I voted

While I have voted in dozens of elections - state primaries, special elections, recalls, presidential primaries, and general elections - none have been as meaningful as today. Although some have come close.

I remember the joy of going to the polls with my parents and holding up signs outside polling places for various city council and mayoral races.

I remember awaiting the returns at house parties in Marlborough.

I remember posting a scoreboard of primary winners on my bedroom door during the 1988 election. I can still name most of the candidates in that election: Dems - Dukakis, Jackson, Babbitt, Biden, Simon, Hart, Gore, Gephardt. Reps - Bush, Dole, Kemp, Robertson, Rumsfeld.

I remember organizing mock elections at Marlborough High.

I remember casting my ballot at UMass.

I remember voting in North Carolina in the 2000 primary for Bill Bradley for President, despite the fact that he had already dropped out.

I remember teaching my students at Triangle Day School about the importance of elections and not getting even an hour of sleep on Election Night 2000 so I could attempt to explain to them on Wednesday what happened, not realizing that the lesson would continue for weeks as we watched news of hanging chads and recounts.

I remember serving as the Campaign Manager for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in San Mateo County in 2002.

I remember organizing press conferences against the recall and against Schwarzenegger.

I remember walking precincts in San Francisco's Tenderloin during a special election, stepping over drunks and drug users, begging students and those of extreme little means to come out and vote.

I remember the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston and meeting then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama in the lobby of my hotel as well as cheering the possibility of the first female Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

I remember voting in 2004 and being interviewed by a Swedish news reporter and having the story mailed to me months later, not being able to read a word of it.

I remember being the first in line during the primary of 2006 at 6:30 AM in order to vote and drive to San Francisco to work on Leland Yee's campaign, which was actually waking up late as I had for the previous several weeks left the house around 4:30 in order to be in San Francisco to work on the campaign by 6:30 AM. I also remember opening the largest bottle of champagne I had ever seen shortly after the returns came in and my job was secure.

I remember casting my ballot in March with Sienna by my side for Barack Obama in the primary and being interviewed by a local TV news station, and of course Sienna stole the show, saying she "boated for Obama."

And I remember this past August in Denver at the Democratic National Convention, realizing that every moment of the experience was history in the making and how proud I was to be a small part of it.

These are some of the most meaningful memories of my life. And yet, today was the most significant vote I have cast. I voted on several ballot measures, Congress, State Assembly, Mayor and School Board. Most importantly, I also cast my vote for Barack Obama for President of the United States.

For reasons well document on this blog, the vote was a no-brainer. Senator Obama has the intellect, the judgment, and the experience to lead. Senator Obama has the ability to inspire here at home and has earned the respect of the world. He is exactly the President we need at this time.

You can not measure his ability simply by his lengthy accomplishments and his rhetorical prowess. I have found a barometer in my children that only one politician has been able to move. Only when Barack Obama is on TV or on Isis or my computer does Sienna and Olivia's attention become tunnel on the screen. Sienna has memorized two Will I Am songs and constantly chants "Yes We Can" and "Obama, Obama" and "We are the ones we've been waiting for."

I know, she may have been a bit indoctrinated. But she does know "Hillary Clit-tin" and John McCain. But she, like many of us, has been inspired by Barack Obama. In fact, she is "going to run for President one day" and she's "going to run fast."

Sienna and Olivia don't yet have any idea about race, the brutal past of slavery or segregation, the horrific discrimination that still plagues, or much of their own family's history. On November 4, our nation will hopefully elect the best person for the job, the most equipped to bring hope to America and respect from the world, and the individual with the judgment to get us out of an unnecessary war and prevent future catastrophes.

We will also hopefully, finally break down all barriers so all individuals, including those with my children's skin tone, can aspire to any position in the world, including President of the United States. November 4 cannot come soon enough.