That was the simple blurb uttered by my former colleague/boss in a facebook message I received an hour ago. My former boss "John Q. Republican" has just voted for Barack Obama in Virginia!
Why is this important?
Well, my former colleague - John (we'll call him John) is a hard core republican. We worked together at a top tier consulting firm Head Quartered in Mclean, VA for 4 - 5 years. John hails from North Carolina, was the first to go to college in his family, worked his way up in consulting and is doing very well for himself, he is a fiscal conservative, not too crazy about social issues like abortion but a hardcore Republican nonetheless.
I met John in 2003. I'll never forget the picture I saw on the wall of his office upon walking in the first time. A picture of John and George w. Bush smiling at a dinner or something. Yeah John is that well connected. A Bush Republican to the core.
Over the years I and John became very good friends. John liked to listen to stories about Africa (I have Nigerian heritage) and peppered me with questions about African culture and South American culture (I've spent time in Brazil), invariably our conversations always led to politics. Quite frankly it was John that made me realize I was a Democrat. I'd always considered myself an Independent, in fact I am a registered Independent in MD up until this day, but our arguments about Taxes, Foreign Policy and Abortion always pitted us on opposing sides.....
Anyhoo, I started working on John and my other Republican friends (lots of Repubs in Consulting in Northern Virginia) 6 months ago, to get them to vote for Barack, I've always known that it would be tough, but I felt I was making gradual progress convincing all of them to consider Obama. Some of them (evangelicals) cared about social issues like Abortion, while the rest (a majority) cared about tax policy and foreign policy.
After the first two debates I got John and 3 other friends to lean Obama, but 2 weeks ago they all started leaning back to McCain because of McCain's anti-socialism argument. I would literally spend 2-3 hours on the phone with each guy shooting down every single one of their points and making counter points. I made progress but I never did know where they leaned. Until today:
I guess I'll need a second job to pay my new taxes :)
That simple message has made my day. I only hope the other guys come to their senses and vote Obama. I left each of them with this message early this morning as last attempt to nudge them over:
Sure would be nice if you supplemented your wife's vote by voting for Obama today. Think really long and hard about it {insert name}. It is a vote to resurrect our country's global image and revive our domestic economy. It is a vote that is bigger than you or me. I want you to think REALLY long and hard before you pull that lever {insert name}. Vote for Barack.
Yes, it so happens that each of their wives are supporting Barack. Go figure...
Oh I also voted for Barack today. I can't explain the thrill that surged through my fingers as I checked the box next to "Obama/Biden". I voted in PG County Maryland. The lines were ridiculous, never seen anything like it. The thing that got me though was the amount of young folks and first time voters (yes I conducted my own poll) on the line, which stretched about a quarter mile btw. I even took a snapshot (w/ my Iphone) of my ballot -
hehehe....sweet!!!
Okay back to making GOTV calls now.....
p.s. Did you know that Barack was born on the 4th of August, and will be elected on the 4th of November as the 44th President of the United States?
Interesting eh?