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Gracefully conceding defeat is a US tradition, says Booth

Gracefully conceding defeat is a US tradition, says Booth
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Thursday, November 06, 2008 4:55:04 PM

UNITED States Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth yesterday said graceful concessions of defeat during elections gives the next administration a proper head-start in tackling national challenges.

And Ambassador Booth, who congratulated President-elect Barack Obama for emerging the clear winner in Tuesday’s general elections, said he does not anticipate a shift in the US policy of engagement in Africa following the election outcome.

Meanwhile, Siavonga UPND member of parliament Douglas Syakalima said he was embarrassed that whilst the developed world was electing leaders that were in line with the thinking of the 21st Century, Zambia was crawling backwards in that area.

Addressing the press at the American Centre, Ambassador Booth said there was nothing unusual about losing presidential contender Republican Senator John McCain for gracefully conceding defeat to President-elect Obama, because it was the US tradition.

"The tradition is that when it is clear that the candidate has secured the 270 electoral votes; has secured the majority of the states that represent the 270 electoral votes that the opposition candidate or candidates will concede," Ambassador Booth said. "They will do this, I think, out of the sense of bringing the country together; recognising that at times election campaigns can arouse the passion of their supporters...This tradition of conceding gracefully is something that helps the next administration to start to get to work and tackle the challenges that were identified in the campaign."

Ambassador Booth said the election of President-elect Obama as the country's first African-American president was a testimony of that country's unwavering commitment to democracy.

"Yesterday marked the 56th time that US citizens have gone to the polls peacefully to elect their President. It is testimony to the US's commitment to democracy as Abraham Lincoln said, 'the government of the people, by the people, for the people'," he said "Now Barack Obama is the President of the United States having won about 51 per cent - counting is still going on in some states - but about 51 per cent of the popular vote. He has won the majority in about 25 states and five more. You need about 270 votes to win, so he is clearly the winner of this election."

Ambassador Booth said between now and January 20, 2009 when the new President would be inaugurated, President George W Bush would remain head of state and commander-in-chief.

He said President-elect Obama would use this time to put together the team he would work with in his administration.

And Ambassador Booth said he does not expect a shift of policy in the US engagement in Africa following the election of a new administration in that country.

He said he envisages a continuation of this engagement by the Obama administration.

"During this campaign President-elect Barack reiterated his commitment to continue strengthening the partnership between the United States and Africa," he said. "With the US and Zambia elections behind us, I look forward to working with President [Rupiah] Banda and the government of Zambia to promote peace and prosperity in Zambia and the southern African region and around the world."

Ambassador Booth said the major issues that would need to be tackled back home include the economic and financial crisis and the levels of unemployment.

And during the US Election Night at the American Center last Tuesday, Ambassador Booth said though the process leading to his country's recent presidential election was long and expensive candidates were forced to confront issues head on by the voters.

Ambassador Booth said the process that was devised in Tuesday's US election forced candidates to take stands on specific issues so that they could be held accountable.

"These are my first remarks here in Zambia," Ambassador Booth said. "In a larger sense, we are here to celebrate the democratic process."

Ambassador Booth observed that the US had come a long way in enriching its democracy credentials, since the days when women and African Americans could not even vote.

"During the close primaries, and throughout this tight general election campaign, the candidates have traveled all around the United States, answering questions from Americans from all walks of life, articulating their positions on all issues and trying to define how they would be the best president of the United States," he said. "This process-though long and expensive-forces candidates to confront difficult issues head on, and to answer to the American people, oftentimes face to face."

Ambassador Booth said though both Zambia and the US face many challenges, they also share many positive attributes, including a commitment to the democratic process.

"Ambassador Booth said the world watched closely as Zambia elected its fourth president last week and he said the poll was proof that despite being a relatively young democracy, Zambia is a nation that fervently-and successfully-clings to democratic ideals," Ambassador Booth said. "I congratulate the people of Zambia for your successful election, and I have congratulated President (Rupiah) Banda as well."

Asked what his views were on the continued complaints of rigging in most of Africa's elections in view of the smooth US transition, Ambassador Booth said the people of Zambia were better placed to draw conclusions on the matter and not him.

But Syakalima said in an interview that Zambia was still miles away from following the American example of electing young leaders.

"The outcome of the US vote made me feel foolish and embarrassed as a Zambian that while the developed world are trying to put people who have a vision; people who are energetic, patient and intelligent, we are busy voting for people who can't explain things which we want as a country," Syakalima said. "In Africa, we are lagging behind because we are putting people that cannot fit with the thinking of the 21st Century."

Syakalima said it was a pity that when the new world order was taking a twist in the manner leadership is chosen, Zambia and Africa would only grasp the changing trends after so many years and as such the gap between the developed and developing worlds had continued to widen.

However, the National Energy Sector and Allied Workers Union (NESAWU) general secretary Yotam Mtayachalo stated in his congratulatory message to President-Elect Obama that the ability for someone to deliver was a barometer to measure someone's suitability to be elected as president.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed President-elect Obama's victory as a moment which would "live in history as long as history books are written", saying he looked forward to working "extremely closely" with the new president.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy saluted President-elect Obama's "brilliant victory" and celebrated the American people's choice of "change, openness and optimism."

Leading a chorus of rapturous approval from French political leaders, intellectuals and the media, President Sarkozy said the message sent out by US voters "resonates well beyond your frontiers."

European Union policymakers and experts also hailed Obama's US presidential election victory as a chance for a fresh start at tackling the world's security and economic challenges, but some warned against raising expectations too high.

"We need to change the current crisis into an opportunity. We need a new deal for a new world. I sincerely hope that with the leadership of President Barack Obama, the United States of America will join forces with Europe to drive this new deal," said José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, congratulated the president-elect on his "historical election victory" and invited him to return to Berlin, where he held the only foreign rally of his campaign in July.

South Africa's President Kgalema Motlanthe was one of the first world leaders to offer congratulations to President-elect Obama.

"Your election to this high office of the American people carries with it hope for millions of your countrymen and women as much as it is for millions of people particularly those of African descent both in the continent of Africa as well as those in the diaspora," President Motlanthe said.

President Motlanthe hoped President-elect Obama's election would "contribute significantly to efforts in the continent of Africa to help bring about "change they can believe in."

President-elect Obama also received messages of goodwill from China, Pakistan, Israel, Afghanistan, India and South Korea.

Labels: AMBASSADOR, DONALD BOOTH

posted by MrK @ 4:56 PM