The elections are over, the results are in, and people are reacting to the news. Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on Jan. 20, 2009.
“I’m not shocked; I’m not surprised,” said Shai Rogers, 20, a student at Bakersfield College. “I’m very content, even though I voted for John McCain. If I had it my way, John McCain would be president, and Barack Obama would be VP.”
Rogers felt that McCain was stronger in national security, and Obama was stronger in economics. “We are in a war against terror and because of international incidents that have been happening with Russia and North Korea, I voted for McCain,” said Rogers.
Though Rogers would have preferred for McCain to win, he believes Obama will do a better job than George W. Bush, especially in the area of foreign policy. “I think it will be a nice transition,” said Rogers.
“One of our biggest changes would be having a one political party government,” said BC political science professor Cornelio Rodriguez. “Having a democratic president and democratic majority of the house and senate is a first.”
SGA President Lyne Mugema weighed in on the results. “It’s not really unexpected. It feels like any other day,” she said. “Yes, it’s historical, but there’s still work to be done.”
Mugema, who is African-American, said that it should not matter if Obama is African-American or not, and that the media and people shouldn’t have to focus so much on the fact that he is the first African-American president.
She said that there had been African-Americans who had run for office before, but that the fact that it took this long for one to be successful was telling of the progress America has made.
“The real success will be when nobody cares,” she said. “I wish there had been more thorough coverage of third parties.”
“If this country truly believes that all men are created equal, and we we believe in freedom and justice for all, it’s about time we showed it,” said BC professor Robert Torres, Latin American studies.
“It’s time we lived up to the ideals we profess to stand for in this world,” said Torres. He felt that this was truly a historical event. “Being part of history was a phenomenal thing.”
As far as the increase in young voters, Rogers felt that it was “amazing.” “It builds a sense of political identity early,” he said. “As soon as you’re eligible to vote, you should do it.”
Mugema felt that young people came out to vote in this election because of “the way the country sits” because of the Bush administration. “The problems we are facing actually inspired people to vote,” said Mugema.
“Ultimately, it was the country itself the people are voting for.When the country needed it, people came out to vote.”