2004 was not a good year, especially to be living in DC. America was at war, people were certain that the next terrorist attack would occur at any time; after all, they were happening in Europe and Asia. The country was heading into an election between the most palatable of a cadre of isolated, intimidated and confused Democrats and an incumbent president who had boundless authority and a sweeping vision that seemed destined to be pursued ad infinitum. The Democratic convention tried to put its best face on an anemic candidate and a fearful electorate. A vote for Kerry was a vote against Bush and little else. There was no Democratic platform beyond getting the other guys out of office. The Republican convention had a long list of speakers holding forth on security, strength and resolve to the adoration of millions who viewed their life in the exurbs as under siege by mysterious and menacing foreign powers. They were going to win, but not by much.
In the middle of this uncertainty and polarizing rhetoric Barack Obama took the stage in Boston, putting all of the issues of the day aside, providing a vision of how things should be. It was probably the most inspiring political moment of my life. The only visions I'd heard that season were military superiority on one hand, or wresting control from the militaristic on the other. There was no should, and plenty of must that no one could agree upon. I said then that I wanted that guy to be our next president. My mom and grandma said they were moved, but that he wasn't ready, wasn't vetted, wouldn't be accepted by the party or the country. Today they're happy to be wrong.
I believe that this country is in the beginning degrees of the largest 180 it has ever made in its 230-odd years of history. We are about to shift from the most rightist agenda to possibly the most leftist in the space between election day and inauguration day. But we're going to have to look beyond that. I got the feeling from most quarters that the country is ready for this, whatever it may entail. It's ready to move away from manufactured scandal, fear and vitriol. McCain's concession speech last night was as magnanimous towards his opponent as he could be. The promises of unity felt genuine. These aren't campaign promises. This is something bigger.
At the same time, I heard interviews of people leaving a Republican senator's return party saying things like "tonight is another 9-11", and "this is the end of America as we know it." There is nothing that can be said to sway the thinking of people with beliefs like that. Their thinking has been molded by the prepackaged reality of certain media outlets, they have been scared into the fallacy that the election of one presidency or another threatens the very existence of our republic. I rejected that when people said it about Bush in '04 and I reject it now. We will move on despite, or even because of our disagreements.
It's my sincere hope that this election isn't viewed as a clear mandate for the Democratic brand, but as one that meets the urgent demands of Americans. My beliefs and those of everyone else are only reconciled when we work in the system, where we can agree on the common rules of the game. We will never be great again if we don't recognize this truth and see something bigger than ourselves and our necessarily narrow individual stakes in the way the world is. Enlightened self-interest isn't enough to ensure an efficient government, a strong economy, or a vibrant society.
When Obama said he would be the president of all Americans I hope he meant it, and I hope America allows for it.
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