Day 1 at the convention

Walking down the street, it is easy to be inspired - What a difference 40 years makes - I saw civil rights leader John Lewis - now inside the police barriers not being beaten by police - and inspiring a new generation of young people. Later I saw Lewis again in the video tribute to Ted Kennedy talking about TK's values and never giving up to deliver health care and justice.

I attended a session with the leaders of 40 leading progressive organizations including 21st CD, where we presented our plan to persuade and turn out the vote to major donors who could provide the resources to pay for the organizers and materials we need to execute our plans. I was encouraged by many leaders from the National Education Association, Emily's List, SEIU, America Votes and Sierra Club and others who talked about how important our work was to elect Barack Obama in 2008. I spoke to some leading donors after the presentation about contributing to 21st Century Democrats' field organizing programs in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

I left this event and attended a reception sponsored by the Indian American Leadership Institute. I met State Representative Raj Goyle from Kansas who 21st CD had helped elect in 2006. Raj had with him the two field organizers we had sent to his campaign and we got a great picture of us all together. I also got to say hello and give a warm hug to my former boss - Governor Ted Strickland - who 21st CD also helped to elect two years ago. Later, Ohio State Treasurer Richard Cordray who we have helped elect first as Franklin Count Treasurer and then in 2006 to State Treasurer, came and we spoke about his campaign for Attorney General this year. He thanked me again for our support for him this year and in the past.

By the time I got to the convention center, I was exhausted but beginning to feel the excitement as tens of thousands of people with signs and buttons and most important, smiles, were taking their seats. When I entered the arena, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was speaking about Barack Obama and hope for the future. I was inspired by his ability to cast an eye toward history and toward the future at the same time when he said, "Forty-five years to the day after a young preacher called out, “Let freedom ring,” let history show in this fourth week of August in this Mile-High City, freedom in America has never rung from a higher mountaintop than it does here today" I thought about how we had just held a training in partnership with Jackson just 2 weeks ago in Chicago.

Shortly after, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg spoke about her uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy and introduced the video tribute to Ted Kennedy. Most moving was the idea of the torch being passed to the new generation - to Barack Obama - as the Kennedy's had endorsed Obama at a critical time in the Democratic Primaries. There was a real emotional moment when Ted Kennedy came up to speak. The entire arena stood and cheered, and the Kennedy signs waved, you had a feeling this might be the last of the many great speeches Ted Kennedy has given at the Democratic conventions over the years. I felt my own heart tighten up and a tear well up in my eye as I thought about what Kennedy said as he reminded us that we must dream of what is possible and not accept that we can only achieve a small portion of what we desire. He said his brother John, "called of going to the moon, he didn't say it's too far to get there. We shouldn't even try. Our people answered his call and rose to the challenge, and today an American flag still marks the surface of the moon." and we should not accept anything less than guaranteed health care for all. As the entire Kennedy family gathered, you could feel the emotion of the entire arena who truly loves what the Kennedy family represents and has done for America.

Finally, Michelle Obama took the stage. She was smart, funny, engaging, loving. I was most impressed when she talked about the values her father instilled in her - to treat all people with dignity and respect - even if they disagree with you. And that these values and others where what she and Barack were instilling in their children. She referred back to the introduction video that was shown and talked about her brother playing basketball with Barack to size him up. She talked about giving up work at a big law firm to work in public service with Public Allies. She called on the country to listen 'to our hopes instead of our fears,' and 'to stop doubting and to start dreaming' This made me feel so proud to be a Democrat. We do not try to win elections by fear and division. What I saw the entire day was a melting pot of who America is today - black, white, Latino, Indian American, Asian American - all people who believe we can make this country better for our children and better for all people in the world. It was a day of having my faith in humanity restored.