WHY I'M VOTING FOR OBAMA.
A little less than four years ago, I had an opportunity to work the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Being involved in politics, at least at the local level for as long as I can remember, the experience was awesome and inspiring. However, being a veteran of two political conventions, one comes to realize quite quickly that the days of back room dealing and smoke filled rooms to appoint the party's nominee are a relic of the past as most modern conventions are elaborate productions designed to showcase the nominee and his policies.
Throughout the four days of the convention, a number of elected officials and party officials gave speeches; some were televised, and most were not. But there was one speech that I continue to remember to this day. It was from a relatively unknown state senator from Illinois, who decided to run for the U.S. Senate. Now, I was following some of the other senatorial campaigns at the time, particularly the rather contentious South Dakota race between John Thune and Tom Daschle, as I was a Political Science major, and I vaguely remember the interesting turn of events in the Illinois Senate Race, after the GOP nominee, Ryan was forced to drop out of the race after the revelations made by his wife at the time, Jeri Ryan, but I digress. I was working in the bowels of the Fleet Center, when his speech began. At first, I really didn't hear it until one of my co-workers asked me to turn up the volume on one of the monitors that were set up in our office. What I heard however, was a breath of fresh air. It was a speech of hope, a speech that was more than mere platitudes and empty promises; it was a speech that was significantly different then the other politicians who spoke before him.
The speaker was Barrack Obama of Illinois, a native of Hawaii, with a white mother from Kansas and a black father from Kenya. Obama stated that he was "the embodiment of the American dream" as nowhere else would a man of his heritage would be able to do so much so fast. The crowd of delegates, normally ruckus and constantly talking, fell silent and gave their undivided attention to Obama. The cadence of the speech was measured; it lacked the "umms" and "ahs" that so often punctuate the speeches given by President Bush. It was a voice of intelligence and assurance. A voice that has the ability to tell the world “America is ready to lead again."
Barrack continued. He spoke of the need for service. The need to be "my brother's keeper, my sister's keeper," and the need to provide hope and to maintain faith in simple dreams. The crowd was rapt with attention. I had goose bumps. From there on out I realized that change cannot be expected from more of the same, change only genuinely comes from one outside of the beltway.
At the end of the convention, my brother and I stood at the podium where just hours earlier John Kerry had given his acceptance speech. The confetti was still on the floor and balloons were being kicked around by the few convention and campaign staff still hanging around. I stood there wondering if John Kerry would really be able to beat George W. Bush. Of course, we now know the result. Osama Bin Laden is still at large. Justice for the 3,000 who died on 9/11 is just a fleeting memory. The war in Iraq continues to rage on. The national economy is being held together by a thread. While, the rights and guarantees entitled to all under the Constitution are being whittled away by a president who wields his veto pen as a sword to stifle progress and protect his friends.
I like Hillary, but is she electable? Honestly, no. Bill burned too many bridges with the base of the Democratic Party, and she is reviled by the Right. If the Swift Boat attacks were vicious against John Kerry, just wait to see what will be unleashed against Hillary. John Edwards is good too, but I also believe that he will not be able to weather the storm of GOP attacks. Dodd and Biden are good too, but as Biden recently said "electability is more of a popularity contest." Both Biden and Dodd have tremendous sway in their respective roles in the Senate, the presidency is a bit of a stretch.
Watching Obama's speech from Iowa reminded me of that night in Boston. We are not Red States or Blue States, there is not a Latino America or a White America, there is not a Christian America or a Jewish America, we are the United States of America. Obama embodies this message. That is why I will be voting for Obama as the next President of the United States of America.
posted by Will at 1/05/2008 03:01:00 PM
