Courage Makes A Majority

On Tuesday, February 5th, the two of you will be going to the polls in Southern California to vote for your choice to be the Democratic nominee for the Presidency of the United States. I am writing this open letter to you to sway your decision, in hopes that you will cast that vote for Barack Obama.

I am doing in this in an open format (not only on my blog but also on the Daily Kos) so, in case anyone else wants to help my cause, they can jump in as well. In order to effectively employ others in my cause it is helpful to explain to them who you are.

My father is the youngest of five children and was born in Greece many moons ago. He came to this country in the early 1950′s, leaving behind a war-torn Europe, for his version of the American Dream. He brought with him everything he had, which wasn’t much. He ultimately settled in Chicago, and after learning the language and saving his money, embarked on his life as an entrepeneur. After owning several different businesses through his life, he is now retired and living in Southern California.

My mother is a first generation American, born to Greek immigrants on the South Side of Chicago. She is the fourth of five children and was involved in a family business until she met my dad and married him in 1970. Together they worked together, and somehow had the time to have and raise me. When it was time to sell their business and move their home to warmer climes, they took their Chicago identification with them, being consistent Democratic voters in a very republican area of California.

My mother is pretty sure she is voting for Hillary Clinton and my dad has said he will vote for whomever she chooses. So the importance of this letter is now twofold, because I want to convince the both of them to vote for Barack Obama. Readers, please leave your thoughts in the comments and I welcome both pro-Hillary and Pro-Barack comments, just keep it clean, because after all, my parents will be reading this.

Mom and Dad, this is election is different than most. The fact that we are choosing a president from a slate of candidates that doesn’t not include a sitting president or a former/sitting Vice President doesn’t happen very often. Then the fact that Democratic nominee will be either a woman or an African American is truly historical.

We are faced with a moment in our history seen before: an unpopular war, a failing economy, a government not interested in protecting our civil liberties, and a country divided by ideologies. I assert that to pick a candidate we must go beyond the policies they support.

Sure the are some significant differences in where they stand: mandates for universal healthcare, the freezing of interest rates for five years, and talking to enemy foreign government quickly come to mind.

Look I understand that Hillary Clinton is an excellent candidate. She is fabulous with policy. She is bright and well spoken. She is tested and experienced. She is a committed civil servant who is a credit to our party and our country. In any other election, she would be a sound choice for President of the United States, and if she does win this nomination, I will fight and vote for her in the general election. Hillary Clinton is a good leader.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, is an exceptional leader. And it’s leadership that is key to this election. Barack Obama is everything that Hillary Clinton is not. Barack Obama is the type of leader that makes the impossible seem possible. Critics will call it all form and no substance. I call it inspiration.

Since Ted Kennedy’s endorsement, there have been comparisons of Barack Obama to Jack Kennedy. Again, critics are quick to point out that Obama is no Jack Kennedy, and its true. At this point in his career, Barack hasn’t accomplished enough to be considered his peer. But the comparison is appropriate for the two simple reasons.

First, both men are visionaries; setting up large ideas for the country to chase. It is one of the biggest criticisms of Obama from Hillary supporters that he is an orator with no plan to actually deliver the ideas he sets forth and promises. But back when Jack Kennedy challenged the country to put a man on the moon, he had no idea of how to deliver it. He knew nothing about rockerty or space travel. He could only ask that the collective consciousness of American put their mind to the challenge. These leads me to the second point.

Both men are requiring the citizens of the country step forward and take ownership of our progress. One of the most well know quotes of the presidency sets the stage for what I believe Barack Obama embodies to today:

“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”- John F. Kennedy

“Don’t tell me we can’t change. Yes we can change. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can seize our future.” – Barack Obama

“We” need make change together.  Not expect change from Washington, but rather bring change to country. Those words from after the South Carolina primary still ring in my ears.

Now, I admit I am a sucker for a great speech. But I am reminded of my own time in college. In the leadership roles I held during that time, the organizations I was a part of always had the most progress when all of the members took ownership of the cause. It was through the empowerment of others that we met the challenges of the day. That is the biggest difference between Obama and Clinton. I would walk through a wall for Barack Obama, while I have no such feelings for Hillary Clinton.

So Mom and Dad, the choice is one of leadership style. The methodical, predictable, top-down approach of Hillary Clinton or the inspirational, transformational, empowerment approach of Barack Obama.

I hope this helps bring you the clarity need to make your final decision. Take a risk and aim high, the country can use a new path, a new leadership, a new vision for the future. We can do it. YES WE CAN!