The American presidential election is about a year away from the national conventions where the Republicans and Democrats nominate their candidates. This takes place in the summer before elections.
As things stand, analysts are predicting a Democratic president, namely Hillary Clinton.
If, however, the Democrats nominate Obama at their Denver Convention, would that be in Africa’s best interests?
Barack Hussein Obama is the son of a black Kenyan father and white American mother, who spent a good deal of his childhood in Indonesia. He is a bestselling author and topped his class at Harvard Law.
He visited Africa, including South Africa, in 2006.
Once described by British columnist Gary Younge as a black man who doesn’t scare white people, Obama is considered brilliant by both friend and foe.
The Washington Post‘s influential journalist David Ignatius is highly impressed by the young hopeful. In yesterday’s article in the Post he contends that Obama has been shaping the Democrats’ foreign policy in the last month.
The article, titled “The pragmatic Obama”, describes the black Democrat as a pragmatist who is currently outflanking his rivals.
On occasion this pragmatism may not find favour in Africa. During his visit to Kenya he attacked corruption and ongoing ethnic rivalry, which drew both condemnation and a measure of support:
http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php ?articleid=1143957666
http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php ?articleid=1143957752
Yet his speech in March this year on Zimbabwe is something that all South Africans can relate to:
http://obama.senate.gov/speech/070315-statement_of_se_8/
He condemns the actions of Robert Mugabe’s government in no uncertain terms and offers hope to all Zimbabweans that here is a president who would understand their predicament.
In his extensive essay on foreign policy, he also confirms the need for the United States to build partnerships by convincing them of the desirability thereof, as opposed to bullying them into ratifying policies adopted in isolation:
ForeignAffairs.org (See page four, at the bottom.)
Obama voted against the Iraqi invasion and this approach may go a long way to reversing the animosity many countries feel towards the US.
He confirms that in Africa the US has allowed genocide to persist in Darfur for more than four years and failed to answer the African Union’s call for more support to stop the killing. He also confirms his intention to strengthen the partnerships with Africa.
As the son of a Kenyan father, he may well feel compelled to assist a continent that is fast becoming marginalised when the big decisions are taken regarding trade and other world affairs.
And for me, as a South African and an African, herein lies the rub. We need a president who will give careful consideration to the problems of Africa because he has African blood in his veins.
This is opposed to a president like Bill Clinton who fiddled while Rwandans burned. Africa and its intracicies were very low on his list of priorities.
It is inconceivable that Obama would allow this to happen or continue to happen in Darfur.
The finer points concerning his economic policies relating to Africa I’m leaving to the bean counters. For my part, I believe the Democrats will win and if that be so I’d rather have Barack Obama than Hillary Clinton in so far as we are concerned.
The last thing the planet needs is Hillary going on about: “I did not have sexual relations with that man!”
Spare us.
Just a little correction the following statement isn’t true: “Obama voted against the Iraqi invasion and this approach may go a long way to reversing the animosity many countries feel towards the US.” Obama was not in the US senate when the Iraqi invasion was voted for, although he spoke against the invasion.
I concur with your view that for Africa Obama would be a better ally than Clinton. Other than him being black or half African, I feel that his kind of politics are a breath of fresh air to US politics. I so wish we could have the same in South Africa.
My concern is, what partnerships does Obama stand for? If Obama is the kind of American who comes to Africa with pre-conceived positions, my concerns are increased. Am i the only one that thinks it terribly discourteous to come to Africa, and ignore local leaders’ take on Zimbabwe as he has done?
If you could, I would recommend that you read his book on Audacity of Hope. From it you would have an idea of the kind of foreign policy he is into. In short, I see him as a man who stands for policies that favour the citizens of the African states. He is very forthright on issues of dishonesty and corruption. In the US he is a fierce critic of George Bush and his war on Iraq. In Africa, he pounces where the problems lies.
I also tend to think that he is much more than just being critical to what he may deems as bad leadership. Take for instance his position that the US should engaged with its enimies isntead of playing “tough” by not talking them at all. I believe this is a good sign that would allow state dialog between the US and Zimbabwe for instance. However that does not mean that he will stop highlighting injustices in the name of respect for local leaders.
To me this man brings what I wish politics should represent. I really would urge “Frankly Speaking” to familiarize her/him-self with Obama, try (www.barackobama.com)
Kendy thanks for this.
The more I read about Barack the more impressed I am.
His integrity and decency will HOPEFULLY be a breath of fresh air amongst all that deceit and hot air.
i can’t imagine any amrican politician being a whiff of anything but a wind let out the backside, especially in africa. i can’t believe such opinions are still floating around African websites in this day and age. it goes to show ho wlittle has changed. obama strikes me as the flexible type of african in america. a typical politician and willing to be bought at every opportunity. his views on zimbabwe show how clueless he is and for this reason, he may actually take the presidency because of his dimb wit, flexible nature. my goodness kendy, what would i waste my time reading about rubbish like this? he’s a candidate for american an presidential election and any american president will not bring anything good to africa. you seem to assume there thinking individuals out there who actually buy the idea that the usa has any nation’s but it’s own interests at heart
TheAzanian, I must respectfully differ with you on Barack. I have no doubt that you are basing your assertions on a lack of familiarity with the man. I believe you and I “Mkhaya”, would differ somewhat on the issue of Zimbabwe, because as much as I believe that Zimbabwe may have been let down by the international community, clearly Mugabe has gone the wrong path too. I sympathize with the Zimbabweans I wish they had settled the land issue better, and I know that is not an easy thing to resolve. Zimbabwe aside, I don’t think that you have to agree with Obama on everything but I see him as an agent of change in the US with a positive influence to the international community.
I hear you repeating the same cynicism that he faces in America, with people believing that he is just a hope monger and that he will not change the typical US politicking. However, I sense that Americans of all backgrounds are moved by his campaign, which promises to change the very politics we feel to be “dirty”. So I don’t think it is a waste of time to go though his message in his website or through his books. He seems genuine to me. If he is faking then he surely is good. But i don’t think so.
I hope he wins the Democratic primaries and the 2008 Presidency.
1 unbiased words about NBC in the Tv show. This individual includes a genuinely tough immigration scheme. He graduated around the Harvard School. Now he offers their 1 Radio Show. He don’t like that Us leader.