Yes We Can Again

I had a wake up call Sunday.

It happened when Facebook informed me that January 8, 2011 was the 4^th 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.]