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For President Obama, ethical challenges await
By Lauren | November 5, 2008
Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama for his historic Presidential victory last night! And kudos, too, to Senator John McCain for his gracious concession speech. Whether you’re elated or disappointed in the wake of yesterday’s Presidential election, it has to be a relief to know that the vote is in and the results are clear.
As soon-to-be President Obama has acknowledged, the road ahead is a steep one, and not just because of the many problems that our nation faces. While he received a solid majority of the votes cast, there remains a sizable group of Americans who strongly oppose the policies the new President wants to pursue. Not only will President Obama have to address all of the ethical issues I’ve highlighted in previous posts, he’ll also have to answer this question:
How can President Obama unite a deeply divided America while remaining honest with the American people and true to his fundamental principles?
Last night, President-Elect Obama promised to be the President not only of his supporters, but of the Americans who voted for John McCain. It’s a laudable promise, but it may not be easy to fulfill. Politicians from both sides of the aisle are urging Americans to put aside political differences and come together behind the new President. People who deeply disagree with President-Elect Obama on matters of principle will do so reluctantly, if at all.
Thankfully, President-Elect Obama has demonstrated his ability to speak candidly and thoughtfully about the issues facing America. Compromise is the backbone of Washington but if, as President, Obama compromises too much, his integrity will suffer - if he compromises too little, his goals may never be achieved. Ultimately, honesty, accountability and transparency are likely to be the new President’s best tools as he seeks to bring the American people together into a harmonious whole.
Topics: Personal Ethics, Presidential Campaign, Social Ethics, ethics |
November 6th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
[...] the rest of this great post here [...]
November 13th, 2008 at 2:22 am
[...] presents For President Obama, ethical challenges await posted at The Business Ethics Blog, saying, “The new president of America is faced with empty [...]