I know this subject has probably been done to death, but I was unable to comment last night.
The other day I posted about Obama calling me on the phone and I was so thrilled that he was showing such concern for his supporters.
From the first time I saw him and heard him speak, I have been unreservedly an Obama supporter. I have not turned against him now, but I am very hurt.
My Barack Obama...the one I first heard speak at the 2004 Democratic Convention is not the one who showed up in Washington this week.
The man I have hung my hope for the future on was not present in the Senate chamber yesterday.
I have said that he seems to embody the best of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. I believed that to the core of my being.
But that Barack Obama, the one my hope for the future hangs on, would not have waited until the vote was over to cast a meaningless No vote.
My Barack Obama would have walked tall into the Senate Chamber and asked to vote first, not last. He would have voted loudly and plainly
"NO, NO, BY GOD, NO!"
Then he would have turned those serious and passionately intelligent eyes on the rest of his colleagues and said...
"Your turn."
Then he could have called it a message to the President. Then maybe more than 14 would have found the balls or ovaries to also vote no. Then he would have shown himself to be, truly, the best of Martin and Bobby.
I still support him, but he must stand up for what is right no matter what political advisors may say.
HE MUST LEAD...SO WE CAN FOLLOW.
My cell phone rang with an unknown number and I wondered as I answered it, "Who on earth has this number?" Then a voice said, "This may seem hard to believe, but this is Barack Obama." He went on to say that he likes to call and randomly thank people who are supporting him. Of course, I believed right away that it really was Barack because that voice is unmistakable, after you have listened to as many speeches as you can find.
He was very nice and asked me about my teaching. Sadly, he said that he will not be in my area any time soon. He did ask me to let everyone in Murfreesboro know that he is grateful to us for our support and that we are important.
It is a wonderful feeling to be personally thanked by a man running for President. I know what demands there are on his time. That he takes the time now and then to make calls to contributors who have only been able to give a small amount, just as though we had plunked out a check for a thousand or two, just reinforces my original idea of the man. He is the real thing. A man of honor and darn good manners. I think that may be much too rare in politics today.
I have to say, Thank you, Barack Obama, you made my day!
I have always watched every moment that I possibly could of every political convention on television, including the Republicans, since I was in the fifth grade. Politics is in my blood. Some conventions are more interesting than others. In 2004 I was very glad that I tuned in.
When I saw and heard Barack Obama give the Keynote address, I knew that something very special was happening. I knew that, at last, someone had come along who knew the way we should go and had the courage to lead us. I hate to sound like a nut, but he was positively shining that night as though he were touched by an aura of light.
I had lost my hope in 1968. After JFK had died, it was hard enough, but when in one short space of time we lost Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, it was too much. There has not been anyone else since then who had that special quality. We have had good men. But good men are not always enough.
The only person who can put this country right and help us all learn to live together again in kindness and compassion is Barack Obama. I am so glad that he has come to lead us and look forward to the march to the nomination and then to the White House. We will not get lost along the way, just follow the shining light!
