My Perspective

This has been an HISTORIC campaign. Some were working to elect the first African American and they thought he would make the best President. Some were working to elect the first woman and they thought she would make the best President. Yes, there were things that happened during this primary campaign that were not right and we all know what they were. They need to be written about, addressed, and changed!! We have all learned a lot and that it good. This is only the beginning…this campaign taught us that there is so much more to do to have total equality in this country, but we have made a huge step forward. THANK YOU HILLARY!!!!

I have been a pragmatic, positive community organizer and political activist since the early 70’s. Hillary’s historic campaign provides us with an amazing opportunity that we can not miss. There are so many people who have become active for the first time. All of us who worked hard to collect almost 400 petitions against great odds, to put Hillary’s name in nomination and helped give her the ability to negotiate with Obama out of strength, we should be extremely proud. I want to personally thank Michele Thomas, John West and Suzanne Grier and so many others!!! Without them, none of this would have been possible and we would not have been successful. I have proudly worn my “300” button and my husband was even offered $30 for his (he said “No”, of course)…..it is worth soooooo much more than that!!!!

Just because Hillary is not the Democratic nominee (this time) does not mean that it is the end. We all have a wonderful new family now and there is so much to do. I will take some much needed time to rest and reflect and then will probably focus on educating, activating, and organizing women. We need to do that and we will organize!!!!

Hillary has shown such grace it has made me feel so proud to be a part of her campaign and cast my California delegate vote for her. I have done my share of crying at coming so close but losing the opportunity to have such an amazing, warm, caring, and brilliant person to be the first woman President of the United States. I have always believed that women bring a different perspective and different experiences to the table and need to be EQUALLY represented at every table for the sake of our country and the world. But what really got me was when Hillary asked us “Were you doing this for me or were you doing this for the people of this country?” There is a big difference between Obama and McCain, despite the flaws of the Democratic Party, we can not afford to have another Republican President. Please do what you can to help elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

PS: About the Roll Call vote – Politics played a part in how it happened which was to be expected. I understood what Hillary did and was very proud of her decision and the role that she played. California cast 263 votes for Obama and 179 for Hillary even though the state went 10% for Hillary.