Obama - He is us.

This is a first-time diary for me.  I felt compelled to write this after watching Obama's speech today.  The reason I'm supporting Obama is simple - he is us.  He is all that makes American a great nation and he is all that makes us what we are - good and bad, right and wrong, weak and strong... He has the qualities that can bring the country together and he is in a position to make significant changes in how we think about ourselves.

I am a 50 year old white female - I can see this and I know others can as well.  Let's not let the MSM skew what this election is all about.  Let's take a look at the man and the candidate and ignore the continued MSM's efforts to divide us as a nation.  

Obama is black - yes this is part of him and he made that perfectly clear today.  He will bring all the experiences of what it means to be a black man in America to the office of President.  

Obama is white - yes, lest we forget he as technically 1/2 white.  He was raised by a white mother and grand parents.  He knows the white experience as well and he made this perfectly clear today in his discussion of his grandmother, his family and his understanding of the white-attitude that is often ignored as well.  As he mentioned this is something that needs to be discussed and understood before we can move on.  If not, it will go on.

Obama knows what it is like to grow up in a single-parent family.  The trials of a divided family is unfortunately a large part of today's socieity.  He knows what that is all about.

Obama has experiences like no other candidate  He knows what 'racism" means and how it can impact children.  He understands this in a way no other presidential candidate in history can.  He can, more than anyone in the race, understand what that means and that means a lot to me.

Obama is privileged.  He recognizes that he is where he is due to a exceptional schools, privileged education and opportunities.  He understands how this has lead him to where he is and recognizes that many in American do not have this chance.  He has come from diversity and has made his way inspite of the obstacles he had.  He knows what hard work can lead to and he better than other candidates can communicate that to others.

Obama is truely a leader. His way with words serve as an inspiration.  Unlike any candidate in this race, he inspires me to not only listen and but to hear the words.  Not like the old-style politics.

There are many other attributes...too many to list here. If he has the chance, I believe he can bring this country together in a way like no other in history.  I encourage everyone to help him get there.

•  Well,said

  kyman...I am a 50-something white guy born and raised in rural america who was so moved by Obama today.. I am still reeling.

  Barack Obama is the living embodiment of what I have always hoped for in a President.
  Courage,Honesty,Character,Wisdom,Compassion,and Strength all rolled into one package.

  Please America, do us all a favor and elect this man.

  by Hawkjt on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 09:54:55 AM PDT

  •  Thank you for the comments..

    As I continue to think about this, I as a 50-year old white female, should have more in common with HRC than OBAMA...But as this election has continued, I cannot find anything, any value, any ideal that I share with her.  She seems so hell-bent on winning at all costs, I have lost respect for her.  

    I put myself in her shoes and ask "why can't she see what she is doing to this party?"  

    She is trying to connect to Americans but it is just not happening.  Obama does this without trying.  That I believe is the difference.

    by Kyman on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:47:47 AM PDT

  •  Tips are Welcome!

    by Kyman on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 11:19:26 AM PDT

•  Obama embodies the evolution of Democracy

  I agree kyman.

  Barack Obama has done his homework.  His ' inner ' homework.

  Now he asks all Americans .. to do theirs.

  This is the process of growing into a true global civilization that treats each member of every country with honor, dignity and compassion.

  The people of the earth are one family with one heart.

  This is what great leaders do.

  Ask the people to listen, learn and grow.

  This is what planting the seeds of hope is about.

  and the harvest ...

  World peace and prosperity.

  by abarefootboy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:01:17 AM PDT

•  Read his books.

  Everyone who blogs here or just browse through the site should read both of his books. Especially "Dreams for My Father". Don't judge Obama by what his Pastor said. Don't judge Obama by his crowd. Don't judge Obama by his color of the skin. Judge him by his character.

  When I read his book, I find myself in that book. I found the ups and downs my family went through, which is similar to his. I could relate myself with his life. I could relate myself with his character.

  BLOGGERS lets not argue over stupid statements that MSM makes to confuse America. Their job is to find sensation and get rating, and we are being fooled in this course. Pat Buchanan or any of those so called analyst aren't smarter than us. They are just making fuss out of out of nothing.

  When I wanted to date a girl from different race than mine, my mom was furious about it. She said so many things that was offensive towards that race. I disagreed with her, but she is my mom and I still love her as much as my girl friend. SO just put yourself in Obama's shoes and try to find the similarity. You will be amazed how real this guy looks like.

  by atomicprince on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:02:53 AM PDT

•  I think you've nailed it, Kyman.

  I am a 62-year old (former) Republican who changed parties in 2003
  because of Mr. Bush's war in Iraq. I see a Clinton presidency as just more Bush-like political maneuvering and am just tired of it. I would most certainly like to see
  Senator Obama in that big White House at 1600 Pensylvania Avenue.
  If all the numbers are correct, I see no way for Senator Clinton
  to do anything but further divide this great nation with
  her continued dirty-tricks campaign style.

  by Alan Charles on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:03:43 AM PDT

•  Thanks for posting, Kyman

  Keep writing. You said exactly what i was thinking...

  by DFAer on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:31:20 AM PDT

•  YES HE IS US, he is me and my family, I love him!

  by Hope Monger on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:37:04 AM PDT

  •  He is Us, He is America....

    We are fortunate he had the personal courage to share this powerful testimony to all of us, about an America deeply flawed but with the power and ability to get better.

    by serrano on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 11:00:09 AM PDT

•  There's been

  a lot of "identity politics" in this race so far. And maybe it's not the most high minded way to look at things, but it's there and it's not going away. Obama, because he's newer and has a funny name has had to find ways to make himself familiar to any number of people, starting with and including African-American communities that were wary of him at the beginning. But he's been saying, and I think it works, that despite the unfamiliar name and unusual background, he embodies quite a bit that is utterly familiar, the WW II vet grandfather, the divorced feminist mother, and he himself an "enlightened" father with young children who still forgets to put away the butter sometimes...

  by JMS on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:37:33 AM PDT

•  Where's your tip jar?

  Wonderful first diary !

  by OrdinaryGal on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:45:13 AM PDT

  •  I'm new to this...I don't know!

    by Kyman on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:48:43 AM PDT

•  Me too...

  This is the first time I'm commenting or writing but I was so moved by his speech and the ideas it embodies. I sit here asking myself, can we really do this? Can we really get beyond all of our "stuff" and move forward? I honestly hope and pray that we can. I'm a 59 year old white female who has such high hopes for my children and grandchild and our country. I want to take on the MSM and put pressure on them to stop trying to tear us apart by distorting. The question I have is how?

  by lilysnana on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 11:01:02 AM PDT

  •  I first realized

    the power of the media during the Swiftboating of John Kerry. Admittedly, Kerry should have responded with more punch, but the continuous 24 hour news cycle of the 527 ad, the pundits commenting over and over, the media made it a story that wouldn't die. Since then, I've become a media watcher of sorts. The only advice I have is that when you hear or see something that is reported inaccurately and unfairly, email or call that media outlet. I've been doing it for years.

    by OrdinaryGal on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 11:48:17 AM PDT