History was made on November 4, 2008 when Illinois Senator, Barack Obama, an African American was elected President of the United States. The American people came out in full force and let their voices be heard loud and clear. Breaking the voting record previously held by President George W. Bush in the 2004 election, Barack Obama received more votes than any other candidate in history.
Many issues that are highly personal and extremely sensitive were hot topics for candidates and voters alike. Gay marriage and civil unions were a debated and had people on both sides of the fence highly emotional, but again, the voters stepped up and voted to ban the legalization of homosexual marriage.
A woman’s choice to receive an abortion and whether citizens should have the right to own and carry a firearm were also important issues during this election.
Regardless of which candidate the American public elected or what they think about the election, the bigger issue is that the American people voted in record numbers that broke racial barriers and brought change.
In Barack Obama’s acceptance speech, he summed up the 2008 election eloquently with this statement: “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer…”