Obama’s week of celebration and preparation offers new image and new hope for young blacks
The frenzy to acquire tickets to President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, transportation to Washington, D.C. during Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend and copies of St. Louis American special editions continues more than a week after the historic presidential election.
While the euphoria has barely lightened in St. Louis and throughout America, Obama is forming an administration and creating the playbook that, hopefully, will turn the nation’s economy around and create job and education opportunities for all Americans.
As Jan. 20 draws closer, many St. Louisans are looking past Inauguration Day when the real work begins for America’s most unique president.
Ronnie L. White, Missouri’s first black Supreme Court judge and chief justice, called Obama’s election “almost unbelievable.”
He said Obama being a constitutional law scholar means “he will do very well in interviewing prospects for his cabinet and other appointments.”
White also said Obama probably will make two or three appointments during his administration that “could effect people’s lives on a daily basis.”
“He could appoint the next three U.S. Supreme Court justices. That would impact us all,” White said.
While it would be an honor to be vetted as a possible Supreme Court justice, White n now a partner at Holloran, White & Schwartz n maintains, “I’m retired from public life” and doubts he would pursue a federal appointment.
U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, son of Congressman William “Bill” Clay Sr., the state’s first black U.S. representative, admits he has contemplated what he would do if Obama were to ask for his service in his administration.
“I really like my day job,” Clay said.
“I could do more for the people of the 1st Congressional District in my current position than I could by taking employment with the new administration.”
Clay said Obama’s victory “bodes well for major metropolitan areas.”
“He identifies with areas like Chicago, and he knows the issues that confront them,” Clay said. He added that solving problems in metro areas means improving education, health care, housing and economic development opportunities.
Clay said his Republican colleagues “all seem very congenial toward the president-elect.”
“They want to embrace some of his initiatives because he is so popular with the American people,” Clay explained.
Attorney Freeman Bosley Jr., St. Louis’ first black mayor, said he is impressed with Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s pick for chief of staff, and the transition team he is assembling.
“He’s on top of the different issues and surrounding himself with the right people,” Bosley said.
He also said the nation’s African-American population will still be in the clouds long after Obama has gotten down to the business of running the world’s most powerful nation on a daily basis.
“We’ll still be at the party, but not him,” Bosley said with a laugh.
“People will have to leave him alone and let him go to work. And people will have to understand that governing is going to be harder than winning.”
Mike and Steve Roberts were among Obama’s earliest supporters and hosted several fundraisers for the candidate dating back almost 18 months.
In fact, Obama worked out at Steve Roberts’ home gym during one of his initial St. Louis campaign visits, and the Roberts brothers and he “became fast friends,” Mike Roberts said.
“We’re all very pleased that he won n for who he is and what he stands for,” Roberts said.
He said Obama’s intellectual look and conservative fashion style “will create a different uniform for young African-American men and women.”
“His image will help young people get away from the dreadlocks, sagging and earrings,” Roberts said. “We can move from the gangsta rap look to the president of the United States look.”
Roberts added that black America “will see more of an appreciation of higher education,” because of Obama.
Being a big financial backer of Obama, like the Roberts, could also bring benefit.
John Rogers, the 50-year-old founder of Chicago-based Ariel Capital Management and longtime friend of the president-elect. Rogers said, “Being known as a top fund-raiser or adviser to Mr. Obama has given African Americans the opportunity to build wonderful relationships.”
“Once people get to meet someone like senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, they say, ‘They are so smart, so sharp n I want to do business with them. I want to have them on my board.’”
A thinking man
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush welcomed Barack and Michelle Obama to the White House this week and spoke privately for about an hour. Bush said he would do all he could to make a smooth transition of power take place.
Unlike the Bush administration, Obama has signaled renewed appreciation of the arts and education n in fact, it is part of the transition agenda.
Bill Ivey, a Vanderbilt University scholar and veteran of the Nashville music scene, has been named to Obama’s transition team for arts and culture. A veteran of the Clinton administration, he was chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts from 1998 through 2001.
Obama also has selected University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College President Juliet V. Garcia to his transition team to advise him on education. She was the first Mexican-American woman in the nation to become president of a college or university and was an adviser to Clinton on his education transition team.
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s name also is frequently mentioned as a possible cabinet member or chair of the Democratic national Committee.
“I talked with Claire (Tuesday), and she told me she isn’t going anywhere,” Clay said.
Washington D.C. attorney Eric Holder, who helped with Obama’s selection of U.S. Sen. Joe Biden for vice president, is being mentioned as a candidate for attorney general. Like Obama as president, he would be the nation’s first African American to hold the position.
Local impact
The American’s Nov. 6, 2008 edition has become a true collector’s item.
The original 70,000 copies that were printed were snapped up almost immediately with some less-than-honest entrepreneurs selling the free newspapers for $5 or more on street corners. Local airwaves briefly became an aural bulletin board as people called in locations where they had seen the paper still available.
The American is selling the historic issue for $3 at its 4242 Lindell office and also online at www.stlamerican.com.
In addition, the American is making available framed glossy color prints of the Nov. 4 cover and also framed color glossy prints of “Obama Under the Arch,” which captures the crowd of more than 100,000, Obama speaking in the foreground and the Old Courthouse in the background.
Thousands of St. Louis area residents also want to personally be a part of Inauguration Day.
Clay and other elected officials’ offices are being deluged with calls for tickets to the inauguration.
“We’ve been swamped,” Clay said.
Here’s a hint: U.S. Rep. Todd Akin and other GOP legislators have just as many tickets as Clay and U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan.
The price of Inauguration tickets are skyrocketing to more than $5,000 on ebay and other online sites. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is warning the public that it should also be aware that no website or other ticket outlet actually has inaugural swearing-in tickets to sell, regardless of what they may claim. Tickets will not be distributed to Congressional offices until the week before the inauguration and will require in-person pick-up.
“Any website or ticket broker claiming that they have inaugural tickets is simply not telling the truth,” said Howard Gantman, staff director.
Puppy update
The most-pressing question on Obama’s website following his historic election was, “What type of puppy will Sasha and Malia get?
Malia is sensitive to pet dander so the Obama’s will try to find a puppy that is hypoallergenic.
According to an msn.com poll that has drawn more then 100,000 responses, the most popular choices for the Obama dog’s name are Hope, Lucky, Change, Sarah, George, Maverick, Snoopy, Buddy, Champ and Freedom.
