Há reticências em relação à vitória de Barack Obama para presidente dos Estados Unidos.

Sou cada vez mais afirmativo: apenas uma catástrofe poderá evitar a sua eleição.

Por maior o dano causado pela agressiva campanha de Hillary Clinton, somado aos estragos dos furiosos sermões racistas de seu pastor, Jeremiah Wright, a maioria de delegados democratas inclina-se cada vez mais solidamente em favor de Obama.

Depois, a disputa contra o republicano John McCain e seu ônibus marqueteiro poderá até ser apertada, por conta das idiossincrasias de uma população absolutamente heterogênea. Pessoalmente, não acredito.

É aí que reside a força de Obama. McCain terá que carregar nas costas o desgaste dos oito anos desastrados de George W. Bush, que termina seu mandato com o país em guerra e a população à beira da recessão econômica.

Obama representa a esperança de mudança no enredo desse filme de terror.

O candidato democrata quer a retiradas das tropas do Iraque e admite também reatar as relações com Cuba. São duas posições de forte impacto na opinião pública e não mero discurso ou exercício de retórica, como alguns o acusam.

Sua mulher, a advogada Michelle Obama, está engajada na campanha. No dia de hoje, que marca os 40 anos do assassinato do Prêmio Nobel da Paz, reverendo Martin Luther King, recebo uma carta assinada por Michelle, enviada pelo comitê de Barack. Ela diz que muita coisa mudou desde a morte de Luther King, e que graças à sua vida e obra o país teve avanços decisivos para a igualdade racial.

“O simples fato de Barack estar em campanha para Presidente é uma conseqüência direta do legado do Dr. King. - e esse movimento pelas mudanças seria impossível sem o apoio das pessoas de todas as raças, idades e origens”.

É a Obamania que tomou conta dos Estados Unidos, como já escrevi há tempos, mesmo contra uma adversária considerada imbatível no início  – Hillary Clinton – e um heróico prisioneiro da guerra do Vietnã – o veterano John MaCain.

Transcrevo a íntegra da mensagem, assinada pela futura primeira dama, Michelle Obama, em memória aos 40 anos da morte de Martin Luther King:

José Emanuel

Today is the 40th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and I want to share a video that reveals how far we’ve come and how much this campaign owes to Dr. King’s legacy.

Students at a high school in the Bronx, who had no real interest in their government, have found new hope. They were surprised by their own excitement and engagement, but to me, they embody so many reasons why Barack and I decided to get into this campaign.

It’s truly moving to see young people inspired by a political leader — someone who gives them hope and reminds them that they can be anything they want to be if they work hard.

Much has changed in this country since Dr. King’s death, and thanks to his life and work we have taken critical strides towards racial equality.

The simple fact that Barack is running a competitive campaign for President is a direct result of Dr. King’s legacy — and this movement for change would be impossible without the support of people of all races, ages, and backgrounds.

I remember back in December of 2006, a group of us were discussing the possibility of Barack running for President. And as you might have read, I was hesitant about the idea.

But then Barack started talking about why he really wanted to do this — to bring people together and to change the tone of the way we talk to each other in this country. He talked about the need for people to be inspired by their leaders, and the importance of leadership to chart a different course. He talked about Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy, and their passion to challenge a new generation and provide them with role models.

Barack promised that as a candidate and as President he would do everything he could to bring new people to the table. He shared his desire to reach out to our neglected inner cities, to strive to be a role model for young people, and to connect with people who are not involved in politics — those who feel their voices haven’t been heard, those who have been left behind, and those who have been turned off by all the petty bickering in recent years.

We can change that, by standing on the shoulders of folks like Dr. King who came before us.

Watching these students who are excited about their own role in politics for the first time, and watching Barack as he strives to live up to the challenges Dr. King made possible, I am truly touched.

I hope you’ll watch this video and share that feeling with your friends and family:

http://my.barackobama.com/yestheycan

 

Thank you,

Michelle Obama