I voted early for Barack Obama in Georgia and it felt so good that I couldn’t resist traveling to South Carolina to participate in history in the making. I spent about two hours standing on a corner adjacent to the Capitol helping to out-chant Hillary supporters before gathering for the final canvassing push.

It was a perfect opportunity to talk with Hillary supporters. They kept trying to explain what Hillary meant when she said this and what Bill meant when he said that. Some were feminist, a few were gay, and there were lots of young Barbie doll girls and a few Black youth who said they were paid but not sell outs. Thank God for the privacy of the voting booth. In this economy a job is a job.

The older women were really cool and wanted to talk. Their minds were open and they listened, very unusual for mature white women who they tend to believe their opinions are superior. When it comes to gender and race, Black women are the ultimate authority. I explained that this is a subject that we know far better than they ever will and if we say the Clintons played the race card intentionally it is because it was deliberate. We are neither mistaken nor fooled. Black women have worked for gender equity since the 80’s even though these efforts benefit white women far more than Blacks. This time around we are asking for their support. America will benefit by following our lead. That gave the Clinton cheerleaders pause and one member of their group volunteered that she actually voted for Obama. I smiled politely and wondered why she was standing on the busiest corner in Columbia waiving a Hillary sign on Election Day. Hillary may have found her voice in New Hampshire, but she lost it again in South Carolina.

The war is the big issue for the cheerleaders and they almost fainted when I said that I would vote for McCain before Hillary. “He said we would be in Iraq for 100 years,” they gasped. Silly women, all Americans want an end to the war and thinking people understand that it is far more difficult to get out than it was to get in. Logic tells us that it may take as long to get out as it took to get in. From a military perspective withdrawal will not end the war it is merely retreat. While I want peace, want our troops home, and have always thought Iraq was the biggest mistake in my lifetime, I am supporting Barack Obama because his presidency will open the way for non-military solutions and redefine winning. As long as our sons and daughters are in Iraq we must fund the war. If we are serious about ending the war we would limit our consumption of fossil fuels, invest in alternative energy and take every action to bring about lasting peace. Obama inspires us to sacrifice in order to move future generations forward.

The cheerleaders jumped on experience next. What good is experience without judgment, and a high regard for the truth, not to mention respect for all people? Knowing who to trust is a consideration for every candidate. In this I rely upon the quality of endorsements and that gives Obama a clear advantage. Right now we need a leader that can bring us together. United there is nothing that we cannot achieve. “Yes we can!”