President-elect Barack Obama
November 5, 2008 by Tracee Sioux
Filed under Parenting
We left the party and sent the kids to bed last night when we were sure of the election outcome.
Obviously, I’m thrilled that my children will have a fundamental mood in the country, and from their leaders, be one of optimism rather than fear.
Forget fear people. It will do nothing to empower anyone.
I’m going to soak it in today. Optimism and hope taste a hell of a lot better than fear and anger as an American Sentiment.
My daughter is as thrilled to wake to a world of Barack Obama even though her friends’ parents tell them that “Obama is a baby-killing Muslim and will likely be killed because he’s black.”
More about how I spoke to her about those fears on Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me.
Yet, I spent 13 hours yesterday with a wide grin on my face hoping that not everyone in my East Texas town feels this fear-driven.
My Republican Election Judge informed me that “he doesn’t think women should have the right to vote – we’re not ’stake-holders,’ you see.”
I chuckled and politely informed him that “He probably didn’t own enough property to have the right to vote if we’re going on original Founding Fathers’ sentiments and everyone who pays taxes is a stake-holder and that includes everyone, even women and blacks.”
But, every now and then I’d see a voter registration card marked Democrat and I’d take hope.
And at the end of the day my fondness for Texans grew as I saw that nearly 1/2 of my fellow citizens chose light and healing and future over darkness and fearful anger and past.
We didn’t turn completely blue but, we are at least a deep shade of Purple.
Of course, We’re still stuck with the wholly unenlightened Republican DinkWads John Corynn and Ralph Hall here in Texas – we’re sorry America.
Then I read this quote from, “The people have spoken. We hear the people and now it’s time to come behind our president,” Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, told “The Early Show” on CBS on Wednesday. “The Senate is going to have to work things out in a bipartisan way, and I think the test is going to be right there.”
I hope to see Republican women reinvent their party over the next 8 years. Maybe Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Sarah Palin will lead the way to that.
I was thrilled to see that four the Emily’s List candidates I sent money to won their races. Democrats have a clear majority and if Republicans like Kay Bailey act in a spirit of compromise rather than fear (or fear of not being reelected in 2 years – either way is fine).
I’ll keep this strategy in mind in 2 years when more representatives come up for election. We have vested interest in our representatives in other states and our chances to win may be better elsewhere. Some states, some people, are just more resistant to change – any kind of change – even good change.
Oh and bring on the affordable health insurance!
Heal the racial divide!
This man will be a healing force in the American Psyche.
Big Wide Grins and Sighs of Relief all around.
Photo Source: President-Elect Barack Obama with me at the Texas Democratic Convention courtesy Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me.
Amen to hoping the Republicans reinvent themselves!
I can’t believe East Texas voted that way! I’m sure you know what happened here in Harris County: Obama won by a slight margin and alot of local democrats won. Dems unseated many, many Republican incumbants in judicial races and elsewhere.
It was so horribly humiliating when it was widely reported that 20 percent of Texans think Obama is a muslim. My dad is one of those people. And probably my brotherinlaw. Sigh. They would be appalled if I suggested that it shouldn’t matter whether he’s a christian or a muslim.
Here’s hoping people let go of the fear. All the “hide your wallet and your guns” and “get ready to lose your freedoms” sentiment I see here in Texas is silly.
The only city/county elected official Republican who won here was a woman. (I voted for her because Ainsley’s her kid’s BFF.) see, I can cross party lines. Also, local elections shouldn’t be party elections anyway. It’s stupid.
Yes, ignorance is humiliating. A friend is also humiliated that Mormons were against the gay marriage issue in California. (Considering their history with polygamy it’s a little hypocritical.)
But, thank the Good Lord Colorado did not “redefine a person as a fertilized egg – even before it implants in the uterus.” Which would have made it illegal to use BIRTH CONTROL.
Pro-Lifers – here’s the reason you’re ineffective – you’re aligning yourselves with NUT JOBS that want to outlaw BIRTH CONTROL. Ditch the psychos to proceed with effective abortion legislation. Thank goodness 73% of people felt that FAMILY’s (meaning the women in them) should continue to be able to take
The Pill.
Bizarrely – HALF the people in Colorado didn’t feel they should amend the constitution to provide equal rights to people. 50/50. Does this mean half the people think discriminating is a good thing?
Bring on the healthcare. Sadly, the Lea family does not have time on our side.
Yes, I let out a big, sigh and felt very, very confident in my vote when I watched the McCain supporters vs the Obama supporters last night. Ironically, John McCain resembled his old self last night – warm, sincere, patriotic (in a good way), obviously disgusted with alarmist,ignorant,crazies who think booing (on National TV) the next american president will be a good thing! I think in that moment, John McCain recognized his some of his supporters might very well have been his campaign’s worst enemies.
Watching Barack Obama take the stage last night with his family was wonderful. Watching him so graciously and sincerely and humbly accept his victory and so seriously give props to McCain for all he’s done for our country made me feel so confident that this was the right outcome.
Me too – I thought McCain did a stand-up job. It’s a shame they pandered to America’s darker said by saying “terrorist” in connection with Obama’s candidacy every chance they could.
America did not dig it.
sadly, I’m surrounded by a lot of Americans who did.
I think it’s goign to be amusing to watch the realization slowly sink in that he’s not any of these horrible things..just a man..a black man…just a man..
I think John McCain would have been much better off had he realized he’d get the support of the Evangelicals no matter what he did. Especially with Palin on the ticket – he didn’t have to pander to them, he didn’t have to discard the pretty cool liberal republican he used to be..it’s sad really.
For him, not for me..I’m happy.
I was thinking about this today and it occurred to me that I have “racist relatives” who actually looked passed Obama’s blackness and voted for him anyway.