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Loading ...OBAMA WINS!
11.05.2008 12:24am EST
Obama Wins!
by The Associated Press
Posted:
November 4, 2008 – 11:02 pm ET
The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his historic triumph by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in a string of wins in hard-fought battleground states – Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Iowa and more.
On a night for Democrats to savor, they not only elected Obama the nation’s 44th president but padded their majorities in the House and Senate, and come January will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 1994.
Obama’s election capped a meteoric rise – from mere state senator to president-elect in four years.
In his first speech as victor, Obama catalogued the challenges ahead. “The greatest of a lifetime,” he said, “two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.”
He added, “There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.”
McCain 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,” McCain told disappointed supporters in Arizona.
President Bush added his congratulations from the White House.
In his speech, Obama invoked the words of Lincoln and echoed John F. Kennedy.
“So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder,” he said.
He and his running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, will take their oaths of office as president and vice president on Jan. 20, 2009.
Obama will move into the Oval Office as leader of a country that is almost certainly in recession, and fighting two long wars, one in Iraq, the other in Afghanistan.
The popular vote was close – 51.3 percent to 47.5 percent with 73 percent of all U.S. precincts counted – but not the count in the Electoral College, where it mattered most.
There, Obama’s audacious decision to contest McCain in states that hadn’t gone Democratic in years paid rich dividends.
Obama has said his first order of presidential business will be to tackle the economy. He has also pledged to withdraw most U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months.
Did this actually surprise anyone? The polls were pretty consistent with the results.
Woot! This is probably the happiest day in my entire 17 yr life! ^_^
Honestly, I’m not shocked at all. As much as it pains me, this contest was over before tonight.
Good luck to Mr. Obama, and I hope he doesn’t become a door mat.
Now all the bigots can feel how we have felt these last eight years!
I hate to say it, but if Proposition 8 passes, it may be partially Obama’s fault in a round-about way. African American culture is notoriously homophobic, and Obama drawing out record numbers of less-tolerant African-Americans is what will pass it.
My fellow Americans, WE DID IT! Now we have a lot of work to do for everyone. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Obama and allof your families. I am so proud of you and I know you will do your best to bring us all together. May God watch over you all and keep you safe and healthy. YES WE CAN, AND WE WILL. Peace and love, Doug and Phil, from Indiana.
Why do people refer to him as being black when he’s half black? People might as well say he’s white, because he is half white, right?
Congratulations President elect Obama and to LGBT. he has felt our pain.
I proudly voted for Nader. He’s pro-gay marriage and says it right out loud to everybody. Obama and Biden are against gay marriage. I’m sick and tired of voting for a party that does not support my basic rights. PERIOD!
does it really matter?
Now that Barack has won, I hope he really starts instituting changes that we need.
And one of them is that we as LGBT people deserve equality just as and any other American out there.
where and when did Nader say his support for gay marriage, the only one who did that was Dennis Kucinich. Traitor Nader cost us Democrat the election before and we were all saddled with that Bush guy.
Morgan: which is why I supported Denny before switching to Barack after Mr. Kucinich dropped out. Don’t forget to mention though that Mike Gravel also supports full marriage equality, but I just liked to call him Mister Shouty.
i am very excited that Obama won! ^_^
While I think he will be better for the country than McBush would have been, if any of you are hoping he will do something for our community, please hold your breath. That blue is a good color on you.