Opinion
JIM SILLARS
jimsillars@holyrood.com
Meeting expectation
A
llow me to splash cold water upon the Constitution of the United States, words used in that memorable instru-
the fevered brows of those caught and as such become entitled to all ment.”
up in Obamamania. But before I do, let the rights, privileges, and immunities That judgement was one source of
me say Obama’s election was a great day guaranteed by that instrument to the the poison of racism that disgraced the
for Black Americans. That Jesse Jackson citizen?” United States for most of its existence.
should shed tears, Colin Powell and his Recording that black slaves were no Barak Obama’s victory, including more
family weep with quiet joy, and Harlem more than an “article of merchandise” white votes than were cast four years
go wild with delight, was a Nelson Man- and regarded “as a subordinate and ago for John Kerry, and the rainbow
dela moment, for all of them. Sunlight inferior class of being, who had been coalition of civilised citizens that he
broke upon the long dark night for peo- subjugated by the dominant race, and, inspired, has at last allowed those of
ple of colour. whether emancipated or not, yet remain us who have admired the theory of
Just how dark that night was, and subject to their authority, and had no America’s constitution and rule of law,
just how long that struggle for full equal-
Som
null
ewhere
rights or privileges but such as those who to now admire its practice of those fine
ity has been is as long as the United
in the
held the power and the Government principles.
States has existed. Just how far Amer-
mountains
might choose to grant them” – the court So why, when as pleased as I am as
ica has travelled to the point where a
of
decided by 6-2 that Dred Scott, a slave, the most pleased citizen of America, am
man with a black skin can be elected
Afghanistan,
could not be a citizen of the United I about to splash on that cold water?
President, and his wife a descendant States. It isn’t because Obama will fail, as he
of slaves can be the First Lady, is to be
or in
The court majority held: “The leg- will, to meet the extraordinary level of
found in the infamous Supreme Court
Pakistan,
islation and histories of times, and the expectation that he has generated. He is
decision in the case of Dred Scott v John Osama bin language used in the Declaration of an exceptional person, but the mechan-
F.A. Stanford, 1857. The issue before
Laden is
Independence, show, that neither the ics of America’s government – tripartite
the court was: “Can a negro, whose
smiling
class of persons who had been imported – and the nature of the economic crisis
ancestors were imported into this as slaves, nor their descendants, whether he inherits, are bound to bring reverses.
country, and sold as slaves, become a they had become free or not, were then No, it is in his choice of Chief of Staff
member of the political community acknowledged as part of the people, nor and the implications of that appoint-
formed and brought into existence by null intended to be included in the general ment for his biggest foreign policy prob-
HENRY MCLEISH
henrymcleish@holyrood.com
Lesson from America
P
resident-elect Barack Obama has The media is relentless and merciless. were all key strategic features of his cam-
inspired enthused and energised So how did Obama win and what paign.
the world of politics. Obama is probably can Labour in particular learn from his It is widely recognised that Obama
a once-in-a-generation politician who campaign? His campaign was transfor- connected with the electorate through
will make his mark internationally and mational, inclusive and innovative. A simple and positive messages and cre-
help rebuild America’s crumbling cred- new era in campaigning and fundraising ated millions of activists who financed,
ibility and moral authority. was created. helped and voted in the campaign. By
It is important to remember that win- The simple political message, which doing this, they became ‘owners’ of the
ning a presidential election in America is a resonated with ordinary voters, was movement they had helped create. This
major achievement in itself. The campaigns linked to ‘bottom up’ politics, a sophis- was the vital first step.
covering both primaries and the general ticated money-making machine, the use On his President-elect website,
election are long and tough. Spectacular of modern electronic technology such Obama said: “the millions of you who
levels of campaign finance are raised and as the computer and mobile phones, built this campaign from the ground up,
spent. The campaigns are brutal, negative, intensive internet social networks includ- and echoed your call for the changes you
personal and, in this case, racist. ing Facebook and My Space, energising wanted to see implemented by the Obama
Polling and counting in America is young people as new activists and voters administration – the process of setting up
not yet a well-developed science and the and on election day, the best “ground that new government is about you.”
potential for ballot rigging still exists. game” ever devised to get the vote out, This “we” and “you” appears in his
34
| 17 November 2008 | Holyrood magazine | www.holyrood.com |
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