Back in early 2004, I heard about Obama for the first time when he began his campaign for U.S. Senate. Not knowing much about him, I decided to read his memoir, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, which I’m holding in my hand in the picture. If you haven’t read this book already, read it. If you think you know Obama already and haven’t read it, read it!  It was after reading this memoir that I realized Barack Obama would be a man who could change our country. For the first time in my life, I felt connected to a political figure through his crosscultural experience with race, community and desire to bridge the differences among people. His book affected me so deeply that it motivated me to volunteer for his campaign as a precinct committeeperson and pollwatcher in Wheaton, IL in 2004. I walked my neighborhood door-to-door making sure people were registered to vote, giving information about the Democratic candidates and answering any fears about the whole election process. This picture was exactly four years ago in October. I remember finding out Obama was coming to Wheaton at about 2:00 in the afternoon (when you volunteer, you are kept in the loop about these things). I took my son out of school early that day. When I picked him up, I told him, “Owen, I’m taking you out of school today because I want you to meet a man who will one day be our U.S. senator from Illinois and some years after that, our president of the United States, our first Black president!” That was a historic day for Owen and me. This is a historic time for us now.  Be part of making history, of producing change in this country. Please vote on November 4.

Pennsylvania Canvassers

Pennsylvania is a swing state, so that’s where we New Yorkers went.

On our canvass there were two amazing high school kids who spent the day with us talking to undecided voters. They can’t vote yet but they thought they could make a difference by talking to people. And they did. We saw it happen. People on the fence or reluctantly voting Obama got inspired, signed up to volunteer,committed to vote and to help get out the vote. The kids didn’t know all the issues, that’s not necessary. But they talked to people and connected and had fun, too. People are deeply affected to see someone who cares, and cares what they think.

Also canvassing were some non-citizens who were likewise trying to make a difference in the only way they can. That was pretty cool. The stakes are high; the whole world knows this. Imagine a foreign person walking up to the door of an undecided, uniformed, or uninterested voter, trying to convince them to use their vote! Ah America! Remember our revolution? We were going to do better than those Europeans! Remember?! Remember pledging our “lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor” for the right to self-determination? Remember the long struggle to spread that right to women and African-Americans?

I drove down with some kids in their twenties who were more passionate, dedicated, and informed than anyone I’ve met in a long time, of any age. They too were an inspiration to me. They’re also silly as hell, so try not to get stuck in a car with them. (I kid! I love your love of 80s pop music!) We shot this video and the Philly office edited it.

So all these people, they are why I am for Obama.

Someone recently reminded me that in the shift to identity politics, self-interested and single-issue voting, we’ve forgotten that we are meant to support not just those who represents OUR interests, viewpoints, and goals, but those who we think will best represent the country as a whole. (Thanks Lucas.)

None of these people had to be reminded of that, and they selflessly gave up a Saturday, and more, to try to spread that message, that Obama is that candidate who will do the best job for the whole country and all of the individuals in it.

Except the jerks.

Voting is great, but it’s not enough. Please get involved! Vote plus!

I’m for Obama… because I think any decisions he will make in office will be considered and appropriate. He inspires his listeners to become better people; better Americans.

Julie Gilmour

I’m for Obama… because I know that I don’t agree with everything he’s done, but that doesn’t make me afraid of him, of the people around him, or of what he might do in office. I won’t agree with everything he does, and he’ll probably make some mistakes, but as we’ve seen in this campaign, he’s calm, meditative, and in control. He’s like one of us.

Matt Kohn

I’m a Christian.

As a writer, I was interviewing author and speaker Tony Campolo about how affluent Christians in the suburbs might engage with the poor. I had a few ideas in my head of stuff I thought he should say—for my article. Instead, Dr. Campolo suggested that suburban Christians should make a point of connecting, personally, with an urban church. Which seemed like a tall order when they’re already sort of occupied running around to soccer practices and piano lessons and cotillion. Around election time, Campolo suggested, invite folks who live in the inner-city to speak in suburban churches about how they’ll vote, and their reasons why.

It was not at all the sound byte I was after. Which was sort of disappointing.

Before I knew it, though, I’d said thank-you and hung up the phone, stuck with whatever I’d scribbled down on a scrap of paper.

Here’s the thing, though—that whole idea started to grow on me.

Thankfully, I already live in an urban neighborhood. So I didn’t really have to invite anybody anyplace. I just had to…remain conscious. Which felt doable to me.

After speaking with Dr. Campolo I started to notice that yard after yard after yard on my street had an OBAMA sign in it. Mentally, I filed this away. Though the suburbanish church I attend avoids pulpit politics—which I’m confident is for the best—I heard from a neighbor that the message from the pulpit of the Baptist Church around the corner from my home was pretty blatantly Obamian. Duly noted.

Basically, what I started to learn from my inquiry was that a bunch of poor folks in North Carolina were voting for Barack Obama.

In my book, that’s worth something.

Hear me: I’m not recommending this logic across the board. If you live in a neighborhood with impoverished KKK members who post colorful yard signs, just walk away.

I do think that Jesus was terribly concerned with the needs and concerns of the poor. I’m not going to pull the WWJD card and suggest that Jesus would vote for Barack Obama. I’m not certain he wouldn’t, but I just wouldn’t stoop to doing that weird insulting thing.

Bottom line: With love and respect for the neighbors which are mine, I plan to join them by casting my vote on election day for Barack Obama.

-Margot Starbuck in NC

Blog launched today, messages sent to my friends and family and heroes. Let’s go!

PLEASE REGISTER on the right hand side and create your own post-you can upload files, etc.! You can comment on this post, but it will get lost, and others can’t comment on what you say!

Also, if you have a picture of Obama leaning sideways to hug you, you know the one, this would be a great place to post that.

More details on the pages: Create! and Engage!

(My post coming soon, and will somehow combine my unashamed hope for a better world with my selfish desire to have Obama in the White House so I can relax and return my attention to monkeys and shiny objects and love!)