I wanted to share this experince with all of you to give you another example of the effect of the Obama campaign. Even on the life of two small town guys from Illinois.
I live in a small town (6000) in conservative southern Illinois. I hadnt planned on voting early but my son came home from college and wanted to vote this weekend. My son is mixed race (hispanic/caucasian)and was raised by a single parent (me). He has had a rough life as I adopted him following his placement in the foster care system. As we talked about Obama, it became clear to me that he saw something in Obama that I could not. He saw a man that, despite obstacles in his childhood and despite not being exactly like everyone else, still believed in others and wanted the best for all people. He held no anger or bitternes. As we talked, we discussed how my sons life also had ups and downs and how now, as a senior at the University of Illinois, he is preparing to head out into the world and make his mark. How it is always important to remember where you came from and how many others in the world need the support and help that was given to you. I decided right there that I wanted to go and vote with him. I watched with pride as he got his first presidential ballot and voted for the man that he looks up to so much. I then voted and have to say that this is the first time in many years that I PROUDLY cast a ballot for president. So, thank you Senator Obama for giving a father and son a memory that will last forever.