WALTER CARRINGTON – AMERICAN POLITICS
Aug 28th, 2008 by admin
Former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington was recently in the country where he gave in-depth analysis of American Politics to enable Nigerians better understand the system, its influences and how the elections are financed. This became pertinent given the recent fund raising event organised for Presidential hopeful and Democratic nominee Barak Obama.
The Ambassador stated the importance of the 2008 Presidential elections, as an election of many firsts. The presence of an African American, a Mormon, a woman and a Hispanic who all contested to take their parties nomination. Above all first, because it is really the first one in 80 years that the United States did not have a sitting president or vice president seeking presidency leaving a wide open race for both parties. He further said that Nigeria is not the only country interested in this years election, the international audience is paying much attention too, eager to see how it will play out. He attributed the global attention to Hilary Clinton, the first woman candidate and now, Barak Obama, an African American who has come far in the political field to be nominated the party’s candidate for President, considering his short history within the party. More remarkable than 1960 which made John F Kennedy the first Roman Catholic President.
The real campaign he says will begin after the conventions when both candidates will move either from the left and right to the centre in order to capture the moderates. Compared with Nigeria, one thing lacking is gender equality which has to change, once a candidate is chosen his alliance is to the people and not the party as in Nigeria. While candidates are closely scrutinised, the opposite is the case here. Candidates do not have to have a long history within the party in order to get a nomination; the reverse is the case in the country.
Stating differences in both parties – that the Republican party is Pro life meaning they believe that life begins at conception as such abortion should not be encouraged, while the Democrats believe otherwise, the Democratic party is left wing while the Republican party is right wing. He emphasized the value of the polls which provide a wealth of data on the candidates, beyond showing the candidates ahead in the race. It reveals the general feelings of the people. Given that the elections last too long, a year and too much money is spent, more on campaigning, most of which goes to adverts.
The enthusiasm in Nigeria over the elections he says is probably because of Barak Obama’s African connection. It is common to see Obama stickers and posters around the country. Obama’s father is Kenyan, the ambassador was quick to add that with his African roots, Barak Obama from Luo, a minority tribe in Kenya may never have been able to contest or win an electoral office in Africa, Kenya.
The ambassador was at the lecture with his wife Dr. Arese who is Nigerian. He spoke on his love for politics, admiring Obama for what he has accomplished saying this would not have being possible fifty years back in America. Currently writing a book on Nigeria, he opted to visit Nigeria rather than attend the Convention at Denver.
On a lighter note, he said, only two things are certain in the United States, taxes and death.
To be continued