Obama

Question 1

which district did Obama win for state senate and why was this significant

Answer 1

13th district
included the south side of Chicago
predominantly black area with areas of poverty and social depravation

Question 2

what did Obama do in his role as state senator

Answer 2

gained a reputation for working with republicans to pass legislation
expanded healthcare and education programmes for the poor
became chairperson for Illinois senate health and human services committee
- in this role improved the rights of suspects held by the police by requiring video-taping police interrogations

Question 3

what was his first electoral setback and explain

Answer 3

tried to become democrat candidate for 1st congressional district of Illinois for the us house of representatives
ran against bobby rush who had founded the black panther party in Chicago
was naïve thinking he could replace rush
but gave Obama an important groundwork for campaigning in the future

Question 4

what did Obama run for in 2004

Answer 4

us senate

Question 5

what was the turning point in obama’s career

Answer 5

gave the keynote speech at the democratic national convention in 2004

Question 6

how did Obama win the primary for senate

Answer 6

at first was behind Blair Hull, a wealthy business man
effective advertising paid for by Obama which recounted his life story
high profile endorsements
hull’s divorce also helped as his ex-wife placed two restraining orders on him and there was a physical quarrel between them
Obama won with 53% of the vote

Question 7

obamas career before 1996

Answer 7

graduated with a degree in political science from Colombia
then worked on the impoverished south side as a community organiser for low-income residents
went to kenya and paid an emotional visit to his fathers grave
returned and entered Harvard law school
1990 was elected first a/a editor of the Harvard law review
after Harvard returned to Chicago to practice as a cvil rights lawyer at a small firm
helped organise voter registration drives during Clintons 1992 campaign

Question 8

who was Obama against in the run for senate (who was the republican opponent) and what happend

Answer 8

jack ryan
involved in a divorce case and accusations from his wife received huge media coverage
withdrew and was replaced by Alan Keyes so Illinois was now being contested by two a/a

Question 9

what was wrong with keyes

Answer 9

media response was almost all negative to keyes

strongly against abortion, gay rights and in favour of increasing the role of religion in society

Question 10

what was Obamas campaign for senate like

Answer 10

positive
grass roots campaign which dealt with local issues
didn’t attack his opponent just ran on a campaign on the issues
positive media image and family

Question 11

what percent of the vote did Obama win in the senate elections 2004

Answer 11

70%

Question 12

Obamas early life

Answer 12

• Born in 1961 in Hawaii, just 2 years after it was admitted to the USA.
• Father was Kenyan and white mother from Kansas.
• His parents divorced when he was two.
• In the 1980s he joined a Christian Church.

Question 13

The Democrat race for the US Senate in 2004

Answer 13

• He won a seat in the US Senate and gave the keynote (1st) speech at the Democratic National Convention.
• George W. Bush was seeking re-election and Iraq had been occupied.
• The Republican senator for Illinois was stepping down and this was Obama’s chance to get into Congress.
• There were 5 candidates for the post and all were better placed than Obama.
• Hynes was well known in Chicago and Hull was wealthy enough to finance his own campaign.
• Obama used his oratory, financed an advertising campaign himself which promoted his true background and emphasised his Christian values with the background of Hull’s divorce and multiple restraining orders.
• On 16th March 2004 Obama won the Illinois Democrat Party primary with 53% of the vote.

Question 14

What was the importance of Barack Obama’s early political career before nomination in 2006?

Answer 14

• The Senate election in 2004 vs Republican nominee(s)
• His Republican rival was Ryan; Harvard educated, charismatic, married to a TV star and both parties were evenly represented across Illinois.
• Obama campaigned well! Chicago became a foregone victory for the Democrats and the keynote speech had turned him into a national political figure.
• Luck played a role as Ryan entered a bitter divorce case with his wife and so he withdrew.
• Keyes took over and campaigned against both abortion and gay rights – and lost!
• Obama won with nearly 70% of the vote in 92/102 Illinois counties.
• Obama was now a young, photogenic black American Illinois senator and so appeared on TV shows and published his bestseller The audacity of HopeAs US Senator for Illinois he..:
  • Was only the 3rd black Senator since the end of Reconstruction.
  • Was 99th out of 100 senators in seniority and had to wait for all others to question legislation etc before he could speak.
  • He cooperated with Republican Coburn to create a website that tracked federal spending to try and restore faith in welfare and even voted against troop withdrawal in Iraq.
• He created a political Action Committee (PAC) called the Hopefund raising 1.8m in its first year.
• In midterm elections the Democrats took back control of both the Senate and the House.
• He was becoming the Democrat’s frontman and declared in Feb 2007 that he would run for the Democratic nomination for President.

Question 15

Why was Obama successful in gaming the Democrat party nomination for the presidency in 2008 Obama election strategies

Answer 15

• Hilary worked with the riches, meanwhile Obama worked with the masses, Obama used the internet to help him 26% of people in America used the internet regular in 2007.
• His campaign team reached people via Facebook, twitter and YouTube he appealed to all ages and groups, he used the internet donation to raise 2 million more that Hilary’s 4 million which she got off the rich.
• The Iowa Caucus also revealed that more non- Democrats were willing to vote for Obama
• Obama beat Clinton by 3% in the Iowa Caucus and after wining a South Carolina landside. Obama was endorsed by the Kennedy family not Hilary.

Question 16

Policies

Answer 16

Change form Bush’s direction and failures at home and aboard
Decisive leadership, end economic recession and ensure the diligent received a decent standard of living
Emergency economic plan, green jobs, independent energy, end of involvement in Iraq and to turn the tide against global terrorism

Question 17

Bush effect (Iraq, economic problems)

Answer 17

• Bush was unpopular with the public and another republican president would just continue that.
• People were tired of bush’s war In Iraq.
• Republican party scandals
• A giant bank Lenham brother called Bankruptcy and triggered the near collapse of the finical sector. People blamed this on the light touch regulation polices in

Question 18

Personality and rhetoric

Answer 18

• Obama personality, rhetorical stability made him a great candidate.

Question 19

McCain older. Less charisma, grumpy

Answer 19

• The younger side of the population saw the age difference between them as a big point for voting Obama.
• Obama being a young, funny upbeat person. On the other hand McCain was the complete opposite and appeared grumpy and old
• McCain choosing Sarah Palin was also one of the worst decision

Question 20

Sarah Palin

Answer 20

• At first Sarah seemed to energise the republican party. Her great conservatism reassured the republican right, and she was a photogenic and had a folksy typical mum appeal.
• Her lack of knowledge and experience turned many voters against her, and with McCain being so old an having a poor health recorded they didn’t want her anywhere near the president spot.
• She made many mistakes in the campaign as she struggled to handle the pressure from the press when asked certain question
• When 73 million people watched the debate between Biden and Palin they were unimpressed with here response to questions on the financial crisis

Question 21

Minority and white liberal turnout

Answer 21

• Obama lot the vote of white southerners
• And pointed out that black politicians did not get elected outside black areas
• Obama was said that he won the election due to minority votes
• More black voters turned out for Obama than in 2004. 2004 11% 2008 13% that was over 2 million more voters.
• Obama won 8 per cent more independent votes than McCain

Question 22

Polices especially in Iraq

Answer 22

• Obama policy on a speedy exit from the Iraq war
• Us energy independence and more freely available healthcare all emphases hope and change.
• 61 % viewed Obama campaign more positive than McCain as McCain’s which tended to concentrate upon attacks on Obama and the Democrat

Question 23

New election strategies

Answer 23

• Obama campaign out spent, out advertised and out organised the republican.
• The extensive use of the internet was revolutionary.
• Obama’s website encouraged visitors to register their interest.
• Those who register were regularly emailed and encouraged to establish link with other Obama supporters
• The network inspired more voter registration than McCain’s campaign and proved important fundraising.
• When media attacks were made on Obama’s pastor(colour), Obamas response was put on YouTube, received 5.2 million viewers and helped counter the attacks

Question 24

legacy of Obama The black American response

Answer 24

• Barack was not universally loved by black Americans because he was not fully American. However…
• Michelle was descended from slaves.
• Jesse Jackson wanted to “cut his nuts off” because he was “talking down to black people” when Obama criticised absent black fathers … remember those “Baby Mamas.”
• Celebrities endorsed his election e.g. Oprah and Beyoncé.
• Once President though black Americans rejoiced!!!

Question 25

Legacy of Obama A Colour-blind America

Answer 25

• No! McCain had beaten Obama soundly on the white vote.
• Republican errors (Palin) meant some of their voters stayed at home.
• Shelby Smith (L.A. Times) suggested that Obama won because he told white Americans what they wanted to hear “that racism was no longer a barrier.”
• Smith also suggests that Obama offered redemption!
• 70% Americans said that his election would improve race relations.
• Apparently white supremacist websites crashed due to demand after he was elected.

Question 26

Legacy of Obama Race Controversies:

Answer 26

• Obama immediately sought large scale capital investment in the economy and the NY post’s response was Delonas money cartoon in 2009.
• 2009, professor William Louis Gates was arrested for breaking into his own house, Obama disagreed with the police, after Obama stated that he regrated his comments and hoped that the situation could become a teachable moment

Question 27

Legacy of Obama The Birther controversy

Answer 27

• The President must be born in the US … it’s in the constitution.
• Some (RW) claimed Obama was not. They had to verify his birth certificate and a ‘birther bill’ was introduced in Congress to stop confusion/doubt again.
• Obama selected a ‘rainbow cabinet.’ just like Clinton had done; to reflect the make-up of the nation’s population.
• Of the 21 Cabinet appointees; 7 women, 4 black Americans, 3 Asian Americans and 2 Hispanics. The Attorney General was one of the black Americans.
• He essentially had a majority-minority cabinet in the sense that white male Americans were in the minority yet represent the majority of voters.
• Ex-President Jimmy Carter claimed that Republican opposition to Obamacare was as a result of racism!