Obama for America

I remember how strange it was a few years ago when I received literature from this skinny guy running for US Senate. At the time I lived in Aurora, IL. "Barack Obama?", I thought to myself, "That this guy has not a chance to win." Then something weird happened. I keep getting the mail pieces. Then phone calls and really not much else from the other candidates running in the Democratic primary.

Now I really was not used to all this attention Barack was giving me. You see, I lived on the Republican side of town (west of Orchard Road... closer to the corn field then the mall). It was almost a joke to be a Democrat here. This was the land of Dennis Halstert. Who in the heck was this scrappy guy named Obama?

So after throwing out three mailers without reading them, the forth, I took a look at. It turns out that this guy had an impressive record in the Illinois legislator. He was an activist in early life, seemed to be a straight shooter and a family man. I decided to give the guy with the funny name a chance.

Barack ended up winning the primary and as soon as the Republicans imported a candidate from another state (Allen Keys), his fate was sealed. He was off to the US Senate with a landslide of a win.

Then came the Democratic Convention speech. It seemed so out of place to me. It was just plain beautiful to listen to. Everyone was impressed and said, we might see him running for the White House in 2012.

Suddenly, there that skinny guy was again. Running for president and I was now ever deeper in Red State country as my new job took me to Kansas.

So the debates roll by, the caucus' and primaries finally find their way to me. Barack wins Kansas in a landslide... I mean 70%+. Stunning! Why though?

The message of hope and "Yes We Can" go along with my philosophy of asking "Why Not?" whenever we are told we can't do something in America. It disgusts me how much American's settle for the status quo. It really is time to challenge the structures that are in place today and make sure that the next generation has the same passion for America that I do.

I hear all the time how America is the greatest nation on Earth. Is that still true? Is it more of a slogan or reality? I want to ensure that it is true. In order to ensure that, we all must get off the couch, turn off the TV and start making it happen. It is too easy to watch time and your life pass by without doing something truly inspiring.

I think the generation just coming into adulthood realizes this. They are just grasping the concept. It just needs a bit of structure and a few optimistic older folks to lead the way.

Barack Obama represent the first real opportunity to harness the energy that sits right there for us to generate real change. He is the spark that will light another fire of opportunity for America.

Face it, the policies of Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Barack Obama and any other Democrat are not that different. The big difference is an inspirational leader that tells us we can do it with hard work. A leader that will not lie to us or treat the electorate like sheep. He does not play little tricks, he has a consistent message, and can deliver it with oratory skill that compare to MLK, JFK or Abe Lincoln. Words do matter!

Once America gets past the superficial and is bombarded with the reality of Barack Obama, hope with fill the air of America and our children will have something to really believe in.