Voters' Views: Carlos Martinez

Barack Obama has been elected the first black president of the United States.

Here Republican and Democratic voters from across the US reflect on the results and look to the future.

Carlos MartinezMetal worker | Democrat

I pray that Obama pushes through universal healthcare.

Age: 37 Lives: Austin, Texas Occupation: Unemployed metal worker Last election voted: Democrat In 10 words or less: Critical, optimistic, curious, concerned humanist, proud father Voters' Views: main page

I heard people honking in the streets outside, so people here in the heart of Texas are evidently just as thrilled as the rest of us.

On one news channel I saw the beginning of an impromptu demonstration outside the gates of the White House with people chanting anti-Bush slogans - I'd rather be there.

This is a historic moment but I am still guardedly optimistic.

There is a lot of inertia in this country that needs to be overcome.

As for the direct affect on my life - I pray that Obama pushes through universal healthcare. My wife and I pay outrageous insurance bills every months for pitiful coverage.

I think Obama's victory means many things. First, the old narratives about who Americans are and what we want needs to be re-written.

On the international level this should be seen as a rejection of unilateralism and neo-conservative global engineering. The Bush era is over and we have a leader who will think and discuss rather than shove and yell.

As for the congressional races, I was hoping for more of a rout, but hey, you can't have it all.

Peace."

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The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider US public opinion.

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