Justin, a Tennessee resident, had never been involved in politics before the Obama campaign. He read Barack’s book “The Audacity of Hope,” and there was something about “changing politics as usual” that stuck with him.
My distance from politics had been frustration with typical negative politics dividing and distracting us from solving our most urgent problems. We had created a culture of barely treating symptoms rather than solving problems.
After attending Camp Obama in Nashville, Justin was charged up and ready to organize for Barack. After having his first meeting with Volunteers of Southeast Tennessee and Chattanooga for Obama, he started making phone calls to recruit supporters. It was during one of these phone calls when he realized the support Barack could get.
The first call we made, no one answered. The second, we had to leave a message. But then I got someone on the phone that said, “I’ve been waiting to hear from someone….I’d love to volunteer.”We were told we couldn’t win [Hamilton County] without money. We made our own signs, did our own phonebanking, canvassing, everything. We knocked on over 2,000 doors with around 20 volunteers before Super Tuesday.We, the ragtag, grassroots, non-establishment folks actually won Hamilton County. And that realization – that 'Yes We Can' do it, and did, was perhaps the most memorable event ever.
The support he found from other volunteers not only won the county for Barack, but also elected Justin a delegate.
I ran for delegate because someone handed me a paper in January and told me to send it in. So I did. Then after Super Tuesday we had our caucus and all the volunteers I had been working with since November came out and supported me. Over 20 of them drove 2 ½ hours away to our district convention and caucused for me. And I hadn’t asked one person to support me.
Justin has already connected with other delegates from Tennessee such as Elizabeth Crews, Jennifer Buck Wallace and Gloria Johnson – all like Justin – strong volunteers doing everything possible to get Barack elected. And like other volunteers, Justin is ready to see Barack accept the nomination.
That moment will be the most fulfilling because I remember going to Nashville in November when everyone told us it wouldn’t happened. And it did. We did it.And most of all, we know why we did – to change politics as usual. Obama’s our guy. This is our chance. Seeing him accept that nomination and become our next President will be amazing because people have ownership in this now. We’re invested, and we’re ready to make change.
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