A heartfelt personal statement of support for Barack Obama from a Gen Yer I know...

[DeepModem Mom]

addressed to a Boomer --

Please forgive some serious cheesiness, but it's the only way I could get this all out:

I got in the car this morning, and started listening to NPR and for the first time in years, I was truly proud to be an American. I have decided to go with my generational cohorts and get on the Obama proverbial bandwagon and ride it as far as it will go. I think fear of potential violence as well as a certain unknown factor as to his potential performance is warranted, but the whole point of the thing is we cannot let fear make our decisions for us anymore. Yes, if given the choice, I would probably want Hillary making personal medical decisions for me, but I would rather bring Obama as my guest to a dinner party in Paris or India or anywhere around the world, which in many ways is just as important. I love Hillary, and her signature bad-assedness, and there is no question in my mind that she would be a great and historic President, and I will certainly not start bad-mouthing her or discouraging people from supporting her cause. By no fault of her own, however, she represents a time and place, it seems to even those who love the Clintons, that carries with it a feeling of the "old guard." If she's our candidate, I will proudly vote for her and adamantly support her, but I will be more nervous on that day that the other side will be able to take it all away from us based on something obscenely stupid like Bill's behavior, or a Whitewater-style imagined "controversy."

I also know Obama is not the saintly figure that's being put forth (no one is). But the fact of the matter is the man inspires when he talks, and he makes you believe what he says is possible. Bill could do that, but not in the goose-bump-inducing way Obama can. To a generation raised by Baby Boomers who have regaled us our whole lives with stories about the Kennedys and Martin Luther King, and encouraged us to be activists for change because a huge, determined generation can, indeed, change the world, I think you have to admit that you actually set us up to respond instantly to this ethnically diverse, youthful man who ignites passion within our own forums of cultural expression (the Facebook/MySpace, YouTube online world). It should be a compliment to you all that he is the candidate who reminds us most of the ideals you have always put forth to us and, inadvertantly, taught us to identify.

Yes, there's the "experience" issue, but The President of the United States is not only a decision-maker, but a figure-head, and the thought of this man being the public face of our country makes me proud. It seems to me people questioned Bill's experience, as well as JFK's. I trust Obama and his people to put together a team that will, at the very freaking least, not get us into the world-wide calamity the past 8 years have brought, and perhaps, by the sheer difference of the image, bring some immediate and much-needed healing to the country and the world.

I am completely naive and idealistic, I am aware... he will eventually let me down or others will bring him down in any way they can. But I think that's what I'm supposed to be ... and until that time, I'm going to enjoy it.

[annabanana]

1. That's a smart kid you know there, DeepModem Mom. .

My son (also a "Millennial") is leaning Obama as well..

[Radical Activist]

2. Obama sounded like Kennedy last night.

He is the Kennedy of Gen Y. He's our next great Democratic leader.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. That's very sweet.

You've taken a lot of shit for defending Hillary and I respect your for that.

I'm sticking w/ my girl. My ballot comes in the mail next week and I can't wait to proudly vote for her.

Obama is wonderful, I think he could win the nomination (not with my vote) and could win the presidency (with my vote). But I don't think my heart will be in that vote if it comes to that. The insults I have had thrown at me for supporting her has taken it's toll. At this point I can't even bring myself to putting a bumper sticker on my car or a yard sign at my house.

But who knows. If Obama gets it and the RW fuckers start shit, I'll be there to defend him.

[tammywammy]

6. Good luck Ronny

I don't vote until March. x(

And I know you'd defend Obama if it's him.

[ronnykmarshall]

7. I was screaming at the radio on the way home.

On our local Air America station this asshole called him an "empty suit" (Bush voter) and I about lost it.

[tammywammy]

12. awww

You're definitely my most favorite Hillary supporter here.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Thank you, ronny --

I'm actually an Obama supporter, but I liked all our candidates, and would support and defend that "badass" (and that's meant as a compliment) Hillary Clinton until the day I die. I have posted articles both negative and positive about all the candidates, and I have never hesitated to post an article supportive of Clinton regardless of the response. I salute all the HRC supporters on this board, and while I celebrate Obama's victory, I do not regard it as an opportunity to kick Hillary while she's down, or to forget her achievement as the first female candidate to have risen to the top tier of candidates for President of the United States.

My immediate family is a family divided in support between Obama and HRC -- just as our board is. Thank goodness the level of discourse among us has not reached the level of some of the discourse here.

[ronnykmarshall]

13. You made me tear up

and I think I need that right now.

[CTLawGuy]

11. stick up for what you believe in!

our primary system is messed up partially because people often do not, especially in later contests.

Cheers :toast:

[ronnykmarshall]

14. Thanks !!

:cheers: to you and Democratic victory in November.

I got the coolest call from Hillary's HQ in DC tonight for donations. I had already donated this afternoon and the lady on the phone was all "YAH RONNY! Thank you!" Made my night.

[GalleryGod]

4. Well done!

I canvassed for this guy in L.A.


And now I'm 111% behind this guy...


Enjoy YOUR ride...He's the one.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. You were part of history, GalleryGod -- and I think we're seeing more history now. nt

[GalleryGod]

22. Indeed.

[DeepModem Mom]

23. What a wonderful photo -- look at the expression on the elderly woman's face! nt

[babylonsister]

5. Rec'd and Whoa! This is really nice. Thanks for sharing, Mom! nt

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Thanks, babylonsister! nt

[flpoljunkie]

9. Thanks for this revealing post, DeepModem Mom. Enjoyed reading it very much.

[DeepModem Mom]

18. You're most welcome, flpoljunkie! nt

[elizm]

10. From one boomer to another...your friend 'gets' what I have been feeling for a year now...

Thank you so much for sharing.

[DeepModem Mom]

19. You're welcome, elizm! nt

[starroute]

15. My son, who's on the Gen X/Gen Y cusp ...

... IM'd me earlier today, asking what I made of the caucus results and then saying, "While Edwards still has the slightly better platform, at this point I've sort of thrown in with Obama. Charismatic, not-evil, and from reports good at pulling other politicians into line with him."

Fairly restrained, perhaps -- but more to the point, he also sent me a quote from something that had been posted at the role-playing game board he frequents:

Also, according to rumor, a single tear from Obama's cheek can slay demons and cure vitiligo and impetigo. His stride is as of a titan's, seven leagues at a time, and while he holds a microphone in his hand he canst take no mortal wound wound nor shed a single drop of his own blood. He speaks the native tongue of birds, and converses happily with all beasts of hoof and paw, even to the lowliest vole and marmot. Gracious as the kings of old, Obama carries no money nor answers unkind word with like. Peonies spring up where his feet trod, and were he to lay his weary head upon the ground a mighty cedar, like unto the old father trees of Bsharri and Barouk, would spring forth to shade his noble brow. In the elven tongue he is Lothlornienel, with means "Laughter in the High Places", and the dwarves call him earthfriend, as well as "Khazad ak Manu", which means "He who does not wear patriotic lapel pins." His is the drill that shall pierce the heavens: believe in him believing in you! The Neocons speak of him in hushed tones in their shadowed, dusty halls, and refer to the ancient scrolls of the fallen empire of Mnem, which foretells of the coming of the Dusky Childe, who shall scourge their number from the halls and rotundas and tear down the altars in the high places and bring the three terrible plagues of Health Care and White Guilt and Political Transparency. They say that he will travel to Shibboleth, where the heart of Karl Rove is kept, inanimate, inside a Canopic jar and breaks the seals and feast upon the contents therin: and with the power thus consumed he will erect a throne of jade and jasper and lapus lazuli, and rule upon it, and the thunderous gnashing of teeth from the Red States will play Hail to the Chief as he ascends the dais.

That made me laugh -- but it also got my attention, because for all its humor, it suggests that something mythic is going on down among the Gen Y-ers, the likes of which we haven't seen in quite a while. And that's significant.

[DeepModem Mom]

20. That is WONDERFUL, starroute. Mythic, indeed. Thank you so much for sharing it. nt

[Hekate]

21. I LOVE this! TY so much for sharing it.

:rofl: and :bounce:

My son-in-laws is a Jedi....I'll have to ask him what he thinks of Obama.

Hekate

[Hekate]

24. Mr. H loves it too; he's going to stick a print-out on his office wall at the college. nt