Here is my most recent blog post on
The Road to the White House.
Tuesday night I watched the world change before my eyes.
I was standing in the
Massachusetts Democratic headquarters at 11:00pm preparing to interview Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray when the presidential race was called for Senator Barack Obama.
The room erupted with cheering that was deafening. The emotion was simply overwhelming.
People were hugging, smiling, and some even broke down crying.
I had to hold back the tremendous emotion I felt as I was working as a member of the press; the historical significance of Obama's election was awesome.
In the streets of Boston and around the globe thousands of the young and old, black and white, gay and straight celebrated as one people; one community; one nation.
They celebrated not only a victory for the next president, but a victory for hope and optimism; a victory for
America.
I've never seen anything like it before.
President-elect Obama revolutionized campaigning through his utilization of the internet. The power of the web was outstanding during this election cycle. The Obama campaign organized thousands of volunteers to travel to swing states, make phone calls, knock on doors, and plead Barack Obama's case to regular people. His campaign was very well organized and worked like a well oiled machine; each cog, gear, nut and bolt doing its part to contribute to the larger goal. His website raised hundreds of millions of dollars from millions of donors; their small contributions of five, ten, or twenty dollars helped make the difference. His funds for the month of September were unprecedented and astounding; over $150 million! But, these are not the primary factors as to why he is the 44th President of the United States.
Barack Obama is the president because he inspired a generation of new voters to go to the polls in record numbers, and has reengaged the public in the political process. He made us feel as though we were all a part of his journey to the White House, and in a way were all were. He did not just campaign in Blue America or Red America, Real America or Fake America; he was not concerned for the issues facing one America over the other. Instead, he brought his message of change and hope to all of the people in the United States of America.
He is the JFK, RFK, and MLK for the 21st century. In his short time in politics, he has destroyed the ultimate racial blockade, and has finally ratified the foundation of our nation: that indeed all men are created equal. He is a man for all Americans, all creeds, and all nations. The faith he has instilled in Americans will change the culture in this nations of ours.
The road of course will not be easy. Democrats and Republicans are going to have to compromise and work together to move this country in a new direction. We all have to work together to show the world that America is in fact back, and ready to lead again.
Wednesday morning I was still marveling at the history I had witnessed the night before. People throughout the city of Boston walked down the streets with big smiles on their faces (you would have thought all four sports teams won every championship at the same time!).
It was then I reached the conclusion that over the course of this campaign we have all seen that nothing is impossible; that the American Dream still exists and really can come true. Our country is back on course. We're going to unite this nation. America will lead again. We're going to repair our world.
Yes, we can. Yes, we will.
