Millions Of Obamas

Interview of Rory Wilson

New Delhi, India

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency in the United States?

To be honest, I was at a loss for words when I heard it.  It was such a powerful moment for me because my mom was involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s.  When you consider America’s racial past, the segregation, Rosa Parks and everything like that, it was so historic for America to elect a black President forty to fifty years after all of the troubles that were taking place.  It was very moving for me.  I had heard that CNN had announced that he was the winner and to be honest, tears welled up to my eyes because I just found it really moving and really emotional. 

You are here in New Delhi, India right now, what do you think are the sentiments of Obama in New Delhi and around the world?

It may be controversial to say this, but a lot of people I have spoke to in New Delhi are supportive of Obama and they are happy for Obama, but not many of them are as politically aware and hold a strong interest in the election as maybe people from the United Kingdom, people from Western Europe or Kenya.  Possibly because they are a bit more detached from the election and they are going about their daily lives.  They don’t hold as much as vested interest in the election as maybe a few other people. 

But the ones who did follow the elections, most of them were for Obama.  A couple of my friends, however, who used to live in the United States and go to the United States quite often, were John McCain supporters mainly due to tax policies, but I would say the vast majority were pro Obama.

Does Obama inspire you?

Yes and no.  He’s inspirational because I think he is going to take the country into a new direction post-Bush.  I don’t know if you can publish expletives, but Bush was an absolute fuck-up. 

On the other hand, I don’t support Obama’s policy on Israel and Palestine.  I am more sympathetic towards the Palestinian side and their needs and causes. 

Do you think it is going to be controversial with Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff?

In a sense, I do think so.  The biggest reason is probably because Emanuel is a Clintonian.  He’s from the Clinton years.  A lot of people saw Obama as this catylist for change bringing in fresh new faces and Emanuel comes in and he’s an old face and there he is Chief of Staff.  Another thing that has disappointed people is the fact that during the campaign Obama said he wasn’t going to bring lobbyists into his government and he has just announced that lobbyists, to a certain extent as long as stipulate to an ethical code, will be allowed to be part of his administration.  So people see that as a role reversal.

He does flip flop on a few issues.  Like campaign funding.  He signed with McCain a statement he would accept federal funds for his campaign, but he backtracked and decided for private funding, and thus he raised three to four times the amount that McCain raised.

Is Obama going to inspire a new generation of other young Obamas around the world?

I’m skeptical.  I don’t think that one could find another Obama in the United Kingdom.  I don’t think we’re as progressive compared to the United States.  Maybe a few other countries, possibly France or Germany there could be.  When you consider the diversity in the world today and the number of countries and the number of political systems and the number of religions, America is fairly unique with the system and history it has.  I would disagree.  I would think that Obama for the time being is fairly unique.