With a landslide election victory Tuesday night. Like every election, it was all going to be determined in the battleground states. Shortly after 11pm, the key battleground state of Ohio was called for President Obama - pushing him over the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House. But he didn’t need Ohio. All eight battleground states went the President’s way Tuesday night – he also won the popular vote. Plain and simple – this is a mandate.
As the President said in his victory speech last, “Tonight, you voted for action, not politics as usual.” But as the President also alluded to in his speech, his action will depend on our action. As he said, “The role of citizens in our democracy does not end with your vote.” While the President may have accomplished a lot in his first term in the face of unprecedented, fierce political obstruction – there’s no question he needs to do more and be bolder in a second term. And it’s up to all of us to push him to do just that.
Just as a movement elected the President, movements will be needed to drive legislation on climate change, corporate personhood, union rights, ending the drug war, bringing home our military – you name it. Let’s get to work.
Listen to The Thom Hartmann Program Monday through Friday 3 PM to 6 PM on WWRL 1600.
