Washington, DC. - was not the first time that I interviewed Barack Obama, but it was the first time that I it interviewed like elect President. We reflect about the title for a moment before beginning the examination. Elect president, sounds well.
" It turns out to be a little complex to say it", said the chief of press, Robert Gibbs, who was stopped behind me.
" It sounds better than Senator", answered Obama.

Then the ex-Senator and I sit down and speak about the monumental task that it has opposite to him, on having inherited a country in crisis and a convulsed world.: "Has he stopped to think for a moment into what foul-up did it get?”, and he smiled.
" Now it is when one wants to be a president", he answered. "If you there am someone as I, who is interested in the politics and sees the history of the United States, he will realize that the times where more changes can be done and help more persons is exactly in the moments of crisis".

Obama believes that the current economic situation and the state of our systems of energy, medical care and education create a sense of urgency that puts pressure on the Congress so that it acts in a rapid and decisive way. "The attention of the people is in the government in this moment and that means that the president can cheer the American people up so that in normal times it might not", it agreed.
Definitely these are not normal times and Barack Obama realizes that it will have to work quickly later that the whole pomp and solemnity have ended. It clarified during our interview that his priority will be to prepare a strategy to stimulate the economy, open credit lines for the consumers and to invest in programs that will create works while our energy system modernizes.

He emphasized his point of view when I asked him if immigration will be in his list of priorities. "For Latin Americans and not Latin Americans equally, the biggest priority is to put our economy again in foot. But I do not begin for behind in my commitment of which beginning this year, we will be moving a migratory reform". That's why, he said, will be looking for support with two parties and in particular with his ex-rival John McCain, whose position is not very different from his.

Although he did not promise to brake the migratory raids, Obama told that his secretary of Internal Safety, the governor of the frontier state of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, will check the matter. "I want to make sure that we will be operating in a form that is consistent with our values. I do not want to see mothers separated from his children by reasons of a politics that has not been analyzed thoroughly", it pronounced itself.

Our conversation, in the transition office, happened shortly after his meeting with the Mexican president Felipe Calderón. They spoke in this meeting of alternative resources of energy, democracy and human rights in the region, economic development in both sides of the border and, of course, the bloody war that Caldron is freeing against the organized crime. Obama promised to do what is necessary to stop the weapon flow towards Mexico, which end in traffickers' drugs hands, and also to reduce the demand of illegal drugs from this side of the border.

As for his politics towards Latin America the elect president suggested that they will be different from those from last eight years. "It starts with respect and with the recognition of which the United States is one more neighbor in this hemisphere, and which each of other nations of the hemisphere has important contributions to doing. Our work is not to dictate politics or to say what is well for other countries, but to find areas of interest and mutual cooperation", he said.

There is not he doubts that Barack Obama will begin his presidency with a strong load. But when it between to the White House in his first working day, after doing history breaking the racial barriers and turning out to be the first African American in becoming the maximum leader of the free world, will not be necessary the economic crisis, not the international calamities what will be in his mind.
" Very well, probably I will be entering with my wife and my two daughters, what means that the girls will be running and I am going to have to say to them that they should not break anything", he mentions.

Or that you think according to the family when he should be the president number 44 of the United States?, I asked.
" If, because I believe that the reason for which we do the things when we are young is for our own benefit, but as we grow that is less important, and the reasons for which we do the things are the children", he answered.
Good luck, President Obama. The title sounds well.

(c) 2008 by Maria Helen Salinas.