History, challenges converge

The Issue: Historic election breaks down barriers

Our position: Obama, Dems must find nonpartisan solutions to U.S.’ challenges

African-Americans that we interviewed following the election of Barack Obama as the next president on Tuesday expressed a strong sense of pride and attainment about this historic event. The reaction of Alicea Morton of Elizabeth City, for instance, related how just 50 years ago African-Americans struggled to obtain the right to vote — something that should have been their right already had the U.S. Constitution been firmly and fairly enforced.

Alas, in the context of the Civil Rights struggle, Obama’s election has implications for all Americans: It illustrates that opportunity exists for anyone who is willing to work for it. And it proves that we are still living up to America’s fundamental promises.

Similarly, another historic moment came to pass in North Carolina Tuesday with the election of Beverly Perdue as the state’s first female governor. Perdue’s election, though not a first for America, nevertheless eliminated one more barrier in this state. Both victories open a threshold of opportunity for more Americans historically limited by race and gender.

And in the nick of time it seems. It will require the collective intelligence, ideas and hard work of all Americans to tackle a financial crisis at home and obstacles to peace abroad that threaten every citizen’s hope for future prosperity.

Granted, the focus on inclusion, or lack of it, wasn’t an obvious determinant of Tuesday’s elections outcome. Rather, observers accurately point out other culprits, such as voters tired of the inept, often draconian policies of the current administration. Also, mismanaged Republican leadership that allowed a financial crisis to splinter the economy while leaving allies uncertain about America’s resolve to manage its role of global leadership, certainly played a part. But as easy as it becomes to place blame on one party or president, that doesn’t negate a deeper sense of separation and divisiveness that has affected Americans and the progress of this country. Nor does finger-pointing resolve the troubling currents now set upon Americans and the world.

As the new party in power, the Democrats must have better answers and in fact a better, realistic view of what Americans really were saying on Tuesday. It would be a mistake for the Democratic leadership to believe that it has all the answers. A lesson from Tuesday’s election: Proceed with a partisan agenda at your own peril.

Americans want something different from party politics at its worst. In particular, citizens want relief from a soured economy, the pain of which they will continue to feel for some time to come. Accordingly, the only acceptable agenda in Washington for the foreseeable future is one that fixes the economy and includes checks and balances to prevent a recurrence.

Additionally, Obama’s administration must find a way to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — which, because of the immense $10 billion-a-month cost, may very well fit into a remedy for the economy. Energy policy is also high on the list of priorities as is health care. In some form, these must be folded into an agenda that stimulates business and industry and gets Americans working.

America has clearly moved into historic territory. Voters have broken down barriers. A generation of disconnected citizens, young and old, has been re-connected.

Now a new set of leaders has emerged. Yet, skillful and committed as they may be, they’ll face the most challenging problems this nation has seen in decades. Americans need leaders who can unite and inspire — and who can fix the economy. Achieving that would be historic, too.