I know we have all been overwhelmed with our emotions during this campaign. We had an incredibly qualified Democratic line-up for the primaries. The battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was something for the history books. I was a John Edwards supporter at the beginning, but Barack Obama won me over very quickly.
I read Barack Obama's first book two years ago and fell "in love" with him, but I wasn't convinced of his liberal credentials. It didn't take long for me to become convinced that he was "the one" once the campaign commenced.
Barack Obama is just the biggest "wow" in my lifetime as a Dem voter (and I was born in 1955). He is the first liberal Democrat I am supporting since I was eligible to vote that I really feel excited about and may actually win. The first presidential election I could vote in was for Jimmy Carter, and he disappointed me Big Time because he didn't really support reproductive/women's rights. The ERA died not too long thereafter.
The next Dem I got to vote for who won was, of course, Bill Clinton. Now, I know that lots of Dems love the Clintons, but as a lesbian who was involved in local gay and lesbian politics at the time, I got a clear message from the Clintons that they weren't really all that committed to our cause because of lots of muddying of their message. I wasn't surprised that Bill Clinton signed DOMA and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy because of my experience during that 1992 campaign.
I am tired of being screwed by Dems. And there isn't a single Republican who would ever consider me as a citizen worthy of full civil rights.
I think Barack Obama will come through, for the most part, on liberal policies. I don't think he'll be perfect for what I believe in, but I do believe he will do his best to advance liberal views. It won't be easy, and we won't get all of what we want, but we'll make progress toward a better government for all American people than we would have with any other Democratic candidate we could have selected this year.
So, I am happy, excited, and thrilled to have voted for Barack Obama. As are millions of Americans, and even billions all over the world, we have hope as big or better than I've felt since 1968 when Bobby Kennedy ran for the highest office in the land.
I'm scared. I'm hopeful. And I know I'm in good company with millions who feel just like I do.
I am so happy to be alive to be able to vote for Barack Obama and make history and create hope once again in my beloved country!