It's official... No more "presumptive." The Democratic party has nominated an African-American for the most powerful office in the world. I sat in my office, occupying myself with busywork as the nominating speeches began.
Clinton's nomination was introduced by Dolores Huerta, an activist great grandmother who worked with Cesar Chavez for worker's rights. She passionately spoke of her work and Clinton's commitment to their shared causes. In a telling moment, she revealed one of those causes to be support for Obama as the presidential nominee. It was a pleasant surprise and harbinger of better things to come.
Registered Republican and Iraq war Veteran Michael Wilson presented an emotional nomination speech for Obama to thunderous cheers. He spoke of generations of his family's military service and his upbringing in a small Tennessee town. He talked of struggling to save a group of Marines targeted by a suicide bomber in Northern Iraq. His heartfelt comments were tailor-made for a candidate who seeks a united America that reaches across partisan lines.
As the roll call proceeded, it was clear that despite posturing from the "millions" of PUMAs, there was not going to be any nail-biting about the results of the ballot. A slip up from the Arkansas delegation delivered a stunning symbolic gesture by announcing all 47 of their votes for Obama. The response was so overwhelming that they didn't bother to correct the record. In the end, Hillary Clinton, standing with a New York Delegation that included Governor David Patterson, moved that Obama be declared the nominee by acclamation.
I exhaled a sigh of relief as the impact of this historic moment settled on me. Now McCain was alone as a "presumptive" nominee. We have our candidate, and he will be the next President of the United States!
Clinton's nomination was introduced by Dolores Huerta, an activist great grandmother who worked with Cesar Chavez for worker's rights. She passionately spoke of her work and Clinton's commitment to their shared causes. In a telling moment, she revealed one of those causes to be support for Obama as the presidential nominee. It was a pleasant surprise and harbinger of better things to come.
Registered Republican and Iraq war Veteran Michael Wilson presented an emotional nomination speech for Obama to thunderous cheers. He spoke of generations of his family's military service and his upbringing in a small Tennessee town. He talked of struggling to save a group of Marines targeted by a suicide bomber in Northern Iraq. His heartfelt comments were tailor-made for a candidate who seeks a united America that reaches across partisan lines.
As the roll call proceeded, it was clear that despite posturing from the "millions" of PUMAs, there was not going to be any nail-biting about the results of the ballot. A slip up from the Arkansas delegation delivered a stunning symbolic gesture by announcing all 47 of their votes for Obama. The response was so overwhelming that they didn't bother to correct the record. In the end, Hillary Clinton, standing with a New York Delegation that included Governor David Patterson, moved that Obama be declared the nominee by acclamation.
I exhaled a sigh of relief as the impact of this historic moment settled on me. Now McCain was alone as a "presumptive" nominee. We have our candidate, and he will be the next President of the United States!
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