This applied not only to the world, but to the US. The majority of US voters who did not vote for Obama for various political reasons appreciate the historic impact of his election and are proud of their country. The black Americans, who were denied most of their democratic rights and freedoms until half a century ago, sent a man from among themselves to the White House, thanks to the support of at least half of the descendants of the whites who once used black Americans as slaves.
The question now is how different will the Obama administration be? The short answer is that the contrast will not be the difference between black and white. This is because there is no dramatic difference in the governing styles of Obama's Democratic Party and of the Republican Party of John McCain. The divergence of views among voters does not reach too far into the upper echelons of the system. All presidential candidates make promises about overhauling Washington, which is seen as the symbol of special interests, gatekeepers and the status quo, before they are elected. But either they have already sold their souls to Washington, or Washington eventually figures out how to lure them in. Time will show if Obama will be able to keep his promises of changing and reforming Washington.
Reforms are tiring and take time. As you disturb the status quo, you find yourself facing obstacles that seem to come out of nowhere. As there are many vital problems waiting to be solved in the US, one should not expect Obama to make extreme moves that might disrupt the established system. In his victory speech in Chicago, Obama had said he needed help from the people who had not voted for him, too. He is right. However, his ability to control the diverse factions and interest groups within his own party is questionable, to say nothing of securing the support of the Republicans.
Let the flush of victory fade, and we will see how the Democrats manage the legislative and executive branches of the government. Will they opt for doing whatever they want through coercion, or adopt a more conciliatory manner considering that the other half of the country (46 percent) thinks differently from them? I would especially recommend watching how Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, will act.
Obama's choice of Chicago Congressman Rahm Emanuel (aka Rambo) as the White House chief of staff provides us with some hints about this new era. Obama will play the good cop, while Emanuel blocks the excessive demands from the Democrats that will pour into the White House. In the meantime, Emanuel's status as a ferocious liberal can be seen as a sign of Obama's intention to do things that are likely to upset conservatives. Moreover, by appointing Emanuel, a respected member of the US Jewish community, to a very important position, Obama has made a pragmatic move toward the powerful Israeli lobby, whose support he is after.
By stressing reconciliation, I do not suggest that the Obama administration should refrain from ameliorating the misguided practices of the George W. Bush era. The thing is that new moves should not be made with the conceit seen in the Bush era, as this will breed new problems. Moreover, the new administration does not have the luxury of completely overhauling the structure it has inherited from the eight years of Bush's presidency. For instance, the main framework of the policies the Bush administration pursued with respect to Iran's nuclear program and the Middle East peace process will most likely stay as is. The transition period gives time to the new administration for file transfers and getting situated until Jan. 20, when Obama will take office. The people who will be appointed to key positions will be determined and announced in the meantime.
One of the most praiseworthy practices of US democracy is the old administration extending of a helping hand to the new administration during the period of transition.
President Bush and all the key figures of the current administration have advised their personnel to help Obama's team. The current transition period is much more critical than usual. The US is struggling with perhaps the biggest economic and international crises in its history. Obama says he will act according to the principle of "one president at a time." But he also doesn't want find a crying baby in his arms when he takes over the job. For this reason, he will try to make sure that the Bush administration makes the right decisions, especially on economic policy, in their final days and, at the same time, he will try to learn the ins and outs of administration. It was no accident that he held his first press conference as president-elect following a meeting with economy experts and stressed that his main priority would be the economy.
After the economy, Obama's priorities include energy independence and healthcare reform. That foreign policy is not among his declared top priorities may, at first sight, give the impression that the US will concentrate on domestic issues in the new era. In reality, for the new administration to address these priorities, it must stop the bleeding of the US in the world and refrain from opening new wounds. For instance, it would not be reasonable to meddle with Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan while the intervention in Iraq continues.
Having proven his strategic aptitude by winning the election through a highly successful election campaign, Obama, I hope, will show similar skills in the White House. He should not allow wrong-headed advisers to crowd around him. He should adopt balanced and conciliatory domestic and foreign policies as advertised. May the Obama era bring good developments for the US, Turkey and the world.
Benzer Haberler 
