U.S. ELECTIONS AND G-20

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000602 SIPDIS STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD DEPT PASS USTR USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD XM XR BR SUBJECT: U.S. ELECTIONS AND G-20 1.The American dream reborn Main editorial in center-right O Estado de S.Paulo (11/6) states: "The triumph of [President-elect Barack] Obama, the most unique White House hopeful ever produced by the one of the two largest national parties, is the reinstatement of the image of the U.S. defiled by the moral and political catastrophe of the Bush era.... One voted in Obama to break a taboo and because of his power to inspire-but, above anything, to anoint a set of ideas and to repudiate the other..... [President-elect Barack] Obama raised the perennial flag of the opposition: change. But he did so without demagoguery and with an uncommon sobriety in politics." ¶2. Victory of "the other" Article in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (11/6) comments: "Having put forward a vague program like all majority candidates do, it is impossible to predict if [President-elect Barack] Obama will be able to maintain unity in the base which got him elected. On the other hand it is unlikely that under his leadership the country would willingly yield to the world's expectations for a multilateralism that goes beyond the historic partnership between the U.S. and Europe. [President-elect] Barack Obama is not the messiah that one believes some voters imagine him to be. But he is a politician who had the audacity to defy fatalisms." ¶3. Obama makes history Article in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (11/6) says: "Yes, like [President-elect Barack] Obama said in his victory speech in Chicago, 'change has come.' But American citizens will be ever eager to know the concrete substance of the generic reformist platform described by the president-elect with a prophetic tone. The historic achievement of the rise of the Democratic [Party] senator is a fact. His administration, however, will face administrative challenges of gigantic proportions as well.... The magnificent eloquence of the president-elect will be no substitute for his complete lack of experience in public management." ¶4. Savior of the world? Article in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (11/6) says: "Before being a savior for humankind, [President-elect Barack] Obama needs to be a savior of his nation.... To do that he can count on an extraordinary number of votes, an ample Democratic [Party] majority in the House and the Senate...and an enormous [amount of] international goodwill.... All that is needed now is for the campaign myth to be up to the task of being president of the largest [world] power-with an economy that is upside-down. ¶5. Urgent changes after the G-20 Article in liberal Folha de S.Paulo by Treasury Minister Guido Mantega (11/6) states: "The severe financial crisis made it even more clear what we all knew: the governance of the global economy and international finances needs urgent changes. This will be one of the main points discussed at the very important G-20 meeting taking place under Brazil's chairmanship in Sco Paulo.... It is ever more difficult to deny emerging and developing economies a more significant role in world decisions." ¶6. We are all Americans Article in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (11/5) says: "[President-elect Barack] Obama is a global phenomenon; his victory reflects not only the choice of the majority of Americans, but the majority of human beings.... One of the damning legacies of Bushism, perhaps the worse one, is an acute and stupid anti-Americanism.... Americans could not have given a better answer to the world (and to Bushism) than to usher Michelle and Barack Obama into the White House. That does not mean that his outstanding electoral victory...will guarantee a happy ending to the sad record of George W. Bush in Washington.... But the global satisfaction with the inspiring accomplishment by Obama gives some hope to a world that is slowing down, almost stagnant. Let's cheer Obama and what his impressive victory represents. Today, we are all Americans." White