Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls

By – Adam Nagourney
The New York Times
NOV. 4, 2008

SUMMARY OF ARTICLE
 Barack Obama, promising change for the USA, defeated John McCain in the
2008 presidential election to become the non-white President of the United
States.
 The article also cites a strikingly symbolic moment in the evolution of the
nation’s fraught racial history, a breakthrough that would have seemed
unthinkable just two years ago at that time.
 Mr. Obama capture the presidency, but he led his party to sharp gains in
Congress. This puts Democrats in control of the House, the Senate and the
White House for the first time since 1995, when Bill Clinton was in office.
 The election ended what by any definition was one of the most remarkable
contests in American political history, drawing what was by every appearance
unparalleled public interest.
 “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all
things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in
our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your
answer,” said Mr. Obama.

PURPOSE OF ARTICLE

 The article is an informative report of the events that happened as the

Election Day progressed and President Obama was elected.
 Article also cites the immediate statements from Mr Obama, the Republican
candidate John McCain and President Bush who was the President of the
country then.
 Vote received from the different ethnic groups to both the leaders are also
cited in the article and it clarifies the interest of the different groups of the
people towards each leader.
TONE OF THE ARTICLE
The article has a very positive tone and texture towards the event. The author has marked
the victory of President Obama as historic and beginning of a new era. The election of Mr.
Obama amounted to a national catharsis — a repudiation of a historically unpopular
Republican president and his economic and foreign policies, and an embrace of Mr.
Obama’s call for a change in the direction and the tone of the country. This article also
projects the newly risen hope among the people of America.

UNFAMILIAR WORDS AND MEANING

 Catharsis - he process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or
repressed emotions.
 Epitomized – be a perfect example of
 Triumphalism - excessive exultation over one's success or achievements (used
especially in a political context)

RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE

The victory of President Obama was an iconic event in the USA’s history and its importance
was indicated in the article. The author has taken a stance in favour of victory of President
Obama and so was the popular opinion then. The article also highlighted the efforts of Mr
McCain who fought the headwinds of a relentlessly hostile political environment, weighted
down with the baggage left to him by President Bush and an economic collapse that took
place in the middle of the general election campaign. Obama also had the best-financed
campaign in memory, using the Internet to solicit a large number of new donors and
breaking a promise to accept limited public financing for the general campaign. This allowed
Obama to blanket the airwaves with ads attacking McCain on the economy, his health care
plan and other issues.

STANCE OF WRITER
The main agenda of the article was to inform the people about the results and what would
the result mean for each section of society. The article clearly states the advantages and
disadvantages both the leaders had before the election and how it affected them.
This article does highlight the significance of electing Obama as president over McCain and
indicated it to be a historic step.

REASON TO PREFER THIS ARTICLE

The significance and scale of his victory was recognised then by the outgoing president and
commander in chief, George Bush.
"No matter how they cast their ballots, all Americans can be proud of the history that was
made yesterday," he said, adding that Obama's "journey represents a triumph of the
American story". In a brief address, Bush said it would be a "striking" sight when Obama and
his family came to the White House, and that he had already invited him to visit.
The day was marked as historic and that day not only America but the entire nation saw that
world was indeed changing and we are really rising above the racism.
At least 134 million Americans participated in the election, according to early estimates,
representing more than 60% of eligible voters and shattering the previous record of 122
million.
Obama, accompanied to the podium in his home city of Chicago by his wife, Michelle, and
their two daughters, alluded to the historic nature of his victory.