November 08, 2012

By Yussuf J. Simmonds

Co-Managing Editor

 

All over the country, President Obama’s supporters were rejoicing: horns blasting, people jumping in the air, hugging each other and celebrating as jubilant as four years ago, chanting in unison, “Four more years.”  It was a hard fought victory and the president got what he deserved: four more years.

Just before he went on the stage, he e blasted a thank-you to his millions of supporters stating, “I'm about to go speak to the crowd here in Chicago, but I wanted to thank you first.  I want you to know that this wasn't fate, and it wasn't an accident. You made this happen. You organized yourselves block-by-block. You took ownership of this campaign five and ten dollars at a time. And when it wasn't easy, you pressed forward.

“I will spend the rest of my presidency honoring your support, and doing what I can to finish what we started. But I want you to take real pride, as I do, in how we got the chance in the first place.  Today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests. There's a lot more work to do.

“But for right now: Thank you.”

This has been the costliest election in U.S. history and according to the results, the money seemed to have been well spent – the right man has been returned to the White House.  At press time, the resident had 303 electoral votes, and Gov. Mitt Romney had 206. If one takes a long look into previous presidential campaigns and elections, the quality of the winner most times signals the right man for the time. 

In the past, there have been major shifts between campaign rhetoric and the subsequent administration’s reality.  However, President Barack Obama’s reality has stayed very close to his election promises, despite the adversity he has faced in his first four years.  Now armed with a record of accomplishments, he can move forward and continue the work, as he explained, that he started four years ago. 

Amidst a recalcitrant Congress, and a harsh, resistant environment, President Obama pushed through a massive healthcare reform bill (the Affordable Care Act), a feat that had eluded presidents since early in the 20th century, and simply said, “it was the right thing to do.” Now, loosely called Obamacare, it has become his signature domestic policy achievement. 

For that and numerous other less high-profiled achievements, the American electorate has given him four more years. In his concession speech, Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Romney very graciously told his supporters that he would “pray for Barack Obama's success in leading the nation. We have given our all.”

In delivering his victory speech, President Obama said to the American people, “we have picked ourselves up and fought back during tough economic times, and the best is yet to come.  We still have work to do.”

Some of the President’s accomplishments were echoed in the following statements:

 

“The Affordable Care Act is saving my daughter's life.” Stacey, Arizona

 

“Obama is for the vets. He helped us wind down in Iraq, he's improved mental health policy with VA benefits.” Joel, Minnesota

 

“Obama stuck his neck out for us, the auto industry. He wasn't going to let it just die, and I'm driving in this morning because of that, because of him.” Brian, Ohio

 

“Osama bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive.”  Vice President Joe Biden, Delaware

 

“Arithmetic.”  Former President Bill Clinton, New York

 

“He cares for the 100 percent.”  Shana, Texas

 

“When Obama came into office, he successfully renewed our country's place in the community of nations, making cooperation in tackling the world's challenges possible.” Willis, North Carolina

 

“The actions he has taken with respect to protecting us from terrorism have been very, very solid.”  Former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, Virginia 

 

“For me, President Obama is our best choice because he has a vision of the United States as a place where we are all in this together.” Bruce Springsteen, New Jersey

 

“He has a real plan for rescuing the economy that passes the 'math' test.” Teresa, Virginia

 

“Having someone in office who understands how powerful our voice can be is very important.”

Jay Z, New York

 

“I am voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden because I can trust them to care for the middle class and restore the American dream.” Steven, Florida

 

“I believe in the America he wants for my grandchildren.”  Nancy, Michigan

 

“We need four more years of repair, of helping the middle class achieve a sustainable economy.”

James Taylor, North Carolina

 

“I've watched him fight for our country, stand by the middle class, the working class, the military, the education of our children, universal health care, women, the environment, and matters of national and domestic security.”  Susan, Virginia

 

“I want our president to place scientific evidence and risk management above electoral politics.”

Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York

 

Post Election Comments on the Re-election of President Barack Obama

 

MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA:

“President Obama campaigned on a vision of strengthening America’s ladder of opportunity, expanding our middle class and making the investments that will ensure America’s future prosperity. Tonight, this vision won.

“I would like to congratulate President Obama on his resounding victory. I look forward to working with him in the coming days and months to keep America moving in the right direction.”

 

COUNCILMEMBER JAN PERRY:

“The American public has sent President Barack Obama back to the White House. With the support of an energetic base of citizen donors and enthusiastic volunteers, President Obama won a decisive victory despite unprecedented spending by special interests that ran highly negative and often divisive ads. 

“The president’s reelection is a statement that our strength comes from our diversity and our ability to work together for the common good.  And while we maintain our individual spirit and drive to succeed we understand that America is better off when we take care of each other.” 

 

THE LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE:

The Los Angeles Urban League congratulates President Barack Obama, the First Family, Vice President Joe Biden and his family.  We also congratulate the American people for participating in and supporting the democratic process.

This is our country and our success is dependent on each other. Let's move forward over the next four years to get past the divides and ensure prosperity for each and every one of us.

God bless the United States and the office of the president.

 

ARCHBISHOP JOSÉ H. GOMEZ:

“I congratulate President Obama on his reelection as the leader of this great country.  Every political office is an expression of public trust and carries the responsibility to work for justice and the common good — not only in our own country but also in the international community.  So I pray that God will grant our President the wisdom he needs to carry out his duties, along with the virtues of honesty, courage, prudence and humility that are necessary for true public service.”

“As faithful citizens, the Catholic community here in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the country stands ready to work with our president to fulfill the promise of America’s founders.”

 

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS PRESIDENT RANDI WEINGARTEN:

 “The importance of this election was far greater than casting a ballot for one candidate over another—as important as that exercise in democracy is. The American people voted today to create opportunity and shared prosperity by sharing responsibility, and to reject the cynical ‘you’re on your own’ philosophy. The results of this election are a declaration by the American people that to rebuild a strong and vibrant middle class and ensure a voice for all, we all have to be in this together. Americans voted for a vision for our nation that says government has an essential role that includes protecting our families in times of crisis, investing in public schools as a foundation of our democracy, guaranteeing access to affordable healthcare, and ensuring retirement with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. 

 “On behalf of the 1.5 million teachers, healthcare workers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, higher education faculty and staff, and public employees of the American Federation of Teachers, I congratulate President Obama and Vice President Biden on their re-election.”

 

CONGRESSWOMAN JUDY CHU, NATIONAL CO-CHAIR OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN:

“The American people have spoken, and have given President Obama four more years!  With a clear voice, Americans rejected Romney's failed policies that put our country in dire straights, and said yes to the balanced leadership that has guided us out of that mess.

“As Co-Chair of the president's reelection campaign, it has been an honor to speak to people all across this country about the important choices we all faced in the voting booth this year.  And all across the country, people saw the stakes and made the right choice for the middle class, our children and this nation's future.  I congratulate President Obama on his reelection, and look forward to working with him to help move our country forward."

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Photo Credit (all):

Gary Hunter for Sentinel

Category: News