Yesterday, this political junkie cried. This seen-it-all, hardened amateur political strategist welled up again, full of something I’ve never felt before a primary election...hope and enthusiasm, respect and optimism, and long abandoned idealism.
The moment that Maria Shriver walked out on the stage at UCLA, I knew it meant something huge. The implications of it are astounding. The normally shy Caroline, with Michele Obama, the never-before-endorsed Oprah, and Maria Shriver is a picture to be e-mailed around the world. A picture worth ten thousand words.
Maria stepped out from behind the mask of the politician’s wife. Without makeup and "done" hair, she leapt on stage and spoke from the heart about doing the right thing, about being urged by her daughter to do it, even if it only meant changing one person’s mind, about how until two hours before, she still wasn’t sure if she would. About the "moment". If you haven’t yet seen this uplifting piece of political theater you simply must watch it now:
http://www.youtube.com/...
Oh, to be a fly on the wall at the Schwarzenegger household last night!
Which brings me to my own divided household....
Hubby likes Hillary, I Obama. Up until this moment, I’m still trying to persuade him to switch. But, he argues, Hillary has experience. Yeah, I counter, but she also has Bill. But Hubby likes Bill. I used to like Bill. He thinks Obama lacks substance. I feel that he’s connecting to the yearnings of all of us who have been so furious at the Bush administration and politicians who just don’t listen or care about us, the "people". But. he argues, things were really good during the Clinton years. But, I think Obama will bring out more voters and has a better chance of winning the general. Yeah, but he’s always liked Hillary. But Hillary voted for the war...I can’t forgive, many mothers’ kids died.
We learned years ago in marriage counseling, this is the time to take a break. Have a cup of tea, listen to some Mozart, take a walk, do a little yoga. Time out! (Not that we always act so mature, but at least we try).
One of my favorite sayings is "it’s the same all over". What’s happening in my household is happening all over America today. And it’s happening on this site. One way or another, this is an historic election like no other. Tomorrow I work the polls...it’s gonna be a long day. And when it’s over, I hope and pray that we have a clear winner and that on Wednesday morning, after a nice hot cup of collective tea, we all get up and accept the outcome with graciousness, determined to work together regardless of our differences to defeat the beast.
Whoa, UPDATE, news flash. Hubby just called on the way to work. He just saw a bumper sticker that says "Got Hope?". He changed his mind! (something rare and treasured!). Are you sure, honey? Yes, he still loves Hillary, still thinks she deserves the presidency, but the cottage industry of Hillary-Haters will make this such a divisive and bitter election and we cannot afford to lose. With a conflicted heart he will surrender his mail ballot at the polls tomorrow and vote for Obama.
So there. I’m kind of conflicted about the whole thing myself. We have two wonderful candidates and I would dearly love to have a woman president, but the time is right for only one.
It’s Obama’s moment.