In the short run, I want Barack to get on YouTube and make a request of his supporters:
"Find someone you know that chose to vote for another candidate and meet with them to understand their hopes and fears; try to see this country, our world and this election from their perspective. I'm not asking you to agree with each other, just to try to understand. We can't afford to surround ourselves with people who agree with us - not now, when the stakes are so high and the opportunities so great. So please join me in reaching out to everyone in America - do your bit as I try to do mine. We'll all be the better for it."
After he makes this kind of statement, direct people to a page on Change.gov where people can share their stories about this assignment. Offer up a video-blog space as well.
I've seen too many people make unsupported negative assumptions about people who voted for John McCain. I proudly voted for Barack, and feel like we have an opportunity to refresh our national culture with a spirit of openness, curiosity and collaboration. Now's the time - especially before the policy decisions fly on the 20th.
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