I’m a left-leaning girl, if you haven’t already guessed that about me. I grew up in a very politically active household, and spent my time stuffing envelopes at campaign headquarters when I was about 10 years old. I was so disappointed that I turned 18 in an election year… one week after election day. While no one who actually shares all of my views would ever really win a national election, I still enjoy politics and look forward to taking my kids with me to the polling place whenever I can.
I get this all from my dad. He worked on a lot of campaigns before I was born and when I was young, though it stopped being his official livelihood. Voting was important, whether for president or school board. I loved going with him to punch the right holes next to the candidates (aww yeah, chads…). We always had signs in our windows and on our lawns.
Three years ago, when Barack Obama was elected to the Senate, my dad started talking about how he should run for president. My dad knew a lot of people in the Illinois state legislature and knew about Obama from his days there. He held a fundraiser for him when he ran for the Senate, and was a total supporter. So for a good two years, my dad would tell anyone who’d listen, his detailed rationale as to why Barack should run in 2008.
He was so vindicated when word came that it would happen. He called me the Obama Mama, because when I called to tell him I was pregnant with twins, he was in Springfield for the “official” announcement of the Obama presidential campaign. Having worked in Illinois politics for a long time, he naturally knew a lot of people connected with the campaign. They brought my dad to the offices, as he was known as a darn good political organizer. One look around, he told me, and he knew he was out of his league. It was a whole new era of organization, and he was an old relic of the pre-internet days.
But that was fine by him. He was beyond impressed, and still wanted to help in any way he could. So, on New Year’s Day, he was on a plane to Des Moines. On the 2nd, he was going door-to-door, precinct-by-precinct, talking to people. Extolling the virtues of Barack Obama to those who were undecided, helping people figure out how to get to their caucus locations. Last night, he was driving around in his rental car, picking people up and dropping them off so they could be counted. I talked to him shortly before his “route” began. You could hear the excitement and anticipation in his voice, like a teenage runner waiting for his event at the track meet. He couldn’t wait to get going.
I talked to him again, as CNN and MSNBC suddenly projected Obama as the winner. He was already in the hall, waiting for the rally to get going. All along, he said he should run. All along, he said he needed to win Iowa, and that he could and would because he had such a great organization. What can I say, when you’re right, you’re right. My kids wore their Tiny Democrat shirts yesterday, only because the Obama onesies were sold out and the ones they did get are toddler-sized.
Following is last night’s victory speech. The race is a long way from over, but it’s a great start. Obama’s got the votes in my household on Super Tuesday, that’s for sure.
Oh, and it helps to be the “relic” amidst all the young people. See that white-haired guy on the right side of the screen behind Obama? Hi, Dad!!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNZaq-YKCnE&rel=1]
