It’s over.
Voter frustration with an ailing economy, record foreclosures, a federal bailout, plunging stock market, struggling automakers, and years-long war came to a head on Tuesday as American citizens turned out in record numbers at the polls.
Locally, two incumbent supervisors were ousted; a five-term treasurer’gone; new to area politics are a couple of supervisors, school board members, a trustee, and township treasurer’different ideas, opinions and a new direction.
Nationally, in a historic moment, Barack Obama was elected the country’s first black president. It is a proud time for African-Americans and the breaking of a barrier in a country long saddled with racial division.
But as this feat is celebrated, we should all remember that it was not one race or group of people alone who elected Obama. The president-elect garnered the votes of blacks and whites, young and old, Democrats and Republicans.
He achieved a landslide victory, receiving 349 electoral college votes to Republican John McCain’s 147 (numbers to change). Obama also won 51.9 percent of the popular vote, compared to 46.8 percent for McCain.
Obama did not win a majority of the vote because he is a Democrat, nor because he is black. Democrats and Republicans are split fairly evenly in this country, and African-Americans comprise only about 12 percent of the population.
Obama and other newly elected officials won because they were seen as the best options to lead us, fix problems and alter an errant path.
Obama and others elected this past Tuesday, represent hope and change to many, something Americans crave as families struggle to keep their jobs and homes, put gas in their vehicles, and even just get food on the table.
We urge this community to unite and support all candidates elected locally and nationally on Tuesday.