The biggest drawback in studying abroad this year has been by far the fact that I had to miss all the campaigning for the primary season. While all my friends constantly updated their Facebook statuses about how they were in Iowa or New Hampshire, I was stuck talking about how I was in Japan. (OK, not a bad trade off...)
Little did I know though that my beloved Indiana would actually play an important role in our primary season, if not the closer role! "Woah!" I thought, "I am getting notices about Hillary and Barack coming to my school! Neat! Oh shit, no, I'm not there. Fuck."
Having been an avid Obama supporter since before it was "cool" to do so, I am naturally ecstatic that I will be handing him 5 or so votes he would not have been getting otherwise. My dearest traditional, white, middle class (and dare I say bitter) family will be voting for Obama. You're welcome, Barack!
Most people thought Hillary was the shoo-in for the nominee, but LAST APRIL, when I was invited to the first meeting of the "Indiana University Students for Barack Obama" group, I realized he had a chance. In this tiny classroom, on a weekend, when everyone on campus is usually drunk or sleeping, about 40 people packed in the room to sign up to join the campaign, as well as to eat free pizza. 40 people! This was more than came to the typical IU College Democrats meeting! This was a big deal. College kids everywhere were all aflutter for this amazing candidate. We like hope, and we saw it in him.
As it turned out, his message (and organizational skills, as evidenced by setting up these college groups nation-wide), wound up beating message and name-recognition. Granted, he hasn't quite won yet, but that's where I come in.
Immediately after the Pennsylvania primary, everyone started talking about Indiana this, Indiana that. The media learned that we call ourselves Hoosiers, that actually corn isn't that big of a deal here, and that we aren't all racist. Huzzah! Us small folk 'r famous!
When I saw Barack ahead in some polls in Indiana, I decided to send out e-mails to my mother, father, and two sisters (the extended family will be next). My father and older sister HATE Hillary Clinton for the most ridiculous reasons, so it wasn't hard to get them to go for Obama. My mother, however, stated she liked Hillary quite a while ago. Granted she voted for Bush twice, and thought John Kerry was SERIOUSLY the anti-Christ ("There's just something about his face," she explained)....
After my long-winded e-mail about Hillary having no decency, I get back a short reply from mommy dearest: "Well,I am slightly leaning toward Mr. B.O. I just wish that he had more experience. We'll see." This is code word from my mom that she is voting for Obama. Yippee! Three down!
My other sister, however, was going to be tough to crack. She was young, a woman, and LOVED Hillary for years. I didn't even know how I should have brought up the primary, because I was afraid we would get in a massive fight (and I can go to MyDD for that fun stuff)... But she sent a beautiful, lovely, GREAT reply after my simple "Are you planning on voting? I am fed up with this primary, so I am seeing who is going with Obama...":
Yes, I will be voting in the primary. In any other case than this, my candidate would be Clinton; however I am quite over the whole primary thing as well, so I will be voting for Obama.
Yes! Done! Everyone is on board! This is amazing!
To sum up, my conservative Dad will be voting for Obama, as will my older conservative sister. My other sister who is a feminist to an extreme has common sense and will be voting for Obama to end the primary, and my mother, who hated John Kerry for being elitist (and the devil) is leaning Obama.
In short, if my family represents Indiana (which it definitely does), Hillary is out of supporters. We were supposed to be her base. We said, No.
Buh-bye!
And that was that.