Yesterday I took advantage of an opportunity to listen in on the Obama campaign call for African American leadership. The line up was impressive, the commentary inspirational. Led by Obama senior advisor, Rick Wade, the call began with an energetic recap of an incredible 21 month campaign along with an emphatic final GOTV push. Congressman James Clyburn said that that he does not believe that America has not experienced such a social transformation since the 1860's and that we are turning a significant page in history. He has been especially struck by the response of southern governors to a progressive Democratic presidential candidate. Donna Brazile followed noting the phenomenal African American early vote turnout. She talked about how the campaign made use of the latest technology to empower people and build from the bottom up to create a new political map.
The campaign has also deployed the most sophisticate Election Protection operation in history with thousands of lawyers, 100 paid staffers and thousands of volunteer monitors. This generation of youth will now be known as the Obama Generation according to Sean P. Diddy Combs who spoke of the honor and privilege of representing the youth on the call. On their behalf he pledged allegiance to President Obama. He explained that until now the hip hop generation felt left out like they did not really have a vote but with the involvement of celebrities in 2004 their numbers doubled and tripled. P. Diddy spoke of the contributions of Beyonce, Lyles, Jay-Z and others in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Above all he stated that youth today must take responsibility for their future. Obama senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett, reinforced the grassroots nature of the campaign and noted how Obama's cool disposition, focus, and judgment led to his selecting Biden, winning all three debates, and delivering a closing argument that will touch Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Colorado, Missouri, and Florida on the final days. Everyone listening in on the call was pumped when Senator Obama spoke next. He thanked Black America and Black leadership for the their work. He credited Black America with making the journey possible.
Noting the fact that "our community suffers more, is more likely to drop out of school, more likely to go to jail, and more likely to die," Senator Obama outlined what is really at stake. Health care, education, ending the war, each was mentioned as a priority. He closed by reflecting on his remarks in Selma where he observed "I am here because somebody marched" and he admonished the listeners to go out tomorrow and march to the polls. If we do our part, we will change hearts. He closed with an image of Sasha and Malia on the South Lawn of the White House along with his "elegant" wife Michelle. For everyone on the call it couldn't get any better, still Oprah did a fantastic job following the Senator. She said it is the greatest honor of her life to stand and support Barack Obama. She said that Michelle asked friends to visualize Obama taking the oath of office and to realize that casting a vote for Obama is really casting a vote for ourselves. She reflected on Mrs. Jame Pittman's question "Are you the one?" which is the question that she asked Obama in an interview before he started running. His reply was that he might be one of the ones. Oprah noted that Obama embodies the spirit of what we are all hoping for bringing together red states and blue states, black and white, red and Hispanic and even white women are increasing on board with Obama.
Dr. Joseph Lowery, President Emeritus of Dr. King's SCLC, closed the call out on a spiritual note. Lowery said that he had not been so spiritually moved since 1947 when he preached his first sermon. This has been a spiritual campaign, a spiritual revival, a movement. Lowery shared that when he was ushered in to the small room for seniors he voted with tears in his eyes and when he realized that his vote was in he shouted Hallelujah. He thanked Obama for answering the call to servant hood, for taking up the mantle so that we can now turn to each other and not on each other. Closing with lyrics, "We've a story to tell the nation. For the darkness shall turn to the dawning ." I will have to ask him for the full quote.
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