Can I state this and not get in trouble? - I am so happy for black Americans....

[HardWorkingDem]

The more I see of Barack Obama, the more blown away I am. Not that it is because he is a black man, but that this person is someone I think only comes around once in a lifetime. For a person his age, WOW. This man is only four years older than I. What he can mean to American is astounding.

But where I am really happy for is that of black America. Right now, one of the most inspiring Americans is a person of color. And this man has so much hope to offer so many.

And tonight, when he came in and gave us all the gift of a sneak peek, he only showed how special he is. I just hope those in America can swallow their prejudices long enough to give this man a chance.

[Whalestoe]

1. I'm happy for all Americans.

But I know what you mean, this is truly a historical event, African Americans can take deep pride in Barack Obama (even those that disagree with his policies)!

[calimary]

2. And WE have witnessed it personally!

I tell my kids, especially my first-time-voter daughter - savor this election. This is VERY special - a once-in-a-lifetime event, the first African-American as a major party presidential nominee. We have not gone this way before. EVER. Pretty damn cool, isn't it? And WE DEMS did it!

[Hamlette]

30. first time anything but an old white guy candidate

Kennedy was a tad younger but it really has been the old white guys club.

I'm afraid to let myself hope. . .

[1corona4u]

This is the kind of comment that really pisses me off....

I think your bigotry, and intolerance is hanging out. Let me remind you, there are a LOT of "old white guys", and women for that matter, who are making this whole thing possible for Obama.

Have some fucking respect.

[Hamlette]

33. yep, and I'm one of them old white people. Just point out a fact. n/t

not exactly sure what kind of bigotry and intolerance you think I was showing.

[countmyvote4real]

3. I hope that you didn't mean it that way, but it comes off as mighty white of you.

I'm just saying.

[HardWorkingDem]

9. Well, I don't see it as that....

and only hope that tomorrow so many people who don't have hope will feel that hope and see that hope.

Hell, really, how can one even say this? I guess one thing I mean is when I sat back and watched Clinton/Gore in 92, as a young person, I was so happy that two relatively young men were stepping up to the plate. I was so happy for youth in America and for "new" Democrats and what it meant for us.

I just hope that many, many black Americans will see Obama and see that just like him, there is hope - and not for just them, but for ALL of America.

[JTFrog]

22. You must have forseen some seeing it like that when you used the word "trouble".

Sorry. You asked and I'm sure some will see it different than you.

[HardWorkingDem]

28. Well, I was kind of concerned...

that with how ideas and comments are conveyed here (and in the written from) that my comment wouldn't come out right and would be taken in a way that I didn't mean for it to be taken.

It's just something to sit back and watch an elder make a comment about how he never thought he would see this day in his lifetime and watch how it makes him feel. And then I contrast this with how happy I was to see a Democrat in the White House after Reagan and Bush. And then the kicker to this was that was only 12 years and not 500.

Hope none of this is offensive.

[countmyvote4real]

34. I get what you're saying. Especially after tonight.

Still, it was an initial thought that I no longer have.

Peace.

[arthritisR_US]

4. I wish MLK were alive to see him, he would have such pride and hope...

they came over in slave ships, human chattel with no rights or person hood and now to have one of them potentially becoming the President of your beleaguered country - it's a dream I share with them and you all.

[TTUBatfan2008]

15. There's a lot of parallels too...

MLK faced constant surveillance from J. Edgar Hoover's racist agenda at the FBI. He was labeled a dangerous Communist, an agitator, blah blah blah.

Barack is obviously a politician but has faced a lot of smear jobs on his character that go beyond politics and straight into the realm of paranoid prejudice. "He's a Muslim terrorist, oh my gosh!" That is just the lowest of the low, and it's pretty amusing to see McCain's camp pushing such ideas after he himself was attacked by GWB and Rove in South Carolina with racist tactics against his adopted daughter.

[arthritisR_US]

23. McLame whined about those tactics until they become his own...he has

absolutely NO values system at all!

[Egnever]

5. Probly not

but you gave it a good attempt and I agree. This is a good day for people of all colors.

[TTUBatfan2008]

6. Speaking of this...

I think it is APPALLING how the WHITE media has managed to smear Michelle Obama's reputation by taking her quote out of context. I was just perusing Barack's YouTube channel and noticing some of the videos of Michelle from behind the scenes at the Convention. There's a great video on there of her talking about how she was currently at a volunteer event to help create care packages for the troops. And then there's another great video on there with her trying to convince their daughters to come on stage with her after her speech. At one point in one of the videos she talked about the fact that she had a sleepover with 15 kids in her hotel room! LOL, great stuff.

And when you are watching these videos, it's quickly apparent that this is a smart, kind woman who has been smeared to no end by the white-owned media in this country. Absolutely pathetic that they allowed themselves to fall into the same bunch of paranoid bullcrap that has plagued this country for centuries. "Oh no, scary black person!" I equate "scary black person" usually with "oh no, they're speaking the truth...time to smear them!" And more often than not, that is the case. I watched one of Michelle's campaign speeches last year before the "proud" controversy came up and she was amazing. She has such a uniquely American story and she connects very well with people because of that. Again, it was truly shameful how the media portrayed her. :(

The good news, however, is that she finally got a chance to shut those assholes up and boy oh boy did she ever nail that speech on Monday night! :)

Go Michelle and go Barack!

[CitizenLeft]

26. wonderful post!

[goodgd_yall]

7. I think I get what you're feeling

To think, 45 plus years ago, black people were treated like they were less than human, and now a black man is (hopefully) going to be the leader of our country. And he'll be one of our great presidents, I do believe.

[The Traveler]

8. Oh, yeah

My stepson (wife's child) is biracial. You have no idea how big a deal this has been for this kid ... who at 9 years old watches Olbermann with me on a nightly basis. Or, maybe ya do.

(Are we perhaps approaching that reconciliation the Rev. Wright preached so eloquently just before his head flew up his head at the Press Club? Am I the only white guy who heard that part and found that it touched something in my own soul?)

[HardWorkingDem]

11. An older black man I work with...

said to me a few weeks ago that he never thought he would see this in his lifetime. God, can one believe that? A fifty year old person saying that in this day and age? And it comes true! Then, last night on the convention floor a reporter asked film directer Spike Lee if he ever thought he would see this in his lifetime and he said the same thing.

I am so happy it is being seen. The greatest thing is that is best for all of us.

[The Traveler]

13. I'm 52

So, like, watch that "older man" stuff, punk. :)

It's an amazing thing, and it feels surprisingly good. Surprisingly right.

[HardWorkingDem]

16. What is even more of a heartbreak is....

I look at this wonderful elder and see that he has been waiting and disbelieving this for so long, when I got to see it back in 92. I can't imagine the continual heartbreak year to year.

[TTUBatfan2008]

14. In this day and age?

You're kidding right? I just highlighted for you the double standard that's going on right now, in particular with Michelle Obama. The Obamas literally have to be perfect times 100 to even be considered "worthy" of some people's votes in this country. It's sad, but true. It pisses me off thinking about it, but it's the truth. People don't have any problem sweeping McCain's marital infidelity, flip-flopping political tactics, and warmongering...and his wife's prescription drug problem under the rug but they freak the hell out over a comment taken out of context from a woman who clearly loves this country. She wouldn't have let her husband run for President if she didn't love this country. The fact is, they are both sacrificing a lot for this right now...and that includes time with their daughters, who we all must remember are still literally little kids. We haven't had that in a long time with a serious Presidential candidate.

But I will say this. With the news of that assassination plot getting busted, it made me start thinking about how vulnerable he is going to be out there Thursday night in the middle of a huge stadium packed with people. We all need to be praying because it really does not feel like a safe situation to me. I wish they had the stage surrounded by a bulletproof glass bubble of some sort.

[The Traveler]

18. Yer right

and this Southern red neck (hey ... learned to shoot before I learned to read, so I qualify) definitely gets that.

But here's the other thing ... they raise the bar that high. Barack and Michelle can clear it anyway. They. Are. That. Good.

What this country needs right now comes packaged in dark skin. How cool is that?

[Egnever]

12. Thats awesome

and a story that is being repeated around the world.

That by itself is enough to make me want to vote for him.. But there is so much more that comes with it.

[TexasObserver]

10. Me, too!!

I am so excited for blacks in America.

Just eight short months ago, blacks were largely afraid to even HOPE that a black man had a chance to win the Democratic nomination. When they saw that many whites and Hispanics truly wanted Obama as president, they gave in to hope.

I want to see him sworn in, and when that happens, I will say a special THANK YOU to whatever it is out there that binds us all together, God or the First Cause.

[melody]

17. It's amazing. 44 years after the Miss black voter reg murders

We Democrats nominated an African-American man with a name that all the bigots and sociopaths have tried to use to scare us.

I'm so proud of my party today, it's almost painful. lol

[dkf]

19. I'm blown away when I hear people like John Lewis speak.

You can tell how moved they are by this nomination. It makes me simply thrilled to see their dream, and yes mine, fulfilled. I may not be black, but as an Asian American, I feel a part of this dream too.

[democracy1st]

20. I'm happy for all Americans cut the divide bs we need everyone right now

[RichGirl]

24. I don't think it's divisive.

I feel the same about Barrack as I do about Hillary. Both of them have every qualification that is needed to be a great president. But, because neither one is a white male, they both had a higher mountain to climb. I'm proud that my party had the courage to crash through the barrier of race and sex in order to pick the best PERSON for the job.

[ampad]

21. While I am a proud black woman

I am a proud democrat first. Sure I am excited that one of the most popular role models of today is a black man and he is not playing ball or rapping; I am very proud of that. What I am more proud of is the fact that the dem party was the first party to have a viable woman and African American at the top of the ticket, we are the first. The repigs can try to take the change message and run with it all they want but the dems have that on lock we were the first. I am so proud to be a Democrat right now.

[old mark]

25. ampad, I am an old fart, and Iwas in high schoolr the '60's

when Black people got arrested and worse for attempting to vote in the USA.
Thinking back, I am astounded that this was only 45 years ago,or even less. It is a shameful thing in American history.
It has always been the Democratic Party leading the way for civil rights/equal rights for all these years. It still is.
I am really amazed and pleased at Obama's nomination for the Presidency.
I firmly believe he is not only THE most qualified candidate we have seen in many years, but the exact right person for the job at this time.

mark

[Yavin4]

27. As A Black American, I Say, I'm Happy For You As Well

Whenever prejudice is overcome, ALL people benefit.

[AspenRose]

29. Exactly

:thumbsup:

[Marrah_G]

31. Of course you can be happy

Another bit of the racial dividing wall is being chipped away. Every step forward is something to be proud of.

Just my two cents.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

32. Lest we forget...

It was the Congressional Black Caucus that had to balls to challenge the legitimacy of the 2000 Election. Nobody in the Senate (including Al Gore himself) would support their challenge.

[Cha]

35. I'm ecstatic for them, and everyone who

has been exploited, lied to, and stolen from these last 8 years.

[flamingdem]

36. You're not in trouble, Barack is Black and we're proud, all of us, all colors nt