I had a wake up call Sunday.
It happened when Facebook informed me that January 8, 2011
was the 4th anniversary of the Yes We Can speech.
As I reflected on the speech, I realized that I need to get
more involved in the election. When Obama made this speech four years ago, I was already an
involved supporter. I had canvassed, phone-banked, started an Obama Facebook
group, and made my own fundraising page on mybarackobama.com.
(This was only the start … as my college friends will tell you. By the fall of
2008 I turned every gathering of more than four people into an opportunity to
recruit volunteers for the local campaign office.)
I have done some things already this go-around, but my
tweets and Facebook posts don’t equal the enthusiasm and vigor I poured into
the campaign at this point four years ago.
This is, of course, largely a
symptom of being a member of the incumbent's party (what up 1996!), as there is
no threat of my candidate being ousted in Iowa or New Hampshire. But I will
admit it is also due to my own political fatigue. I think a lot of us are
politically frustrated, and that has taken a toll on our energy level as we
enter 2012.
As I watched the Yes We Can for the first time in a long
time, I had two important realizations:
1) Yes, we actually did make headway on these goals! I know
a lot of progressives feel defeated, but don’t lose sight of what has been
accomplished. The Obama Administration has succeeded against great odds in
creating sweeping health care reform, getting our troops out of Iraq, making
college financing easier, and ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. These are major
victories that we have been working towards for a long time. Do we still have
work to do? Yes, but that’s why it is imperative that we gain momentum and live
to fight another four years.
2) Obama’s still in this, and he needs us with him! A lot of
people think Obama has a hard fight ahead of him, but that does not mean he is
out. Don’t forget that when Obama made the Yes We Can speech he had just lost
the New Hampshire primary. Obama ultimately won the general election in a wide victory
(by contemporary presidential election standards), but we know from the
primaries he is a clutch player. For example, the Yes We Can speech came out of
a defeat, and his Philadelphia speech on race was the
result of a potential political liability (his association with Rev. Wright)
that could have cost him the nomination.
We need him to have his Yes We Can moments, but we also need
to support him the way we did four years ago. I know a lot of you are
frustrated –and I understand why. But I still believe, as I did when I watched
this speech four years ago, Obama is our best bet to bring us towards a better
future.
If a trip down the Yes We Can memory lane is not enough to
get you pumped, go read some of the republican candidates positions… that will
light a fire under you, trust me.
[Note: Sorry it’s been awhile since I’ve posted! Work and
life have been keeping me busy.]
