Obama Campaign Rally 2/19/08
Toyota Center-Houston, Texas
Capacity Crowd w/ Obama on Stage
There are times in life when you are acutely aware that you are watching history in the making. As we watched the skyline of the Big Apple changed with a crashing cloud of dust, we knew. As we watched the night sky in Baghdad lit up with a shock and awe attack, we knew. As we watch dark blue states light up on the CNN Democratic electoral map of the USA account for Obama’s momentum swing from sea to shining sea, we know that history is being made.
Record numbers of voters are turning out to vote, not in the national presidential election, but in the state primary elections. We are watching a grassroots movement hatch out of the same democratic process which formerly disillusioned so many, but is now a source of pride. As the first speaker at the Houston Obama campaign rally last night rhetorically asked the enthusiastic crowd, “Have you ever been so proud to be a Texan?” My answer to those seated around me in the packed NBA basketball arena was, “Not since Juneteenth … the original Juneteenth.” Faces colored from butterscotch to dark chocolate all smiled back at me in agreement. They all sensed what I was sensing … history is being made.
Now, I don’t begrudge longtime Democratic Party warriors the opportunity to repay political debts to the Clinton camp. I’m sure that they will hop on the wagon when the second Super Tuesday results are in and Ohio and Texas vote to send the message to the New York Senator that it is more honorable to retire and let the momentum of the movement roll unfettered into the Democratic Convention this summer. All pundit pontification aside, the handwriting is on the wall and a Texas/Ohio sweep will be just the exclamation point to punctuate end of the primary race and the being of the national campaign for change.
Make history yourselves. Engage the process. Vote early. Take someone to the polls. Register online as a supporter. Speak up at the barbershop, the water cooler, in casual conversation with friends of all political persuasions. Educate yourself on the platform positions and plans. Then, bury the historical hatchet that has hacked our nation in half. Can America really be united behind one candidate, regardless of their party affiliation? Yes, we can.
Record numbers of voters are turning out to vote, not in the national presidential election, but in the state primary elections. We are watching a grassroots movement hatch out of the same democratic process which formerly disillusioned so many, but is now a source of pride. As the first speaker at the Houston Obama campaign rally last night rhetorically asked the enthusiastic crowd, “Have you ever been so proud to be a Texan?” My answer to those seated around me in the packed NBA basketball arena was, “Not since Juneteenth … the original Juneteenth.” Faces colored from butterscotch to dark chocolate all smiled back at me in agreement. They all sensed what I was sensing … history is being made.
Now, I don’t begrudge longtime Democratic Party warriors the opportunity to repay political debts to the Clinton camp. I’m sure that they will hop on the wagon when the second Super Tuesday results are in and Ohio and Texas vote to send the message to the New York Senator that it is more honorable to retire and let the momentum of the movement roll unfettered into the Democratic Convention this summer. All pundit pontification aside, the handwriting is on the wall and a Texas/Ohio sweep will be just the exclamation point to punctuate end of the primary race and the being of the national campaign for change.
Make history yourselves. Engage the process. Vote early. Take someone to the polls. Register online as a supporter. Speak up at the barbershop, the water cooler, in casual conversation with friends of all political persuasions. Educate yourself on the platform positions and plans. Then, bury the historical hatchet that has hacked our nation in half. Can America really be united behind one candidate, regardless of their party affiliation? Yes, we can.
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