My Obama story. Let's hear yours...

[CoffeeCat]

I'm a 43-year-old, stay-at-home mom who lives in Iowa.

I was leaning toward supporting Edwards in our state caucus, when I received an email invite
to an Obama house party. After my husband said he'd watch the kids, I decided to go--just to
get a few hours for myself, without someone asking me to put their hair in a pony tail or
find their stuffed penguin (Moms, you know what I'm talking about!).

After arriving, I met Republicans, Independents and Progressives who felt just like me. We talked
for two hours, totally in agreement about Bush's deplorable governing and how we desperately need
real, substantive change. We discussed corporate corruption, the Iraq war, our government's torture
policy and our withering Constitution. I still remember the woman who hosted the party--a two-time
Bush voter--saying, "I just can't believe that this is our country. How did this happen? I am
conservative, but I never signed on to any of this."

I left thinking, 'If Obama can galvanize this political diversity in an Iowa living room--imagine what
Obama could galvanize in a national election.'

Intrigued, but not convinced--I continued to get friendly phone calls from the Obama campaign.
A very kind and knowledgeable canvasser showed up in my driveway, as I was loading our kids
in the car. We chatted for a bit about Bush usurping the Constitution, and the canvasser mentioned
that Obama is a "Constitutional Scholar."

Persuaded and impressed by Obama's highly organized campaign of volunteers, I decided it was time to do my own research.

What I discovered was a wellspring of information. Obama taught Constitutional Law (and other law classes) at the
University of Chicago for nearly a decade. His commitment to and respect for our Constitution--drives his
policies and ideas.

Obama is the only candidate to commit in his campaign materials, to restoring Habeas Corpus. Bush
and Gonzales decided that Americans didn't need "the great writ"--a right dating back to the 1600's--which
guarantees each American the right to demand "a body of evidence" from the government, if they are accused
of a crime. Without Habeas Corpus, the government can detain us without producing evidence. Obama is
outraged and is dedicated to restoring our fundamental right.

Obama also disagrees with the "Unitary Executive" mentality that Bush has used to neutralize the checks
and balances built into our government. Obama will work to instill more transparency in government and bring sunlight
into policy discussions that Bush and others have led behind closed doors.

Obama wants to close Guantanamo. He will end illegal wiretaps. We often marvel that Kucinich has a copy of
the Constitution in his pocket. Obama has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Constitution and it provides
the basis for his platform.

It's sad that at this time--our country needs assurances that our next President will follow our Constitution.
After Bush, it's imperative that Americans have those assurances. The next President must be someone who won't capitalize
on the "Unitary Executive" playground that Bush has concocted, and will instead, govern according to the Constitution.

We have those assurances with Obama.

I also liked what I read about Obama's health care plan. He crafted a solution-oriented plan that drastically
cuts costs for people who can't afford insurance. Hillary's health-care plan is the "No Child Left Behind" of
health care. It's an unfunded mandate. Instead of cobbling together a "universal care" plan that is more sound byte
than solution, Obama's plan actually cut costs and slashes premiums.

And yes, I was impressed by Obama's speeches. After Bush, aren't we desperately thirsting for an
intelligent, inspirational leader who can communicate eloquently and make us proud on a national stage? I know
I'm ready for that.

I continued to receive calls from the campaign--and finally I got a call from Obama. He listened to me.
He didn't try to sell me anything. He had nothing but praise for John Edwards. He told me that he
would vote against immunity for the telcos--and he did a few weeks later. I agreed to be one of
his precinct captains.

I've been through many election cycles in Iowa. I've never seen a campaign so organized and so full
of dedicated volunteers. Obama's team--when extrapolated onto the General Election--is unbeatable.
People really like Obama. They're willing to canvass in the snow and make phone calls on his behalf.
Obama has inspired millions of volunteers and new voters. McCain can't match Obama's army of volunteers.

Combine the organization, large volunteer base and creativity--with Obama's ability to pick off Independents
and disenfranchised Republicans--and we're looking at a blowout. No other Dem candidate has this
across-the-board appeal that we need to beat McCain.

I imagine many of us have an "Obama story", and it would be great to hear how other Obama supporters decided
to climb on board.
:)

[global1]

1. Thanks For You Story - Your Research - And Your Dedication. - K & R.....nt

[sidwill]

2. Mine is simple

I have followed progressive politics my entire life and had YET to feel inspred by one of our candidates.

Clinton got close, but NAFTA and his personal issues tarnished his appeal.

Kerry/Edwards carried the major flaws of voting for the IWR.

Then as I watched the 04 convention a young man with a funny sounding name got up to speak, after he was finished I turned to my wife and said "Why couldn't he be running this year, he would Rip GWB a new one", she concurred.

Been pulling for him ever since.

[Breeze54]

3. I've recieved zero mail or phone calls from the Obama camp

I've received one phone call that was rather laughable and disturbing from the Clinton camp.

Although it was a live person talking AT me... and I emphasize AT.

Didn't even say hello and then hung up at the end of her inaudible message.

No offense but I didn't recommend this topic.

[tabatha]

4. What is beginning to impress me about Obama

is his campaign organization. It seems to be the best of all candidates, by far. That is a good statement about how he will run the government - very well. Because he has an army of seemingly excellent volunteers, it also speaks loudly of democracy in action.

[Pirate Smile]

5. I'd love to see his organizational skills and people to go to work on FEMA.

[cooolandrew]

6. Wonderful post. Ty. K&R.

[Neecy]

7. Here's mine...

A little over a year ago, I read his book Dreams from my Father. I'd recommend it to anyone currently on the fence.

His detractors here say that he's all talk and no substance. Yet I read about a young man who was committed to helping pull people out of lives of poverty and despair and he put his money where his mouth was, working in some of the roughest neighborhoods on the South Side (and, as a former Chicagoan, I know how hard and seemingly hopeless some of those neighborhoods are). And he made a difference. Most people his age are looking for the big bucks and flat screen tv's. He worked with the poor and he wrote about their lives with dignity and respect.

And he's a thoughtful, brilliant man. He wrote with the kind of eloquence and introspection that are seldom seen in these 'is your children learning' days.

So when he opened his campaign headquarters in Kansas City, MO I went with my sister - a Missourian - to their open house. I remembered our days in the Kerry campaign when they ignored my state of Kansas and I spent every day of that campaign hoofing it in Missouri. I fully expected the same treatment when we walked through the door and, as often happens when there's a state line nearby, we got the inevitable question - 'what state?' I sighed, knowing I'd end up in Missouri again. I pointed to my sister and said "Missouri" and pointed to myself and said "Kansas". Imagine my surprise when the guy whooped, pumped his fist and said to me, "We've been waiting for you!". You see, Obama actually cared about my state and put huge resources into it. He appeared here - as Democratic candidates never do - and we were put to work on the Kansas caucus. Imagine that - a Democrat gave a damn about Kansas. Coupled with his early opposition to the Iraq war I knew this was someone I could not only support but sell my friends and neighbors on. And we gave Obama a massive victory here. On to Denver!

[stillcool]

10. Nice...

I love reading stories like yours. So much more meaningful than the usual fare. Thanks!

[flpoljunkie]

8. An incredible Obama story! Thanks so much for sharing it.

[HamdenRice]

9. A soldier just returned from Iraq told me Obama was our only hope

This was strange because it happened a long time ago, and before I knew much about Obama or took him seriously. (I only recently switched from Edwards to Obama.)

So anyway I met this soldier just back from Iraq, and he said that America is so hated by the Iraqis that the only way we could recover our image would be to elect someone with an international heritage like Obama. I thought that was a strange way to look at things at the time.

He also said that the war was hopeless, and that only the candidate who was smart enough to see that back when it started should be trusted with America's future.

[stillcool]

11. I don't have one...yet.

but the fact that we are here discussing his candidacy for the President of the United States, says an awful lot about the intelligence, and character of this man.