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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 16 - 22 November 2000 Issue No.508 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 16 - 22 November 2000 Issue No.508
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Democracy laid bare
By Mohamed Hakki
From the very beginning, most Americans were uneasy about Election 2000. Faced with the choice between a Clinton-baggage-carrying Al Gore, and Texas Governor George W Bush -- a virtual unknown but for his family name. Cynicism reigned alongside distaste for the gross overspending of both campaigns -- estimated at a whopping $3 billion, a sum exceeding the annual GNP of two dozen African countries. Meanwhile, the national and international press had a ball covering rampant suspicions about corruption and the American people's loss of faith in the White House and the Congress. Political currency has gradually depreciated in the United States, and over the last few years, the country's moral fabric has grown increasingly thread-bare.
Under the heavy gaze of breathless Americans and the world, an embarrassingly bizarre spectacle unfolded. After the longest night of changing results and shifting focus, Governor Bush was designated the winner. But when Democrats realised that Bush had gained the presidency by a razor-thin margin in Florida -- where Bush's brother Jeb is governor -- Gore retracted his concession to Bush and decided to challenge the results. In a place where Disney World is the unofficial capital, positively everything began to seem unreal. First, there was Gore contesting the results and asking for a recount. Then, when the machine recount appeared to confirm the initial results, the Gore team demanded another recount -- this time by hand.
All kinds of unbelievable scenarios emerged. In the pivotal district of Palm Beach County -- a predominantly Democratic and Jewish constituency -- the design of the ballot was attacked. It was said that the voters mistakenly voted for Pat Buchanan, the candidate of the right-wing Reform Party -- who is dismissed as an extremist by this constituency. Not to be outdone by their opponents, the Republicans then announced that absentee ballots -- which are estimated to exceed 2,000 voters -- should be included in the recount, since they are likely to favour the Bush candidacy. The majority would come from military personnel serving overseas, who traditionally vote Republican.
Then the American Israeli settler movement was called to the rescue -- for the Democrats. The Jerusalem Post, Reuters and National Public Radio announced that a number of lawyers in Jerusalem were urging Israeli settlers who hold US citizenship to rush to the post office and mail their overseas ballots. This community, and its American sympathisers, helped to defeat former President Bush and now it is rallying against his son. While American Israeli settlers would otherwise support the conservative Republican platform, Gore's fervent and unconditional support for Israel, made them shift to the Democrats.
Last week's rapid succession of events opened Pandora's box and unleashed America's favourite recourse: the courts. There are now several lawsuits in Florida and federal courts promising a delay beyond the originally specified date for the final results. Furthermore, the controversy over the Florida vote threatens a repeat performance in four other states: Ohio, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Oregon, where the margin between the two candidates was very narrow. In the first few hours after the voting ended and results started to reveal this as one of the most bizarre presidential campaign in the last century, analysts and senior politicians were still optimistic, expressing faith in due process. Former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter were still saying this is not a constitutional crisis -- that the system will prevail. They reminded citizens of the virtues of honour and patriotism, of the need to "heal America."
Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore in Palm Beach county, Florida, demonstrate during a rally led by civil rights activist Jesse Jackson in front of the Palm Beach County Governmental Centre in West Palm Beach
(photo: AFP)
But there were also some Democrats, like Senators Bob Torricelli and John Breaux, who warned the Gore campaign about the possibility of facing extended legal challenges. Senator Bill Bradley, who had challenged Gore in the primaries, said that "when the votes are counted, that should be it. Unless there is something fraudulent or a flagrant violation of law, this should end on 17 November."
As the days go by, the political scene is becoming increasingly complex. The presidential campaign has already created deep-seated -- but almost equal divisions -- along party lines. This is reflected in both the Senate and House elections, where the numbers are divided almost exactly down the middle. The equal split among the two parties will by definition be too close for comfort for the next president, ultimately making it difficult for any candidate to implement his programme.
The process is already disintegrating into street demonstrations and protests in Palm Beach and other towns and Americans are beginning to compare the US with a Banana Republic. Many people say that they can now identify with countries of the South, like the Ivory Coast, Peru and Indonesia, where one goes to bed at night unsure of who will be running the country the following morning.
Regardless, the correct reading of the vote is that the US is ready for a change. If the country had really wanted Gore, he would have won with a landslide. He had everything going his way: a prosperous economy, continuity and the idea that with a winning team you don't need to change horses. But even if he wins now, people will inevitably feel that he stole the race -- a sentence to four years of doubt that Gore might be delivering on himself.
Related stories:
See US Election 2000
Can you see a difference? 2 - 8 November 2000
A voice crying in the wilderness 24 - 30 August 2000
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