My president, too

I offer my sincere congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama on his historic election victory.

He ran a well-organized, well-funded and strong volunteer campaign. He truly inspired millions of Americans into believing they could elect an American president who would be the change they seek. Congratulations also to the College Democrats and their leadership for turning this campus into an Obama force and turning Indiana blue.
Obviously, I was hoping for a different result last week, but we did not get that.

America has spoken. I am listening. We all must listen. I campaigned vigorously for Sen. John McCain because I believe the most qualified candidate should receive our trust and the job. While 57 million other people agreed with me, 65 million others did not.

Let us all celebrate the historic nature of Obama’s win. It proved that every American has the opportunity to become whatever he or she wants in this great country of ours.
This is a special time to celebrate the progress our country has made and a success for black Americans who have been fighting so hard for equal rights.

For a country that once considered African-Americans three-fifths of a person and committed the moral stain of slavery, we broke many barriers and conquered great cynicism in electing a black president. We followed the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., to judge not by the color of one’s skin but by the content of his character. Let us continue to follow these words.

Respect the office of the presidency – the most difficult job in the world – by respecting the one who holds it. I don’t ask you to give him respect: I demand it. Harry Truman once described the presidency as the “loneliest job in the world,” and it is. Over the past eight years, such respect has not been given to President Bush.

Voice positive, tough and constructive criticism when you disagree with the direction of the leadership. To those who also did not vote for the president-elect, let us be the example of a strong minority opinion. Unlike the Democrats’ treatment of President

Bush over the last eight years, I pledge and also ask others to pledge to rise above unprofessional, irresponsible and divisive attacks against Obama. Don’t attack him personally like they’ve done to President George W. Bush. Be professional.

I will be the first to give support to Obama when I agree with his direction, and the first to voice my concern when I disagree with his direction. We all must do the same.

Obama will be my president. My faith asks me to pray for him, and I am. I am praying for his marriage and for the safety and well-being of his wife and their daughters. I am also praying for our country.

If we love our country and have concern for her, we will get behind our president and move our country forward in the right direction. We must put our country before our party. We must be Americans first.

Let’s get to work, America.