It is not lost on me that I have been drawn in by what is absolutely the best example of social media and “conversational marketing” I’ve ever seen. More on how this has worked and why it is the direction all business needs to take in my talk on Design for Conversation Nov 5th. I plan to be basking in the afterglow.
I have lived in the United States since coming to Yale to play ice hockey and further my education. I became an American citizen in America’s most unpopular year, 2001.
Being able to vote for President is one of the greatest parts of being a citizen. Voting for Barack Obama is the most meaningful ballot I have ever cast. He is the first politician for whom I am excited to vote.
I grew up in small-town Canada and know what it is like to live in a place where handguns and terrible health care and failing public schools are not the issue they are here. I am American today because even in the face of those challenges, America is still where I want to live. That says a great deal. An America without gun violence, affordable health care and good education for all will be an even more amazing place. I am thrilled to finally have a Presidential candidate to vote for who I believe will try to do something about these problems. Even more exciting to me is that Barack Obama will ask me to do something to help fix these problems. There is no way these problems are going to be solved by politicians alone.
I have had a first-class education, pursued a career as a comedian (where I benefit from the 1st Amendment every day) and have thrived among the innovative entrepreneurial culture of Silicon Valley where I worked and where I perform. I married my wife here. And while our marriage is politically contested right now in California, I know I am part of the long arc of American civil rights history which always moves toward inclusion.
I am a registered Independent. As I tell audiences, when the Democratic party can’t get a Canadian, Jewish lesbian to register Democratic, they’re in trouble.
Perhaps I’m just like many of many generation: not interested in belonging to a party or clique as much as solving real problems. And we have problems that are now so big that people can no longer pretend they can leverage their way out of them.
This campaign has already provided one moment that has thrilled me. For the first time in my life, I’ve seen negative campaigning fail to work.
I know hope. I am proud to support Barack Obama’s campaign. I will be proud to call him my President on November 5th.