The Man We Need

First of all, these words need to be written plainly. One should really ponder over the news and read it out loud in order to completely appreciate its extent, its historical dimension and its emotion: The American people has just elected an African-American to the White House.

Barack Obama has had to show tremendous intelligence, skillfulness and self-control in order to achieve this result, which is worth remembering, was far from being predicted less than a year ago. He has had to contend with many accusations and prejudices before providing America and the rest of the world with a powerful sign of optimism through his victory. Obama succeeded in bringing together hope and being black without ever appearing as the candidate of one single community.

Mixing his youth and his wisdom, the Senator from Illinois succeeded in going beyond the historical divisions of a nation born out of slavery. Its founding ideal of “E pluribus Unum”: “Out of Many, One” or the idea that the diversity of origins does not prevent people from sharing common aspirations found its deepest meaning.

Will he be a “Post-racial president”? Certainly, as he will especially have some legitimacy enabling him to be heard from both black and white Americans who are still divided over their common History. This past “isn’t dead and buried” he declared citing Faulkner in his exceptional speech on race on March 18, 2008 in Philadelphia. This sparked his aggressive, though pragmatic, quest towards a “more perfect union.”

However, in Order to Conquest, He Will Have to Convince.

Barack Obama succeeded in telling a story that “in no other country on earth is even possible”; his mixed life-story took root in Africa and Asia. His father came from Kenya, but did not descend from slavery. His paternal grandmother lives by the Victoria Lake and his maternal “white” grandmother, who passed away the day before his election, was full of love though had racial reservations. She thus admitted to be sometimes scared of black people as much as Obama’s former Pastor Reverend Wright would be of white people.

The new president has transcended tensions so as to bring together blacks’ lasting anger and whites’ concerns, unifying them around the same goal of justice. He is the first to break with a long chain of individuals ranging from the slaves who built Capitol Hill to the civil rights movement. From Martin Luther King to Malcolm X, from Rosa Parks who was once fined for failing to leave her seat to a white person on a bus in Alabama to Condy Rice and Colin Powell who obtained some of the top jobs in the country.

“Before even being elected, Obama has done more for the black cause around the world than Martin Luther King,” privately declared an African head of state. “He will be first and foremost an American President,” believed another. This sums up the current situation perfectly: The United States of America has indeed chosen an American who will defend American interests and leadership even to the extent of protectionism. Millions of black people will now feel more American than they used to, without millions of white people resenting this.

“America is back,” said Ronald Reagan in 1980. “America is black,” tells us the most powerful nation on earth today. A nation wounded by its endless wars, its deteriorating image and the unbearable hatred generated by the outgoing administration with its unilateralist policies and out of touch judgment, stuck within the Cold War framework.

After having elected George W. Bush twice in a row, America now ends its neoconservative revolution in a dynamic and audacious move. This puts an end to aggressive deregulation policies and the savage law of the market of which criticisms found their deepest meaning during the subprime crisis and the collapse of the financial system. Through his charisma and his lucidity, Obama positions himself as the man with momentum and the man of today’s America, thus clearly contrasting with outgoing President Bush and Senator John McCain who hoped to succeed him.

This is America’s and her partners’ chance. But it is also its enemies’ as it is Bush’s belligerent behavior ranging from his “axis of evil” and his shameful policies in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay that have tended to nurture armed Islamism. After having a president who has been close-minded about the world’s realities, Obama offers a new face to the world while providing America with the opportunity to evaluate herself and restore respect for her values and political institutions.

“Obama will renew America’s brand as Pope John Paul II restored papacy’s brand,” commented Andrew Sullivan. From French President Sarkozy’s diplomatic adviser and former French Ambassador to Washington Jean-David Levitte, Obama “does not have a different view about the world. He is a self-made man and does not owe anybody.”

Having built himself his message and his program “he is not marked by the continuity of Democrats’ ideology.”

The most helpful word to characterize Barack Obama is pragmatism. He will undoubtedly be more cooperative with his allies; constantly promoting the use of soft power while being more likely to seek dialogue where it has stopped, like with Iran. However “his multilateralism will not go very far,” warns former French Foreign Minster, under the Jospin government, Hubert Vedrine. “Never will he make America’s foreign policy depend on United Nations’ meetings.” Surrounded by Former President Bill Clinton’s (1992-1996) diplomatic teams, Obama succeeded in changing the deal vis-à-vis John McCain. He has brought experience on his side. As a result, his rival became increasingly worrying and looking insecure to voters. With his slogan “Change we can believe in,” the new president announced his plan: he will do his best to achieve all that can reduce inequalities, educate and heal people and help them to find a shelter and a job through an approach of state’s role that does contradict the market-led economy.

Obama is a “possibilist,” If one may compare him to John F. Kennedy he is a “realist disguised as a romantic.” In addition, one must add that he is a man of his times, thus being the most able to ensure America’s smooth integration to the 21st century’s multipolar dynamic.

On nearly every issue except the basic idea to break with Bush’s policies, Barack Obama has offered broad policy proposals, thus relying on his rapid and accurate decision-making skills.

Thus brought to power without any actual established doctrine, he carries the American Dream. Open-minded and smiling, preferring calm over drama and reason over excess. He is the man we need. He is now in charge of making history.