Politicians here have an annoying habit. Whether at a wedding or a funeral, they are the first to speak. Not even the US presidential elections were an exception to the rule. “How outstanding this, that and the next thing were, about the campaign”! Historical! Undreamed of! Brilliant! Awesome! Someone went so far as to say: “We can learn from these elections”! Really? Did someone actually say that, or was mind playing tricks on me? As a rule, particularly when it comes to elections, we can usually show everyone else a few lessons or so. But, in view of the fact that there is no end to the lessons one may learn from elections in a country, where democracy is as universal as it is unique, then there is plenty of food for thought to go round, for politicians, the media and the constituents.
The core essence of the campaign which lasted for twenty-two months, and came to an optimal ending Tuesday, were the performance and the character of the candidates and their messages. This was by no means a personal campaign. It is a fact that there were also negative moments during the campaign, but the declarations by the contending candidates when a constituent “insulted” the opponent, were pacifying and disapproving. “No Ma’am, that is not the caseŠSenator Obama is a fine person with whom we do not agree on certain policies and on the direction this country should takeŢ was the reply of Senator John McCain, when an elderly constituent “made some far from flattering remark” about Mr. Obama. Any lesson to be learned here?
Candidates don’t slight, they do not insult. Prior to running against each other, they ran an even longer and more grueling contest within their own camps. The contenders who lost, within their own camps, became their most fervent supporters. Any lesson to be learned here?
In the process of selecting their candidates for Vice President, both McCain and Obama showed outstanding prudence in their choices so as not to lose the support of the voters at the party base. The candidates for president themselves moved towards the center to try and sponge up the votes of the undecided. The leaders shared the work load with their Number Twos hence not needing to use the last word, first. Any Number Twos in our parties?
The campaign opened with a debate focused on the issue of war and it ended with the crisis of the economy. The candidates for the White House adapted to the public’s agenda and not for one moment did they impose their agenda on the constituents. The candidates tried their best to break down and simplify their policies for the constituents. Remember Joe the Plumber? Any lesson to be learned here?
In the US, campaigns are chiefly media customized. Mr. Obama also won because he is the more showmen and the better orator of the two. He received public support from the media. The “New York Times” gave its vote to Obama publicly as did the well known magazine “The Economist.” Here, this could be misread, because we tend to forget that this is a media that clearly separate comment/opinion from news/information. Support (in an editorial) for Mr. Obama did not lead to “mud-slinging”, misinformation and fabrication for McCain. Their readership ratings don’t drop because these newspapers value professionalism in reporting and their relationship with the truth. Any lesson to be learned here?
In his first speech as President-elect, Obama addressed the citizens by saying, “This is your victory.” He thanked all those who had donated five, ten, fifteen or twenty dollars. Mr. Obama feels indebted to these citizens. The financing of campaigns in the United States is governed by Law, right down to the details of how much can be donated. Big businesses or corporations are prohibited from financing campaigns with amounts of money that, tomorrow, can hold a government hostage. Any lesson to be learned here?
The winning candidate triumphed in these elections because he inspired and kept alive the message of change and hope for the future. He did not promise that he would solve every problem of the Americans, but he offered a government that will solve those issues that cannot be solved by individuals: the economic crisis, the environmental issue, healthcare and the education of children in an increasingly global world. Any lesson to be learned here?
The candidate who lost delivered a speech that will be remembered for some time by those who heard it. A candidate with a CV like no one else in the United States lost in front of a candidate with a modest CV. But he had not insulted or cursed during the campaign. He not only ceded victory and congratulated the winner, not only did he call on his supporters to recognize this victory, but also to stand behind the new president. Any lesson to be learned here?
Do you think that the day will ever dawn in Albania when at least a few of the above mentioned examples become a reality? Our politicians (the first to speak about anything from sports to courtsũ would answer: but, of course, no doubt, most certainly, nothing to it, butŠoops… I forgotŠwe still don’t have an electoral code.
It is the duty of the media to remind politics that we still don’t have an electoral code. But, to tell the truth, we’ve left this duty up to the foreigners who have gone hoarse reminding us. Any lesson to be learned here?
