Barack...

He won with one of the broadest coalitions in history, and when John McCain said that the American people have spoken, and "they have spoken clearly," it was an understatement. Obama received the most votes for a presidential candidate ever. He's brought people who have never been together, together, and he is now carrying the hopes of so many millions. Hope is a heavy thing, and as America moves forward to face its most difficult challenges in a century, it is their most valued weapon.

This election has re-shaped the American political landscape in remarkable ways. For one, Obama's election was a sound rejection of the anti-intellectual, culture war politics of fear that has come to define American politics under the Republicans: Nixon, Reagan and the Bush's. And it also marks the end of Sarah Palin's rise in politics. Make no mistake about it, American's have rejected the mean-spirited base she represents, and only one VP candidate on a losing ticket has ever gone on to lead a national ticket... and that candidate lost (Bob Dole). If anything, this startling repudiation of the Republican Party will hopefully lead to its re-invention, and yes, it is possible. There are powerful, multicultural voices in the party (like Bobby Jindal), and if the Republicans can find their true identity as the party of big-ideas, hope, and giant steps... the party it once was... then that will be an amazing thing for America.

Another encouraging element of Obama's win was his share of the youth vote. 66% of young people chose him as President. And these are the very young, first time voters, aged 18-29 that we keep hearing about in the news. Reagan solidified the Republican Majority for decades by sweeping young people, recruiting a future generation of Republicans to carry the torch and ideals forward. Obama has done the same thing, and if he holds true to his pledge to promote more national service and community involvement for Americans, then we will have an engaged group of young people, looking to change America from the bottom up... and that is a powerful and hopeful sentiment. The possibilities in this are endless, and I believe that America's young will do amazing things. They did amazing things for his campaign... who knows what they will do for America.

And then there is the African-American community, I'm sure many, waking up this morning and wondering if last night was a dream. To experience such a sweeping sense of change, despite the burden of American's troubled relationship with race must have been over-whelming. When the news networks cut away to Jesse Jackson during Obama's victory speech, his face wet with tears, it was a powerful and very moving moment. Obama was on stage thanks to "the work and sacrifices of Jackson and his generation of aging or long-departed activists, men and women who did not appear onstage with the president-elect, but who sat in and marched and protested so that Americans like Obama might be treated as Americans." So many before Obama had worked and given their lives to make his moment possible; they faced dogs, and hoses, and bullets. Obama's victory was a testament to their hard-work, to their courage and to the resolve of hope. As McCain whipped up the fringe of his party, promoting the kind of racial fear and hate that came to define the Civil Rights struggle, Obama offered the prospect of healing those divides: "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: We are not enemies but friends ... Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."

Finally, Obama made clear in his victory speech that he faces many challenges as president, and that to get there and meet these challenges will take more than a single term, and will take the help of the millions who voted for him. He is lowering expectations because he knows that running a campaign is far different than running a government. He did not have to make the kind of painful compromises that come to define so many other presidents of the past. Yes, he stepped back from promises during his campaign, like his vote on the FISA bill, as well as his pledge to accept public financing. And yes many were quick to anger and weariness (myself included) when it seemed like he was transforming from the revolutionary Obama in the primary, to the safe, centrist politician that won last night. But make no mistake: we will be disappointed during his tenure (at least at first), but the potential for true greatness is achievable, and something that all Americans will have to fight for.

Yes, Obama will bring inspiration back to the white house, and he will work hard to sell us on some of his future compromises, and yes some of them may hurt deeply. But we must not be weary too easily. We must never be quick to despair. I really, truly believe that "we will overcome," and to do so will take guts, and hope, and spine... and unity. Always be united. Because man... a united people can do anything.

I was proud to witness history last night, and to witness the election of a thoughtful, smart, and very articulate man to the presidency of the United States.

Like I wrote before, love and hope won last night. Love and hope will bring about the change we need.

Yes we did.

:)

J