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Around the world, Obama victory sparks cheers

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"the citizens of the world hailed the election of Barack Obama as a stroke for racial equality"

Why is the Japanese media so obsessed with the racial angle of this election ? It's all my adult students talked about today in class. Fact is, race has never been an issue ! Blacks don't hold the majority in the states to swing the vote in his favor and whites selected Obama over fellow whites during the democratic party race. Seems to me Americans are more sophisticated than the vast majority of other nations give them credit for. Color of skin hasn't been an issue for dozens of years now as major cities throughout America have had black leaders at every level. Get over yerselves out there and join the party for a new prez !

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Hamas is partying tonight. An ally in the White House. Woohoo!!!

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hey oneEYEDjack

this blurb was brought to you courtesy of associated press not the j-press

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The reaction from the Bush/McCain zealots here at JT has been pathetic so far in accepting the overwhelming mandate out there for all the world to see - Obama: 349; McCain: 162 and results still coming in.

Change has come. Get on with the program!

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"The reaction from the Bush/McCain zealots here at JT has been pathetic so far in accepting the overwhelming mandate out there for all the world to see - Obama: 349; McCain: 162 and results still coming in."

Here, here.

It's particularly amusing when the same zealots attempt to tie President Obama to socialism and terror groups.

Heh, I bet the crow needs more than a good dose of curry to be swallowed today....

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Fact is, race has never been an issue !

I'd like to believe that, but I'm not sure that it's true. According to ABS News, 55% of whites voted for McCain, while 95% of blacks, 66% of Hispanic/latinos, 61% of Asians and 65% of Others voted for Obama. Maybe just coincidence, but it does look like quite a lot of people made their decision based on something other than just economic or foreign policy. So much for the Bradley effect.

http://abcnews.go.com/pollingunit/exitpolls

Seen at state level it's even clearer; in Alabama Obama had 98% of the black vote; in Georgia, 98%; in Louisiana, 94%; in Mississippi, 98%; in New York, 100%; in Ohio, 97%; in Pennsylvania, 95%; in S Carolina, 96%; in Tennessee, 94%; in Texas, 98%; in Virginia, 92%; in Wisconsin, 92%.

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i guess what the reactionary euros here are indirectly complaining about is how with this obama chap winning the presidency of the the most powerful nation on earth and in all of history the minorities in their countries are going to be expecting the same should possible in any western nation calling itself a democracy .

once again, America raises the bar...

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Around the world, Obama victory sparks cheers...good news and hope financial markets will not spoil people's mood, atleast for today.

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Why is the Japanese media so obsessed with the racial angle of this election ?

You know I was watching the coverage at the gym today and probably the first 5 or 6 video images of people celebrating were filled exclusively with black people. I didn't know if it had just happened that way or if they were really playing up the race angle.

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Why is the Japanese media so obsessed with the racial angle of this election ?

Maybe the fact that nationwide Obama got 95% of the black vote has something to do with it?

What amazes me is that they still take data on 'the Black vote', 'the White vote', 'the Hispanic vote' etc.

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Why is the Japanese media so obsessed with the racial angle of this election ? It's all my adult students talked about today in class.

It seems like the Japanese like to place up the race angle in American politics, but not at home. I wonder how long will it be before the ethnic Koreans that are here will get a chance to get elected to some high position, or any Ainu for that matter. Can anyone tell me, has an Okinawan ever held a truly high position in Japanese politics?

If they want to watch the way race is played in America then be my guest. But I hope that they will begin to look at their own institutions, and see where they may have room for improvement.

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Why is the Japanese media so obsessed with the racial angle of this election ?

And the assassination angle. Japan has had more political assasinations, and yet the question on everyone's lips here in Japan: How long do you give Obama before someone pops him?

I predict he outlives McCain, and then some.

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Whatever Obama's color, he is going to be a welcomed antidote to Bush and the neocon crowd.

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It seems like the Japanese like to place up the race angle in American politics, but not at home.

Not only the Japanese, but also the Brits, Americans, and the rest of the world. I saw it on CNN. They had reactions from media outlets in Moscow, Britain, reactions from Chicago, Arizona, New York, and Los Angeles, and everyone that was spoken to brought race to the forefront as an issue. Why do you ask? Because you can't deny that Obama becoming the first African-American elected to the presidency is historic. Not only the Japanese recognize this, but the whole world does as well. CNN and other media outlets were also showing and playing up the fact that his father's roots are deep in Kenya and how Kenyans were so "proud" to have Obama elected as the next U.S. president. Why would CNN do that? Why bring up the past? Because they want to bring up the topic. An American media outlet wants to bring up the topic. You can't deny it.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081105/pl_politico/15300;_ylt=ArCVkHuvm4bayISiUs7Io0hsnwcF

Quoted from yahoo news:

"Nov. 4, 2008, was the day when American politics shifted on its axis.

The ascent of an African-American to the presidency — a victory by a 47-year-old man who was born when segregation was still the law of the land across much of this nation — is a moment so powerful and so obvious that its symbolism needs no commentary."

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Amen hotbox. As mentioned by GW this is an ASSOCIATED PRESS article, not Japan media outlet. Once again people jumping to conclusions and assumptions, the very same thing they criticize other countries for. At any rate the whole world media has been focused on the race angle, and of course it should. This is the first time an African American has been elected to the most powerful office in the entire world. To deny the amazing racial component to this story is just plain ignorance and sour grapes. It is the breaking of the ultimate color barrier in U.S. society.

So stop with the sour grapes and nitpicking, and appreciate this wonderful moment in time. Go Obama. Change.

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That's right, rjd jr. It is a wonderful moment in time. For once in so many years, there is hope in the air. The fact that our children can witness that a man of color can ascend to the highest office in the land. It is a bold statement that even a country such as the U.S., which has had a history of racism, can change. Like Martin Luther King helped to bring more equality and rights to those of color, when very little existed before him; Obama can also bring about even more changes to come in the future. Of course, this is not the only change I believe Obama can bring about. There is also the matter of the economy and uniting the world (which has been so alienated under 8 years of Bush).

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Why is the Japanese media so obsessed with the racial angle of this election ?

You know I was watching the coverage at the gym today and probably the first 5 or 6 video images of people celebrating were filled exclusively with black people. I didn't know if it had just happened that way or if they were really playing up the race angle.

I noticed that too,especially black people who were crying..., It was annoying in a certain way that I cannot explain well

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The focus on race has been unfortunately present in all countries all the way through the campaign. I am not an Obama supporter but it has nothing to do with his race, I never considered race as a campiagn issue. If I heart "it's a historical moment" one more time (which is code for because he's black)I will puke. Congrats to Obama just the same, it was a good fight I hope he will make a good leader.

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Great news from USA, now world taking the first step towards racial equality in USA/World.

Small step for USA,but giant leap for mankind.

Congrats to People of USA,President Obama and all others who made this good news happen for better world.

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Now we have a leader to lead the world.

America is back!

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True, it was a historical moment. Now let's see if he's going to be a one term moment. He's got to overcome two wars and the worst financial crisis in history. Good luck to the man.

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In this now all-access interconnected world, perception is reality.

That a minority (or "2nd class citizen" as some would put it, since historically there are "majorities" who are treated as inferiors) will now lead the most powerful nation in history definitely gives hope to people the world over, who feel unempowered by the world's perception of them.

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It's a historical moment.

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Sarge: I am just amaze that you are unable to see the significance of the event, the election of the first African American to the Presidency. I am sure secretly your keyboard was a washed with tears of joy from the news.

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Historic value? Yeah, you're right. It was history in the making. Of course that would have been true regardless of who was elected. If McCain had won, we'd have elected the oldest president, and put the first woman in as Vice President. Instead its the first Black president. Whats sad, is I think a lot of people voted for him, only because he is black, not because he has any decent ideas.

And as one of the people who don't think he has what it takes to run the country, I'm more then a little disappointed, that the first black President, turns out to be him.

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Don't believe the race issue is over by any means. It is great progress that made Obama president elect. The truth is that those who have been fighting racial hatred are just winning by a greater proportion now. Do I think usaexpat is a racist? Nope. I take him at his word when he says, "I am not an Obama supporter but it has nothing to do with his race[.]" I have already said that the fact that some conservatives would like to see Condi or Colin as president is evidence enough that they are not the ones I would refer to as the lingering racism. I don't imagine racisim. It is still out there but to a much lesser degree. There is a reason the south doesn't vote Democratic in general and did not vote for Obama specifically. However I have been to the South and they have made great strides and I believe there is far more prejudice than racism (Not that prejudice and racism are mutually exclusive). I learned that there are many whites that are more or less living a life of status quo. They prefer living around other whites because it was all they knew. The younger generation is different. So I was using the word prejudice in a strict context of meaning preference.

There are those on these threads that would have you believe that the world is stupid. The world bought into some lie that there was racism in the U.S.A. The world is not stupid; there is still racism but it is dissipating at an astounding rate. But just because the hatred is evaporating it does not equate to not existing.

It's a historical moment.

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If like me you voted for Obama, hearing that people around the world are cheering is pretty darned exciting. I am very grateful for all the well wishes that the world has been offering.

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goodDonkey - excellent points. Here's a link to further show the excitement felt worldwide by President-elect Obama's great victory:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7710020.stm

Enjoy!

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I think the majority of the racists, are the one who keep spouting off about racism. The reason the south pretty much is solidly against Democrats has little or nothing to do with race, but rather the policies and politics espoused by the Democratic party. Its not racism that causes the south to vote Republican, its religion. Theres a reason its called the Bible Belt.

And the Democrats who espouse gay marriage, abortion on demand, and the lack of personal responsibility this implies, are anethema to most religious people.

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Somehow they forgot to mention the celebrations going on in Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan,...

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That Obama won by a decisive margin with huge turnout makes this history more significant. That he not only won the coasts but swept the Midwest and many parts of the South and the heartland. It shows that Americans truly believe he's the best man for their job, that it is not a fluke, that not only blacks voted for him but also many whites, Latinos, etc., that shows to people the world over --and Americans themselves-- that America this time lives up to its own ideals of equality and possibility.

If this was won by a hair, people would have seen this as a divided America who isn't sure about letting a minority lead it. But no, this is an unquestionable milestone.

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skelter, keep trying. Heh, it's comical.

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Sorry, what do you mean he swept the midweest and many parts of the south and the heartland? He failed to win any of the south beyond Virginia, and that only the part around D.C. Florida isn't usually counted as part of the South. The heartland, excepting Iowa, all voted for McCain. And considering how many people voted against the man, I fail to see how you can call this anything but a divided America. And his minority status has nothing to do with anything. In fact I suspect its what got him elected.

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Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. I'm simply talking geography here. On that note, heartland~central, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, and New Mexico. 8 million more people voted for him, greater than GW Bush's 2 wins combined. IIRC, not since Reagan got such a margin, and Reagan was largely respected by people of both sides.

The American people just thought he was the best man, who just happens to be black. That his minority status had not much to do with it speaks volume how far America has improved. But it's still historic because there are not many places in the world where a minority wins an open election for the highest office, let alone the most powerful nation in history. America is an example to the world that it lives up to its ideals.

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Looking forward to better world under Obama ways and type of administration.

His administration will give more considerations to people's views and feedbacks.

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Cleo ( 6:32 PM ) Interesting observation.

Raj - I'm not so sure this is such great news. It's great that Americans have shown we can elect a non-white person president, but this one is most likely not a good choice.

Madverts - I know it must be embarrassing to have our enemies cheering Obama's election.

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For Cleo:

I asked, "Why is the Japanese media so obsessed with the racial angle of this election ?"

Seems that over the weekend the J media was at it again. Going on and on about how "skin color" influenced some voters. And this response from Cleo only shows to highlight how off base so many of you are here in Japan.

"Maybe the fact that nationwide Obama got 95% of the black vote has something to do with it?"

No it doesn't ! The USA is made up 13% black Americans, or 40 million folks. Your comment would have us believe that 37 million blacks voted for Obama. Sorry, but that would be more than half of the 56 million total votes he did receive, way off base ! Obama won for a few very simple reasons. First, Americans love change ! They always have, always will. The US has a pattern of changing Democrats and Republican Presidents every one or two terms. You have to go back to the 1930's to find the last time Americans voted in Republicans for 3 consecutive terms ! Next, Obama won over hispanics and women to swing the tide in his favor, both groups that relish democratic social programs. Finally, a variety of odds and ends including biased media coverage, liberal encroachment, and a republican candidate simply not up to the standards of the American people. But skin color ? Well, if that was what this election was all about the message is clear... Americans don't care about the color of ones skin, but rather the content of ones character. Now where have we heard that line before ? What a great nation !

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The USA is made up 13% black Americans, or 40 million folks. Your comment would have us believe that 37 million blacks voted for Obama. Sorry, but that would be more than half of the 56 million total votes he did receive, way off base !

Only if every black man, woman and child in America registered and voted. Probably one-third are too young to vote, and for all the enthusiasm about registering to vote and getting out the vote, it's highly unlikely that every single black person eligible to vote actually did do so. Note I did say '95% of the black vote', not '95% of all blacks'. Maybe you need to open your other eye, jack.

:-)

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Seems that over the weekend the J media was at it again. Going on and on about how "skin color" influenced some voters. And this response from Cleo only shows to highlight how off base so many of you are here in Japan.

Why only mention Japan, Jackie? The French, British, Aussie, and Chinese media outlets were also at it again. I saw a Chinese website where a poll was asking how much skin color played a part in this election. A whopping majority said it did! Wow! Go figure!

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