I, a 34 (35 next month) year old black man from the South Side of Chicago was on my couch here in Savage, MD...fighting back tears.
g-e-m2001
· 1 year ago
I was hosting a historic podcast where Black women offered live news analysis and cometary about a Presidential election. I was amazing during our second hour. I am not for or against Obama, but I will remember where I was last night.
Inkognegro
· 1 year ago
My Christmas gift (my long awaited Xbox 360) finally arrived in the mail. I set it up before going to work...skipped out of work early to buy a new game and drove home to...work through five hours of MSNBC coverage, including 4 replays of the speech.
What the pundits and the political junkies and particularly the Lefty Blogosphere doesnt understand is that this is BIGGER than all of them.
John Edwards can roll out his boilerplate classwarfare all day long...but at the end of the day, hes a rich white lawyer who wants to be president. Been there done that.
People hear Obama speak and they BELIEVE him. EVERY SINGLE WORD. They see him, they hear him, they respond. That is leadership.
Its now 6am and i still havent played my xbox and im still wide awake.
Men lie, women Lie, Numbers don't - Shawn Carter
Bobbie
· 1 year ago
I couldn't sleep all night, since watching Barack Obama speak last night. I'm not young, but I'm not old, and I have been for him from the beginning. I am so gratified... When he pointed to Michelle and said, "You. You." I lost it. I think he is the total presidential package. We haven't had that offered in a very very long time. I pray that more black people and white people and asians and hispanics get out and vote for this man. It's an opportunity that doesn't come that often.
Phoebe
· 1 year ago
I'm still scared to be happy, but I'm hanging in there.
I was at home on the internet. Where I still am, 5:41 a.m. Pacific time
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
I was in grammar school the night of the first debate in the Chicago Mayoral Race in 1983. I lived in the most segregated city in America, and until I saw Harold Washington in that debate, running circles around his opponents, the concept that a Black Man could actually be elected Mayor was beyond me. But, watching him, sitting there, with my family, watching him, it was like, it dawned on me: not only could this man become Mayor, but you could feel it. He WOULD become Mayor.
That's what it felt last night watching Barack Obama give his speech. I felt him, with every line, grow into that speech. With every line, he took himself to the next level.
I was at home, with my mother, my sister, my niece and her husband. They all knew to leave me alone in the den, and let me be by myself, while they chatted elsewhere and ate the food I fixed.
I was so nervous all day. Mama was like, ' Girl, be calm. If it's meant to be, it will be.'
My mother, who teased me from the first time I went to an Obama rally in the Spring. Then, she was like, ok, as I hustled monthly contributions from them. Then, I outfitted them with Obama gear. And, began to volunteer. Then, going to Iowa as I did - that's when they thought I had gone off the deep end, until I began giving up weekends to the Obama campaign.
I told my mother that I was representing this family, because I didn't see enough of ' US' believing right now, when it counted; when he needed our help the most.
Mama yells : TURN ON CNN, and that's when I saw them projecting him as the winner. Then, I saw it on MSNBC.
My sister from Minnesota then calls and says she can't believe it - she and I were the ones on board from DAY ONE. Her son gets on the line too, and asks me if I believe it.
I go to the room to look at my mother, born in 1930 in Jim Crow Mississippi - she just shook her head and smiled slightly, then calling her older brother and sister.
My supercynical Best Sistafriend, who has been teasing me mercilessly about my work for him...her first word was 'DAMN'.
It was a surreal night.
D.
· 1 year ago
I was in a hotel watching the results, wondering if bin Laden was cheering in his cave in Waziristan...
I was at home glued to the television reflecting on my college days when Jessie Jackson ran for the first time.
I felt proud and hopeful. I have been watching the whole presidential race out of the corner of my eye since I was one of those people who was almost denied the opportunity to vote in 2004. Obama's win renewed my enthusiasm in the process.
Julie P.
· 1 year ago
That picture of Obama, with his lovely wife and lovely children, is what made my evening.
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
I like the man, he is a good person I am sure. I would vote for him if his name wasn't BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. We just cant have a PRESIDENT OBAMA, TOO MUCH LIKE OSAMA. I live in NYC, and lost 7 people I know. It still hurts and have to do a double take to see if I am reading about OSAMA OR OBAMA. With any other name.....
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
I got into my car about 9 PM and tuned my XM radio to C-Span to hear that Obama was the projected winner and Edwards and Clinton were tied for second place. I arrived home just in time to see the Obama family on stage and hear Obama's victory speech. I was filled with pride and hope until my Mother remarked "THEY are going to kill him" and my daughter called and said " After the way THEY treat black men in America you don't seriouly believe THEY are going to LET a black man be President do you"? First of all, Who are THEY? My best friend called and reminded me of the Eddie Murphy joke about Jesse Jackson winning the Presidency saying "He freaking won"? One of my white friends wrote in her blog that she was so depressed she was going to start drinking herself to sleep. She doesn't believe Obama is capable of cleaning up Bush's mess. As I type these comments I realize this is the mindset Obama is referring to he says we must have hope instead of fear. Are we afraid to have hope? All I can say it that if predominatly white Iowa can vote for a black man, there is hope for our democracy. Iowa proves it's not about the "color of ones' skin, but the content of ones' character".
The Bag of Health and Politics
· 1 year ago
Obama has Secret Service Protection. They do a good job. The nominee gets protected like the President. (Both he and Clinton may already be protected like that).
While it is now doubt a dangerous vocation, I am optimistic that the Secret Service can keep him safe throughout the election.
If Obama gets the nomination--which may be more likely than not at this point--I think he will win the election...especially against Huckabee, who may just pull the Republican race out.
I understand where the doubt is coming from. But the numbers from last year's election indicate that the Bradley/Wilder effect isn't valid any more. Further, if Obama can get young people across America to turn out in the numbers that they turned out in Iowa yesterday, it doesn't matter if some 60 year old stooge says he's going to vote for Obama, but decides not to because of race in the voting booth. That said, I think the effect--while once there--is very much diminished if not altogether gone.
BigAssBelle
· 1 year ago
this was magnificent. i got goosebumps and my hair stood on end. i was rooting for edwards, but this was so exciting and it will be a lifetime memory and now i'm an obama girl. that speech . . . the fact that white iowa went for obama. i am thrilled.
dnA
· 1 year ago
d...
I think you should spend less time worrying about what Bin Laden thinks of our political process. I couldn't give a fuck less.
webbuh
· 1 year ago
I wanted to go to the "Official" Iowa Caucus Party in Atlanta. When I found out that the venue could only hold 160 people and NEARLY 400 had signed-up, I decided to stay at the crib with control of my own remote...flipped between MSNBC, CNN, and FOX(watched for less than 5 seconds)...NBC was the first to project OBAMA the winner...
A brotha was screaming, doing cart wheels and flips...yelling into the phone, talking to my best friend on the west coast.
Later, I watched Charlie Rose and wondered WTF?!? IS SHELBY STEELE doing on this show on this great night...then I thought better of it...cause Charlie clowned him for writing a book subtitled "Why Obama Can't Win," on the same night that OBAMA WON!
There are going to be naysayers who will still be in disbelief even as Obama is taking the Oath of Office next January.
D.
· 1 year ago
Concur with the anynonomous poster above. We got rid of three Hussains, do we need another?
Dave L
· 1 year ago
"We" got rid of THREE Hussains? Who are the other two, Mr. d?
You and anonymous are sad creatures - afraid of names, including your own.
To get back on topic, this middle-aged white man was at home, grinning from ear to ear. I know I'll remember the moment.
e
· 1 year ago
i was dancing around my apartment in nyc
i agree with the Barack can't afford to be angry idea. my boss is a professor at columbia and he was explaining that he can't afford to get mad and loud at work or else it'll scare everyone and then he'll be the angry black man. i don't know if i'd be able to hold it inside during work hours but i give these men props.
ronnie b.
· 1 year ago
I was in a hotel watching the results, wondering if bin Laden was cheering in his cave in Waziristan...
Well if there's so much happiness in Waziristan, hop on a plane.
Meanwhile, we're concerned about making some much-needed changes on the domestic front.
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
I'm more afraid of the so called "evangelicals" than I am of Usama bin Laden. As Bush says, "I hardly think about him anymore". Usama bin forgotten.
Eddie G. Griffin
· 1 year ago
I was watching football, because I was confident the real game was in the bag. GREAT POST. Enjoyed reading everybody's excited reactions. One important point you made: Participation. This was an energizing and uplifting campaign. It will take even more energy to come across the finish line in first place, which may explain why there were record-breaking numbers in Iowa. Obama is the "people's candidate", which means that the old establishment will be pulling out all stops. (Don't you just love it! I am so turned off by dead boring people who have no cause except their own mirrors.)
D.
· 1 year ago
Dave, Saw that on a shirt, thought it was cool. The other two would've been his sons.
Fine, it was a historic moment. It doesn't, however, make him any more qualified to lead this country. At best, it made him look more presidential than Huckabee, whose speech was horrible.
Besides....isn't there going to come a time where being the "first black" doesn't mean anything?
Webbuh
· 1 year ago
Hey "d." i had some questions for you about McCain, but you never answered them...guess you'll save your s#^t-talking for next Tuesday.
McCain may win on Tuesday, but he will definitely NOT win SC--Bush damaged McCain beyond repair (in 2000). Can you say "Brokered Convention?"
All of this bodes well for the eventual Democratic Nominee who will be (DRUMROLL) Barack Obama...doesn't mean that Dem's should sleep on Republicans at all.
As for Obama...WebbuhWorldNews proudly projects victories in NH and SC. After SC, the national polls will finally be worth studying.
All of these naysayers who discount the Iowa victory seriously disappoint me...it reminds me of the "crabs in a barrel" metaphor. Now is NOT the time to sow the seeds of doubt...NOW is the time to motivate to your family and friends to GET REGISTERED, GET READY to Vote and use that sacred priviledge that our ancestors fought and died for...
There will be a time when "First Black" will not mean anything...and that time will be much closer on January 20, 2009 when Barack takes the Oath of Office.
D.
· 1 year ago
Webb, Girlfriend's in town, so been a little busy. Hit me on email with the questions.
Something you said made me think, and I've been thinking about this since last night: what's going to be the perception of blacks who don't support Obama (or who actively work to see him not get elected) among the black community? How much haterism is gonna come out?
Webbuh
· 1 year ago
"d." You ask, "What will the perception be?" What place will the blacks who don't support Obama have in the grand sweep of American History?
It will probably be comparable to that of "Uncle Tom" during the Antebellum Period or Clarence Thomas during the late 1980s.
African-Americans should not be monolithic, but I'll take an exception in this case. Opposing Obama in 2008 would be like opposing Frederick Douglass in 1860.
dnA
· 1 year ago
D,
It's hard for me to take your demands that we address Obama's qualifications when your main gripe seems to be that you don't like his name. Because it's an Arabic name.
Check your family tree my friend. Many of the people enslaved by Europeans during the middle passage were Muslims. For all you know, you could be descended from one. Possibly even one named Hussein.
I guess by your logic, that would make you related to Saddam, wouldn't it? Better start shopping for dynamite belts.
All Comments
What the pundits and the political junkies and particularly the Lefty Blogosphere doesnt understand is that this is BIGGER than all of them.
John Edwards can roll out his boilerplate classwarfare all day long...but at the end of the day, hes a rich white lawyer who wants to be president. Been there done that.
People hear Obama speak and they BELIEVE him. EVERY SINGLE WORD. They see him, they hear him, they respond. That is leadership.
Its now 6am and i still havent played my xbox and im still wide awake.
Men lie, women Lie, Numbers don't - Shawn Carter
I pray that more black people and white people and asians and hispanics get out and vote for this man. It's an opportunity that doesn't come that often.
I was at home on the internet. Where I still am, 5:41 a.m. Pacific time
That's what it felt last night watching Barack Obama give his speech. I felt him, with every line, grow into that speech. With every line, he took himself to the next level.
I was at home, with my mother, my sister, my niece and her husband.
They all knew to leave me alone in the den, and let me be by myself, while they chatted elsewhere and ate the food I fixed.
I was so nervous all day. Mama was like, ' Girl, be calm. If it's meant to be, it will be.'
My mother, who teased me from the first time I went to an Obama rally in the Spring. Then, she was like, ok, as I hustled monthly contributions from them. Then, I outfitted them with Obama gear. And, began to volunteer. Then, going to Iowa as I did - that's when they thought I had gone off the deep end, until I began giving up weekends to the Obama campaign.
I told my mother that I was representing this family, because I didn't see enough of ' US' believing right now, when it counted; when he needed our help the most.
Mama yells : TURN ON CNN, and that's when I saw them projecting him as the winner. Then, I saw it on MSNBC.
My sister from Minnesota then calls and says she can't believe it - she and I were the ones on board from DAY ONE. Her son gets on the line too, and asks me if I believe it.
I go to the room to look at my mother, born in 1930 in Jim Crow Mississippi - she just shook her head and smiled slightly, then calling her older brother and sister.
My supercynical Best Sistafriend, who has been teasing me mercilessly about my work for him...her first word was 'DAMN'.
It was a surreal night.
I felt proud and hopeful. I have been watching the whole presidential race out of the corner of my eye since I was one of those people who was almost denied the opportunity to vote in 2004. Obama's win renewed my enthusiasm in the process.
I was filled with pride and hope until my Mother remarked "THEY are going to kill him" and my daughter called and said " After the way THEY treat black men in America you don't seriouly believe THEY are going to LET a black man be President do you"? First of all, Who are THEY?
My best friend called and reminded me of the Eddie Murphy joke about Jesse Jackson winning the Presidency saying "He freaking won"? One of my white friends wrote in her blog that she was so depressed she was going to start drinking herself to sleep. She doesn't believe Obama is capable of cleaning up Bush's mess.
As I type these comments I realize this is the mindset Obama is referring to he says we must have hope instead of fear. Are we afraid to have hope?
All I can say it that if predominatly white Iowa can vote for a black man, there is hope for our democracy. Iowa proves it's not about the "color of ones' skin, but the content of ones' character".
While it is now doubt a dangerous vocation, I am optimistic that the Secret Service can keep him safe throughout the election.
If Obama gets the nomination--which may be more likely than not at this point--I think he will win the election...especially against Huckabee, who may just pull the Republican race out.
I understand where the doubt is coming from. But the numbers from last year's election indicate that the Bradley/Wilder effect isn't valid any more. Further, if Obama can get young people across America to turn out in the numbers that they turned out in Iowa yesterday, it doesn't matter if some 60 year old stooge says he's going to vote for Obama, but decides not to because of race in the voting booth. That said, I think the effect--while once there--is very much diminished if not altogether gone.
I think you should spend less time worrying about what Bin Laden thinks of our political process. I couldn't give a fuck less.
A brotha was screaming, doing cart wheels and flips...yelling into the phone, talking to my best friend on the west coast.
Later, I watched Charlie Rose and wondered WTF?!? IS SHELBY STEELE doing on this show on this great night...then I thought better of it...cause Charlie clowned him for writing a book subtitled "Why Obama Can't Win," on the same night that OBAMA WON!
There are going to be naysayers who will still be in disbelief even as Obama is taking the Oath of Office next January.
You and anonymous are sad creatures - afraid of names, including your own.
To get back on topic, this middle-aged white man was at home, grinning from ear to ear. I know I'll remember the moment.
i agree with the Barack can't afford to be angry idea. my boss is a professor at columbia and he was explaining that he can't afford to get mad and loud at work or else it'll scare everyone and then he'll be the angry black man. i don't know if i'd be able to hold it inside during work hours but i give these men props.
Well if there's so much happiness in Waziristan, hop on a plane.
Meanwhile, we're concerned about making some much-needed changes on the domestic front.
Saw that on a shirt, thought it was cool. The other two would've been his sons.
Fine, it was a historic moment. It doesn't, however, make him any more qualified to lead this country. At best, it made him look more presidential than Huckabee, whose speech was horrible.
Besides....isn't there going to come a time where being the "first black" doesn't mean anything?
McCain may win on Tuesday, but he will definitely NOT win SC--Bush damaged McCain beyond repair (in 2000). Can you say "Brokered Convention?"
All of this bodes well for the eventual Democratic Nominee who will be (DRUMROLL) Barack Obama...doesn't mean that Dem's should sleep on Republicans at all.
As for Obama...WebbuhWorldNews proudly projects victories in NH and SC. After SC, the national polls will finally be worth studying.
All of these naysayers who discount the Iowa victory seriously disappoint me...it reminds me of the "crabs in a barrel" metaphor. Now is NOT the time to sow the seeds of doubt...NOW is the time to motivate to your family and friends to GET REGISTERED, GET READY to Vote and use that sacred priviledge that our ancestors fought and died for...
There will be a time when "First Black" will not mean anything...and that time will be much closer on January 20, 2009 when Barack takes the Oath of Office.
Girlfriend's in town, so been a little busy. Hit me on email with the questions.
Something you said made me think, and I've been thinking about this since last night: what's going to be the perception of blacks who don't support Obama (or who actively work to see him not get elected) among the black community? How much haterism is gonna come out?
It will probably be comparable to that of "Uncle Tom" during the Antebellum Period or Clarence Thomas during the late 1980s.
African-Americans should not be monolithic, but I'll take an exception in this case. Opposing Obama in 2008 would be like opposing Frederick Douglass in 1860.
It's hard for me to take your demands that we address Obama's qualifications when your main gripe seems to be that you don't like his name. Because it's an Arabic name.
Check your family tree my friend. Many of the people enslaved by Europeans during the middle passage were Muslims. For all you know, you could be descended from one. Possibly even one named Hussein.
I guess by your logic, that would make you related to Saddam, wouldn't it? Better start shopping for dynamite belts.