IT was early 1994 when Nelson Mandela gave a speech in a slum outside Cape Town and spoke in grand terms of a new beginning and how when he was elected president every household would have a washing machine.
People took him literally. A few months later he became South Africa's first black president. That's when clerks in department stores in Cape Town had to turn people away demanding their free washer and dryer.
Having spent some time as a reporter in South Africa watching the Mandela presidency I was reminded of that story this week when I travelled with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the campaign trail.
How does a cult figure, in the eyes of some something akin to a messiah, make the transition to a political frontrunner - president even - where disappointment will soon crush what seemed to be a journey to a promised land?
How indeed
For more, read here. Its written in Feb 2008, when Obama was still on the campaign trial against Hillary
Here's a hint! All presidents should be elected based on merit, not skin color. The only black presidents that are successful are in movies and on TV. If there is a minority president, or even women president, they have to prove themselves to be more competent, more capable, more dynamic etc.
Higher standard, not affirmative action standard!
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