While I’ve been a lurker on Daily Kos for years, I’ve always been too afraid to jump into the pool and post a blog. But, I’m so excited by this election, I wanted to take the time to make my introduction.
I’m a 20 something gay man who is working his butt off to make sure that Hillary Clinton is our nominee. I was a supporter of hers in 2008, knocking on doors, making phone calls and pretty much annoying anyone and everyone I could find. I did this because of my dad.
I was a late in life baby, born when my dad was already in his 60s. A child of the depression, and a life long Democrat, he forced me to go with him to campaign events, to knock on doors, to stand with the unions and to watch him like a hawk in the ballot booth. To him, FDR could walk on water, and he’d happily tell you stories about how the New Deal saved his family from starvation.
He taught me things. The value of exercising your right to vote. Of fighting for the people who need your help. Of standing up to racism, sexism and homophobia every time it rears its ugly head. He told me to never, ever refuse to get back up when something or someone puts you down. Fight for what you believe in and what can make the party and the country better.
In 2008, he, like a lot of us, was torn. While he liked then Senator Obama, and he digested every bit of news he could going up to the primaries, he also adored Senator Clinton. He would tell me, over and over, how he’d never seen someone so intelligent, so qualified and so ready to lead the country. He wanted to vote for her more than anything else.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get that opportunity. He passed away days before the primary. So, this year, in memory of him, I worked my butt off to deliver Ohio to Hillary. Every phone call, every person I helped get to the poll, every time I opened my mouth to explain why I support Sec. Clinton was done in memory of him. To show him that, yes, the next generation of Democrats is willing and able to do the grunt work necessary to elect, not just a President, but Congress people, Senators, Representatives and Governors.
Hillary reminds me of my dad. Hard working people, who have been knocked down and knocked around. But they always, always get back up, get to the business of working to make the Party and the country better. They’re not perfect, none of us are, but their pragmatism and practicality is inspiring to me.
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