Obama's Victory In Context Of History

"Impossible Dream Come True" And Nation's "Redemption Hour" From Slavery, Says Presidential Historian Douglas Brinkley

(CBS)  Douglas Brinkley knows his presidents.

And the presidential historian and CBS News analyst understated that Tuesday was "quite a night. I stayed up until about 2:30 watching it all, and you just have to think that the impossible dream has come true."

Brinkley told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Wednesday, "We love in this country Horatio Alger stories, that Booker T. Washington's autobiography was up from slavery, and in many ways, Barack Obama's comes up from the Jim Crow system in the United States to be president.

"We began the 20th century with Booker T. Washington going into the White House just to eat, and he got lampooned, and T.R. (Teddy Roosevelt) got lampooned for it. ... You should see the newspaper articles from the South, and the things they said about Roosevelt for doing that. And now, the Obamas are in the White House, African-American children will be playing on the White House lawn. It's a very big moment. If slavery was the original American sin, this has become the redemption hour."

Brinkley called Obama's quick rise from Illinois state senator to the Oval Office "very unlikely. Even a year ago, everybody was saying Hillary Clinton had it, that it was not his time, that he was jumping the gun, that the Clintons were this power force in the Democratic party. A year later, the Clintons are minor characters in this drama.

"Barack Obama won because whoever met him liked him. And I think you have to say Iowa worked not just for Obama, but I think our country's got to start embracing the Iowa caucus. Every year, it's 'the caucus, the caucus, the caucus,' and that's what Barack Obama did well. He got in the living rooms in Davenport and Dubuque and all those towns, and people there liked him, they embraced him. And the thought that an African-American would win in a largely white state like Iowa, that's what jump-started all this.

"He always had a good base. Illinois has a lot of electoral votes. He knew he could win that. But the journey out of Iowa's been remarkable, and ... by the time of (the) South Carolina (primary), African-Americans started pouring out in droves for him -- I saw some stats like 97, 98 percent of African-Americans were behind Barack Obama."

Smith observed that the crowd of more than 100,000 in Chicago's Grant Park to see Obama's victory speech was, "to use a Jesse Jackson phrase, 'a rainbow coalition.' "

"A rainbow and a youth coalition," Brinkley agreed. "We keep talking about race but -- what a generational change. I'm in my 40S. Barack Obama's in his 40S. It's the first guy we've had in the game like this. Suddenly, you're feeling, if you're in your 40s now, 'Wow, we have a new responsibility we haven't had before!' It's scary and exciting."

[fush2]

no a president gets paid 200,000 a year or more and after there term they still get paid that amount!!!!! so yea i mean think about how many people would wish they were president?? burden what burden??

[notredamedg]

Him being half white sure didn%u2019t stop those two skinheads from coming up with a plot to assassinate Obama and other blacks. Sure didn%u2019t stop that KKK member from saying that there would be a race war if Obama was elected president. It is funny how white folks throw in that Obama is half white knowing *** well that if he was the average Joe on the street he would be considered black. He doesn%u2019t even look biracial; I didn''t even know he had a white mother until this year!! He identifies more with his black side then his white side; he looks more black then white. He also chose to marry a black woman not a white woman like his mother. My twin brother looks whiter then he does and we have two black parents. This same situation reminds me of Halle Barry when she won the Oscar and her saying she was honored to become the first African American woman to receive the best actress award, not the first half black/half white woman and her mother is WHITE. Her fan website was hacked into and vandalized with the racial slur N*gger and KKK ***!
The whole world and the United States identify him as the first African American president and not the first biracial president. You will never hear him called the first biracial president; he being elected president will go down in history as the FRIST AFRICAN AMERCAN/BLACK PRESIDENT AND NOT THE FIRST BIRACIAL PRESIDNET!!! SO GET OVER IT!!!!

[barbaram99]

We haved voted. Now let''s as a people stand be grateful WE put a Gentleman In and realise the mess he has to deal with. For 8 years it has been Mr. Bush or just Bush. As of Jan. 20th It will be Mr. President..President Obama. I KNEW HE WOULD BE SO FROM DAY ONE.

[la228228]

To the person who stated that Barack Obama will be tested and fail is right on one counted. He will be tested but No one can Fail as More than the Republican Party President George Bush. You are talking about facts..the fact is we are in a mess because of a republican president. The Economy had to bail itself out by borrowing money...the stock money is going dropping....and wasnt Bush the president when 9-11 happen...oh that exactly what I thought. Change is what we need because if we have to deal with a republican president for one more term we would be in trouble...
And fail, the Republicans have.

And fail, George Bush has.

And then comes the judgement of the American people.

And it has already been severe.


700 billion dollar bail out?????
stock market crashing?????

[petro49l]

What will Barack Obama do for New Orleans? George W. Bush ordered Mike Brown not to evacuate People before Hurricane Katrina. Many Persons died and homes were destroyed. FEMA has no plan for an evacuation there or anywhere else. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania terminated State Emergency Management Directors Adrian King and then James Joseph for refusing to respond to catastrophe in New Orleans. President Obama has an obligation to solve crisis in New Orleans, Iowa, Texas, and California devastated by floods or wild fires. How will FEMA handle next year''s tornado season?

[Liquidlele03]

My hear breaks that people are so petty that they are wishing failure on this man. I pray that the good lord touches your hearts in a way that is needed.

Yes i am an African American YOUNG woman who hasn''t had much interest in politics. And i didn''t just vote for him because he is PART-check it- PART black man. I didn''t see myself siding with Hillary, not now and something about McCain didn''t touch home to me.

I really was trying not to be blinded by the race card, the party card or any of that stuff. I personally wanted someone who could touch my heart, make me do hope things will get better. So yes, i am sorry for those who supported McCain with everything in their being and were let down, but Obama is our president, support this leader with all you''ve got, in four years someone else can take a crack at it. besides it wasn''t just the Black community behind him keep that in mind as well plz.

[Liquidlele03]

My hear breaks that people are so petty that they are wishing failure on this man. I pray that the good lord touches your hearts in a way that is needed.

Yes i am an African American YOUNG woman who hasn''t had much interest in politics. And i didn''t just vote for him because he is PART-check it- PART black man. I didn''t see myself siding with Hillary, not now and something about McCain didn''t touch home to me.

I really was trying not to be blinded by the race card, the party card or any of that stuff. I personally wanted someone who could touch my heart, make me do hope things will get better. So yes, i am sorry for those who supported McCain with everything in their being and were let down, but Obama is our president, support this leader with all you''ve got, in four years someone else can take a crack at it. besides it wasn''t just the Black community behind him keep that in mind as well plz.

[Liquidlele03]

My hear breaks that people are so petty that they are wishing failure on this man. I pray that the good lord touches your hearts in a way that is needed.

Yes i am an African American YOUNG woman who hasn''t had much interest in politics. And i didn''t just vote for him because he is PART-check it- PART black man. I didn''t see myself siding with Hillary, not now and something about McCain didn''t touch home to me.

I really was trying not to be blinded by the race card, the party card or any of that stuff. I personally wanted someone who could touch my heart, make me do hope things will get better. So yes, i am sorry for those who supported McCain with everything in their being and were let down, but Obama is our president, support this leader with all you''ve got, in four years someone else can take a crack at it. besides it wasn''t just the Black community behind him.

[Liquidlele03]

My hear breaks that people are so petty that they are wishing failure on this man. I pray that the good lord touches your hearts in a way that is needed.

Yes i am an African American YOUNG woman who hasn''t had much interest in politics. And i didn''t just vote for him because he is PART-check it- PART black man. I didn''t see myself siding with Hillary, not now and something about McCain didn''t touch home to me.

I really was trying not to be blinded by the race card, the party card or any of that stuff. I personally wanted someone who could touch my heart, make me do hope things will get better. So yes, i am sorry for those who supported McCain with everything in their being and were let down, but Obama is our president, support this leader with all you''ve got, in four years someone else can take a crack at it.

[im1968-2009]

I do say we do have to support our leader thats what the Bible says. I''m gonna support Him by praying for change in his heart. I think this world is in trouble. One thing though he is part white right? So why are they saying is he a African American? He''s the first White,African,ect.. American president, I assume. Most blacks have another race in them. Just like whites. Why take the money from the rich? Didn''t they work for it? School loans, grants to pay back. Look at Oprah she is one of the most richest black persons. So you are what you make of yourself. And I think it''s time we got rid of the slavery decussion. I know my family never had a slave. How long do we have to listen? I''m sorry there families back upteen years ago had to be slaves, we are not those people. I love every color, every race. I just say God have mercy, and hurry come and get us. God Bless each of you. Ps. I hope this goes through, because it said I wasn''t to talk about religion. Wow, we better get use to it, because TRUE Christianity will be critized. The Last Days are here. Be ready.