I remember being a junior in college when the 2004 election season was well under way. I had decided for the first time ever I was going to go to a political “rally” of sorts. My decision was not really based on any genuine notion of wanting to join in the political process. More so a friend of mine was a political science major interning for a democratic representative in my town and asked me to attend, so I did. Funny the thing I walked away remember was not that candidate, but the guy on the television screen speaking at the Democratic Convention keynote.

The meeting ended up just being about how this representative needed money to break the conservative trend in our area. But near the end of it someone turned the TV on so they could watch the Democratic Convention. Up until that point I had never heard of Barack Obama, a junior senator from Illinois. He spoke at the keynote for the convention and the first thing I thought is “I wish that guy was the president of the United States.”

The key points from his speech didn’t talk about “evil conservatives” or any vast conspiracies to silence the democratic voters. He didn’t get up and denounce the republican incumbent as a bumbling fool that didn’t deserve to be in office (though I’m sure there were many in the crowd waiting to hear just that). He spoke of unity. He spoke of the need to stop speaking about “red states” and “blue states” and start speaking in terms of the “United States”. What a novel idea.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one listening that night that thought this guy was presidential material. After that speech all of the news networks were abuzz with talk of Barack Obama and whether he would be a contender in 2008. Initially he said that simply wasn’t in his plan but I’m glad to see that his plans have changed for the better of our country. Not only has Obama decided to join the rat race for the White House and cast his bid for the democratic nomination, but people are actually uniting behind him. And for the first time ever I feel like I can get excited about politics again. It’s not “cast your vote for the lesser of two evils” or “gosh this guy isn’t the best but he’s better than Bush”. I truly believe Barack Obama would change the course of our country for the better and help not only a divided country unite again, but also win back our allies overseas with a more diplomatic approach than “Our way or the highway.”

The core components of Barack Obama’s campaign that have me excited are his technology policies, foreign policies (specifically how we got out of Iraq), and education policies. Obama has a clear vision for the future and he’s consistent in his voting and policy to see that future become a reality. Unlike previous candidates (and current competition) that promise you the world but don’t have the history in congress that backs it up, Obama remains consistent. There are no empty promises or lingering doubts, no clouded history of dirty politics, and no scathing voices of pride and bitter feuding. Barack Obama is the real deal and on Tuesday I will get the chance to cast my vote in the Virginia primary for him. I urge you to look into his policies and if you think he’s the right man please take the time to go to the polls. It’s a close race but it’s time for a change in this country. And regardless of your affiliation, please vote. It counts more than you can even understand.