I was brought up to love this country, but the last seven years has placed a seed of cynicism in my heart.
It's not just the horror of the Bush administration that has made me feel this way.
Watching the Democratic party repeatedly submit to Bush's tyrannical agenda, I had begun to suspect that American democracy itself was only a pretense the powerful used to cover their tracks as they build an empire on the backs of the people.
As the 2008 presidential elections approach, I was hopeful not so much for a change in politics, as I was for a change in scenery. It's one thing to live in a farce--it's another thing to be constantly reminded of it.
But as I began to follow Barack Obama's candidacy and, more importantly, the movement it generated, my mind started to change.
As he has for many others, Barack Obama has reminded me of everything I love about this country. It's not his ability to give a speech, his charisma, or (Ferraro's assertion to the contrary) his race. Rather, what inspires me is Obama's ability and courage to speak the truth about our history and who we are, while at the same time showing us how we can become a better people.
I think Obama is the strongest presidential candidate Democrats have had in generations, but as strong as he is, he needs and deserves the full support of the party now that he has essentially locked up the Democratic nomination.
Imagine if instead of Obama giving his historic speech on race by himself, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Al Gore, and Jimmy Carter were standing behind him.
Imagine if as Obama talked with the networks about his relationship to his pastor, all of the major figures in the Democratic party did the same thing, vouching for Obama's character and patriotism.
Imagine if Hillary Clinton were to give a speech about Obama, praising his strength, his experience, and judgment.
Imagine if John Edwards went around the white working class cities of Ohio, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, declaiming that no presidential candidate could care more or would do more to help them than Barack Obama.
Imagine if Bill Clinton were to get in some Fox News anchor's face, telling him how dare he question Barack Obama's love for his country.
Imagine if Barack Obama's only opponent was John McCain.
Instead, the news today is filled with stories about how Clinton's only path to the nomination is to make Obama seem unelectable and to flame ridiculous though damaging insinuations about his association with his pastor.
Instead of ensuring the election of a president, the leaders of the Democratic party are putting up roadblocks, as they fight amongst themselves or stand cravenly still.
Barack Obama has shown us how a leader acts. It's time for the so-called leaders of the Democratic to follow his example and rally around Obama's candidacy.