FLORENCE — Florence attorney Rene Josey toasted the inauguration of President Barack Obama on Tuesday with the words, “To our new president and his success and to peace on earth.”
Josey, a former U.S. Attorney for South Carolina during the Clinton administration, had a party at his home during the inauguration to celebrate Obama’s elevation to the highest office in the land.
“I think it’s an exciting day. It’s always exciting day when it’s inauguration day,” Josey said. “It’s really more than just celebrating a victory for one party, it’s celebrating what democracy is all about and President Obama has been so good about including everybody.”
“I thought Clinton was smart, but I think Obama is smarter,” he said. “If anybody can lead this country, he can because he has the skill set and he oozes confidence and he helps other people feel confident.
Beverly Hazelwood, assistant director of music at Central United Methodist Church in Florence, said she is ready for Obama to get the show on the road
“As I listened to his speech, it all of a sudden hit me that he is a man who has come forward to this position not because of a family history or because of political probability,” Hazelwood said. “He really defied all the odds, but he defied these odds at a time when America needed this refreshment, this new person to come on the scene. I mean, it’s just the right time.
“It’s a red-letter day not just because it’s an African American taking over, but it’s someone who is extremely smart, has a refreshing new vision for our country and I think will engage those people around him that will help him execute what he sees as a good plan for our country.”
Dr. Paul DeMarco is director of community health at Francis Marion University and a physician. He’s been involved with the Obama campaign since the summer of 2007.
“I think Obama needs to alter the tax structure so that the rich pay more — and I’m one of those people,” DeMarco said. “I don’t think that you can provide the kind of services we want for the American people without taxing the rich more. That not a popular thing to say, but if you really want national health care, we’re going to have to give back the Bush tax cuts at least.”
Grace Timms is minister for youth discipleship at Central.
“I want President Obama to encourage the public to be involved and to start a movement of volunteerism, of personal responsibility for caring for the needs of all,” Timms said. “We all benefit if we all care about one another.”
Rev. Tom Pietila, pastor of Central, said Obama has called us back to the founding fathers’ original vision — something all great leaders do.
“President Obama has tapped what is best in us and is holding us accountable, for that is what Martin Luther King did,” he said. “It’s just amazing to me. It’s really a proud moment to me to be an American to have someone like this who will call us back to be the kind of people and country we’re supposed to be, so I’m really proud.”
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