Though many thought the US was not ready for a black president, the election proved that people living in the US -- a country that has suffered a great deal from racism -- were strongly yearning for a change that would help revive America's image abroad as a land of opportunity for all. The landmark US presidential election has brought with it the question of whether Turkey may find its "own Obama," a leader who will respond to the desire of the Turkish population for real change. Many say Turkey missed the opportunity to produce its own Obama, largely due to its failure to become a truly democratic country
Sabah's Mahmut Övür says Obama's election has renewed hope in Turkey of finding its own Obama one day, adding that Turkish society is highly supportive of change. "The Turkish population doesn't discriminate against the ideology or color of those who sincerely promise to respond to this desire for change. They are swept to power by society with great hope, but sooner or later they give in to the status quo," he remarks. Övür recalls that former Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit and current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were carried to power for the same reason: to bring a radical change. "Unfortunately, Turkey has not gotten rid of this vicious cycle. Therefore, it is of great importance for us to closely follow Obama's experience in politics," he states.
İsmet Berkan from Radikal believes that although a large part of the Turkish nation pinned great hope on the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), expecting it to respond to their desire to live in a more democratic country, the governing party fell short of expectations that it would realize this mission. "The AK Party was, in a sense, Turkey's Obama. However, this party was not aware of this fact," he says. Berkan goes on to say that he has great hope that Turkey will find its own Obama. "Obama has proven that a movement kicked off by a single person may snowball in time and cause some things deemed impossible to come true. There are really many reasons to be hopeful. We will find our own Obama one day for sure," he concludes.
Bugün's Ahmet Taşgetiren states that Turkey's strong desire for a change has surfaced once more with the interest in Obama and his election as the new US president. He says the opposition parties in Turkey, namely the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement party (MHP), cannot come up with any promise for a change. "The CHP is busy protecting the status quo. Any democratic attempt for the restoration of the political system in Turkey is hindered by the CHP. And what kind of a change can the MHP promise?" he asks. Taşgetiren continues to say that the Young Civilians, a democratic youth movement that works for a more democratic Turkey, may be a good choice to respond to society's call for change, but notes they are still too "young," hinting that their lack of experience in politics may hinder them from achieving success. "We will see in the days ahead whether Obama realizes the mission that the world has entrusted in him. As for Turkey, it is apparent that our country has not reached a democratic level that would clear the path for a mission similar to that of Obama," he concludes.
