Election+2008+and+the+Obama+Administration

In the wake of George W. Bush's unfavorable second term, the American public experienced a backlash against the Republican Party. Democratic candidates nationwide used their opposition to Bush's policies on the war, the environment, Social Security, the recession, and immigration as their main talking points on the campaign trail. Even candidates from Bush's own party were forced to distance themselves from his policies. John McCain, a long-serving senator who was one of Bush's staunchest supporters for years (he voted with Buch 90% of the time for Bush's first five years in office) claimed time and time again during the debate that he would divert the nation from the direction Bush had pointed it in (Baker). McCain's primary opponent for the presidency was Democrat Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois who had only recently established himself in the political field with his 2004 keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. Obama had defeated Hillary Clinton in a hard-fought Democratic primary, and had built up a large grassroots following through his oratory skills and promises of change. Obama called McCain out for his track record of siding with George W. Bush, as well as his conservative stance on issues such as abortion and gay marriage. McCain fired back by questioning Obama's background and experience as a politician ("Barack Obama Biography"). The following video from an Obama campaign rally illustrates his emphasis on change, as well as the size and support of his following: media type="youtube" key="_-1eMBmlIY0?fs=1" height="385" width="480" **A Country Divided** On Election Day, Obama was victorious by a margin of 52.9 percent to 45.7 percent (Barack Obama Biography). His victory was attributed to the American public's need to distance themselves from Bush's policies, as well as John McCain's selection of the extremely conservative mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin, as his running mate. Obama became the first African-American president of the United States. Democrats saw victory in Congress as well, winning enough seats to claim the majority. Obama began implementing his agenda quickly, setting a date for withdrawal from Iraq and proposing a stimulus plan to aid the failing economy. Obama also proposed a healthcare bill that would include a public option, and it was on this issue that the Republican Party's new stance became clear. Obama's actions leaned towards increased government, which had been one of the Republican Party's most-opposed points since the days of Reagan. Congress drew a sharp divide down party lines, with nearly all Republican members voting against the bill. A movement organized in response to Obama's heavily left-wing policy. Taking inspiration from Sarah Palin, former presidential candidate Ron Paul, and the Boston Tea Party, the //Tea Party Movement// organized protests against the bill, labeling it as socialism, and called for a return to conservative politics. In the 2010 Senate primaries, several Tea Party-backed candidates long-standing Republican candidates. Although Obama was eventually able to push the healthcare bill through Congress, he still sees opposition, with 12 attorney generals filing suits to block its jurisdiction (Khan). In the years to come, Obama faces a Congress and a nation that are sharply divided. The divide between left and right deepens as the conflict between Obama and the GOP and Tea Party threatens to override any calls for bipartisanship.
 * Election 2008: Obama Takes the Reins**