "his impact on political ideas and political practice in America is certain to endure for decades" (March 19, 2008).
Historic victory
It would be correct to attribute Obama's ascent to the mountain top to his ability to intelligently and creatively take advantage of the American open democratic space.
Before him, some African-Americans, notably Rev. Jesse Jackson, had tried hard to win the nomination of the Democratic Party and contest for the presidency.
None was able to win the party nomination. Among Obama's success factors that have been examined and dissected in numerous articles and essays across continents (the tomes are certain to follow), I would like to highlight four: mobilization of voters and money; an emphasis on political ideas; re-invention of political rhetoric to include political branding; and a strong campaign organisation with emphasis on discipline.
Obama consciously channelled the dynamic interconnections among these factors in support of his quest for the presidency. Information, communication and technology (ICT) was his primary tool for mobilizing voters and money.
The millions of new voters, youths, and adults across racial, gender, and geographical divides, who flocked to his campaign, were attracted in part by the political ideas articulated in his "The audacity of hope", refined and extended as the political campaign progressed.
Millions among his supporters volunteered as foot soldiers of the campaign. Significantly, too, supporters' contributions to his campaign budget were at such a high level that he decided to opt out of public campaign finance. Indeed, he set a record in campaign financing - he raised $750 million, an amount that exceeded what all the presidential candidates in 2004 combined collected in private donations.
With his gift of oratory, Obama re-invented political rhetoric, to which he added political branding, and raised it to a level that was unknown in the history of political campaigns in the US: the leitmotiv was "change" - "The change we need" and "The change we can believe in" - coupled with what he calls "that timeless creed", "Yes we can".
Finally, the Obama campaign was organised as a tight ship, characterised by a degree of discipline that had not been seen in presidential campaigns for decades.
It was a historic campaign that resulted in a historic victory. Not surprisingly, the central campaign theme re-echoed in Obama's victory speech delivered on 5th November - the famous "change has come to America".
Promising presidency
The high expectations of the American people from the in-coming Obama presidency have been fuelled by three factors: the change that he consistently promised throughout his campaign and whose advent he proclaimed in his victory speech ("change has come to America");
(ii) the rather modest accomplishments of outgoing President Bush; and,
(iii) the biting consequences of the financial meltdown and economic slow-down that has caused thousands of foreclosures and extensive loss of jobs.
Obama's initial steps show that he is determined to address the key issues on the minds of Americans: he has announced a three-million job creation/restoration programme as well as new financial stimulus package that would be close to $800 billion.
He has also stressed that education and health would be among his administration's top priorities.
To ensure that he would hit the ground running after inauguration on January 20, he has assembled a cabinet and other senior advisers comprising mostly of women and men that would rank among the top 10 percent of America's best and brightest.
He has also ensured a sensible mixture of pragmatic and experienced hands and new ones that are known to be committed to his change agenda.
The domination of both houses of the Congress by his party is also likely to ensure support for his policies and programmes, at least in the short term.
Of course, there are significant challenges both on the home front and abroad. Two of the toughest challenges - economic slow-down (recession) and terrorism - have both national and international dimensions.
While his administration could hope to turn around the dismal economic situation by focusing sharply on national solutions, dealing effectively with the persistent threat of terrorism that is linked to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would require engaging the outside world.
The good will that Obama currently enjoys across continents would be an advantage in his efforts to build anti-terrorism coalitions.
Finally, on the home front, some observers have highlighted the need for close attention to his personal security and safety.
At this juncture, I would say that on the evidence of Obama's remarkable intelligence and high confidence, the masterly strategy and tactics of his presidential campaign, his initial sensible policy directions,the star quality of his cabinet and core senior advisers, and the apparent trust of most Americans in him, a promising presidency is on the horizon.
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