Tag: Politics & Activism

My good friend Otto Bruno, host of the Sunday Music Festa on Jazz90.1 in Rochester, NY, sent out this message on Obama’s win:

Dear Nation:

Two quick observations: 1.) The grace and class of John McCain’s Concession Speech. It’s interesting and sad that many of the commentators remarked that the speech we heard Sen. McCain give tonight was the real John McCain. The John McCain who puts his country, and his service to that country, first. I wrote in a few of my e-mails over the past few months that John McCain was definitely a man deserving of our respect. Unfortunately for his campaign, I believe he did himself in through his choice of running mate, his pandering to the conservative-religious right, and his desperation in the final weeks of the campaign to lower the level of discourse to outrageous attacks. I don’t blame him because usually negative campaigning works. Tonight it did not.

I believe John McCain is sincere in his desire to help President-Elect Obama move the country forward. I also believe President-Elect Obama is sincere in his desire to have Sen. McCain help him do that. These guys understand the game, they both know better than anyone else how hard the last 20 months have been on themselves and their families. If anything, I imagine the shared experience of a grueling, Presidential campaign may make them even closer.

2.) The grace and class of Barack Obama’s Victory Speech. I remember seeing Obama four years ago and thinking, “Wow, this guy is good!” I never, EVER, thought he could be President – certainly not by 2008. He is, without doubt, the greatest speaker we’ve had as a President since FDR. He is the greatest speaker we’ve had in America since Martin Luther King who I think is the greatest speaker in our history. He was unbelievably gracious tonight. He went out of his way to praise John McCain, to tell the people who voted against him that he cares about their ideas and concerns. . . that he’s their President too. He acknowledged that he knew he hadn’t yet “earned their support.”

For the people who expect everything to be all right by January 21, 2009 put that idea aside right now. As our new President-Elect said this evening, this is just our chance, our opportunity to make those changes. There’s lots of hard work ahead.

I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder to be an American than I am tonight. As always, I’m cautious. My Uncle Bob will feel somewhat vindicated to see me write that when you’re as pessimistic and cynical as I’ve been for so many years it’s hard to really let yourself be happy. Pessimism is a habit and habits are hard to break. I know that. But that’s OK because I’m not ready to become Ollie Optimism all of a sudden anyway. That would not only be unrealistic but disingenuous. I’m well aware of those 49 million Americans who voted today to keep our country on the same nightmarish ride we’ve been on for the last eight years. But there is hope tonight. There is hope.

The most emotional moments of the night for me we’re those moments when the media talked to people like Roger Wilkins, Andrew Young, and John Lewis – these were all men who walked with Martin Luther King throughout the Civil Rights struggles of the 1950s and ’60s. I can’t imagine how they must all feel tonight.

And yet, the most amazing thing is that when all is said and done, I think race played a smaller part in this than many of us expected. I will not lie – I was certain that the racism of America would win out in the end. I never thought Barack Obama could be elected President in these United States. However, thanks to George Bush, and what will go down as one of the most disastrous Presidencies in the history of our country, the country really did vote for change. We, as a nation, our desperate to move our country in a different direction. Let’s hope we can all go forward together to make our country a nation we can be proud of again.

Good night, Nation.

Peace & Love to you all,

Otto