So the man from Kenya won again. Even as hundreds of voters were still in line trying to vote, MSNBC called the race for President Barack Obama late in the night and, just around midnight, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gave his painful but gracious concession speech.

One lady from Country Walk in South Miami Dade, who had just come out of the voting booth, said she was disappointed at how long the lines were but she thought that Romney would win.  The reporter informed her, much to her chagrin, that the media had already announced Obama had won.

Those of us who voted for Romney were shocked — not only because we thought Romney would win but that the media had determined Obama the winner before all the votes were in.  I thought that what happened in 2000 (when an MSNBC reporter called Florida for Obama before the votes had even been counted) was enough to make these reporters gun-shy. No such luck.

Unemployed

All the indicators showed that Obama should not have won.  Unemployment was higher than when he took office — well, that was before the administration “adjusted” the numbers.  Black unemployment was more than 15 percent, with black teen unemployment closer to 60 percent.

The national debt was more than $16 trillion —more than at any other time in the history of the country.  Obama had also spent more money in his four years than George W. Bush had spent in eight — with two wars to pay for.

There were 20 million more people on welfare and food stamps than when Obama began his term and there seemed to be no relief in sight.

The automobile industry had been “bailed out” but GM (now affectionately called “Government Motors”) sent thousands of jobs (with a new factory) to China. There were only two other real accomplishments on Obama’s side of the ledger: Osama Bin Laden had been murdered and a new healthcare bill (affectionately known as “ObamaCare”) had been passed (before the Congress had even read it).

First term

While Obama bragged that terrorism was dead, along with Bin Laden, the Muslim Brotherhood had taken over Egypt and an ambassador, his information officer and two Navy Seals were murdered at our embassy in Benghazi on the 12th anniversary of 9/11, with several other U.S. embassies being attacked during the following days.

Obama never tried to work with Republicans, as Bill Clinton did, during his first term. Three days after his inauguration, he told Republican Congressman Eric Cantor, “Elections have consequences and, Eric, I won.” 

So, as some political pundits posited, Obama should never have won a second term.

President Obama has been said to have a socialist ideology and wants to “fundamentally change” America.  He did that during his first term and there is no reason to think he will change direction now. 

More flexibility

In fact, he was overheard promising outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he would have more flexibility to work with Russia on dismantling our missile defense system “after the election.”

Now that he doesn’t have to worry about another election, he can do anything he wants, regardless of any opposition. During his first term, he signed more executive orders than any other president before him.  So he already has a track record of bypassing the Congress when they won’t do what he wants.

He waged war on businesses, Wall Street and rich people — the very ones who create the jobs which are sorely needed in this unprecedentedly high unemployment period.  The country is going broke as he vacations across the world.

He gave billions to seven alternative energy companies — all of whom went bankrupt and shut down.

GAY MARRIAGE

He endorsed gay marriage and unlimited abortions, both issues anathema to the church.  Yet black preachers risked their non-profit status to keep him in the White House.

He got ObamaCare which will gut Medicare Advantage for senior citizens and send younger people to jail if they don’t buy health insurance. He has pushed this country more toward socialism and now people who don’t even know what socialism is are agreeing with him.

So what does he do now?  Anything he wants. It reminds me of another election when the media chose the winner.  I wrote a letter to a publisher warning, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Fifteen years later, the publisher had to admit I was right. Again, I say, “Be careful what you wish for.”

*Barbara Howard is Florida State chairwoman for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). She may be reached at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it