It was a long night as I and hundreds of millions of concerned Americans anxiously awaited the outcome of the 2012 national elections; we were in for a roller coastal ride. Far into the night results trickled in, and to great satisfaction my selections were endorsed by a majority. The entire democratic process was playing out before my eyes. My first thoughts were what a wonderful time to be alive. I had seen the emergence of the 
automobile as the primary means of mobility, the elimination of state sponsored servitude, proliferation of personal communication devices, computerization, routine air travel, medical breakthroughs and the first president of the United States of African descent. The election results of November 6, 2012 ratified this evolution of human kind on these shores. It proved that Americans can do what no other form of civilization has ever achieved through reelection as their leader a man who is “not one of us.”
This was a victory that defied human clannish behavior. From the pre historic period of ancient times, the natural inclination has been to select leaders from the dominant group and every advanced civilization has followed this model and that there is no mistake, the Republican Party put forward their best candidate. He was a white male, wealthy, articulate and photogenic. He was truly “one of them.” Unlike the 2008 election when the emotions of “hope and change” captured the support of a majority, this election was a clear choice on governance, and color was not the deciding factor.
It was rewarding to have my vision of the role of government ratified by a majority. In this age of instant communications, the fringes receive national attention and the evangelist, the fiscal conservatives, chauvinist, the bigots and state rights advocates dominated the air waves with their vision of our country. Coupled with the overwhelming personal wealth of the financiers of the Republican message and a compliant Supreme Court, it was anticipated that my vision of government would be drowned out in the noise of capitalism.
The wonder of our American democracy is the freedom of each citizen to set their own course. We have the right to bend the debate to our individual prejudices, form coalitions and demand government response. The election of the president is the official tally of which side’s argument and positions has a majority support. We won. Tuesday, the views that I have of government were endorsed by a majority of American citizens who care and although 40 million eligible voters did not participate, we have a consensus. We have a consensus on who will serve as our leader to use of the power of government to advance or ignore our individual objectives and citizens will continue to be free to espouse their opinions on issues of importance. The bigots can still hate because of color and hide their prejudices behind convenient shields. The wealthy can continue to apply all legal means to shield their enormous wealth and shallow politicians can continue to stoke the seeds of division. But on Tuesday, the forces of light illuminated the darkest crevices of our civilization and light prevailed. We proved that 2008 was not a fluke. The journey from human beings shackled in chains and destined for a lifetime of servitude, children being forced to work in intolerable conditions, women used as chattel to the dominance of males were not a fluke and the words of the constitution were more than elegant prose. In our country all men are created equal.
Dereiter
You make an assumption about my vote for Obama that it was based on race. You draw this assumption because we are both African Americans but I ask that you look in the mirror. Of the 50 million votes that he received fewer than 10% were cast by African Americans and the remaining 40 million or so must have had another reason. Without knowing me personally you assume that my reason was not the same as the other supporters. Don’t you find it odd that you attribute one set of reasons for white voters who supported Obama but for African Americans it must have been race. That says more about you than my reasons.
I have voted in every presidential election since 1960 and 2008 was the first time I voted for an African American despite the candidacies of Sirley Chisolm. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. How would you react if accused of never in your life having voted for a black candidate for president?
I am not as enthusiastic as you are over the Obama win, as he simply does not have the experience for the position in today’s economic times. Though Romney was better qualified under today’s circumstances, I did not cast my vote for him either. This time I went outside of the box and voted for Gary Johnson, the dark line that use to divide a Republican from a Democrat has faded to the point of being barely visible.
Though it started under the Bush administration, our freedom is slowly being stripped away by the Obama administration as well and given it’s current path of destruction I fear my grandchildren and your great grandchildren will grow into adulthood under a controlled environment of which I fought dearly while in the military against.
Since you chose to lace your article with inference of race and bigotry it appears you too were blinded by color when you cast your vote, which is ironic since the vote you made will further strip your grandchildren and great grandchildren of their freedom. Like the APWU contract that was ratified/sold out by the old timers who have little time left prior to retirement, what does it matter right? We will be long gone to witness the destruction. Obama’s win in my opinion was shallow, though I am probably guilty of having the mindset of freedom takes priority over everything including ones race.
Amazingly, you guys praised Obama, eh? How could Burrus praise this guy who ENDORSED 5 days delivery. Just amazing. If 5 days delivery comes, then Burrus should not blame the Republicans because it’s Obama who will sign it into law. DUH! If Obama signed it, then he ordered it, brotha ans sista!!!
Mike, I fear you are mistaken as President Obama did not propose five day delivery as a means of stabilizing the PO, but only as an alternative to get the other effects into motion within the House of Representatives.
Lamos quatro
Do not ever, ever call me boy. I was president of your union and I am the great grandfather of eight wonderful children. There was a time when despite these accomplishments the majority race reserved the right to refer to all black men as boy. The election and re election of a black president demands that we be given proper respect.
Lamos quatro
You do not know me well enough to know how I reacted to Clinton’s victory. I supported his candidacy and celebrated his victory but if your point is that the Obama win was special in my house, you bet. My grandfather and the seven generations before him were treated no differant than cows or pigs and I was denied basic rights assumed by members of your family because of the color of my skin. You have no idea about the impact of state sponsored discrimination when someone can rape your wife, kill your child, confiscate your property and deny employment without being held accountable. To be denied an education by law and survive many generations of abuse and emerge as the president in two generations was special; you bet!
Billy boy, I don’t remember you having an orgasm when Bilbo Clinton won. What? Wrong color?
BEN FRANKLIN
We all sound alike
The more I hear Burrus, the more he sounds like Obama’s mentor, Rev. Wright.
Oscar H
No, you lost. America will do just fine
Yes you won, but America lost!!!
John
I voted on the prevailing side and your negative conclusion does not change the fact that Obama won. Get used to it or spend 4 years calling people names.
Lamas quatro
I suggest that you read before drawing conclusions. My post read that hundreds of millions awaited the outcome of the election. I did not say that hundreds of millions voted but that they awaited the otcome and the last time I checked there were 300 million Americans.
Lamas, Lamo, Lame, or what ever your handle is, You Strike Me Personally as Being “STUPID” or simply infested with hatred. If you look at the final tally of the amount of votes received by each candidate, you may be able to add enough zeros to summary that over two hundred million Americans voted.
Dave
Thank you for the vote of confidence but you defend your position by selectively quoting facts. Any neutral review of the United States political system reveals that it has historically been biased. You quote statistics from selected black voting areas while comparing against national numbers for white voters. Do you not know if some white voting areas voted 1000 to 0 for Romney? Check rural Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and many other Confederate states. And if I kept you as a slave for the life of 7 generations how would you respond? Self analysis of being without racial animosity is just that, self serving. I do not know you personally but beyond your self declaration, I challenge you to complete this test.
* When was the last time a black spent the night in your home or you in theirs
* When was the last time that you and your wife paired with a black couple for entertainment or vacation
* What would be your reaction if your child brought a black for a sleep over and when did it happen and how would you react if your child wanted to sleep over in a black home
* List four culture specifics by African Americans that difffer from whites
* Who are the heroes in the black community not celebrated in school history
* Name the father, mother, brothers or sisters of any black person
Beyond personal interaction, African Americans are fully exposed to the white community in the education system but it takes interpersonal relations for you to know us. This is not achieved at the work site or knowing the sport heroes so in fact many whites who pronounce that they are not prejudice do not really know if they are or not. In general, you do not know us. The statement that you are not prejudiced is self serving. Because our experience has differed from yours it has produced different results. Do you know what they are? Do you know that my children and their children are the first generation of the Burrus family that goes back 9 generations that have received equal education by law, permitted to eat at any restaurant or try on clothes in a store.
I do not know you personally so I cannot assume your position about race but the entire American experience is scewed as dominated by caucasions so to accept equality requires special effort and few whites find it necesssary to expend the effort. I received the support and friendship of many, many white APWU members and consider them my friends. Many have spent the night in my house and ate from my dinner table and my open invitation to APWU members to visit our home has not been exclusive by race. I will never forget the white APWU state president from North Carolina who insisted that my wife and I spend the night in their home when I visited the city on a personal matter. In fact, if you are ever in the Washington area you and your wife are invited.
Racial acceptance is much more than a self serving statement
All of the different groups of this coalition need to stand together to move forward – including organized labor!
Remember, be careful of what you wish and vote for, you may get it. You voted for a man who is a socialist and wants to take the United States down. He has no interest in growing business or has any idea of what a capitalistic society is. His claim to fame is being a community organizer. Never had a real job or had to work for a living.
We have had our wages froze for the last 3 years, while our expenses have gone through the roof.. He needs to start showing some results except the “Obama phone” phrase
John, How many african-americans have you heard call George Washington a socialist? Probably never. Now how many white americans have you heard call the first african-american president a socialist? There lies your problem. Blacks have no ideal what a socialist is and Obama is half black. The 1950s is over and its now 2012. There are so many different countries you can choose to enjoy t live the rest of your day at. African-americans, Hispanic-americans, Asian-Americans are americans too. Being offensive with your comments wont make things better for you (GOP), and this is why Obama won. Try not being offensive towards people that are not on your home walls or in your wallet and you might see people looking fwd to joining you at the polls next time.
Dave, Where were you when blacks were slaves and built this wonderful country of yours? The demographics is changing every single day, and white people are now becoming the minority. Sucks to see change, but take a look at your pictures from 20 years ago, and look at yourself now. I agree, it does suck to be you, because your face and body has changed, but your mind is still in the 20th century. Keep up, or move to the side and let the new majority pass you. Damm Barney Fife, Archie Bunker.
I voted for obama the first time around, i believe in his message
In fact, it does not matter to me what the person’ s race or sex is
I will vote for the best individual regardless.
what took me by surprise, was the ratio of blacks for obama.
12 to 1
In fact there, were some precincts, with an all black population of 1000 people who
voted 99% for obama.
This is more than the best person for the job.
There is something else going on here.
call it Reverse racism.
if you stop and think
If you had a population of 1000 white people who voted 99% for a white candidate, running against a black candidate they would be labeled racist.
You want more facts,
60% of the white population voted for Romney,
40% voted for Obama
that’s not racist
Obama’s Political campaign divided the nation.
class warfare
rich against the poor and middle class.
and the race card
With michelle obama bringing up the underground railroad
at The Black Caucus meeting,and
Joe Biden’s remark they want to put you back into chains.
to name a few instances
I am sorry these are the facts,
Romney never had a chance with the Black community
I know there are those who will say
the Black community vote for Obama because he was the best man for the job
but if you read the headlines
His job performance was bad
After 4 years in office you get a better picture
so don’t label be an Archie Bunker
i would vote for condoleezza rice
or colin powell in a heart beat
i like Marco Rubio
i voted to Burrus for our union president
I will not vote for Cliff Guffey again, I rather have Burrus back.
Dave, the first thing you need to do is learn how to reach across the isle and work with those who don’t have the same view as you do. Just because you think one way, and others think different, doesn’t make you right or them wrong. You want America to be whats best for you and their lies your first problem. Once you want america to be whats best for ALL AMERICANS, then you will be on the right track to seeing the america that we all want. Its not about you, and only you. So ask yourself, how can I make a POSITIVE difference, instead of complaining.
Poor ole Billy. Still having trouble with numbers I see. Only 106 million voted, not hundreds of millions. Did you ever renew your library card? Ha HA Ha HA.
Mr Burrus, like many gifted minds on both sides of the political spectrum, you cleverly disguise your defense for you particular bent with statements that could be debated. But one thing that you made very plain is that the American people elected a man who is “not one of us”. I am not talking about the color of his skin. A careful study of our President’s past, statements made and associations would bear out your declaration very clearly. Unfortunately, many will not realize the dual meaning of this statement because unlike your assertion that certain voices “dominated the air waves with their vision for our country”, the opposite is actually true. Aside from talk radio, there are few outlets for these voices as compared to the mass media who prefer to advance the opposite agenda.
So, while I was with you all the way in opposing the latest clerk contract, on political matters, I respectfully disagree.
Bill,
I’m not sure I would characterize what happened Tuesday as “the force of light illuminating the darkest crevice of civilization and prevailing”, but if it makes you feel good because it’s your version of reality, then you’re entitled to it. Let’s see how we feel in 4 years.
If President Obama was white, we would have had a landslide and a Victory Parade in every city in the USA. Here is a President who is ending 2 Wars, has doubled the Stock Market since he came into office, saved the Auto Industry while keeping the country from sliding into a DEPRESSION! ALL WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM CONGRESS! Didn’t you wonder why the Republicans never even had the Last Standing President ( BUSH ) at their own convention. Shame on you!
PS I am white.
Here is a President who is ending 2 Wars
Ending a war may be easier than winning a war,
This President is perceived as weak, he will be tested again.
Russia flying bombers closed to American Shores, and subs are testing
our defenses like the cold war again,
He also said he would be more flexible after the elections to Dmitry Medvedev
What did he mean?
do you think cutting our defense budget will make us stronger?
China is becoming a super power to challenge us.
iran getting the bomb, they will.
al qaeda becoming stronger again, and getting the bomb.
has doubled the Stock Market
the market crashed to 2002 support levels after the last market crash
people sold good companies in a panic mode
Market came back because they where at rock bottom bargain prices
they had no where to go but up after that.
Remember President Bush had 800 billion dollars he used to shore up the banks.
the Fed kept pumping into the economy even today
Don’t give Obama all the credit
and President Bush did help the auto industry, and Obama continued it
yes the auto industry did go through bankruptcy.
Republicans never even had the Last Standing President ( BUSH ) at their own convention
Obama had it easy compare to Bush
remember 9-11
we where at war
Bush made the hard decisions.
He was hit with everything including a
financial crisis,
brought on by, making loans to people who should have not
be given a home loans to begin with, but congress push the banks
to give minorities, who did not qualify for a loan, a home loan.
and wall street was happy to package the derivatives for investors
you are white
is that Important?
If president Obama was white, he would have NEVER gotten away with what he has done.
You can thank the Leftist media for that.
Dave, your claim that ” A provision in that bill will subject all real estate transaction to a 3.8 percent federal tax starting January 1st” is misleading. The 3.8 relates to PROFITS on capital gains of a real estate transaction. And even that has it’s restrictions. Only applies to couples making over 250,000. Do a little research like i did before you spew lies from the mass e mailings sent to you by the right.
I never said that, or posted that.
i really don’t know what you are talking about.
read again what i posted, it still here.
John – Yes, the Dow did drop on the day after the election, but it was not solely due to the re-election of Obama. Market experts agree that the major cause of the drop was due to European Central Bank president Mario Draghi’s warning of a slowdown in Germany.
Second, you don’t seem to be a fan of Universal Health Care. Would it surprise you to learn that the country with the best health care system in the world, as determined by the World Health Organization, has Universal Health Care. That’s right! France, with it’s UHC system ranks #1 in the world. The USA ranks #37. In fact, almost every major country ranked above the USA has some form of UHC. So, you can rant about Obamacare, but UHC has been proven to provide better service and care throughout the world. (I’m curious if you would be so adamant against UHC if a Republican had passed the law?)
The World Health Org.??? Why would you listen to them? You would also like a one world currency and a one world government?
Drewk86a is an admirer of Socialism, that’s why he listens to
the WHO.
And yes, he would like a one world currency and government.
Obama is well on his way to making this a reality.
I really can’t see this as a happy occasion. We are just one step closer to being a Socialistic society. Obamacare takes the free choice out of choosing insurance or not. A provision in that bill will subject all real estate transaction to a 3.8 percent federal tax starting January 1st. This will put the brakes on a recovering housing market. We will all be subject to a 2000-2500 dallar tax increase starting Jan. 1 When the Bush tax cuts run out.
Obamacare alone will run the deficiet up trillions of dollars. Medicare is reducing the amount of money paid to physicians, which may cause physicians from taking on Medicare patients. What is going to happen then, just let them expire?
Wall Street showed their vote of no confidence in the election with a 300+ sell off on the day after the elections. I believe this trend will continue though 2013 and we will end up in a double-dip recession.
We need to get back to core values of personal responsibility and not thinking that the government is the ends to our means
you are so right
A sad day for America
Joe the Bartender is in charge, free drinks for the house
when we could have had Warren Buffett to fix the damage
done by reckless spending, You can’t print you way out of this mess.
It proved that Americans can do what no other form of civilization has ever achieved through reelection as their leader a man who is “not one of us.”
Republican Party put forward their best candidate. He was a white male, wealthy, articulate and photogenic
Wrong, Wrong,Wrong.
It is easy to see how you voted.
I voted for what’s good for My country, not for skin color, or what i can get from the government, Or any jealousy of the upper class.
When Blacks voted 12 to 1 in favor of Obama,
It is easy to see skin color determent their vote.
This election was bought and paid for by the obama
He bought the Latino votes, by not enforcing Immigration laws.
we are a nation of laws, you cannot pick which laws you want to obey.
By the way Latino’s want to be paid back now for electing Obama, pay in the form of
immigration reform
Nothing comes without a price. ( what does that mean? make them all legal?)
The people abiding my the laws got shafted, those who cheated are to be rewarded.
you tell me.
The Union goes by seniority, It’s a slap in the face to whose who play by the rules
Class warfare was Obama’s battle cry, he could not run on his record,
Blamed Bush for everything, That’s no leader.
People who have the money create Jobs, when was the last time someone one welfare
hire anyone.
This is America If you work hard, you can get ahead, If you are lazy and believe
somebody owes you a living it’s you own fault for not getting ahead.
You did not build that. Yes you did.
It goes both directions.
I am sorry the better man lost.
we need strong leadership now more than ever,
The nation is on the verge of bankruptcy.
Today
HARRY REID”On debt limit: ‘We’ll raise it’…”
Romney was right, 20 trillion debt under Obama
You think Obama will save the post office, dream on.
POStPlan Implementation: 5,600 offices under review, hours to be reduced at 500 on Nov 17
Postmaster Has his own plan’s
Consolidation is on the way
I voted for what’s good for country,
I wasn’t Obama.
It’s more important to save the nation.
Amen I will add that when he took office gas was about $1.89 now it is over $3.00.
11/6/12, the day that that Liberty died in America, and Socialism began.
Welcome to the new Amerika, comrades !
I voted for what is best for my country, too. Both of us have different views of what is best for the country.
I voted for the politics of inclusion, as we welcome blacks, gays, latinos, Asians, poor people, unionists, everyone, into our tent.
The Republicans do not include any of those people unless they have enough green.
There is class warfare going on in this country, has been for 40 years, and now that the side that is losing (us), pushes back, the winning side screams, “Class Warfare”! (Warren Buffet – “There is class warfare in this country, and our side is winning.”)
You didn’t build it – Your taxes built all the infrastructure necessary to achieve what you are so proud of? Some of mine did too. My taxes are also paying for attempting to repair the environment that the wealthy industrialists fouled up. Think clean air (I like breathing, thank you), Asian Carp, zebra mussels, Asian Longhorn Beetles, kudzu, and hundreds of other environmental disasters brought on by “job creators” making a buck, and leaving us with the bill.
And while we talk about “job creators”, I would like to say thank you for recognizing my role. I, and millions more hard working Americans, create the jobs by spending our money. If we had more money to spend, think how many jobs would be created. Company A needs to hire more workers, The factories need to hire more workers to keep up with demand, and more trucks and drivers are needed to bring those products to market. Voila! Jobs created.
I do not think there are many wealthy people stupid enough to create a job for which there is no demand. And giving them a tax break so that they can create such a job, is futile. And then we can watch them buy bigger cars, bigger boats, bigger houses. How is that creating jobs?
I do not begrudge wealthy people for being wealthy, because I think that the ability to become wealthy is what drives capitalism. But I also think that when the wealthy and powerful stack the deck to enrich themselves at my expense, and the expense of hundreds of millions of hard working Americans, then the system is broken. America likes to pride ourselves on upward mobility, but in fact if behind many countries around the world in that statistic.
Not that it matters, just for demographic purposes, I am white male, worked for 40 years, and I voted for Obama – twice.
Until the working class in this country understand that we have been pitted against each other threw race we will always finish 2nd. It’s not an Obama thing or Rominey thing it’s a money thing and theyboth have more than most of the people in this country. We as American need to get rid of the the color issue and realize that rich people run for office to stay rich not to help those below them. What you hope seperates any canidate is the fact that they really care about the well being of the people who make it run the middle class. This election and every one before it was the same who do you think gives us the best chance to improve as a country. My belief is that any one person in this country that’s makes 20,000 or 20,000,000 should all pay the same in taxes. Rich people in this country do not create jobs here they do it overseas so they can make more money bottom line so until we as a people stop using, buying and wearing products that could be made here the debate will go on and no Preisdent will ever fix it because our intrest are just not high enough or either party’s agenda. This country has been divided by people who really don’t care about the people who have bee divide because we do not hae enought zero’s in our bank accounts. Forget what color we are and look at how much money you make that’s what deterimines where you fall in the grand scheme of things. If you work for a living you are a vote not and intrest undertsnad that and start making your change there not with the color of your skin because that really does not matter to people who only care about the bottom line.