McCain's loss marks his return

Done. Finito. Terminado.


Barack Obama has ridden the wave of hope and change all the way to the ironically named White House. His victory address in Chicago on Tuesday evening was both beautiful and eloquent, and the passion of delivery has drawn comparisons with John F. Kennedy's rousing inauguration speech of 1961. Obama clearly has a gift to speak and inspire that is not to be undervalued. However, it was the concession oration of John McCain, defeated Republican nominee, which really caught my attention. McCain's campaign wasn't dominated by the powerfully-moving, roof-raising speeches that Obama quickly became known for, but in the moment of his defeat, the real John McCain stepped back into the spotlight.


McCain the maverick, McCain his own man and McCain the realist relinquished himself in the early stages of the post-primaries campaign, exemplifying a right-wing candidate who appeared very similar to the incumbent George W. Bush. Why? Analysts suggest he was attempting to attract the traditional Republican vote; the men and women of America who will only support a candidate who shares their strong conservative values. However this movement from maverick to manipulator, paired with the subsequent choice of ultra-conservative Sarah Palin as running mate, had its consequences. McCain needed the independent vote if he was to stand a chance against the rapidly rising star from the blue side of the political playground. The more Obama connected with the independent voters and those not officially aligned with a party, the more desperately McCain tried to assert himself as the candidate with experience. The negative television advertisements that came out of the Republican's campaign were in direct contradiction with his earlier determination to avoid dirty and negative tactics and only damaged his position in the polls.


When the dust had settled, it became clear that Barack Obama had the votes to become the United States of America's first African American President and the guise of tough and negative-campaigner fell off John McCain. McCain the maverick, McCain his own man and McCain the realist was back. While it is true that often it is the losers who give the best speeches, McCain really came into his own and delivered a very moving and gracious address of concession. He emphatically congratulated Sen. Barack Obama on his victory and on a well fought campaign, whilst maintaining an air of dignity and distinction. This is the man who fought for his country in the Vietnam war, who endured five years of beatings at the infamous Hanoi Hilton as a prisoner of war and has served his country with devotion in whatever role her people decided ever since. A man who seemed to be lost during the majority of the campaign returned just in time to finish the race with grace. One can only hope that following this election the asset of McCain's wisdom, knowledge and know-how will not be lost from the American political landscape.

While John McCain has redeemed himself at the end of this election campaign, it's important to give credit where it's due. Barack Obama has made history by becoming the first black PoTUS and one of the very few to be elected after one term as a Senator. Obama had the vision and the ability to inspire others that ultimately won him the presidency. He connected with everyday voters from the Pacific to the Atlantic in a way that is rarely seen with a political figure. This is clearly demonstrated by the campaign donations he received (US$600,000,000) and the astronomical number of volunteers and campaign offices he had throughout the country. The concern surrounding Barack Obama's newly-awarded powerful status does not lie in his ability to represent a united nation to the world, or in his ability to inspire a generation of notoriously apathetic young people, but in his policies. McCain claimed that Obama's tax policy smacks of socialism and, while this was decried in the popular media, I'm inclined to agree. The phrase 'spread the wealth around' is usually followed by the noun 'comrade'. Obama brought a youthful, energised and decidedly different feel to US politics; one that hasn't been felt for decades. As such, some commentators are concerned that his policies weren't judged by their own merit, but by who presented them. Time will tell whether Obama's policies are dangerous to the US economy and to the fabric upon which the United States was crafted, just as some sceptics fear.

Electing a man with the capacity to mobilise the masses, yet with no tangible experience, may be compared to the hypothetical situation of setting the world on fire, just to see what would happen. One must admit that whilst watching footage of Kenyans running down the streets of Nairobi and seeing Obama's face on placards above them, hearing rural Chinese farmers euphorically chanting his name and watching the world's leaders scrambling to parrot his praises, the question 'Who is this guy?' does cross the mind. At the very least, I expect Obama will deliver a very interesting four years come January.