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The Note: Obama Seeks to Define Mandate

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November 05, 2008 8:24 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Wednesday's Note:

The One is the one. Yes, we can, and yes, he did -- but can he really?

A new dawn arrived, coming long before sunrise -- and closing out a long-lasting morning in America. It casts light on a new map, produced by a new electorate, and invites in a new president’s vision for a troubled time.

President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama -- his name itself speaking to the improbable journey that brought him here -- gets a mandate to go with his landslide, yes. Now, out of the grand scramble to define what that means, comes the great challenge that may define a generation: What to do with it.

For Sen. John McCain -- a graceful exit that gives the nation the gift of finality, if not quite unity. A return to the Senate enhanced by a remarkable run of his own -- the chance, still, to serve his country.

For congressional Democrats -- expanded majorities in the House and Senate, though not the kind that makes compromise optional. (And will we find out what Nancy Pelosi’s House looks like without Rahm Emanuel -- the odds-on choice to become Obama’s chief of staff?)

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.

For the GOP -- rock-bottom, perhaps, and new opportunities. The party is wide open for rebranding, and the smart minds know how quickly 2010 approaches. (In the meantime, it’s going to get ugly.)

This is Obama’s story though, with much still unwritten. He won his way: A calm, confident campaign that defied conventions and disproved assumptions. A broad demographic and geographic sweep -- the kind we’ve been trained to think can no longer exist in polarized American politics.

Can he govern the same way?

“A national catharsis,” declares The New York Times’ Adam Nagourney, “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.”

“Barack Obama built his victory out of a concrete base of near unanimous support from black voters, layered with overwhelming support from Hispanics, young people and enough white voters to remake the partisan landscape in the United States,” ABC’s Brian Hartman writes. 

“This happened because we did this -- we did this, America did this,” Oprah Winfrey told ABC’s Robin Roberts, on “Good Morning America” Wednesday.

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

November 5, 2008 in Ballotwatch, Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Clinton, Bill, Clinton, Hillary, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Washington, White House | Permalink | User Comments (88)

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You know what I find very intersting about this post? You now are using Obama's full name Barack Hussein Obama! When did this become ok to do? If this would have been done prior to this election the left would have been screaming bloody murder! It will be interesting to see how many people are upset about this! My guess would be XERO now that the election is over! Talk about DOUBLE STANDARD by the MSM!

Posted by: chuck | Nov 5, 2008 8:40:58 AM

ABC are you trying to outrage the Liberals? Oh my goodness how dare you use his full name Barack Hussein Obama!

Oh that is right the election is now over so I guess it is ok!

Posted by: chuck | Nov 5, 2008 8:45:40 AM

The Obama brigade has risen, take notice ABC. If you don't do what they say they wil destroy you!

Posted by: hmn | Nov 5, 2008 8:47:48 AM

Excellent Point Chuck!!

Only "NOW" it is ok with the media to use his middle name.

That tells you just how pathetic the media really is.

Posted by: You've been duped | Nov 5, 2008 8:49:48 AM

You know I hope they pass the Fairness Doc I want to see MSNBC / CNN / ABC all get that tingling feeling up their legs when they realize they have to have equal time for both sides! I want to see Keith Olberman's face when they tell him that O'Reilly or Hannity will be joing MSNBC because they now have to present both sides equal!

Posted by: chuck | Nov 5, 2008 8:55:36 AM

Unfortunately Chuck, the fairness doctrine excludes the major networks. It is completely aimed at the conservative talk radio. God help this country.

Posted by: amy | Nov 5, 2008 8:59:37 AM

Chuck;

8 years is a long time to complain buddy. You may as well get on board, or pick up a hobby. Much like PUMA, or the perceived Bradley Effect...You talk about the MSM, you should thank them for framing this race to be closer than it was. This thing was over about 3 months ago.

President Obama
Vice President Biden

Posted by: DayAfter | Nov 5, 2008 9:05:30 AM

Now we find out if Oprah's Parrot
can do more than just talk.

Change? Cheney bought one, now Oprah's
bought one, so what, pray tell, has
changed? We just traded an unqualified,
money grubbing Euro-American for an
unqualified, money grubbing African-
American. I seriously doubt the change
will be much more than skin deep.

We never did find out if Cheney's Parrot
could do more than just talk.

Posted by: Jerry | Nov 5, 2008 9:06:09 AM

Oh please still talking about his middle name. Don't you get it. No one cares, we won and it's time to more on, but if you need to keep bitching, you still have Fox Noise to feed your sickness.

Posted by: The Best Man Who | Nov 5, 2008 9:07:45 AM

The Democrats now control both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Dissent is now hereby NO LONGER patriotic!

Posted by: The Times They Are a-Changin' | Nov 5, 2008 9:11:07 AM

Hey the best an.. I guess you are still drinking the last of the Koolaid from the party last night! The point is if anybody would have used his Middle name prior to the election everybody from the Left would have been screaming "FOUL"!

Thank God we do have Fox News because if we did not, we would never hear both sides of the issue! Say waht you want about Fox News more people watch them than any other news network!

Posted by: chuck | Nov 5, 2008 9:13:23 AM

OH HAPPY DAY YES WE CAN AND YES WE DID!!
Fox News,Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh are they still alive have anybody checked, may god bless their angry bitter souls,This is a great day for America and the best of all NO MORE SARA PALIN WAHOOOO OH YEAH YE WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Angie in PA | Nov 5, 2008 9:13:42 AM

Congrats to all who voted for Obama and Hopefully Obama can lead this country in a positive direction.While I did not vote for him I support our country and the choice of the majority as a nation we need to unite behind our leaders and stay the greatest Nation in the world.

Posted by: reddog0216 | Nov 5, 2008 9:23:17 AM

Oh, come on you Repub's, sour grapes makes for a bad breakfast. It's a new day, enjoy.

Posted by: Blindhowlin | Nov 5, 2008 9:37:45 AM

Posted by: ariel | Nov 5, 2008 9:40:01 AM

I have to admit that I consider Jesse Jackson a caricature of a leader these days and when I saw Jesse crying yesterday I joked about it and then remembered that he at Martin Luther King, Jr.'s side when he was killed and now he is able to see Obama win. Jesse made it to the mountain top.

Posted by: Mr. Coffee | Nov 5, 2008 9:41:29 AM

The new President is practical, moral, and intellectual. He will have a short honeymoon, then a long relationship with America. . ................

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/11/04/finally-an-intellectual-moral-president/

Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | Nov 5, 2008 9:42:53 AM

I would like to welcome everyone to the dawn of a new age. The name of our great country will now be the United SOCIALIST States of America, or the USSA.

Posted by: Carl Marx | Nov 5, 2008 9:44:16 AM

reddog-Thanks for being classy and representative of what is so great about our Country.

Posted by: Paige | Nov 5, 2008 9:45:39 AM

Angie in PA -- Obama's victory is like gold for Hannity, Limbaugh, etc. As Mike Church said this am, if the price of gas goes back up - he's blaming Obama; if the price of milk goes up - he's blaming Obama; if his 401(k) loses even 1 cent, he's blaming Obama ... now it's easy to be a conservative - not responsible, still vocal. Welcome to the jungle.

Posted by: Rep | Nov 5, 2008 9:47:13 AM

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