This article was published on Sunday November 9, 2008 in the Trenton Times.
Princeton panel looks to what lies ahead for Obama
Though acknowledging the historic achievement of President-elect Barack Obama, a panel at Princeton University warned that tremendous challenges remain for race relations, and domestic and foreign policy matters.
The roundtable discussion titled "Election '08: The Aftermath" was held before an audience of students, professors and community members Wednesday.
Valerie Smith, director of the Center for African-American Studies at Princeton, got a standing ovation when she reminded audience members that the two-year Democratic struggle to put Obama in the White House had finally come to a successful conclusion.
But some panelists said the election result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Obama helmed "an incredibly well-run campaign" whereas John McCain ran "one of the worst campaigns in recent history," said Jilian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs.
Zelizer said now the Republican Party faces a series of crises concerning leadership, mobilization, and division within their party.
"Their ideas have been discredited," Zelizer said. He continued to say that the financial crisis and the Middle East have challenged conservative Republican doctrine concerning economic and foreign policy matters.
But as the Republican Party attempts to rebuild itself, Democrats shouldn't get too comfortable with their majorities in Congress, said Zelizer.
"(Democrats) would do well to think of some of the problems that conservatives have faced," Zelizer said.
Although Obama has broken the ultimate glass ceiling, all the panelists said problems with race relations remain within the United States.
"I think on the issue of race, there will be a white backlash," said Cornel West, a professor of religion. You can't move into an era with a black president "without there being various forms of white backlash."
Although many whites voted for a black candidate, "that doesn't make you 'post-racial,' it just makes you less racist than your mama," said West, using an expression that some media forums have used to introduce the idea that racial barriers have diminished.
But all panelists said that Obama's election was a step in the right direction.
"We are not post-racial but I do believe that the next generation does think differently about these issues, said Anne Marie Slaughter, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy.
Several panelists said only time will tell how Obama chooses to address issues concerning race in America.
Panelists said the international community was generally pleased that Obama was elected president, but that some may seek to undermine his presidency.
Slaughter warned that the U.S. is still engaged in two wars, and will continue to face threats to its national security.
"He is going to be tested," said Slaughter.
Slaughter said that Iran, al-Qaeda and Russia could try to provoke Obama to make an unpopular policy decision in the beginning of his presidency.
"He's got a tall order, but I have got to say that for me the 21st century begins today," said Slaughter
Panelists included Farah Jasmine Griffin, director of the Institute for Research in African American Studies. Eddie Glaude, the William S. Tod Professor of Religion and African-American Studies, moderated the discussion.
