Obama makes history
Nation elects first black president.
Date published: 11/4/2008
By Steven Thomma
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, swept to victory by an anxious country eager to change course at home and abroad.
Obama, 47, becomes the first African-American in U.S. history to win the presidency and the first from the generation that came of age after the turbulence of the 1960s.
His win suggested a new political order in the making. He drew masses of young people to politics for the first time. His biracial heritage reflected the changing demographics of America. His mastery of the Internet matched the rise of a new information age. And his push into formerly Republican states in the South, Midwest and West marked a new political landscape possibly emerging.
After an epic struggle, the first-term Democratic senator from Illinois defeated Republican John McCain, 72, a hero of the Vietnam War and a four-term senator from Arizona.
"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America," a triumphant Obama told a cheering audience of an estimated 125,000 supporters in Chicago's Grant Park, alongside Lake Michigan.
To those watching from abroad, he said that, "a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down — we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security — we support you."
He lauded his wife, Michelle, and saluted McCain, calling him a "brave and selfless leader."
McCain conceded the election in a call to Obama at 11 p.m. Eastern time. Obama responded that he looked forward to working with McCain in the Senate. "I need your help. You're a leader on so many important issues," Obama told him.
McCain then faced his disappointed supporters under clear skies outside a Phoenix hotel.
"The American people have spoken and they have spoken clearly," McCain said, his wife, Cindy, at his side.
McCain saluted Obama for his success and noted his unique triumph as an African-American. "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together," he said.
He also lauded his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who would have become the nation's first female vice president.
Date published: 11/4/2008
Most recent reader comments:
one other thing
(posted by
theobc
, Nov. 5, 2008 4:23 pm)  
it's "meant" not "ment". little slip ups do happen to the best of us.
to be technical..
(posted by
theobc
, Nov. 5, 2008 4:20 pm)  
i didn't say anything, i wrote it. based on the rest of your post, i am amazed that you knew the difference. thanks
Accept it - McCain made many critical mistakes
(posted by
travelin_bone
, Nov. 5, 2008 3:53 pm)  
McCain lost for a number of reasons, at the top of the list was his poor choice of running mate. He chose her for her gender and ONLY her gender to try and court some ex-Clinton supporters. It backfired. No more people voted for Obama because he's black than voted for McCain/Palin because there was a woman on the ticket. His concession speech was gracious, I'll give him that much.
f4td4ddy
(posted by
frankvert
, Nov. 5, 2008 3:46 pm)  
There is exactly zero statistical evidence that race played a significant role in the outcome of this election. People actually voted for the candidate whom they thought would be the better president. While the rest of us are moving on, you continue to try to keep the wounds open. No one is listening to you anymore...game over. Why don't you think of something positive to say and do?
HA! You said INFLUENT..
(posted by
f4td4ddy
, Nov. 5, 2008 2:55 pm)  
..when you ment AFFLUENT. I have a serious question here. Many, many people voted based on skin color, including some of the reporters for this very paper. Using skin color to determine how one will vote is a racist thing to do. My question is concerning those racist voters themselves. Since they voted McCain/Obama based on skin color, now if any white guy criticizes Obama, will these racist voters complain that that's racism? It'll be a fun 4 years, that's for sure...
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