As those last few electoral votes went decisively to Obama, my friends, family and I celebrated four more of his presidency. However, our merriment was short lived.

The harsh reality of deeply negative campaigns and an incredibly divided country consumed social networks. Friends turned against each other with nasty comments about race or ugly perceptions of the opposite party. But still, Obama remained victorious. With such division what is the issue? Why did the country return to Obama?

President Obama’s reelection was decided, in part, by the changing demographics of the United States. This country is becoming increasingly diverse while, conversely, the Republican Party has become increasingly exclusive, at least on a national stage.

Romney did not truly seek to advance the interests of those outside his voter base of white members of the middle and upper class. With record numbers of blacks, Latinos, women, and young people voting Democrat, the Republican Party must do more in the future to represent minority issues, in description and substance.

Yes, Republicans must recognize that minorities have interests, they have different interests, and their party must find some middle ground to draw voters away from the Democratic Party. The Republican Party must actively advocate for diverse interests, and not allow Democrats to maintain the title of most-inclusive party.

The ideological split between Democrat and Republican could not be deeper.

Barack Obama presented a vision for a United States that included tolerance, social mobility, and thoughtful diplomacy.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, sustained his party’s own divided stance on social issues and a “speak first, ask questions later” foreign policy. More disappointing is the vision of an America that only promotes the interests of those who already have the means to be successful, rather than an America where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and enjoy the benefits of hard work.

Class antagonism is seeping into our collective conscious and dividing us along party lines, and, at least in this election, the Republicans ended up on the wrong side of the divide.

So where do we go from here? Obama said in his victory speech that we are “more than the sum of our individual ambitions” but, honestly, it doesn’t feel that way.

We return to our everyday lives with a blue Senate and a red House and an executive that 49% of the country did not elect. But we must move ahead and we must do so together.

It is imperative that President Obama work with Republicans and that Republicans do the same. Additionally, the Republican Party must resolve to broaden its base and become a party for all of America.

In light of our fiscal issues and a world that needs decisive leadership, we must know that we need each other, red and blue states together. Let’s form this more perfect union, already.

Jordie Davies is a college Sophomore from Eastman, Georgia.

Emory Wheel
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The Emory Wheel was founded in 1919 and is currently the only independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University. The Wheel publishes weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions.

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