Tag: U.S. Presidential Elections

Kanye West Tells Blacks To Stop Focusing On Racism

kanye west, racismAmerican Artist, Kanye West, during his concert in San Jose, California, told fans, “specifically to black people, stop focusing on racism”.

Not only did the rapper offer what majority considered to be a ‘late-to-the-table’ endorsement of Donald Trump, but he also wowed fans as he went on about his opinion on race.

Towards the end of the show, West said “before I get out of here I want to talk about race and the idea of racism in America and the world”.

He stated that although he did not vote during the U.S presidential elections, if he did, he would have voted for Trump.

He then went on to talk about the idea that the outcome of the election may have had some effect on racism in the United States – something he believes black Americans should get over.

“This world is racist, OK? Let’s stop being distracted to focus on that as much – we are in a racist country.”

Kanye west, racism

His comments have been greeted with much criticism over social media, coming from a man who once claimed racism against him in the fashion industry.

He had also said “George Bush does not care about black people”.

West, however, added that neither candidates would have been able to eradicate racism.

“Not one or the other candidate was going to instantly be able to change racism because of their views,” he stated.

Trump Says Obamacare Key Provisions To Remain

Donald Trump Says Obamacare Key Provisions To RemainUS President-elect, Donald Trump says he might not completely abolish President Barack Obama’s healthcare bill, popularly called Obamacare.

Mr Trump, who has pledged to repeal the 2010 law, says he will keep the ban on insurers denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.

He also says he favours allowing young adults to be insured on their parents’ policies.

According to the President-elect, it was his meeting with Mr Obama on Thursday that made him reconsider his calls for an all-out replacement of the affordable care act.

Meanwhile, anti-Trump protests continue in the United States, with violence reported in some parts of the country.

Thousands have remained unhappy with president-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S presidential elections, and have continued to take to the streets of major cities, in a third day of more violent protests.

Following Wednesday’s election results, the protesters had since begun protesting across the cities of Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, while smashing windows and starting up fires as a way of expressing their frustration.

Unperturbed, Mr Donald Trump, has said that he will soon be making ‘very important decision’ on persons that will be in his cabinet.

Mr Trump announced the plan on Friday on his Twitter handle.

“Busy day planned in New York. Will soon be making some very important decisions on the people who will be running our government,” the tweet read.

More Violent Protests Against Donald Trump Continue Across U.S

Anti-Trump Protests Break Out Across American CitiesThousands have remained unhappy with president-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S presidential elections, and have continued to take to the streets of major cities, in a third day of more violent protests.

Following Wednesday’s election results, the protesters had since begun protesting across the cities of Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, while smashing windows and starting up fires as a way of expressing their frustration.

While protests were also ongoing in Portland, a male protester was shot, voicing anger at Trump’s controversial campaign rhetoric about immigrants, Muslims and women.

The unidentified man was wounded on Portland’s Morrison Bridge in the early hours of the morning, as he and other protesters crossed it during a demonstration.

Other small protests were held in, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Detroit, Missouri; Olympia, Washington DC, and Iowa City.

Earlier in the night, protesters blocked traffic and threw objects at Portland police, dressed in riot gear who responded with pepper spray and flash-bang devices.

The aggrieved protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Not my president”, “Americans against hate and bigotry”, “no human being is illegal” among many others.

Reports said at some point, police pushed protesters back and appeared to take at least one person into custody.

trump45On wednesday November 9, Donald Trump emerged as winner of the U.S presidential elections 2016.

He defeated his democratic party Rival, Hillary Clinton, with a vote count of 289 – 218.

In his victory speech, he promised to be the “president for all Americans” and urged all Americans to come together in unity.

This came with much criticism, as many failed to buy into the inklin of the sudden ‘changed persona’ of Mr Trump, after he had made various obnoxious statements all through his campaign trail.

Also in his speech, he praised Mrs Clinton, saying “she fought very hard”.

In Mrs Clinton’s concession speech however, she told all Americans to put aside their differences and support the new President-elect, in bringing about sustainable development and unity in the country.

Outgoing President, Barack Obama, who also admitted he had major differences with Trump, called on Americans to support the new leader regardless.

He said “we Are All Rooting For Trump’s Success”

U.S President-elect, Mr Donald Trump, says he will soon be making ‘very
important decision on persons that will be in his cabinet.

Mr Trump announced the plan on Friday, via his Twitter handle.

Anti-Trump Protests Break Out Across American Cities

Anti-Trump Protests Break Out Across American CitiesThere were protests in cities across the United States on Wednesday against Republican Donald Trump’s surprise presidential election win.

This is in spite of defeated Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton having conceded and urged Americans to support President-elect, Donald trump, in ensuring sustainable development and ultimately a united America.

In New York, thousands of protesters filled streets in midtown Manhattan as they made their way to Trump Tower, Trump’s gilded home on Fifth Avenue. Hundreds of others gathered at a Manhattan park and shouted “Not my president.”

A demonstration of about 6,000 people blocked traffic in Oakland, California, police said. Protesters threw objects at police in riot gear, burned trash in the middle of an intersection, set off fireworks and smashed store front windows.

Police responded by throwing chemical irritants at the protesters, according to a Reuters witness.

In downtown Chicago, an estimated 1,800 people gathered outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower, chanting phrases like “No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA.”

Chicago police closed roads in the area, impeding the demonstrators’ path. There were no immediate reports of arrests or violence there.

“I’m just really terrified about what is happening in this country,” said 22-year-old Adriana Rizzo in Chicago, who was holding a sign that read: “Enjoy your rights while you can.”

In Seattle, police responded to a shooting with multiple victims near the scene of anti-Trump protests. Police said it was unrelated to the demonstrations.

Protesters railed against Trump’s campaign pledge to build a wall along the border with Mexico to keep immigrants from entering the United States illegally.

Hundreds also gathered in Philadelphia, Boston and Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday evening, and organizers planned rallies in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Oakland, California.

In Austin, the Texas capital, about 400 people marched through the streets, police said.

A representative of the Trump campaign did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the protests.

Trump in his Victory speech earlier on Wednesday, had  promised to uphold a united America and reclaim the nation’s destiny when he takes over.

He promised to be president for all Americans, saying: “It is time for us to come together as one united people.”

He also praised Clinton saying: “Hillary fought very hard. She has worked very long and hard over a long period of time. We have a sense of gratitude for her service”.

Donald Trump is set to become the 45th President of the United States as he won with 289 electoral college seats as against Clinton’s 218.

The Republican candidate won key battleground states – Florida, North Carolina and Ohio.

Trump Spoke To The Heart of America – Adetokunbo Pearse

Donald Trump Spoke To The Heart of America - Adetokunbo PearseA former United States Democratic Party aspirant in New York congressional district, Mr Adetokunbo Pearse, believes Mr Donald Trump won the US presidential election because he focused on what Americans hold as priority – their economy.

He was on our breaksfast programme, Sunrise Daily, on Thursday, analyzing the factors that led to the success of the businessman and rookie politician in the election.

He insisted that Clinton supporters globally should have been cautious in their optimism leading to the election as it was obvious from a long time that either candidates could have won.

In his view, Americans may have wanted more employment opportunities, and forging stronger relations with major power blocks.

“Donald Trump was speaking to the heart of America. The bitter truth is that when he said that he was going to deal with illegal immigrants, (he did) not (say) all immigrants.

“Therefore, what you saw coming out at the election was legal immigrants who themselves don’t want illegal immigrants from their countries voted for him. Its incredible,” he said.

Bernie Sanders Factor

Mr Pearse also agreed with the view that the long-drawn battle for the Democratic ticket between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders which exposed the weakness of the party also contributed to their loss.

He noted that Bernie Sanders was a preferred choice among many Americans because, like Trump, he also addressed issues of economy, education and the youth.

“He was an outsider, not the typical politician who would just go according to what is already established in the country like Mrs Clinton.

“People believe that Bernie Sanders was actually rigged out of the primaries. So I do agree that that has something to do with the problems that Mrs Clinton had  after the primaries.

“She was helped by the Democratic Convention,” he claimed, and that is why “the supporters of Bernie Sanders never came through for Mrs Clinton”.

As far as Mr Pearse is concerned, these issues were only “compounded by the email leaks to show that Mrs Clinton cannot be trusted, and she is a system’s person who knows how to manipulate the system in her favour just to win elections”.

He explained further that the recently held US election was against ‘the system’.

“Don’t forget that Donald Trump is not a member of the Republican formal system. He is an outsider in the Republican Party.”

Anti-Trump Protests

There were protests in cities across the United States on Wednesday against Republican Donald Trump’s surprise presidential election win.

Hilary Clinton may have won the popular votes but that was not enough to take her to the White House, as Mr Donald Trump garnered the required Electoral College votes.

Calm has returned to Washington DC, but the same cannot be said for Los Angeles, Oakland, California, New York, and over 10 other cities where there have been anti-Trump protests.

Mr Pearse, however, believes that this is nothing more than citizens expressing their emotions.

“Trump himself said he would not accept the election result unless he felt that it was fair. So, these people feel that it must not have been fair.

“That is the beauty of democracy, freedom of expression in America. People will protest (on) both sides; this is just normal,” he said.

He further added that the element of surprise in Trump’s victory at the polls is what has led to the protests across the country.

Clinton Tells Americans To Support Trump In Achieving Unity

clinton5U.S presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton has urged Americans to support U.S. President-elect, Donald trump, in ensuring sustainable development and ultimately a united America.

The long awaited moment finally came when the Democratic candidate, gave her concession address, hours after the announcement of the election results.

“We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought, but I still believe in America and I always will. If you do, we must accept this result and look to the future,” she said.

69 Year-old Clinton had to deliver what could possibly be the most difficult speech of her life as she addressed her supporters, and the entire world.

Addressing women she said: “To all the women, and especially young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me, I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.

“Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will and hopefully sooner than what we think right now,” She added.

Speaking further on the new President-elect, Clinton said: “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead”.

trump45Trump in his Victory speech earlier on Wednesday, had  promised to uphold a united America and reclaim the nation’s destiny when he takes over.

He is set to become the 45th President of the United States as he won with 289 electoral college seats as against Clinton’s 218.

The Republican candidate won key battleground states – Florida, North Carolina and Ohio.

In the address, he also praised Clinton saying: “Hillary fought very hard. She has worked very long and hard over a long period of time. We have a sense of gratitude for her service”.

“I pledge that I will be president to all Americans. We will rebuild our infrastructure which will become by the way second to none and we will put many of our people to work as we rebuild it,” the Republican president-elect said.

Prior to the final day, Trump had raised concerns that the electoral process was already rigged in favour of Mrs Clinton, saying he will not commit to accepting the results of the election.

“I will accept the result only if I win,” he had said.

It is the first time that a political outsider [a business man] will win the U.S presidential election.

Obama Expresses Fears Over Fate Of United States

Obama, Trump,U.S electionPresident Barack Obama says the fate of the U.S. republic and the world is at stake if the republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump gets into the white house.

According to him, Mr Trump is a threat to hard- earned civil rights.

Speaking at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Wednesday, President Obama urged democrats of all ethnic backgrounds to get out and vote for Hillary Clinton On November 8, 2016.

Furthermore, he dinged Trump over his claims that the presidential election would be rigged against him, calling his statements the musings of a “loser”.

Mr Obama continued to press issues surrounding Trump’s taxes, his statements against women, among others.

He then made a direct appeal to voters, saying that it was up to citizens, particularly the citizens of North Carolina who he said had the power to hand Clinton the win.

“I hate to put the pressure on you, but the fate of the republic rests on your shoulders,” he said.

 

US Election: Governance is about checks and balances

The Chief Political Officer of the US Consulate in Lagos; Rolf Olsen has described the last four years as being “a combative four years in the White House” for President Barack Obama as the Democrats and the Republicans in the Congress were rarely on the same page on different issues.

He made this known, while explaining that governance in the United States was about checks and balances on the special edition of Sunrise Daily on the the 2012 US Presidential Election.

On the re-election of President Obama, Mr Olsen said it is a closely contested election and that there is no parliamentary system in the US where one party gets full control of the parliament.

Though he admitted the possibility of such happening, but he said it cannot happen automatically.

 

Watch complete interview for more.

Obama’s re-election: a beauty of democracy – Gbenga Omolayole

Gbenga Omolayole, a medical practitioner and a politician reacted to the re-election of President Barack Obama of the United States, saying it is the beauty of democracy.

He said there is so much for Nigeria to learn from the United States presidential election.

Watch complete interview for more.