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| Scene at the Democratic National Convention [Photo:Reuters] |
By Jacktone S. Ambuka
He came waving a magic wand-a wand that mesmerized his friends and hypnotized his foes. From obscurity, he appeared with a message of hope and change. His eloquence and mastery of spoken words turned him into an overnight sensation and a global phenomenon.
His ability to connect with multitudes would later see him tagged one of the greatest orators of all time. He came as a prophet of hope-a prophet that all Americans had been waiting for-a prophet who would solve all problems that had bedeviled and dodged America for decades.
Following a tough competition with his main challenger Republican senator John Mcain, he emerged the 44th president of the United States. His name is Barack Obama-in him, America saw everything possible.
In a racially, politically and ideologically “segregated” America, the self-proclaimed “skinny kid with a funny name”-President Barack Hussein Obama presented himself as an alternative voice of reason-a voice that all Americans-Democrats, Republicans, independents, conservatives, liberals, white, black, poor and rich had been waiting for to speak healing words and utter reconciliatory messages. He didn’t disappoint.
While delivering a keynote address in the 2004 Democratic National Convention that endorsed John Kerry to run for president on democratic ticket, the then young junior senator from Illinois spoke words that would catapult him to the national and international stage, reverberate across America and leave indelible mark on the political landscape of America.
“There is not a liberal America and a conservative America-there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America -- there’s the United States of America.” Barack roared.
Born of a black Kenyan father and a white American mother; President Obama introduced something new and fresh to American society: “hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty-the audacity of hope.”
His message and slogan of “Yes we can” captured American imagination and aroused curiosity around the world. Americans of all spectrums believed in Barack’s message of hope and change. And believing, Americans gave him the golden opportunity to become the president of the United States of America.
Four years down the line, Mr. Obama alongside his trusted lieutenant Vice-president Joe Biden stood with profound gratitude to accept yet another second and final nomination to run for presidency on Democratic ticket.
As he stood on a podium in Charlotte North Carolina where National democratic convention was held, president Obama came with a slightly different inspirational message than the original one he had four years ago of hope and change. “You didn’t elect me to tell you what you want to hear” Mr. Obama affirmed. You elected me “to tell you the truth” president Obama said.
In my opinion, president Obama accepted the nomination to run for president with a twist. He presented himself as mature, realistic and pragmatic leader who has been shaped and formed by the challenges and bureaucratic nature of the presidency of the US. He seemingly acknowledged that the office is one whose power is very well checked and balanced by other arms of the government.
