Independent voter turned Democrat

Written by CindyPDX on November 10, 2008

I am a born and raised Portland, Oregonian female. I am in my 40's. I have 3 kids. I was a single mom raising my daughter, Nelja ,  now 20 who has a boyfriend in the military - both living in Ft. Bragg, NC right now. I finally remarried and have 5 yr old twin boys, of which one regressed into Autism and was diagnosed shortly after they turned 4 years old.  ( heck of a way to learn about what  Autism is)

I followed this Presidential election for almost 2 long years as has many here in the US and around the world.

For years, I was an Independent voter. To me, no party was worthy of  committing to really.  So I thought it best to stay in the middle as an Independent voter.

In 2000, I voted for Gore. In 2004, I voted for Kerry.  And still Bush won!  I was just your typical Independent voter from Portland,  Oregon. After the last two elections, I just about gave up HOPE for the 2008 Presidential Election-- that is until Barack Obama came along.

I was brought up in the 60's here in the heart of Portland, Oregon.  When people ask what race I am, I say: I look white, but I am actually muli-racial. Just an "American Mutt"  ie: part Norwegion, English, Cherokee Indian, and German.  I also have others in my family that are bi-racial.

I'll never forget for as long as I live what life was like growing up as a child here in Portland, Oregon in the late 60's.  Portland, Oregon also known as the City of Roses, or Rose City, but it hasn't always been a bed of roses here.

My cousin, 6 months older than I is bi-racial and ironically her name is Melia and she is allergic to dogs and cats like Obama's oldest daughter, Malia. My cousin is like a sister to me.  I remember one time, when she came over to play, we were about 6-8 years old.  Some neighborhood boys came around and called my dear cousin the N word. Something I was taught never to say!  I saw the pain in my cousin's eyes. It crushed me. My cousin begged me not to make a fuss, or cause trouble and ignore.. but I couldn't stand for that!  And me being the tomboy that I was and having a temper (must be the combo race in me!) , I ran after those boys and knocked them off there bikes. They ran home crying and tattaled on me. I got in trouble, but my 6'2" mother and my Aunt Nelja (Melia's mother, who had died at age 42 of Cancer) rode those parents up one side down the other saying "You and your children should know better! Why does she have to teach your children to behave and to be civil to others?!" Mind you, my family was also very distraught over what had happened with JFK, MLK, and RFK and still are to this day as many Americans are.

We've come such a long way and we still have a long way to go from what I've seen around the USA in other states, and what was coming from the McCain/Palin campaign and their supporters. We still have a such long way to go!

In March of this year I got off my keester and I re-registered as a Democrat voter just so I could have my say this time in the May 2008 Oregon Primary. On May 18th, 2008, History was made here. The largest Democratic PRIMARY rally took place just 12 minutes away from where I live for Barack Obama.  I wished I could have gone (Twins are a challenge, but Autism changes many things) BUT I was there in support and spirit!

On May 20th 2008, Oregon voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama, while on this same day Kentucky voted for Hillary Clinton. All well and fine, however 23% in KY that voted for Hillary was based on RACE!  Mind you that is 23% that admitted to this!  I'm sure it was much more.  It just bothered me.. and I was so worried. Was the whole country like this?

Then finally, Obama wins this long Democratic battle!  I was thrilled!

Moving forward, I continue to watch all this closely.. so close that this family of 4 struggling to make ends meet donates what we can each month to his campaign.  Again, something else I've never done before.   Why? There are many reasons but ONE reason is because we are dealing with crappy insurance as it is and the discrimination they pull when dealing with Autism!  And I live in a state where they have mandated a law that as of Jan 2008 prevents insurance companies from discrimminating against Persuasive Disorders (HB 2918) such as Autism, but they continue the status quo!

In Dec 2007, just 5 months after we received our son's Autism diagnosis,  I heard where Barack Obama stood on disabilities and Autism and felt HOPE again.

If McCain won, and under his bogus health care plan, we would have been DOOMED. We would have been denied health care due to my son's Autism. It would have been treated much like Cancer!  As a pre-existing condition.

Obama said it best in the 2nd debate:

"Now, Sen. McCain has a different kind of approach. He says that he's going to give you a $5,000 tax credit. What he doesn't tell you is that he is going to tax your employer-based health care benefits for the first time ever. So what one hand giveth, the other hand taketh away. He would also strip away the ability of states to provide some of the regulations on insurance companies to make sure you're not excluded for pre-existing conditions or your mammograms are covered or your maternity is covered. And that is fundamentally the wrong way to go. "

I was on the verge of selling my little dump home and going to have to move in with my in-laws in the UK if McCain won just so we could have health care!  I was on the edge of my seat . For 8 years we've put up with Bush. Were we going to be forced another 4 years and now possibly having to fight for Health care as well?!

To think of having to leave Oregon where I was born and raised. I love it here! We don't have sales tax, we don't pump our own gas, we vote by MAIL. I love our mountains, although Mt Hood doesn't look as majestic as she used to. And our wonderful beaches that have 95% public beach access.. but I would have to leave it all, if McCain had won.  More importantly, because I've had ENOUGH!

Election day for me was so intense... watching the polls close from the East coast to the West. Media, played it up.. kept dragging this on.  I knew in my heart, Obama had won, but agonized why wouldn't they just CALL IT?  Then just 30 seconds before they were going to close the polls in Washington, Oregon, and California, (all BLUE STATES) the Media finally announced it!

"We are projecting the NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT is BARACK OBAMA!"

I cried.. we danced, and jumped for joy! I was screaming and with tears running down my face as we watch the TV, we could see the same reaction not only from the USA, but around the world!

Anyway... I thought to share my wee bit and post  some images from our Newspaper, The Oregonian.

The FRONT PAGE of The Oregonian from Nov 5th 2008-
IT WAS HUGE! And very hard to scan and put the pieces back together to be able to share:

http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=obamawinsfrontpageoregoql7.jpg

From the Metro Section, 83% got out the vote!

And this page from Election Extra with people crying and cheering here in Portland, Oregon

The Oregonian had also ENDORSED Obama just as over 200 other US newspapers had.
Read and see pic about it HERE


My dear friend Hans, from Rotterdam sent me this funny cartoon that was in a Dutch Newspaper today :
http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cartoondutchnewspapertw3.jpg

Sarah Palin may have shot a moose, but Obama has bagged himself an Elephant!

Now on to continue our support for Barack Obama!
TOGETHER, we all need to roll up our sleeves, pitch in and help where we can to make this work!

As Barack Obama had said in his many rallies:

"This election is NOT about me, it's about YOU!"

Thank you for reading my ramblings!

Best wishes from the Pacific Northwest!