So I made my calls to West Virginia tonight. I was scared. I don't like calling people in the privacy of their own homes. But I thought that "if someone called me, maybe I would want to talk politics." So, I swallowed my fear, drummed up courage and called. And, guess what? Alberdina is voting for Barack.
Now why is this such a big deal to me? Could it be that when I first heard Barack speak in 2002 and give his now famous "dumb war" speech that I want other people to recognize somebody special? Is it because I next volunteered for his U.S. Senate campaign?
No, I think it is because when I actually met Barack at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago and we were given the very last slot in the entire parade and there were only a handful of supporters, and he was so gracious and genuine and he was in the race for the right reasons and every single voter mattered.
Yes, that's it. Every single voter mattered early on in 2003 and every single vote matters now. Every single new supporter of what Barack stands for mattered back then. It made a huge difference. There was one more person who saw beyond the media spin. Even back then, Barack stood against great odds. There was one more person that believed that they, too, had a stake in the election and in the future for their children. One more person who saw that honesty and a belief in the founding father's constitution is what holds this fragile country together.
I am ecstatic that Alberdina is voting for Barack. On the phone, she sounded like she was ninety years old. I have no idea whether she was black or white. And no, she did not need a ride to the polls. But there is one god blessed voter out there who believes as I do that the American people are ready to be brave and stand firm on justice and principle.