Barack Obama has won the democratic nomination. Yes, we can. Yes, We Did! As one of millions of Americans, a liver transplant nurse coordinator and her adult son, a computer programmer, through volunteering, can now share in the success. Read the blog about volunteering on Texas primary election day and see the pictures of Barack Obama's visits to San Antonio.
It was one of those warm, sunny, Texas winter days, March 4, 2008, the democratic primary for Texas. I had early voted, given money to the campaign, was planning to caucus, and had attended the other two events when Barack Obama visited San Antonio. While at work that day exhilaration and enthusiasm was in the air, mostly created by me. There was a spring and lightness in my step while finishing my duties as a liver transplant coordinator and anticipating the day’s events. It was a beginning of a change in America and the world. My fondness for Barack Obama began when I heard him speak at the 2004 Democratic Convention.
I received a call from the Obama NW headquarters, having signed up at the previous event, and was asked to volunteer in my precinct. Finished my work and got permission to take personal time off, leaving at 2:30 pm. After arriving to the 2045 precinct by 3:30, …. “Ann Hardee reporting for duty.” I was assigned to help observe the voting from the Obama side, to ensure that everything was fair. One of my duties was to take a picture of the last person voting in line, in the case someone was denied the chance to vote. My husband, Randy, joined the group to also volunteer. His last campaign volunteer job was for Bobby Kennedy in the 60s. I had a bit of experience; I had worked on Ann Richard’s campaign for Texas governor in the 80s, as well as attended her inauguration. I had attended Bill Clinton’s Inauguration in Jan 1993, mostly due to giving money instead of sweat. The feel of excitement at that moment, as being one of the 800,000 there, finally a baby boomer, someone from my generation was President. Now, I mostly remember the disappointment of his stupid behavior that gave the office to the Republicans.
My main volunteer job this day was to qualify persons as they left the voting, determine if they voted for Barack Obama, give them an invitation and a bit of gental arm twisting for them to come back at 7 pm to caucus. A sticker was proudly offered that announced their support for Obama. It was obvious that we were outnumbered by Hillary supporters, though they were sympathetic. After all, we were kindred democrat spirits. The Obama supporters were mostly young and passionate about their candidate but included were some graying baby boomers. There was the occasional “old fart” republican that wanted to not miss a chance to diss our candidate. “ We have to stay in Iraq, we cannot leave until we have “Victory” “Obama is foolish when he says that he could talk to our adversaries, I know those people, you cannot negotiate with them, you can only deal with those people by force”. With a polite manner and a toned down response, I said…. “Barack Obama says that you should talk to your enemies as well as your friends”. I added from my own words and thoughts...”look at the lesson of Viet Nam as compared to Iraq, you can have more power and influence by doing business with people than by fighting”.
At 7 pm all the Obama volunteers gathered including Kasey, my 20 year old daughter, Randy and I (Chris, my 24 year old son, was in another precinct). We carried Obama posters, and with music playing from a member of our group, the Obama songs, we dancingly marched into the caucus room full of Hillary supporters, like a little parade. The Obama group was the most excited, energetic and vivacious as compared to the more restrained Hillary group. I got a cell phone call that Obama had won Vermont, the level of joy was just wrenched up a notch.
Caucus procedure was announced. My assignment was to monitor the sign in for the caucus participants, check to see that their voters registration card with stamped “Democrat”, as symbol of people that believe in helping each other. The results were total 246 votes, 168 Hillary and 78 Obama. Ouch, 2 to 1 in their favor. I called my son Chris, Obama was winning their precinct!! The long day was catching up to this baby boomer by this time, after the call the exhilaration level was back up!
In the next phase, we submitted “democratic resolutions that will be sent to the state level to become part of the party’s platform”. I had to respond…From the vantage point of a transplant nurse that lives under the tyranny of “the evil empire” (insurance companies) and observe how they abuse and deny care. In health care reform, medical decisions must be removed from the control of insurance companies” was my resolution. All in favor? Yea!!!! with cheers and claps. All opposed….silence in the room. My resolution was unanimously accepted by all in the room.
We moved on the delegates, that will first go to the Bexar county convention on March 29, 2008, then state convention, and then to Denver, CO for the national convention. We were to select 7 delegates and 7 alternates. More people wanted to be delegates than there were slots. On the Hillary side of the room, only 2 volunteered, they really had to coax people to be delegates, it caused a little inside snicker, a quiet hehehe. I was selected as a delegate, but there was a woman that had volunteered that really wanted to go, I gave my seat to her.
For volunteering, I was given 2 tickets to go to the Municipal Auditorium to watch election returns with Barack. The tickets were few, prized, and cherished. It was not almost 10pm, Randy was tired. I quickly called Chris that was caucusing in another precinct. Drove quickly and picked him up to head downtown. We proudly showed our tickets and had a special place to go, which not the same as the non ticketer’s. “Blinded by the light” was our immediate reaction from all the press lights set up. When we got close to the enclosed area…one of the organizers, asked “do you want to set in the bleachers” YES! We eagerly answered, since we had been standing all day. We were shown to the VIP area and were shown impressive seats, right in the middle, adding to the magic of the night. It was one of those cherished memories that you wanted to savor and implant on your brain and make it last forever…there, at that magnificent moment with your adult son who was so into the moment.
We were coached on what to do by the organizers, they passed out signs and flags.
