The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
ItÕs the aftermath, or maybe aftershock is a better term, of the 2008 presidential campaign, which saw the U.S. elect its first African-American president. This comes 48 years after they elected the first Catholic president, John F. Kennedy. Back in 1960, a lot of black people were prevented from registering to vote and beset by violence. This was not the case this time, although both elections were close. Barack Obama got 52 per cent of the vote, hardly a landslide in spite of what the media kept saying. Obama lost the white vote 55-43 to John McCain, who as an underdog characteristically never gave up. The Republican McCain was praised by Obama for his efforts and invited to sit-down with the president-elect. Highly inexperienced in domestic and foreign affairs, Obama needs all the help he can get. He will be able, at least for the first two years, to get considerable help from the DemocratsÕ control of Congress, as they won 20 more seats in the House. They also captured five more seats in the Senate but did not reach the 60 mark needed for absolute control. What will happen to ObamaÕs and Vice-president-elect Joe BidenÕs Senate seats? The Democratic governors of Illinois and Delaware will appoint other Democrats to replace them until the next election, so no problem there for the new administration. No question, President Obama will face challenges, from living up to the expectations of a newly elected government to dealing with an economic mess that even he has said may not be corrected right away. Moreover, ObamaÕs foreign policy promises may be impossible to fulfill. For example, Iran congratulated him on winning and may be expecting some change in American policy. But the U.S. has had no diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979, when militants captured over 50 Americans and held them captive for more than a year, so letÕs not expect too much between the two countries. An interesting fallout from the election were the losses the gay rights movement suffered in California, Arizona and Florida, where voters okayed state constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. CaliforniaÕs liberal Supreme Court ruled last May that gay marriages were legal, resulting in thousands of these unions taking place. The amendment to end such unions passed with 52 per cent support as traditional-marriage proponents spent $74 million promoting their side, targeting blacks and Latinos who came out in droves for Obama. Gay celebrities such as Rosie OÕDonnell, Ellen Degeneres and Melissa Etheridge were aghast at the result and railed against the vote, which passed by even wider margins in the other states. The amendments in Florida and Arizona prevent the state legislatures from passing laws to allow gay marriage. Arkansas, meanwhile, voted to prevent non-married couples from adopting children. This issue may not go away and, as many speculate, could haunt Obama in the battleground states next time. Only in America! A couple of other side issues are ObamaÕs hinted promise to control machine guns and assault weapons while still supporting the right to bear arms. In some states, this caused many people to flock to gun shops. With record sales reported by many shops ÐÊone even sold nine assault weapons the day after the election Ð gun enthusiasts are obviously afraid of ObamaÕs moves in this regard, as his votes in the past have been anti-gun. Another issue is ObamaÕs ÒRobin HoodÓ promise to tax the rich and to the poor. So whoÕs complaining? Why, none other than highly paid athletes, who worry the tax increases he wants will severely restrict their income Feel sorry for them? Why not, as most athletes only make the big money for a few years, not forever. And what about the Obama-supporting Hollywood stars? Think about this. A report from a university professor says that Tiger WoodÕs take-home pay from his U.S. Open win was $764,000 out of $1.35 million, and if Obama gets his way, Woods would lose another $200,000 on his next win. DonÕt expect the super athletes to vote for Obama! RogerÕs Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
