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Mandate Is For Change, But Where Does Obama Begin

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By BAIRD HELGESON

bhelgeson@tampatrib.com

Published: November 6, 2008

TAMPA - Marvin Knight doesn't have to look past the customers at his East Tampa fish market to see where President-elect Barack Obama needs to focus his promise of change.

"We have customers who lost longtime jobs who you would never believe are unemployed," said Knight, 47.

For Knight, Obama first must focus on rebuilding the economy and fulfilling his pledge to target relief toward the working class, like the customers who buy his shrimp, catfish and Nile perch.

Obama swept into office as millions of Americans embraced his call for change in Tuesday's election, but where will the new president turn his attention first? Where should the change begin?

Tampa area supporters have their list: the economy, ending the war in Iraq, making healthcare affordable, allowing students to trade community work for college tuition. Others said the change has already begun, and that the victory is medicine to heal the wounds from decades of racism, anger and oppression.

They said Obama must focus on the home front, but continue sending a message to the world that things are different now. We are a nation repairing a fractured population that split by race, sexual orientation, religion and economic status.

Obama hinted at the challenges during his victory speech Tuesday night and asked for patience.

"There will be setbacks and false starts," he told supporters. "There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. ... But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree."

Conversations about pride and priorities continued most of Wednesday morning at Knight's market, Oriental Fish Co. on North 15th Street. He has pictures hanging of him shaking hands with Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden during recent visits to the Tampa area. Nearly everybody who came in had an Obama shirt, button or hat. Obama posters hung on the walls, promising change.

Anthony Knight, Marvin's cousin and a mechanic at Tampa Electric Co., sees nothing more pressing than ending the war in Iraq.

Obama must bring home the troops and redirect the money and energy for the war effort toward improving life at home, he said.

"For the first time in a long time, I trust the president will do the right thing," said Anthony Knight, 41. "That's the person we elected, and that's the person we are giving to the world."

Melvin's older brother, Johnny Knight, said Obama first must expand healthcare insurance. More comprehensive healthcare coverage will provide a swift boost to the economy by driving down costs for consumers and businesses.

"The economy - foreclosures, Wall Street - are important, but none of them are more important than healthcare," said Johnny Knight, a cook at Tampa General Hospital.

A few miles west, at Casa Obama on Columbus Drive, volunteers spent the afternoon cleaning up Obama's Hispanic headquarters in Tampa.

Kayla Rodriguez wants to see Obama focus on his plan to allow students to get college money in exchange for service to the community.

She attends Hillsborough Community College and is worried about paying for the rest of her schooling.

Nothing will help the economy more than making it easier for people like her to go to college, said Rodriguez, 19.

Edgar De Leon moved to Tampa from Chicago recently when his parents split. The 19-year-old felt a little lost in his new surroundings until an aunt suggested he go see Obama at a rally at George M. Steinbrenner Field, formerly Legends Field.

De Leon said he saw a change at the rally he didn't expect. He felt warmth toward the Hispanic community, a stark difference from what he and others said were Republican statements and anti-immigration policies that often made Hispanics feel ashamed or unwelcome.

He immediately volunteered at Casa Obama. "That change needs to continue," De Leon said. "That's most important."

Obama's transformative power began in the voting booths, Abdur-Rahim Abdullah said.

"The most important change happened when he changed the hearts of a lot of people," said Abdullah, 73.

Abdullah reflected on what he said were hurtful lies hurled at Obama during the campaign: that he is a socialist, an Arab and a friend of terrorists.

"And he still won," Abdullah said. "He changed hearts. The people saw through all that, they saw hope, a common cause."

Abdullah embraced the cause, too.

He owns a small barbershop in east Tampa on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. He paid homeless artist Daryle Burch $75 to paint a mural on the front of his business.

The mural depicts Obama in a barber's chair with a prideful looking Abdullah standing behind him, a life-sized illustration similar to a widely distributed campaign poster.

"The world was watching to see if we got it right Tuesday night," he said. "America got it right. The change is already happening."

Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668.

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