I couldn't be more WASPy, eligible for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the 1812. And, at age 56, I should be part of the demographic most people assigned to Hillary Clinton: an old(ish) white woman. But from the start of Obama's campaign, I was drawn to qualities in him, to ideas and the way he expressed them. I heard something deeply and appealingly familiar.
For months, I couldn't put my finger on what that something was. My husband, like me a transplant from the Midwest, heard it. My uncle, once from Kansas and now a resident of Pennsylvania, wrote in an e-mail, "He sounds like Lincoln - his words, the cadence - don't you think?" Only when news came of the death of Obama's grandmother did I realize what I was hearing: It was the language of my Midwestern family and the ideas deeply rooted in the gentle, rolling hills of eastern Kansas.
Obama's grandmother and my mother, nearly the same age, both grew up in and around Wichita. Both had lived through the Depression as girls. Both would turn their talents to the war effort as young women. And both, it seems, transferred to their families the interconnected ideas of opportunity and personal responsibility, a belief in social justice expressed simply as being good to your neighbor, and a practical way of living life. "Your grandfather always said," my mother would remind me, "it's not the hand you're dealt, it's how you play the game."
Part of that game in Kansas, during the lives of his grandmother, his mother, my mother and me, was racism. When I wanted to go swimming in the local pool on hot summer days, my parents said no. "They won't let blacks swim there, so we won't swim there either." We had books in our home that let us imagine a time when race wouldn't matter. A children's book, and one of my favorites, featured the emerging friendship of a black and a white boy, demonstrating the power of children to overcome the racism practiced by adults. "Fun for Chris" is still in my library, and still a cherished book.
Barack Obama never lived in Kansas. I moved away nearly 40 years ago. I know I've carried with me the ideas I learned from my Kansas relatives and suspect Obama has, too. These aren't "white" ideas, or even "Kansas" ideas. They are American ideas. As people reflect on the historic nature of Obama's election, some may point to his African-American heritage as a reason for celebration. I do. But I also know that he shares with me, and many Americans, values and hopes that come from a place where color is irrelevant and geography unimportant.
All the same, I feel especially confident in his abilities, knowing he was raised by women from Kansas.
Comments
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deskboy04 (anonymous) says…
I voted for Obama because I am tired of what is going on in Washington.
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
The writer doesn't need to justify why she voted for Obama, but since when did Midwesterners / Abe Lincoln follow the same thought as a Marxist.Personally, I would rather donate $5,600 to the poor instead of someone's campaign.
Mixolydian (anonymous) says…
I voted for him because there's something about him that just makes me say.... ummmmmHis words have the same cadence as Lincoln's? WTH? I guess Hoffman's uncle heard Abe on TV with FDR in 1929.
KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…
I voted for him cause he is the sexy choice.McCain is old and worn out.
grammaddy (anonymous) says…
I voted for him,too. For exactly the same reasons.
camper (anonymous) says…
I voted for him because he speaks and campaigns with a sense of class. He put forth his ideas and and was respectful, arguing his points rather than fronting a campaign based on fear and negativism. For his ideas about energy, trade, health, and revisiting the proposition of finally resolving the Iraq problem sooner than later.I did not vote for McCain because of his VP choice, the "Palin around with terrorists" rhetoric, Joe the plumber, for the codescending mockery of a "community organizer", for the McCarthy like labeling tactics (ie Socialist).I did give McCain credit, because he did also offer some good solutions to the energy crisis as well, he is honorable and displayed courage while serving our country in Vietnam, and in general is a good statesman.But in the end, I just though Obama had better ideas and offers us the best chance of recovering us from some of the startling problems that now confront us. I now also see two extra bonuses (that I did not see): 1) Obama seems to have improved the worldwide opinion of the US, and 2) I am extremely happy that people of all backrounds voted for Obama who is part African American.
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
I voted for Obama, because I like his ears.
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
... er, um... he seems to be *receptive*.
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
( ... who am I kidding... I didn't vote.... )
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
( I live in Kansas. )
labyrinth (anonymous) says…
I was raised Republican,chose to vote for Obama because he is the first Democrat I have heard who said we want to help you but you need to participate in this. Get up off your butt and be a father, read to your kids, lead your kids, etc. In my opinion this is not a racial inference but an activity attitude for each of us to consider.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Hopenchange, you bet."...But more than a dozen members of President-elect Obama's fast-growing transition team have worked as federally registered lobbyists within the past four years. They include former lobbyists for the nation's trial lawyers association, mortgage giant Fannie Mae, drug companies such as Amgen, high-tech firms such as Microsoft, labor unions and the liberal advocacy group Center for American Progress.Mark Gitenstein, one of the 12 transition board members who will play a significant role in shaping the Obama administration, worked on million-dollar lobbying contracts with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and promoted legislation for giant defense contractors Boeing and General Dynamics. Until this fall, he was registered to petition Congress and the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of AT&T, Merrill Lynch, KPMG, Ernst & Young and others.Gitenstein has blue-chip credentials for the volunteer role on the Obama team. He was chief Democratic counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee during confirmation hearings for controversial Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Bork; was a close adviser to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s White House bid; and served as counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee."http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/14/AR2008111403922_pf.html
1wetwilly (anonymous) says…
The current economic-political-social circumstances prove that Republicans, the big business Republicans like GWB, are corrupt, disrespectful and narrow minded people. They are responsible for Watergate, Iran-Contra, the Savings and Loan scandals, unparalleled corporate corruption, invading sovereign countries and now they caused the worst economic collapse in history. As far as McCain is concerned; he has not accomplished anything on his own merit and has repeatedly revealed character flaws from a young age until now. His grandfather and father "gave" him an appointment to the Naval Academy, he was unfaithful to his wife, while in his forties he abandoned his first wife and son (while still married to her) for a rich privileged beauty queen in her twenties, he tried to pervert the course of justice against Charles Keating during the S&L scandals, his wife's money bought him a political career.That is why I (a middle-aged white man) voted for Obama.
camper (anonymous) says…
Another reason. The Joe the Plumber thing. This guy was only gonna have to pay $900 extra bucks if he cleared 250k. I think the republicans thought most Americans don't know the difference between net income and gross income as reported on your schedule C. I can't think of many plumbers who would come close to 249k net income after properly deducting business expense. At the end of the day, Joe the plumber seemed like the guy on your softball team who was good every now and then for a home run, but ultimately was not worth it cause of the fights he got into with other teams and umpires, and who drank all the beer in the parking lot and made crude comments if he did not hit on your wife.
labyrinth (anonymous) says…
I appreciate the eloquence each of you offers. My heart prays, hopefully submits, that this man will be given a chance to fulfill his dream. I really believe he wants to try to make a difference. Unfortunately each of us has such a diverse list of fulfillments we each want that he doesn't stand a very good chance of making us all happy. I thank him for taking a (shot at it.) poor choice of words? I fear a cowardly shot in the dark will try to silence him. Being a coward myself, I do believe that some of us are bigger than life only so I stand aside of what ever great things he can accomplish, doing what I can to make a difference on this small slice of life I frequent. Hope you get my drift and thanks to each of you who cares enough to support this site by your comments.
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
And the Obama love fest continues. Didn't vote for him but I wish him the best, he is going to be our president. I doubt anyone will be able to stop the economic trouble that is coming and all the government "help" will only prolong the day of reckoning. The term bailout really means bandaid and it won't last long.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Regarding Joe the Plumber: the lesson is not to ask the O'dude a question that puts the lightworker in a bad light."Six Agencies Illegally Scoured Joe the Plumber's Records for Dirt, Including Office of the Attorney General, So That Information Could Be Turned Over to National MediaWow! That "Sudden Fame Exception" to privacy wasn't known by many, but it sure seems to have been known by partisan Democratic Ohio bureaucrats!"http://ace.mu.nu/archives/278133.php
jimincountry (anonymous) says…
Hope Obama's not as bad as his past associations have been(ACORN,Ayers, Wright and the Chicago crook) or I think he is............time will tell.
AjiDeGallina (anonymous) says…
Hmm, jimin,I dont think so since most of those connections were not what Rush tried to suggest they were..but facts seldom matter to people like that....But I guess you could have a point, Bush was connected with the Bin Ladens and he has ended up doing more damage to America than any previous president in history.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
The big money people who bought the White House for the O'dude are going to be calling the tune for the next four years. It'll be interesting to see the sort of dance they choose for him.
camper (anonymous) says…
Snap, Joe the Plumber put himself on center stage. He made himself available, went on Fox and other news agecies. He basicaly courted himself to get face tiime on TV. After the uproar, he joined McCain on the speech tour and even hired a publisct because he thnks he has a good voice and might write a book.In the real-word. Most hard working plumbing companies would not come close to 250k And if they did, they'd hardly complain about a 3% graduated tax hike that would amount to only a few extra bucks if they were lucky enough to make over 250k.Think about it. If you make those bucks, you will be a millionare in a few short years. Your kids (and grandkids) will be set for life. Joe, don't be complainining about no 900 bucks a year because you are complete fraud. That 900 Bucks is miniscule.
deskboy04 (anonymous) says…
I'd like to see someone younger in the white house.
Whip101 (anonymous) says…
I will be absolutely honest: I voted for McCain, (Ron Paul wasn't really available and Nader didn't have a shot), in an attempt to keep O'bama from becoming president. This is the first time I have voted in a presidential election. I know McCain is not worthy of holding that office; I know that O'bama is not worthy of holding that office. Did I vote McCain because he is the "lesser of two evils"? No. In my opinion they are equally evil. Did I vote McCain because I didn't want a "black/mulatto" president? In part, yes. And that part was a deciding factor in my decision to vote McCain. You see, I know that McCain, while as worthless as Bush, would not have put the interests of the common LEGAL citizen to the forfront - just as O'bama will not. But I do know that McCain is not going to pander to blacks to the exclusion of Whites and I believe O'bama will pander to blacks to the exclusion of Whites. I also believe that O'bama will continue opening the borders and allow even more illegal criminals to remain in this country. Why wouldn't he? His own aunt is an illegal. But irregardless what he will do with his power as far as his pet projects, (empowering blacks above Whites; allowing illegals to remain), where the real power is concerned, he has none. His lobbist/controllers will see to it that he bows to their interests: new wars in the middle east; further financial ruin; more taxes; closer and closer to a Marxist/Communist state; and on-and-on as they see fit.But, we'll see rather I am right or wrong in the long run, won't we? Just remember, when he starts screwing you over - YOU voted for him for emotional reason, ignoring logic or even knowing what he is truly about.
jennatto (anonymous) says…
Whip, when one uses words like, "irregardless", I itch. I guess I'm just allergic to stupidity.
Whip101 (anonymous) says…
jennatto wrote: "Whip, when one uses words like, "irregardless", I itch."Is that an anal itch you get when words exceeds your capacity to comprehend? Get use to it. If you voted O'bama you are going to feel a lot of discomfort in that region of your body.
Jackson (anonymous) says…
I can hardly wait for my March "Wealth Re-distribution" check.
TravisTyson (anonymous) says…
GoBama!!!
bad_dog (anonymous) says…
"Is that an anal itch you get when words exceeds your capacity to comprehend? Get use to it. If you voted O'bama you are going to feel a lot of discomfort in that region of your body." Whipped1No, that's the itch you get when someone uses a word that at best is described as "...an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless..." http://dictionary.reference.com/brows..., there's no apostrophe in Obama, either. I suspect you know that. I could be wrong.PS There's already a lot of discomfort in that region, given what's been stuffed there for the last 8 years. Let the healing begin...
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
"He sounds like Lincoln - his words, the cadence - don't you think?" I'll have to dig out an old 78 rpm record of him if they made recordings back then, which they didn't.