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Yesterday was a very important day here in Texas. A day I was going to be a part of come hell or high water.
6:04 – We left for the school.
6:15 – I got in line.
6:17 – A police officer quickly came out to let everyone know that we were in the Democratic line, and Republican’s had to go elsewhere. About 3 people left the line and I was rather shocked. I live in a pretty ritzy area and definitely expected to see more of a Republican presence. The woman in front of me was waving to her husband who was going to the Republican line.
6:21 – I quickly came to realize that I was standing behind two big bitches. They were actually Republicans who were in line to vote for Hilary Clinton. Their plan was to vote for her to ensure that Obama didn’t win the state. One of them had the nerve to say “There’s no way we can let a black man in the White House”. It took everything in me to not grab her by her blond hair and knee her in the face. It’s 2008… how can people still be racist? Seriously.
6:30 – The two crows continued to yack about their plan and how rich they were. They were there to only vote in the primary because with Hilary as the Democratic canidate, then McCain was pretty much guaranteed to win in November.
6:52 – I reach the voting table. They couldn’t find my information so I had to go see a “judge” for the OK to vote.
6:57 – I cast my vote and they send us outside to find our “group” so we can all gather together to Caucus.
7:08 – As I looked around I was impressed by the number of African Americans… People of Color… Blacks…. whatever you want to call us. It was clear that this election meant something.
7:10 – They told us that the last Caucus had 3 people. This year, we number in the thousands… they don’t know what to do.
7:11 – The presence of Obama supporters is overwhelming. I could count Clinton supporters on my fingers and toes. None of those losers from the line who were voting for her stayed for the Caucus. Thank goodness.
7:21 – You could feel the energy in the air. The excitement of the people who were there trying to make a difference is amazing. There’s a buzz of happiness… Everyone was friendly and happily talking to each other.
8:05 – We had been there for almost two hours, 45 minutes after the Caucus was supposed to have started but people were still voting. They said we had to wait until everyone was done.
8:09 – Someone shouted “We want change” and I instantly got goosebumps.
8:13 – They started dividing the precincts so we could vote.
8:20 – They brought in tables so we could have somewhere to sign our names.
8:30 – Lines began to form and mass chaos ensued. No one knew where to go, the volunteers were new and clueless. It was a mess.
8:34 – Someone in my line smelled. Really bad.
8:35 – We still hadn’t moved.
8:37 – The woman behind me had the worst breath in the world. It was making me nauseas.
8:41 – Still no movement.
8:48 – Still was standing in the same exact spot.
8:50 – They began shouting out instructions which made no sense whatsoever. Everyone started getting pissed and the once spirited crowd became an angry mob.
8:59 – Still standing.
9:05 – I finally took a step.
9:14 – After close to three hours in the polling center, I was finally able to mark my name in ink for Obama. Of all the pages before me, and the many many names I saw, only 15, and that’s pushing it, were for Hilary. I wanted to stay to vote for the delegates but I was hungry and cranky. A part of me now wishes I had stayed.
9:16 – I headed home.
After we got home, I immediately sat down and watching the results on the TV. While I had been out, I remained in close contact with my mother and others who were giving me updates. It was such a devastating blow to see the numbers come in as they did.
I’m not a political person… well I am. I’m political with my friends and my family. I don’t write about it here much. But for me, this election is something so very very important. It’s not a joke… It’s not some HAHA moment. It’s not something for dumb whenches with $400 tiles to go and fuck up for the rest of us. And I am so mad about that. How can our electoral process be such a damn joke to people? I’m so pissed that the democratic party is being torn as it is. I’m so mad that racism is very much alive and well in this country in 2008.
It was over 20 years ago that I was walking home from school, minding my business when a truck pulled up beside me. This man rolled down his window and yelled “Nigger, go back to Africa”. The rest of the people in the truck laughed and they drove off. I had no idea what they meant, or what they were talking about. It didn’t even affect me until I went home and asked my mother. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know… and as she hugged me and told me to not worry about it, I knew it was something I would always have to worry about.
And over the years I did deal with it. I did worry about it.
But none of that hit me quite as much as it did last night standing in that line.
And for that… I am so mad.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, on a good note, despite her “victories” she gained virtually no ground on Obama in the overall race because for the most part, the races were so close. Those people who voted for Hillary just to try to stop Obama for the republican advantage are really sad and pathetic people also. Really infuriating that someone would do that to such an important process. As far as racism, that is really sad to hear about. It pisses me off bad too. I’m sorry you have to go through such garbage.
*hugs*
Kevin’s last blog post..More in from Texas!
Wait a minute — are you telling me these people had this conversation loud and clear in your presence knowing (presumably) that you could hear them? What arrogance! I don’t blame you for being livid.
feefifoto’s last blog post..Personalize Gifts To Help Customers Remember You Fondly
oh wow…
I agree, I can’t believe how much racism there is, still… it’s sickening.
Lisa365’s last blog post..Day #64
Awww (((((Mo))))).
It is still kick in the gut when we’re faced with blatant racism, isn’t it?
My mother got into a big “confrontation” with her bug man because he said Obama is a Muslim.
I WISH people (especially young black people) would take this more seriously.
Voting is a privilege that WE didn’t always have.
They’re idiots. The non voters & the bigots.
Angelika’s last blog post..Random – 3/2/08
I have to give you a metal because you handle yourself and not to go to the level of racism and plain stupid. We have come to far and have been to blessed to let them slow us down.Hillary may have gotten it yesterday by her own people using her and she thinks that she has done something. It is not over and a change is about to come!
OK: long lines, bad breath, and racism. Not a good combination. I think it takes a lot not to fly off the handle at comments like that, and I think you did a lot better than I would have in that situation. I’m not a person that likes confrontation, but racism pisses me off because it’s so senseless, it’s stupid.
And even though it’s 2008, I am not surprised that people still hold on to beliefs that are meant to divide us.
Unfortunately, the passage of time does not always mean enlightenment.
Jillian’s last blog post..The Good Drugs Come Later, But For Now Take These…
Thank you for such a heart felt post. This election is so important – I feel it too – and when Barak Obama speaks I feel like the the spirits of Martin Luther King Jr and President John Kennedy are standing behind him in support. I just hope that enough people in America wake up in time to provide the added the support this movement needs.
I know it’s a big deal that Barak Obama is black, but people need to try and see that he’s so much more than that. He’s insanely intelligent, truly inspired, humble, dedicated, full of integrity, empowered with hope and drive… and wonderfully on top of that… yes, he’s a black man too.
For the first time, I genuinely believe in what a politician is saying and what he stands for. He makes me feel like we can finally change the world. BARACK THE VOTE PEOPLE!
Epiphany’s last blog post..Links for 2008-03-03 [del.icio.us]
I just heard on the radio last week that Texas is a racist state…or should I say the last to get on board with it being okay for an AA to hold public office. It’s sad no matter what part of the country or the world we live in that people are still judged by the color of their skin….I’m never surprised by it.
Natural Woman’s last blog post..Freedom of Speech, My Asterisk*
Well, I for one am embarrassed from my people. As a Texas white-boy, there are times when someone will say something stupid. I wouldn’t say Texas is a racist state, though. That’s similar to racism by labeling us all.
I know the majority of the people I’ve lived near or have gone to school with have not been racist, but a few have and unfortunately the actions of a few can affect the perception of many. I was blessed to have a wonderful family who taught me the beauty of differences.
I’m secure in my white-ness. I can bust out Vanilla Ice and white man dance with the best of them. And I look just as foolish as you think I do. But whether you’re white, black, brown, or whatever – hopefully I can make you all laugh.
I’ll never understand racism for as long as I live. And for that, I apologize that some can’t seem to rid themselves of it.
It pisses me off, too, that Rush Limbaugh and others like him were egging their listeners on to vote for Clinton. They know that McCain can beat her, but probably not Obama. People were calling in to the radio shows to gleefully report, “I voted for Hillary!” That’s just dirty politics, and coupling that with their disgusting racism, I just have to say, SOME “family values!” Ugh.
It was chaos at our polling place, too, but it was worth the wait to finally be able to put down Obama’s name at the caucus.
Candace’s last blog post..Have Y’all Heard Anything About This?
Monique:
I’m sorry to hear that you had to deal with that ignorance while voting. I live in a predominately African-American area in Columbus, Ohio, and have had to deal with some of the residents in the area calling me a “cracker” and other such such ignorant things, too. Unfortunately, racism runs both ways.
On the bright side, I think the ignoramouses in line in front of you were quite wrong in their assumption that if Hillary wins the nomination that she’ll lose in the general election. I also think that we’ll see a Clinton/Obama ticket (or an Obama/Clinton ticket!) in the general elections come November.
Here’s to change – and to the hope that all people will grow up and lose their ignorance on race matters – because race shouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley
Looking forward to the first black or woman president or vice-president in 2009. Either way, we’re making history this year!
A. Caleb Hartley’s last blog post..Two Ways to Invest Responsibly
Unfortunately they still exist, and it’s not just limited to white people. Every racial group has a segment which is racist towards another. I am a bit surprised that they were as vocal as your account makes them out to be. Maybe they thought they were quiet enough that no one else would hear. In either case, it was improper (but not illegal) for them to say so in a public setting as that. While I hope that some day soon we could drop these racial labels (_____-American, black, Caucasian, etc) and need for programs like Affirmative action once and for all, I fear that there will always be at least 1% who cannot seem to get past the color of their own skin.
Wow…it does shock me that anyone even thinks that way today.
However I doubt the republicans who voted for Hillary made *that* much of a difference. I’ve read some stats that said their votes were so small in relation to the Dems who were reporting.
I disagree that McCain couldn’t beat Obama…I think Obama is pretty shallow actually. Kind of like a really good car salesman. Slick and saying the “right” things but no real substance. Besides the fact that he’s ignorantly making all these socialist Utopian plans to bankrupt our country.
But aside from that…my dislike of him has nothing to do with race. It’s his ideas. And it bothers me that so many people (not you necessarily) are supporting him *because* of his race. They aren’t listening to his so called “ideas” but are excited that a black guy is running. Which I admit is cool. But not a reason to vote for someone.
I’m not voting for McCain because of his skin color (not that I am that excited to vote for him at all…I wanted Fred Thompson) but for his ideas, which I believe are better for our country.
Excellent post though.
I’m glad the GOP doesn’t do caucuses (well, they do in my state but only for 50% of the delegates…I voted absentee and my vote still counted).
castocreations’s last blog post..WIFM
Oh I’m so sorry you had such a terrible experience, and I’m glad you are speaking up! I have to say…I wish I lived in Texas and could vote opposite of our party. Here in Illinois (yes, O’s own state) you can’t. I would have been one of the ladies in front of you voting for Hillary. (not bitchy though!!) Honestly–they both scare me to DEATH! I hate McCain too—but am far less worried about his policies than the other two. Even though we are on opposite sides of the party line—I’m glad you got out and voted—so few people do and then complain forever about the crap that gets voted in!!
The ultimate irony would be if Hillary won the election and wound up being a good president.
She’s not as idealistic or as fresh as Obama, but she could do the job. She certainly has the experience and wisdom of age on her side.
hmmmm, what about that little thing you liberals call freedom of speech. by the way, this is just some made up story that attempts to make republicans look like rich arrogant assholes.
I am so sorry this happened to you — I hope that it’s some comfort to know that THIS gal (and her family) are ALL Obama supporters and we WILL be voting for him in November. If it makes any difference, we’re white – and VERY vocal for our guy to go all the way. Maybe things are different in Alaska than in other places in the US… here, skin color just doesn’t seem to matter.
This is a time of change and I hope that we can ALL make the difference that’s needed to finally get the US out of the past and on with the future. You handled this situation with far more civility than I would’ve if they’d been in front of me.
I am truly sorry you experienced what you did.
I am a Republican that supported Hilary just to screw up the Democrat Party, however, the idea that “No black man will be my President” is silly and childish.
If Allen Keyes was the Republican candidate I bet those same women would have been praising themselves for being open minded etc etc. Whatever.
The sad truth of the matter is the Democratic party has raped and pillaged African American voters for years, and what do they have to show for it?
IMHO, nothing but more dependence on the state.
Obama is a nice guy no doubt, but is running out of Iraq like cowards, bankrupting ourselves in handouts, and destroying our health care system really worth voting for a “Nice guy”?
Peace to all of you,
Daniel.
Daniel’s last blog post..What we don’t see in the “News”
Daniel, why not just say you’re a loser who has nothing better to do then destroy the American voting system to better suit your own personal desires? That sounds about right, doesn’t it? Why else are you trying to ” screw up the democratic party” there in Texas? Even better is, are you afraid if you don’t screw it up your particular candidate is unable to win? You have to dig down deep and do what you can for by trying to throw the vote in Texas so that he can have more time to try to figure out how to win?
What you did is very distasteful. As for Obama, he is much more than a nice guy. You’re an example of why I don’t like republicans, poor judgment, just like your representative, McCain who is so pro war he believes the American people don’t care if we stay in Iraq for another 10,000 years. Blasphemy! He also admits he knows very little about economics. Wow, that’s someone I want leading our country! You know, cause who cares that our economy is already sinking into a hole.
I do agree with you about those ignorant folk who would be all happy if the candidate fit their needs. You are, unfortunately, not much better than them in my book though. You sit here and basically say that African Americans are so stupid that the majority continue to support the democrats, even though, as you say, they have been “raped and pillaged” for years. What they have to show for it is a black man running for President and winning, creating so much fear that he might win, Republicans feel they have to interfere to increase their odds of defeating him in November.
Kevin’s last blog post..A Tear at the Pump
I can’t believe that such things are still happening in the USA it is disgusting. Where is the democracy that we all are so proud of?