The most powerful personal moment of this race happened to me today. I live and work in Texas, not the most hospitable of places for Democrats let alone Barack Obama. My co-worker is a middle age white woman, born and raised on the Western Edge of Dixieland, East Texas. You know, scene of the horrific dragging death of James Byrd in the not so distant past. She was a Bill Clinton Democrat but drank the Texas Bush Kool-Aid for 8 years. My co-worker still related to southern whites who believed in the ideas of the Democratic Party, but became victim to the Southern Strategy that divded people along racial lines. In an earlier Primary conversation, she spoke to me about how Ronald Reagan’s Union busting wiped out her father’s job. But it was evident that the racial undertones of Obama’s candidacy had aided and abetted in pushing the smears and poisoning her mind.
The smears from right-wing dominated Texas radio ran rampant against Obama since the Winter Primaries. He’s a Muslim, He is a terrorist; how could he have sat in those pews for 20 years and listened to that Pastor? She had heard them all and believed them. At one point during the hotly contested Primary she confided to me that she couldn’t vote for Obama because he was a Muslim. I told her that he was a Christian, but her mind seemed to be made up. During the Democratic Convention, she made another deplorable statement. She said that there was something about Michelle Obama and she just couldn’t stand Michele. At that point I knew it was racism because she couldn’t tell me why. It wasn’t just the smears that stopped her from voting for Obama. After that point, I honestly felt that there was no hope for her. I felt that if she believed that crap there was nothing I could do. Out of respect for the work place and her beliefs, I never engaged her anymore about the race for the White House.
Then it happened, today another co-worker and I were in my office discussing the upcoming election and some of the McCain tactics. This was another young white woman who had supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 but had seen the light and was avidly supporting Obama. While we were talking, the white middle aged co-worker peered into my office door. She seemed hesitant to come in. After about 60 seconds of her standing outside my door and realizing that she really wanted something I invited her in.
I was shocked, she came into the office looked me squarely in the face and said "You got 10 minutes, convince me to vote for Obama. I have heard that he is a Muslim and I don’t believe it but all my family and friends keep’s saying he is." This was my moment, I had 10 minutes to make the case for Obama and I didn’t want to blow it. I thought to myself, what could I say? What should I do?
Then it dawned on me, her biggest concern is Obama’s background and I knew of a much better person who could address the issue. I asked her to shut the office door and come around and view my computer screen. Together we sat and watched the Colin Powell endorsement. He hit on all the key points about how he observed the two candidates and their campaign. He talked about how McCain was erratic during the crisis and how Obama performed with coolness and intellectual vigor. Most importantly, General Powell addressed the Muslim issue. He told the story of Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan and how Mr. Khan was a Muslim that served our nation honorably and whether Obama was Muslim or not is irrelevant.
For good measure we discussed the merits of the Powell endorsement. We talked about why it shouldn’t matter if Obama was a Muslim or not. I proceeded to bring her brought her back down memory lane to the Clinton administration. We discussed how America was much better off under a Democratic Administration and that Bush along with the Republicans had destroyed our economy and our country. I’m proud to report in 10 minutes, Colin Powell and I had convinced this skeptical white woman to vote for Barack Obama!!!!!!! She told me that all her family was telling her to vote "AGAINST" Obama but I had made up her mind. Not only will she be voting for Obama she will also be voting for every Democrat up and down the ballot!
In light of the latest terrorist, socialist, and racist allegations, this is very encouraging. It is an example that cooler heads will prevail on Election Day. Despite the smears and racial prejudices people are ready for change. Yes it may take some longer than others but I strongly believe people will go into that voting booth and vote FOR Obama. Because of the hatred being spewed by factions on the right which has poisoned families, many whites will take refuge in the secrecy of the voting booth and quietly vote for Obama. But I’m convinced, The Dams have broken! Hope is surging across America!