'Change has come'
Obama pledges a new dawn for American people; McCain ends 10-year bid for White House
By From staff and wire reports (Last updated: 11/05/08 11:40pm)History. It was the defining theme of the election season, from Hillary Clinton’s groundbreaking campaign, to Barack Obama’s historic nomination, to Sarah Palin’s arrival on the Republican ticket. And Tuesday, history was written again. America will have a black president for the first time. “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible … tonight is your answer,” Obama, a senator from Illinois, said in his first speech to America as the president elect.
After gaining a substantial lead over Republican candidate John McCain in the polls during the past several weeks, Obama secured the oval office by 11 p.m. Tuesday, with the announcement that he had clinched the usually Republican-voting state of Virginia.
Chicago’s Grant Park, where tens of thousands had gathered to hear Obama’s acceptance speech, immediately erupted in an enormous, prolonged roar and a flurry of camera flashes.
“(Tonight) will be people high-fiving, holding hands and people talking about their dreams,” said San Diego resident Heather Currie, who came to Chicago to celebrate Obama’s victory.
Obama will be sworn in Jan. 20, 2009, and will become the 44th president of the United States.
To win, a candidate must obtain 270 of the possible 538 electoral votes.
For many, this election was about change. With the nation in a financial crisis and a seven-year-old war in Iraq, many voters believed a change of party leadership will lead to a change of policy.
Now that Obama has clinched the election, voters can expect some of the change he has made the centerpiece of his campaign, but the change might be more subtle than voters expect, MSU assistant political science professor Ben Kleinerman said.
“As president, you have to work with a Congress that won’t necessarily go along with what you want,” he said.
Kleinerman said the financial crisis might make it difficult for Obama to accomplish some of the programs he has supported throughout his campaign.
But while the change in U.S. policies may take some time, Obama’s election will have an immediate impact on America’s perception abroad, Kleinerman said.
“It answers questions the world has toward America about race relations,” he said. “There’s still other harder questions in foreign relations, but at least as far as how America relates to the world, it does change.”
In the ensuing months before Obama’s inauguration, Kleinerman said he will work on formulating his cabinet and preparing for the White House.
In downtown Chicago, there was no question which party’s candidate was on the home team, as Obama’s supporters packed Grant Park to hear the Democratic presidential nominee’s acceptance speech.
“I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation … block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand,” he said. “This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change.”
A graceful exit
McCain, a senator from Arizona, called his former rival to concede defeat — and the end of his own 10-year quest for the White House.
“The American people have spoken, and spoken clearly,” he told disappointed supporters in Arizona.
Andrew Stevens, director of absentee ballots for the Michigan Republican Party, watched McCain’s concession speech with a depleted crowd of Republican Party supporters in Lansing. He said he is upset with the results, especially since he worked at least 80 hours per week during the last weeks of the campaign.
“I thought it was a good speech and I was happy with the way McCain conceded,” he said. “He was very respectful about it. I am very disappointed with the news, though.”
Linda Lee Tarver, vice chairwoman of the Ingham County Republican Party, addressed a dejected crowd of Republican Party candidates and supporters at the group’s “Lansing Victory Center” in Lansing.
“This is not a time for retreat,” she said, standing before a TV that played Fox News’ election coverage. “This is a time for moving forward. I’m putting my war paint on.”
Tarver and Norm Shinkle, chairman of the Ingham County Republican Party, told those in the room they have to expect Republican Party losses within the state and nationally.
Many people in the room avoided discussing the presidential election, instead focusing on local races.
But the rise of McCain from the back end of a mile-long list of potential Republican presidential candidates to the party’s nominee didn’t go unnoticed.
“Definitely, John McCain hasn’t quit fighting,” said Louie Glinzak, MSU College Republicans press secretary. “He was looking extremely down in the primaries and came back to win the Republican nomination. You have to give him props for going forward and never giving up on this election.”
Carrie White, chairwoman for MSU Students for John McCain, has worked on the McCain campaign for two years. She said McCain’s legacy will be defined by much more than a presidential run.
“It’s hard not to be I guess in some way emotionally involved right now, but you know I feel OK,” White said. “I’ll wake up and tomorrow’s a new day. We’ll still be America and there will still be democracy and everything will be fine.”
Staff writers Kelly House and Zack Colman contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.
Originally Published: 11/05/08 1:05am
Steve
11/05/08 5:57am1. I find it interesting how Barack Obama is half-black half-white, yet everyone defines him as the first black man to reach the Presidency. I find it interesting which one he chooses to identify with.
2. I can’t wait to see what kind of agendas are passed now that the democrats dominate the house, senate and oval office. Clinton promised a similar tax plan to Obama, yet when he got into office his spending exceeded his means to he raised taxes on everyone.
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zach
11/05/08 7:03amThe media attained the story they have been trumpeting for months. The entire coverage of the Obama victory last night, rightfully so, was an homage to America’s racist past and a celebration of its united future. I find it disheartening that the only way to validate equality in America was to elect a black man for president.
Of course we should all be comfortable with the idea of electing a black man for president, but in the serious times we face, that is an awful reason to elect someone.
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Bleed Green
11/05/08 7:19amSteve, can you truthfully name any time where Obama himself touted himself as (strictly) an African American?
Congratulations, America. We did the right thing.
Dan
11/05/08 7:52amI give praise to Mr. Obama’s victory, yet I look forward to a rejuvenation of conservatism under the weight of America’s descent into socialism.
Pat
11/05/08 8:00amVan Dyke is not stoked.
Rick
11/05/08 8:14amPat – LMAO! well put sir.
Hey Steve, Mccain was gracious in defeat maybe you should follow his lead.
lol
11/05/08 8:28amit’s amazing how McCain didn’t even stand a chance. 338-163, damn
lol
11/05/08 8:30amwait a minute. Why did StateNews copy CNN’s title? ‘Change has Come’, couldn’t think of anything yourself?
Jason Van Dyke
11/05/08 8:43amLadies and gentlemen, I give you the end of the American nation and the beginning of a slow, but sure, descent into national and cultural savagery. It was fun while it lasted.
bill
11/05/08 8:44amDid he say that a 106 y/o women could not vote due to race (and gender). He should study some history!
In 1870 the 15th Amendment was ratified, which provided specifically that the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on the basis of race, color or previous condition of servitude. This superseded state laws that had directly prohibited black voting. Congress then enacted the Enforcement Act of 1870, which contained criminal penalties for interference with the right to vote, and the Force Act of 1871, which provided for federal election oversight.
Bystander.
11/05/08 9:11amJason. You, being such a devoted “American”, are not giving our country much credit. The US is NOT fragile and will never die easily. This election is should be looked at as a motivation, a voice, and a victory. Today is a great day!
Anti-Steve and Bill
11/05/08 9:11amSteve, while I applaud your attempt at a correct comment. In most places people define Obama as black. Secondly, remember the old rule “one drop” of black blood makes you black? And lastly, why does it matter, the President has been chosen. So you can either take your racist ass to another country or get over yourself.
No matter the reason people voted, the right man was elected.
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Bystander.
11/05/08 9:14amPlus: For being a historical moment, it didn’t involve bombs… which is an added bonus.
Stephen
11/05/08 10:05amI just want to be the one to say I told you so now. All of the student who voted for Obama, don’t come and complain to me after you graduate. Most of us here have come in hopes of getting a good education. A good education can lead to a good job, one that pays well. Now what would be the benefit of going to school(paying a lot of money), to get a job that pays well, and then get a greater percentage of it taken away from you.
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Julius Holmes
11/05/08 10:16amBill…Obama was right. The 13th 14th and 15th amendments were enacted right after the civil war. The 13the ended slavery, the 14th gave them equal protetion under the law and the 15th gave them citizenship. With the failed mission of reconstruction, The confederates that swore allegiance back into the union quickly regained their seats in the senate and congress. Grandfather clauses, literacy tests, and poll taxes were directed only at blacks to discourage them from voting.
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Rob
11/05/08 10:19amResponse to Steve:
1. I guess he chooses to identify with the side that America, for centuries, could not get past physically. They see a black man when they look at him, and that’s how he’s been treated his whole life.
2. “bigger and more powerful government.” Sort of like the one that Bush created in establishing a WHOLE NEW EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT (Dept.
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Julius holmes
11/05/08 10:20amStephen ive heard this argument alot…Since when does weatlthy equal HARD working, and when does poor equal lazy? ANd can you please tell me how you figured that everyone who is struggling is lazy? PLEASE ELABORATE FOR ME.
Stephen
11/05/08 10:30amMoney doesn’t just appear, you work for it. Struggling doesn’t necessarily equal lazy, maybe a better phrase would be making bad decisions. There is nothing in the constitution or bill of rights that states “one must not work hard and succeed in life, that what you are born into is how you must stay, or what you are born with is what you must keep.” Julius if you’re response is regarding the impoverished, then why don’t you ask Mr. Obama to keep the 10 Billion extra he has promised to give foreign countries who are impoverished and give it to his own country.
Tess
11/05/08 10:33amYES WE DID! Congratulations to my fellow voters who made the right choice! Obama is right, this victory belongs to all of us!
zach
11/05/08 10:45amJulius,
I completely believe that if Obama were white, he would not have won this race—he wouldn’t even be in it.
The media wanted history to be made and they pushed very hard for this.
To say John McCain lost because of one flubbed comment is illogical. Why didn’t Obama lose when he insisted on “spreading the wealth”? One statement does not make or break the campaign. We must not ignore the facts that President-elect Obama won with the desire for history to be made.
Julius Holmes
11/05/08 10:50amStephen i can’t help but agree and say that what you are born into doesn’t have to dictate your future situation.
...What if my parents were drug dealers,(hypothetical situation lol) I don’t want to do that and i end up getting a job at the msu phycial plant making about 35,000 dollars a year. This is a definite advancement, however on the larger scheme of things it is still blue collar job.
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Craig
11/05/08 10:53amRob – Regarding the Presidency, racism has been gone for decades. He chooses to identify himself with the side that America could not get past until about 40 years ago. He just knows that it will help win him an election, because I cannot even tell you how many people say “OMG MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK!! I’M SO HAPPY!!” Now tell me again, who is the minority in this situation?
Second of all, I like how you respond to people with examples from the Bush Administration.
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Stephen
11/05/08 10:55amThen why would you settle for a job at the physical plant.
Julius Holmes
11/05/08 10:58amZach…This was a bad year to be a republican. THe margin for error in his campaign was nearly 0. It doesn’t help that he killed his best offense by picking sarah palin, nor that he called obama a socialist when he himself advocated why taxes are raised on the wealthy during his 2000 visit to MSU. I believe if obama was yellow he would have won. HE TOOK FOUR STATES that went RED last go around.
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zach
11/05/08 11:05amJulius,
Let me clarify, the election was not based solely on race. Clearly, the GOP was in a difficult position. But, I hope you can concede that the country was excited to vote for Obama based on the chance at making history. I am confident in saying that a huge portion of his votes came from people who don’t know a thing about his positions.
I do know his positions, and I disagree with them. Also, to tie McCain to Bush is becoming tiresome.
I hope that my fellow Republicans treat President Obama with more respect than many liberal Democrats have treated President Bush. We may disagree with these people but to suggest that they “rot in hell” is slightly over the top.