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US Elections: Africans Watch with Great Interest
Posted by: Guest Author on November 3, 2008 Under: Africa, Community Report, Event, Feature, People, Politics & Policy, USA
Muti ThisIt’s election eve, Africans, like many people around the world, are watching with great interest. Scott Bobb of VOA has a samplings of what some on the continent are thinking about the election and what to expect from it:
Among Africans following the U.S. presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama is favored by far to defeat Republican Party candidate John McCain in Tuesday’s vote.
This is in part because of Obama’s ancestral links to the continent. He was born to a Kenyan father and a Caucasian American mother.
But a Kenyan law student in Nairobi, Simon Wekesa, says Obama’s popularity also comes from his work in the African-American community in the United States.
“Obama is an American. He has been in America for a large part of his life,” he said. “But since black Americans are still Africans and Obama has a direct link with Kenya.”
He says if the Democratic Party candidate loses it will be because of racial discrimination.
But Kenyan political scientist Barack Muluka does not think racism is such a big factor.
“If it was a matter of race then Barak Obama would not even have gotten to where he is at this point,” he said. “I think we want to [should] give the people of the United States of America a little bit more credit and credence than we seem to be doing.”
Senegalese civil servant Mamadou Diallo says Obama’s popularity in Africa comes primarily from his concern for less fortunate people. He says if Obama wins it will not be because he is black or Negro but because he represents the poor which is the largest sector of American society.
But a teacher in Senegal, Said Nyang, says an Obama election will send a major signal to the world. He says it will be a revolution because Obama will show other countries that it is possible for someone with black skin to change the world.
One of the changes anticipated is a change in U.S. foreign policy, which has come under considerable criticism from abroad. Zimbabwean teacher Tafara Moyo says this will happen, no matter which candidate wins.
“This is primarily because the outgoing president, has had a very unpopular foreign policy which though premised on somewhat justifiable questions of ‘war on terror’, in their own words, it is clearly increasingly looking illegitimate and rash especially if you look at the hot spots in the world such as Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.
But a member of the Mauritanian parliament, Mohamed Babane, believes John McCain is the best choice because he will maintain stability at home and abroad. He says Mauritanians are very interested in the American election because if there is stability in America, there is stability in the world.
Nouakchott University Professor Hadramy Ould Khatry disagrees.
“We think that Obama will be more peaceful, will be more moderate and will not have that Bush doctrine that would impose a more or less moralistic view on them,” he said.
Senegalese engineer Serge Malo says he hopes the next American president will do more to ease poverty on the continent. He says an Obama administration would press for more favorable international trade and development policies toward Africa.
He says Africans are expecting a lot from Obama in regards to poverty and Africa because during the campaign he showed a strong humanitarian and social side.
But Kenyan student Polly John does not think an Obama victory will have a big impact on Africa.
“Obama is not a president of Africa,” she said. “So, in case he wins, he will probably concentrate on the United States although he will have those friendly contacts with Kenya.”
A university student in Senegal, Francis Gomez says an Obama victory would set an example for Africa’s youth. She says it will show young Africans that only hard work pays, that they are wasting their time with useless wars and they should not sit in misery waiting for aid from the Americans, the Chinese or others.
She concludes that Africans should believe in the African dream because they have enough intellectual and natural resources to bring about change. All that is needed, she says, is a change of attitude.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
THE ELECTION FEVER HAS REALLY GRIPPED ME. AM STAYING UP, EYES GLUED TO MY TV SCREEN, WAITING FOR THE RESULTS TO START COMING IN. AM CONFIDENT THAT OBAMA WILL WIN BUT STILL TENSE AND CANT FORGET THE BRADLEY EFFECT. MY MIND TELLS ME THAT OBAMA HAS ALREADY WON AND THAT HE WOULD SCORE OVERALL 51%, WHY IS THE ADRENALINE STILL SO STRONG. IT IS WELL. OBAMA HAS TRIED. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR A LONG LONG TIME, FOR HE HAS PROVED THAT YOU CAN BE WHATEVER GOD INTENDS THAT YOU BE AND NO ONE SHOULD STATE YOUR BOUNDARIES.
OBAMA FOR US PRESIDENCY
OBAMA IS US PRESIDENT
CAN SEE OBAMA, MITCHELLE AND THE TWO GIRLS IN THE WHITE HOUSE COME JANUARY 2009.
GOD BLESS AND SAVE AMERICA
FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN AMERICA AFFECTS OTHER COUNTRIES AND CONTINENTS, ESPECIALLY BRITAIN.
PEACE 0)
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
Oh well, let the adrenaline flow and the let the heart pump. The USA election results are now coming in and what does it all pan out as in the end. Results so far:
McCain - KENTUCKY 5 seats now 5 so far
Obama - VERMOUTH 3 seats now 3 so far
McCain - WEST VIRGINIA 8 seats now 13 so far
McCain - SOUTH CAROLINA 8 seats now 21 so far
stay tuned (to be continued…)
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
More polls are closed and more results to follow. Fingers crossed. I’ll be back.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
Heart pounding, cant bear it, for I am supporting Obama and cannot just bear any bad news. Result so far:
OBAMA - MASSACHUSETS
OBAMA - MARYLAND NOW 25 SEATS
OBAMA - PENSYLVANIA
OBAMA - COLUMBIA
PBAMA - MAINE
OBAMA - DELAWARE
OBAMA - WASHINGTON
OBAMA - ILLINOIS
McCAIN - TENNESSEE NOW 32 SEATS
OBAMA - MARYLAND
OBAMA - MASSACHUSETTES
OBAMA - NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW 39 SEATS
CAN WE DO IT - YES WE CAN. PLEASE GOD HEEELLLLP. CAN WE STAND THIS PRESSURE? YES WE CAN, DONT WANT A HEART ATTACK.
OBAMA - COLUMBIA -NOW 54 SEATS
Stay on, for I’ll be back
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
OBAMA - DELAWARE
OBAMA - NEW JERSEY - NOW 96 SEATS
Hope rising…
McCAINE - ARKANSAS
McCAINE - ALABAMA
McCAINE - OKLAHOMA
No surprises here and my fingers are tightly crossed.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
OBAMA - DELAWARE
OBAMA - NEW JERSEY - NOW 96 SEATS
Hope rising…
McCAIN - ARKANSAS
McCAIN - ALABAMA
McCAIN - OKLAHOMA
No surprises here and my fingers are tightly crossed.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
With results in in 16 states
McCAIN - 39
OBAMA - 103
STAY TUNED - OMOTAYLOR IS ON IT.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
OBAMA - CONNETICUT
McCAIN - GEORGIA
OBAMA - 103
McCAIN - 69
I pray the crowd at Chicago Grand Park will have real cause to celebrate.
Stay tuned, I need a cup of coffee…
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
Oh the blessed African Dream.
Can Obama do it? Can we do it? YES WE CAN.
American history will be re- written tonite; from Slavery to the Civil War, to a Black American President. How I remember Martin Luther King tonight:
“I HAVE A DREAM”
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
OBAMA - NEW YORK - NOW 134 SEAT
OBAMA - NEW MEXICO
OBAMA - WINSCONSON - NOW 144 SEATS
McCAIN - NORTH DAKOTA - NOW 72 SEAT
OBAMA -RHODE ISLAND
OBAMA - MINNESOTA - NOW 158 SEATS
So far results declared in 24 states.
My heart is pounding so fast. We need just a few more. We are almost home and dry. This is so so so so so intennnnnse.
RESULTS SO FAR IN … STATES
OBAMA-BIDEN = SEATS
McCAIN-PALIN = SEATS
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
Is this the home run??? Do we see the finish line called 270 target??? Well we shall soon know
OBAMA - MICHIGAN - NOW 175 SEATS
McCAIN - WHYOMING - NOW 81 SEATS
Results so far in 27 states.
This is indeed going to be a historic night. Obama has set a pace, a new ideology, a new drive, a new intent. We can be what we set out to be by the grace of God through God who made us.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
23 more states to go. Has John McCaine done too much too late. My heart bleeds for him, but my heart is filled with joy joy joy. I believe more strongly now that we shall make it. Black and Whites and Mixed will now start feeling the same at least in America for starters. Wasnt man born equal? Dont we have red blood in our veins? We still have a long way to go in this equality race. God is good. Love is in the air.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
More results…
OBAMA - OHIO ( A KEY STATE) COLLEGE VOTES 20 NOW 195!!!
McCAIN - LOUISIANA
Got to go chill the wine. There’s celebration this morning. Soon and very soon, it shall start.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
We continue with:
Obama - 195
McCaine - 90. Results so far in 29 states
OBAMA - NEW MEXICO - 200 (30 states).
Dear Lord, I pray thee tonite, you gave Solomon Wisdom and assisted young Joshua to lead the Israelites to the promised land. Please I am petitioning thee on behalf of Barack Obama, as many others are. Please assist him to lead America aright. Please give him the wisdom to make the right decisions. Holy Spirit, please please lead Obama aright and let him make the right decisions first time for Ameria, for now we are beholden the new 44th President of the United States of America. The first Black (okay African American) President in America.
Can anything go wrong at this stage? Definitely not.
Can We make it? YES WE CAN.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
OBAMA - IOWA
McCAIN - TEXAS
McCAIN - UTAH
Results in from 33 states
McCAIN - 129
OBAMA - 207.
CareTaker | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
The the look of what I’m, seeing, and the mood down at Obama headqters in Chicago, the dream is getting some flesh and growing legs….let’s keep watching.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
McCAIN - MISSISSIPPI - 135 in 34 states.
ITS TIME FOR CHANGE, COME ON DEMOCRATS, COME ON OBAMA. YOU MUST DO IT. WE NEED CALIFORNIA. 50 SEATS IN THAT STATE.
A NEW THING IS STARTING IN AMERICA. TRULY HISTORIC. THE UNTHINKABLE AND UNIMAGINABLE IS NOW MADE POSSIBLE. HISTORY IN THE MAKING. WOW, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
THE YOUTHS IN AMERICA HAVE HAD A SAY IN ELECTING THE 44TH PRESIDENT OF AMERICA. THERE IS UNITY BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE IN VOTING IN THE 44TH AMERICAN PRESIDENT.
Stay tuned…
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
McCAIN - SOUTH DAKOTA - = 141 IN 36 STATES
OBAMA - VIRGINIA = 220 E/C VOTES.
FIRST TIME FOR A DEMOCRAT WIN IN VIRGINIA FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THIS IS INDEED INCREDIBLE. OBAMA IS GREAT AND GOD IS GOOD. UP DEMOCRATS, UP UP OBAMA.
McCain has tried for he worked so hard,but he shouldnt have succumbed to all those dirty politics, name calling and mudslings against Obama. He never did anything of such. So we should all learn from this. McCain at this stage cannot now win the race. Bye McCain, Bye Palin ( I personally will not miss Palin, dont ask me why).
AMERICA HAS VOTED CHANGE. JUST A FEW MORE RESULTS IN AND THEN WE ARE HOME AND DRY. GET READY FOR THE CELEBRATION.
Misi | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
OBAMA has won by 284 to 146. Praise God!
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
ITS 4.01AM LONDON TIME AND 11.01PM AMERICAN TIME ON THE 4TH OF NOVEMBER 2008, BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED
PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
HISTORY IS MADE.
HISTORY IS MADE.
JUST CANT BELIEVE IT
I HAVE WANTED THIS SO MUCH
AM SO MOVED WITH TEARS OF HAPPINESS.
BARACK OBAMA WINS USA ELECTION AS 44TH PRESIDENT.
GOD YOU ARE SO GOOD
ALLELUIA.
HE NOW HAS 275 ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES.
Omotaylor | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
NOW IT IS 297 SEATS FROM RESULTS IN 42 STATES.. OBAMA IS PRESIDENT. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE WON. UP AFRICAN AMERICANS. UP UP MY BLACK RACE. HISTORY IS MADE.
GOD PLEASE HELP BARACK OBAMA MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS IN AMERICA. AMERICA’S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.
I REST MY CASE, TIME TO CELEBRATE.
FATHER LORD JEHOVAH I THANK YOU
WE THANK YOU.
PLEASE REMEMBER US FAVOURABLY ON 10TH NOVEMBER.#
GOOD NIGHT ALL.
PEACE
Misi | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
McCain concedes and it is official that Obama is the next president of the United States. YIPEE!