Reflection on the election

Davon Gray
Published: November 10, 2008

Well the elections are over, finally.  I do believe this was the longest presidential cycle in history.

First, I congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. This election had some rather nasty moments although I believe both of these men are honorable and were fighting for what
they believed to be the best paths for America. We didn’t always see that, but I believe it came through loud and clear in their speeches at the end of election night.

One of the great things about American politics is that up until the point of declaring a president, Americans are often at odds with each other — at least politically speaking. Some of the fiercest and
most passionate debates I have ever heard have been about the elections this year. But after we know who the president-elect is, we get behind our new leader, supporting them when we can but
respectfully standing on principle when we cannot, all in support of a more perfect union. I pray such national resolve and patriotism never leaves us. 

But as we move on from this election, I had to make a few observations other than the obvious, which is that President-Elect Obama has a huge task ahead. 

First, our elections still cost too much. One of the unfortunate things we probably witnessed is the end of legitimate campaign finance reform. Primarily this is because neither political party trusts the
other to adhere to funding   limitations. 

Also, the motives of giving can be a problem. People normally give to campaigns for two reasons. 

First because they feel inspired to do so by what they hear from the candidate and what they believe.

Second because there is something they want from a leader either personally or as an interest group.  My concerns are reserved for the last group. 

What always concerns me is the amount of money coming from interest groups that come bearing a check in one hand and a list of demands in the other. It is impossible to govern this way, but as
campaign costs rise due to advertisement such groups become an almost necessary evil. 

When you combine that this election will cost over $2 billion with questionable campaign tactics, there should be real concern for our campaign system — particularly at the presidential level but at every
level where attack ads, half truths and negative opponent branding are the political weapons of choice. We saw these tactics primarily used on Gov. Sarah Palin and President-Elect Obama. 

The second thing we learned here in the state of Virginia is that no longer can a state be considered Red or Blue (as signified by Republican or Democratic affiliation) simply by historical outcomes. This
means every candidate will need to work at earning every vote. For a state like Virginia that has so many needs, this is good.

The final thing we learned from this election is to never count America out. About a week ago I heard a German government official say that America was at the end of her financial influence over the world,
suggesting that maybe our days as the most influential nation in the world were coming to an end.

To anyone who believes such talk, you are mistaken. To steal a phrase from boxing promoter Don King, ONLY IN AMERICA could you see a nation rise above its fears and prejudices to elect a black
American to the highest office in the land and for only the second time in its history nominate a woman to become the vice president of the United States.  I am sure in short time that final barrier of a
woman being president will also be removed.

Let’s not forget that it has only been 88 years since the 19th amendment gave women the right to vote and 44 years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act, which effectively unraveled the legal
justification of Jim Crow laws and other forms of discrimination against black voters. 

Anyone who thinks that America’s potential to be a leader in the world is history fails to understand that we are still making history. Regardless of whether our political affiliations are Democrat and
Republican, there is one thing we can all agree on: Dreams still can come true in America and a more perfect union is still possible. 

Davon Gray works in Washington, D.C., and resides in Woodbridge. Contact him at .