Had George W Bush been the kind of president the Americans wanted, would US voters have voted for Barack Obama?

Had George W Bush been the kind of president the Americans wanted, would US voters have voted for Barack Obama?

It is public knowledge that the US voters were tired of Bush's destructive politics. The US was desperate for change. So for Obama it was a case of being at the right place time at the right time.

I'm not in any way dismissing Obama's inspiring message of hope to the people of the the US and world. But it remains to be seen if he will remain a philosopher or Mr Delivery.

Before Obama was elected many Americans asked: is America ready for a black president? Obama was obviously the right choice, but many believed Americans would not vote for an African-American.

By electing Obama US voters have proven that they have transcended racial politics.

As expected, the election of Obama has raised hope that South Africa will one day have a white president again.

The pertinent question is: are blacks ready to vote for a white president? I don't think so. Frankly, I doubt if South Africa will have a white president ever again.

If black South Africans are to elect a white president in the future the candidate would have to be exceptional. He or she would have to be a Nelson Mandela.

This has nothing to do with race but politics. South African dynamics are not the same as those of the US.

Thabile Mange, Kagiso