The right-wing of the political establishment in the United States of America perhaps expected the victory of Democratic Candidate Barak Obama at the polls in the presidential elections of November 2008, but the very fact of his winning sent them into paroxisms of fear, hatred, envy and revenge.
Never before had such a phenomenon taken place in this most racially divided, bigoted and richest country in the world. The unexpected had happened. The first black man had won a national election and taken his place of residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And, given the history of this most rich country in the world that had survived a Civil War over slavery and the suppression of blacks, a positive backlash was inevitable.
The question of whether he had performed well, given the negative growth of the economy and the onset of the worst depression since the 1929 crash of Wall Street, did not matter. The theme of the opposition to President Obama was that he had to go. He should not be allowed to enjoy another term in the White House, and in order to achieve this, a coalition of main stream Republicans and adherents of the extreme right plus the collusion of the monied class of selected billionaires had to be forged.
The main objective had to be achieved: “Get rid of Obama” regardless of the financial cost. The man chosen to achieve this, as the standard-bearer of the Republic Party was of no consequence, except in so far as he filled the role of ridding the country of President Obama. However, some might ask, “What have we to do with the political fortunes of President Obama?”
Antigua & Barbuda is unique in the whole world in that we, in a country that is over 95 per cent black, renamed our highest mountain peak, Mount Obama. What a tribute and recognition of the colossal, unique achievement of an articulate, handsome, extremely educated black man.
It is a tribute to a black man who has achieved the unique position of being the most powerful person in the whole universe. The majority of us do not qualify as voters in a presidential election in the United States of America, but we can help by employing the most powerful, effective force, in the universe – prayer. It was Alfred Lord Tennyson who penned the immortal words in his poem Morte D’Arthur – “Pray for my soul, more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”
We would refuse to speculate whether the opposition to President Barack Obama is based entirely or partially on race. Black people in the United States know whom they ought to vote for.
There was a time when the Mormons had a policy that black people must be seen and not heard. Blacks were not welcome in their church. Candidate Romney is a Mormon. In the face of extreme opposition, we should all become prayer warriors and ensure that President Barack Obama wins in order to ensure him a special place to re-emphasise his role and legacy at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
