Transition words.
The transition has begun. I’m not only talking about the changing of the White House gaurd, but also the morphing of my opinion of Obama from inspirational, innovative candidate to less-than-cutting-edge President Elect. Team Obama seems more intent on reconstructing Clinton’s cabinent than bringing change we can believe in to Washington. Sure, it’s is no surprise. Bill was a successful President, and Barack probably needs some experienced hands to show him around town. Obama will be a much better President than what I’ve become accustomed to over the past 30 years, but even if he totally sucks ass, I don’t think his failures as a President will negate his successes as a candidate.
In the days before the election, I was canvassing in mostly Black Philadelphia neighborhoods, making sure people could get to the poll and giving out Obama lit. Little kids were following me and my fellow door-knocker chanting “O-bam-ah! O-bam-ah!”. We were greeted by waves, smiles and horn honks on every block we hit. Most powerfully, old people would tell us that no matter how long the line, they were going to vote. They had waited their whole life for this election, they said, a few hours at the poll wasn’t going to matter to them. It was deeply moving to see that kind of energy and excitement and to feel that there was a real possibility for change to happen in this counrty.
I was coming back to New York, approaching the Holland Tunnel with the Statue of Liberty and NY skyline coming into view, when ABC News announced that Ohio went for Obama. Obama had pretty much won, and I started to tear up (for the first of many times that night). I’ve seen myself as a radical since I was 13. I’ve never felt particularly proud of my country, but at that moment I was a patriot. I don’t think Barack Obama will restore my faith in politicians, but his election restored my faith in humanity, if only for a night.
