By an overwhelming majority in the electoral college, Barack Obama was elected president of the United States. It is important to keep in mind that his victory in the popular vote is not as big as that in the electoral vote college, though a convincing one. He is elected in a critical time for our country and for the world. Let's pray that he is up to the task. There are concerns, as there are with any leader, but let us pray for him, especially as his decisions effect fundamental issues, like human life, marriage, and family.
Rocco, writing over on Whispers, offers a few thoughts on Vice President-elect Joseph Biden, who is the first Catholic vice president of these United States.
As Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete said back in 2004:
"We do not have the problem, or the mission, to construct a bridge between faith and politics. We do not have this problem. To have this problem and to attempt to solve it, already violates our humanity. Every single attempt to build this bridge has been a weakening of faith, or a betrayal of the Incarnation. And historically, there have been many attempts."
I dont know. The last count i saw was that Obama won with a 7,982,555vote lead, and that was before the final count was in for North Carolina. I think that this is about twice the 2004 differential.
ReplyDeleteCertainly Reagan won his first term with about 50.7 percent of the vote, his second term however was won with 58.8 percent of the vote. While Reagan holds the record for electoral votes, LBJ won with 61.1 percent of the vote in 1964. FDR with 57.7 percent for his first term 60.8 for his second, 53.4 for his third, and 53.4 for his last.
Then again Herbert Hoover won with 58.2 percent of the vote, but I suspect that was because the country was just not ready for the Catholic Al Smith.
As far as popularity world wide goes, the last time any president enjoyed as much popularity as Obama already has world wide was Woodrow Wilson. When he went to Europe after WWI he was greeted by a crowd of 4 million people and in most countries of Europe he was more loved than many nations own presidents or prime ministers or royal families.
Though this has been forgotten Wilson still holds the place as the most popular American president in history.
It would be a nice change to have a president who commands anything close to the same respect world wide.
The current count for Obama gives him 52.7 percent of the vote against McCains 46.0.
Obama didnt do too badly considering. He is probably among the top percent of presidential winners when it comes to the margin by which he won.
I am glad to see that race seems to have played such a small part in this election.
America has performed a first, something which has not really occured in a long time. No other industrialized nation has elected someone from one of its minorities to the highest position in the land. Its something to be proud of