Members of the Elon Community Voice Their Hopes for Barack Obama’s Inauguration Speech

By Ryan Catanese
December 11, 2008

It is January 20, 2009 and the stage is set for the most historic inauguration speech of all time.  The streets of Washington DC are lined with people, and not a single shred of confetti is going unlaunched into the air.

Is it before or after that when Obama whips out an electric guitar?

The internet has been flooded with rumors and suggestions for Barack Obama’s inauguration speech, including everything from a throwback to the Gettysburg address to “Barack Obama should close his speech with a guitar solo.”

Sarah Jenny shares what is important to her.

Obama’s inaugural speech had already caused controversy even before election night, when, back in October, the New York Times ran an incorrect story claiming that Obama had already written his speech-before the election was over.  Despite claiming that the story was “totally false,” Obama was harshly criticized by the McCain campaign, who said “When I pull this thing off, I have a request for my opponent: I want him to save that manuscript of his inaugural address and donate it to the Smithsonian, and they can put it right next to the Chicago paper that says, ‘Dewey defeats Truman.’”

Considering the general public can almost definitely rule out the possibility of a guitar solo, when January 20th comes around, what should Obama really talk about?

For some, it is the larger picture that they are concerned about.

“I think the main thing is to just be united, since it has been such a divisive election,” said Elon University senior International Studies major Kelly McCarty.  “Especially with all of the fear-mongering type of campaigning going on in the McCain camp, I think it will be really important to bring those people in.”

For others, it is the specifics that they want clarified.

“I want to know how he plans to accomplish all of the goals that he’s set for himself,” said Ron Morgan, a local vendor.  “I want an outline, specific things that he’s actually going to do.”

“For me, the most important thing is for him to address what he is actually going to do,” said Elon junior Sarah Jenny.  “I feel like up to this point, there has been a lot of just inspiring people to vote

Kelly Reimer explains what she wants to hear.

for him, and I would like for him to actually get down to actually bullet-pointing what he is going to enact as President.”

Dr. Rudy Zarzar, a political science professor at Elon University, gave his opinion.

“I think if you took a poll of our population, I think that what they would say is that the number one priority for a new President, no matter who it ended up being, would be the economy,” Zarzar said.

This thought was, in large part, true.

“[Obama should talk about] The economy, war second, but the economy first,” said local retiree David Bragg.  “The economy  is going down the tubes, and especially for a retiree, it is a major concern.”

“He should definitely talk about the economy,” said Kelly Reimer, coordinator of the elite Program at Elon University, “and specifically bailouts of companies, car industries, and banks.”

“One thing about the economy that I will insist upon, we need to give priority to the people who are foreclosing on the mortgages on their houses,” Zarzar said.  “That is a tragedy that we cannot allow.”

Kelly McCarty will be attending the speech in January.

For many, the war in Iraq and, in more general terms, foreign policy continues to be important.

“For me, I would really like to hear his plans for Iraq and getting the troops home and exactly what he wants to do with that,” Jenny said.

“I think foreign policy is big, as far as Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, just to name a few,” Reimer said.

“There are huge issues that we cannot deal with alone,” Zarzar said.  “Global warming, the war on terrorism, these are things that require an international effort.  We need to bridge the gap, especially with our allies.”

Despite these problems, people are positive.

“I feel optimistic, because we are talking about a unique individual here.  Whatever you feel about the man or your political affiliations, the guy has it, up here,” Zarzar said, touching his temple.

While there are so many looking for stances on policy, for others, there will be more lighthearted things to watch out for come January 20.

“I am also looking forward to seeing what Michelle Obama and their children are going to wear,” Reimer said through laughs.  “I think that that will be interesting from a woman’s perspective.”

What is Obama going to talk about on the world’s biggest stage?  No one knows except for him.  For all the public knows, he could be practicing his guitar solos right now.

An Interview with Dr. Rudy Zarzar, Part 1

An interview with Dr. Rudy Zarzar, Part 2