My over-riding emotion yesterday was relief - pure and simple relief. After such a long campaign, with some many hopes riding on a single day, the weight of expectation was crippling. A few commentators were still entertaining thought of an upset, waxing lyrical about The Bradley Effect – but most of all the Republican fear factory had left more than a few voters with Obama related doubts. So, when Ohio was called for Obama early on, and the 2004 map shattered, all I felt was relief. President-elect Obama. It’s got a hell of a ring to it.
In the end, it was an Obama whitewash, like few of us dared to hope for (though one which 538 astutely predicted). The Dems won in Ohio, Indiana, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and crucially Virginia and Florida (all states that went for Bush in 2004). North Carolina and Missouri are yet to be called, but Obama could squeak home there too (not that it matters: his 349 electoral votes far exceed the 270 he required). The Dems have also extended their hold on the Senate (was 49-49 and 2 independents, now its 56-40 with 4 undecided) and House of Reps (won about 20 extra seats and hold their clear majority). Reaching the magical 60 senate seats (which stops Republican stalling tactics) would, for the first time in a long time, give the Dems complete control of all three branches of government.
The bad news from Election Day, to temper my celebrations came from the ballot initiatives in several states. California’s Prop 8 seems to have been passed (52-48%), banning gay marriage in that state (Florida and Arizona did the same). The benevolent people of Arkansas also saw fit to enact a ban on gay couples adopting, while Nebraska agreed to end affirmative action. All very, very disappointing. It was some consolation to see the passing of some more liberal initiatives in Michigan (medical marijuana and stem cell research) and Washington (euthanasia) – but still a bittersweet day.
Overall though, I’m glad that Obama (and Biden) will be given his chance to enact some of his vision. The doubters failed to deny him the highest office and he can now let his actions speak for him. The reality that he’s not a secret Muslim, or a communist, or just a fancy speaker will be plain for all to see. I have great faith that the much (if not all) of his agenda will be hotly pursued: battling climate change, ending the war, mending health care and turning the economy back from the brink. Already the world is more receptive to the US following the change of leadership – and me, like many others have a really good feeling about the next 4 years. Congratulations, Mr. President (elect).
The relationship between the individual states of the US and the Federal Union is a complex one. The courts are kept busy delineating a zigzagging line between the autonomy (and law making ability) of the states – and their subservience to Washington. The result is a patchwork of laws and regulations unique to each state, covering such weighty topics as the death penalty, the age of consent, gun ownership and of course abortion. Topical this week though, is again same-sex marriage currently only allowed in three US states (and 6 countries, none of which are Australia): Massachusetts, Connecticut – and up until today, California – but I’m getting to that.
Another peculiarity of the state law making process is the ballot initiative. Proposed amendments to the state constitution or laws are offered up for a referendum and decided by the people. I’m familiar with its work from Episode 23 of Simpsons Season 7 – Much Apu About Nothing. Aside from Homer’s hilarious “I would like to buy your rock” gear at the front end (introducing me to spurious reasoning), the episode parodies California Proposition 187 – which in a nutshell blames ‘immigants’ for rising costs, and voted to exclude them from social services. The episode showcases the ignorance and fear-mongering that often drives ballots of this sort.
Anyway, I could go on about the Simpsons all day, but the parallel is that today California votes on a range of initiatives, including the banning of gay marriage – by editing their constitution to read: "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Arizona, Arkansas and Florida have similar homophobic votes today – while other states are seeking to make abortion more difficult to access, voting on medical marijuana, assisted suicide and ending affirmative action. Emotions, clearly are running high. The partisans from both sides have spent big, especially on Prop 8, seeing it (as always) as a leverage point to widen the ‘fight against gays’ (much of the ‘Yes’ funding has come from the Mormons and a crackpot millionaire named Howard F. Ahmanson).
On such an historic day – Obama’s landslide win – I’m hoping that many of these conservative ballot proposals are defeated. I feel particularly strongly about Prop 8 in California. I see California as a liberal, cosmopolitan state, and it makes good sense that they have equality for same-sex couples. The ‘Yes’ campaign has peddled blatant lies about the erosion of the institution of marriage – and the fall of the US… spreading the kind of baseless fears that have perpetuated racism for so long. Let me say this once more for the dummies – your loving marriage cannot be attacked by anyone, let alone by the loving marriage of a same-sex couple. Chisel it into your forehead. I’d clearly be voting ‘No’– and I hope the majority of Californians do likewise.
As an Australian, you could be forgiven for thinking that tomorrow’s US elections don’t affect you. Well you could have, back in the day when ineptitude wasn’t such a premium, and few believed that one man could destroy a whole country. Eight Bush years later and we know better: the country is heavily divided along ideological divides, the once powerful US (and world) economy is disintegrating and peace is a distant memory. So many of the assumptions of world order have been shattered, by the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive strikes, by the naming of an axis of evil and a spurning of diplomacy as a sign of weakness. Bush will long be remembered as the worst President they’ve ever had.
Having watched this disaster slowly unfold, it’s clear that the influence of the American President is far reaching. The limits of his power were assumed to be far smaller than Bush showed them to be. He unilaterally invaded Iraq, has held over 700 detainees in Gitmo without charge (270 remain) brought state sanctioned torture to the West and spied on his own citizens (not only is he stupid, he’s mean too). In this light, I hope you’d agree that this election is worth paying attention to and that the outcome has tangible consequences.
Without overstating my oft repeated pro-Obama position, the only logical winner tomorrow is Barack. Ideologically, it’s time to turn this car around, on its way to the extreme right – and head back to the centre. The Palin stereotype is the last type of governance the US (or the world) needs. The Republicans have run a fearful campaign, threatening everything from a Muslim Terrorist President – to married gay doctors performing abortions in the streets (Barack will take your money, your guns, and your freedom!!) The reality is, Obama will end the war in Iraq, wage a better one in Afghanistan, favour the middle class over the rich and take a shot at some real problems: healthcare and energy.
I’m as fearful as the next Obama supporter about an upset – but logic tells me that he will win in a landslide. His ground game is better, he has more money, and his positions are stronger. Long Red states could be swept aside, awash in Obama-blue. Despite that, I will sit here, madly refreshing 538 and CNN, watching every vote come in – waiting for the announcement that Obama is President elect. Don’t let me down America.
