Photograph by Scott Olson/Getty Images published in www.esquire.com
“More than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward.” With this statement president Obama started his victory speech in front of the large crowd of supporters in downtown Chicago.
Obama dominated the electoral vote; gaining 303 votes while his opponent Mitt Romney received 206 electoral votes. Florida is still counting the votes but this time around the elections were much more clear then in 2000.
“Whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you’ve made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead,” he said promising that “the best is yet to come.”
In his speech the 44th president reiterated to bring the divided nation together but promised more achievable goals then in 2008 and touched on some of his future endeavors for the second term.
“Tonight, you voted for action, not politics as usual. You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve together: reducing our deficit; reforming our tax code; fixing our immigration system; freeing ourselves from foreign oil.“
The task of negotiating with the republican Congress by many opinion makers and pundits will be tricky. Republicans are firm on not allowing the increase in taxes for anyone, while Obama’s campaign ran and won on the point that he will increase the taxes for people making $250.000 and more. However, the house speaker Boehner in an interview for ABC did said that the people’s choice in the elections made the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, the law of the land.
“What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on Earth — the belief that our destiny is shared; that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations; that the freedom which so many Americans have fought for and died for comes with responsibilities as well as rights, and among those are love and charity and duty and patriotism. That’s what makes America great, “ said Obama towards the end of his emotional speech. He asked people not to lose hope despite the hard times.
“America, I believe we can build on the progress we’ve made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunities and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founding, the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love (ph). It doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, abled, disabled, gay or straight. You can make it here in America if you’re willing to try.”
