It's Exciting!

Last night my wife and I decided to go what was described as an organizational meeting for the Obama campaign. It was being held in the New Freedom Baptist Church in a rough part of Cincinnati. It was an amazing evening!

AS we were driving up the street approaching the church (about 30 minutes late) there was a massive traffic jam. Cars were parked on lawns, all the side streets were parked solid, the parking lots for the church were overflowing and people were still streaming towards the church on foot.

Once we found a place to stick the car we walked about a block to the church. As we walked past the 4 Ron Paul supporters with signs, we could walk into the entrance and that was it! The lobby was PACKED. We found a stairway leading up to the choir loft and it was packed, but at least we could hear what was being said. When I was finally able to position myself so that I could see the main floor I was blown away!

The place was, as they say, packed to the rafters!

People of every race, class, and we found out later political affiliation. At one point a speaker asked if there were any Republicans in the house and a number of people raised their hands.

Local women's advocates spoke. They stated that they were not to be taken for granted by the Clinton campaign. They were free thinking, self empowered women and they were for Obama.

The room was electric. You could feel the energy of the people in the room. I knew I was part of something I haven't experienced since Bobby Kennedy.

Bobby Kennedy expressed a hope and a vision of an America we are all proud of. An America respected across the world for our stand for civil rights, human rights, global aid and partnerships.

The day Bobby was killed I cried. Everyone cried. It was as if the hope of America had been shattered in the Embassy Hotel that night.

Last night I felt the fire and energy of that hope come back to life. I felt the connection to the people in the church. Our race did not matter, our sex did not matter, our finances did not matter, we were all together. We were all connected we were the representation of what America stands for.

I won't say that no matter which candidate wins the Democratic nomination I will be happy. Senator Clinton is without question a committed politian. But she comes with baggage that has nothing to do with her sex. It has everything to do with the scandals and questions that plagued the Clinton Presidency. If she gets the nomination, I will without question vote for her but it will not have the power and significance of a vote for Barak Obama for president. A vote for Obama for president for more far exceeds the historical accompishment of our first non-white president. That is not to say that it is not a huge accomplishment all by itself. But a vote for Barak Obama IS a vote for a future, a vision, a hope for an America and a world full of possibility.

His campaign asks us, "Got Hope?". I say YES. I say YES WE CAN! I say America has the chance to stand on the words and deeds of many men and women committed to making the world a better place for everyone, with no one left out.

Last night my wife and I decided to go what was described as an organizational meeting for the Obama campaign. It was being held in the New Freedom Baptist Church in a rough part of Cincinnati. It was an amazing evening!

AS we were driving up the street approaching the church (about 30 minutes late) there was a massive traffic jam. Cars were parked on lawns, all the side streets were parked solid, the parking lots for the church were overflowing and people were still streaming towards the church on foot.

Once we found a place to stick the car we walked about a block to the church. As we walked past the 4 Ron Paul supporters with signs, we could walk into the entrance and that was it! The lobby was PACKED. We found a stairway leading up to the choir loft and it was packed, but at least we could hear what was being said. When I was finally able to position myself so that I could see the main floor I was blown away!

The place was, as they say, packed to the rafters!

People of every race, class, and we found out later political affiliation. At one point a speaker asked if there were any Republicans in the house and a number of people raised their hands.

Local women's advocates spoke. They stated that they were not to be taken for granted by the Clinton campaign. They were free thinking, self empowered women and they were for Obama.

The room was electric. You could feel the energy of the people in the room. I knew I was part of something I haven't experienced since Bobby Kennedy.

Bobby Kennedy expressed a hope and a vision of an America we are all proud of. An America respected across the world for our stand for civil rights, human rights, global aid and partnerships.

The day Bobby was killed I cried. Everyone cried. It was as if the hope of America had been shattered in the Embassy Hotel that night.

Last night I felt the fire and energy of that hope come back to life. I felt the connection to the people in the church. Our race did not matter, our sex did not matter, our finances did not matter, we were all together. We were all connected we were the representation of what America stands for.

I won't say that no matter which candidate wins the Democratic nomination I will be happy. Senator Clinton is without question a committed politian. But she comes with baggage that has nothing to do with her sex. It has everything to do with the scandals and questions that plagued the Clinton Presidency. If she gets the nomination, I will without question vote for her but it will not have the power and significance of a vote for Barak Obama for president. A vote for Obama for president for more far exceeds the historical accompishment of our first non-white president. That is not to say that it is not a huge accomplishment all by itself. But a vote for Barak Obama IS a vote for a future, a vision, a hope for an America and a world full of possibility.

His campaign asks us, "Got Hope?". I say YES. I say YES WE CAN! I say America has the chance to stand on the words and deeds of many men and women committed to making the world a better place for everyone, with no one left out.