International Herald Tribune, France

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'Thank You America': Now Obama Has to Deliver (Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany)

"Now that he has been re-elected, the problems have hardly become smaller. He leads a dramatically over-indebted, and in many areas, ailing country. The Republicans still dominate the House of Representatives, and the broiling Middle East is in urgent need of a peace strategy that can only be developed in and with the United States. The world is still waiting for Nobel Peace laureate Barack Obama to earn his prize. ... But the American people made a good choice. Thank you America."

By Holger Schmale

Translated By Stephanie Martin

November 8, 2012

Germany - Frankfurter Rundschau - Original Article (Germany)

Thank you, America. That was a good choice. There are many reasons why the re-election of Barack Obama will be good for the U.S. and the world as well. On election night, with his acceptance speech to the American people, we were already able to experience one reason. If there is anyone who can still express the pathos of the American ideal in a credible and compelling way, it would be this president.

"The best is yet to come," - the conviction expressed by this sentence is not only the core of the indomitable optimism that continues to shape this country. It is also a quote from a song by Frank Sinatra. It contains a message from the Black president to White, conservative Americans: We will continue to tell this story, it is part of our shared history. "We are a family," as Obama said at another point.

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There is nothing that the torn, hostile, and divided U.S. needs more now than someone who reminds the country of its founding ideals, who is conciliatory and who promises, as John F. Kennedy did, to lead it to new frontiers. The theme of the American family has accompanied Obama throughout his political career. In his first major speech to the Democratic National Convention in 2004, he inspired people with his vision of the United States as one - a unified nation. He has returned to this theme again and again, most recently after the catastrophic Hurricane "Sandy."

However, after his first election four years ago, he already promised an era of reconciliation, which has left in its wake a similarly-divided nation. That was one of the many promises he couldn't keep. Because he was too naive back then; because he underestimated the ruined economic, political, and moral landscape left by his predecessor George W. Bush; and because reconciliation always takes two. What's special about Barack Obama is that he still seems credible. The people continue to believe that he will pursue that goal with the iron will he has so frequently demonstrated.

Some say that by reelecting him, the American people gave Obama a second chance, and this, too, is an American attitude. But that makes it sound as if he had thrown away his first chance. That is not the case. His reelection is perhaps an even greater achievement and will be even more important historically than his first victory four years ago. Back then, he benefitted from the exuberant mood for change after the eight disastrous Bush years. Now, on the basis of his own resources and with a very mixed record, he was able to win against someone who, in the eyes of many Americans, was a real contender. He has done this as a Black man, thus advancing America a little further in its struggle against racism - which is far from won. African Americans and Latinos have thanked him, with their votes carrying him to a second victory. But the strength of Obama is the fact that he doesn't present himself as a Black civil rights activist. And for many White voters, what was true four years ago may have been true again: They voted for him not because he is Black, but despite it.

Now that he has been re-elected, the problems have hardly become smaller. He leads a dramatically over-indebted, and in many areas, ailing country. The Republicans still dominate the House of Representatives, and the broiling Middle East is in urgent need of a peace strategy that can only be developed in and with the United States. The world is still waiting for Nobel Peace laureate Barack Obama to earn his prize. These are not tasks for the faint-hearted. After his election victory, Obama won't begin his second term with the same euphoria of four years ago. He will, however, begin his second term with more realism and confidence.

In his victory speech, the president used impressive words to outline his vision for the United States, which he described as a strong and self-confident country committed to peace and dignity for all people. He spoke of a generous, open-minded, compassionate, and tolerant America, in which everyone should be given the chance to succeed - if they want to. With these words, he once again emphasized the choice Americans just faced. For this vision is a counter draft to the vision Mitt Romney and the Republicans currently stand for, which primarily recognizes that "might is right." The American people made a good choice. Thank you America. 

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