Hi all.
It has been a looooong time since I've published a diary. Oh, I've written quite a few, but for one reason or another, I haven't hit publish for quite.some.time. Oh, there have been reasons. Good reasons even. And don't get me wrong, there have been issues. We've had huge issues and I've had plenty to say.
But I never hit publish.
Why?
I'll tell you if you follow me over the bump.
Barack Obama's running for president brought me into politics. It got me here. It made me get involved in something I've never really felt compelled to do.
Hell, I never gave a dollar to a political campaign before.
The man inspired me, and thousands of others, to for the first time in our lives, give of ourselves - both money and time - on the wager that it would make a difference. I believed in him. Fully.
And we won. Damn right. We won.
And then reality set in. The right made a bet the they could profit (both politically and otherwise) by following a two part strategy: Say no to everything, no matter how trivial, and, foment hatred and anger towards anything other - personified in the president, but also by anyone other than a right wing male who believed to the letter the utter bullshit they spouted.
And the president wasn't perfect. True in fact, but more importantly, true in perception. He didn't magically have the answer to every problem or obstacle place in his path. He didn't magically create backbone in career politicians who panicked when the tea party banged its drum. He didn't move at the pace that many thought was the only true way he could prove himself to us.
And I doubted.
I've never really doubted his policy moves - and I know that puts me at odds with many here. I'm okay with a lot more of the steps he has taken than many on this site in national security (no, not all.) I've tried to understand his strategies, the importance he has placed on living his Christian ethic (forgive 7 times 7, Golden Rule, etc.) in the face of continuous and non-stop obstruction.
But I doubted whether he would make me proud of him in this fundamental way that he has done today. It is true. I figured at best he would "come out" after the election. I assumed he was going to ask our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters to once again wait to hear it.
And I understood the risks here. Please don't be deceived, this is not something that necessarily helps him among those he needs to convince in the 5 or 6 swing states he needs to secure reelection. National polling means nothing on this. This is about middle America. And it's about the middle of middle America.
And that doubt kept me from putting myself out there. Hence no diaries published. I know it's convoluted, but there it is.
And it also has given me the excuse to put off deciding to start contributing to the campaign. Which gets me to my point.
Last time around, I used my willingness to part with as much money as the law allows to help others here part with whatever amount they were comfortable with. In the end, I maxed out. And I'm hoping to do the same this time.
But I need your help.
Today I created my grassroots fundraising page. I've set a goal of $5,000. I intend to reach that goal with your help. I will match every dollar contributed via that page as long as I'm allowed to do so.
Here's a little reminder of what I hope we get to do this January!
Please do whatever you can. Remember, in American politics money matters. And because it matters, it is the means by which we will win this election - we will NOT outspend the other side. Remember, we may not even outspend the Koch brothers alone! But what we can do is make sure that the president's team has everything it needs to win or lose on issues. And if that is the case we win. But perhaps more importantly, most importantly in fact, is that I want as much fundraising as humanly possible to be tied in time to today's news.
From grassroots supporters.
From me, who gave a hell of a lot last time, but until now have not given a penny.
From you, the true progressive part of the base.
From anyone and everyone who cares about equality in all its forms.
I want today to be remembered as the day that put this thing away. Not that it won't be a long slog, it will. But what I want is for today to be what is looked back upon as the day the landslide of 2012 was predicated upon. And I want that because I want in his second term for the president to shed any possible hesitation and use every tool he has to turn back this tide of hatred and bigotry we saw in force yesterday.
Note: I wanted to get this out today, but I will probably republish as daily as necessary to reach my goal. So do yourselves a favor and get me to my limit quickly! You won't regret it. Of that I'm sure.