Because this is what hope looks like

[TayTay]

I was at the Nashua Democratic Headquarters today for the rally Senator Kerry had for all the incredible volunteers who came out to canvass for the Democratic candidates. One very, very special canvasser came out too and you should know about him.



The young man in this picture is J. from Massachusetts. He turned ten years old today. He has been volunteering for Senator Obama all year. He has worked in offices in MA and today he told his mother that he wanted to spend his 10th birthday canvassing for Senator Obama in the Nashua, NH area. His mother agreed and the 2 of them took the bus up from Lowell with a whole lot of other happy people.

The staff on the bus made sure J. had a special birthday cake and a card and that everyone got a chance to sign the card. Senator Kerry was a special guest at this rally and he not only signed J.'s birthday card, but met this incredible young man and wished him well.

I had a chance to ask J. what he wanted for his birthday. He wants to tour the White House or the Senate. I also asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. Well, a Congressman or Senator or, really, President. He wants to be President. Because, you see, it really and truly is possible, if you work hard and want it enough.

This is what hope looks like. If you ever doubt what you are doing or what this year means, think of J. and smile and get to work.

Yes. We. Can. Just ask J.

[Left Is Write]

1. Happy Birthday, J...I hope all your wishes and dreams come true.

[Barack_America]

2. With that amount of enthusiasm and dedication, the world is his for the taking.

Happy Birthday, J.!!

[fedupinBushcountry]

3. Great story

:party: Happy Birthday J :party:

[ProSense]

22. It's wonderful.

Makes me teary eyed reading it again.

[PresidentObama]

4. What an inspirational post. Way to go, J. And gotta love Senator Kerry, that was nice of him n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. Happy Birthday "J". Good job.....(nt)

:kick:

[FrenchieCat]

6. Now see, that is an extra awesome B-day! Wow!

[ProSense]

7. Happy Birthday J.

This is a touching post, and that's an awesome birthday present.

[Vektor]

8. Tay Tay, you never disappoint!!

And thanks for this great photo of TWO very handsome gentlemen!

Glad you all had a wonderful day. Give the big guy a hug for me.

[TayTay]

12. I will. And thanks

These are special times. It is a very special blessing to meet someone like J. I am deeply honored and humbled by the efforts this young man has made.

I renew my faith in my country though when I think of what he is doing and saying and the hope he is expressing.

Again. Yes. We. Can.

[bleever]

9. He's The Man.

Go and do it, J.

With Sen. Kerry as a model of public service and personal integrity, you can do whatever you set your sights on.

[progressivebydesign]

10. What a sweetie J. looks like! Happy Birthday to him! He'll go far in life!

He obviously has an amazing Mother! And what a cute pic of Kerry with him!

[BlooInBloo]

11. The Lord helps those who help themselves, they say. Good job, kid.

[SeattleGirl]

13. Happy Birthday J!

You, young man, are part of MY hope for the future!

:party:

[Historic NY]

14. Happy 10th Birthday J, you will remember it forever.

[Blaukraut]

15. Happy Birthday, J! May your wishes come true - all of them :) n/t

[AwakeAtLast]

16. What a great kid! What a great story!

Thanks for posting! :hi:

[Triana]

17. Youbetcha. ...

And it's a damn fine sight to see. It's about TIME!

[bleever]

18. That picture

brings tears to my eyes.

[Triana]

19. It is one of my absolute favorites. It's a keeper! n/t

[RepublicanElephant]

36. me too. nt

[XOKCowboy]

33. That picture is like a modern day Norman Rockwell painting

Obama looks very Lincoln-esque. The look in that boy's eyes is priceless.

[VoodooGuru]

20. aw man, I just got a tear!

Thanks so much, that is the sweetest thing! What awesome people! What an AWESOME birthday for that little guy! I can see the bright future ahead of him from here.

P.S. John K., still love ya. Keep it up.

[XOKCowboy]

31. Yeah me too. Plus goosebumps...

What a great story about a great kid. Good luck to him but I don't think he'll need it. Now where's the Kleenex?

[sellitman]

21. What a great story.

I hope he gets to visit President Obama in the White House some day soon.

Imagine those photos!

[TayTay]

23. Thanks for all the kind comments

I will be sure to forward them to J. and his Mother.

We are so going to win. And win big.

[saltpoint]

24. To our children's children's children...

What a terrific post, Tay.

Bravo and again.

[TayTay]

25. Hey you, what a pleasure to hear from you

It's late in this election cycle and I'm starting to get tired. There are times when you think about cutting a corner here or there. I don't need to go to that house, they have a McCain/Palin sign in the yard. I can skip out on these last few phone calls, I think we mostly covered it. I need to go home and sleep and talk to my family and so forth. Who else, besides me, will know anyway?

Then I meet someone extraordinary who reminds me why I want to fight. These folks are not saints. J. is a ten-year old and was a wonderful bundle of ten-year old energy. He fidgeted and ran around the rally space and kind of drove his Mom a little crazy, like all good ten-year olds do. The best moment of the day was when the event was over and I overheard J.'s Mom ask him in that slightly exasperated voice that the Mom in me knows so well, "Are you done? Did you do everything you wanted to do? Can we go home now?" Imagine that. This young man had an agenda yesterday and his Mom was checking with him to make sure that he did accomplish what his heart told him he could that day. Wow!

You know, I really need to knock on the door of that last house with the McCain/Palin sign. You never know, maybe there is an Obama voter living there too. And maybe that last phone call should be made. Again, it might be decisive. Then I can say, "yeah, I'm ready to go home now. I did what I set out to do."

Thanks OC. It has been a remarkable journey, hasn't it.

[saltpoint]

26. Tay, my complaints about your posts on DU involve there being

so few of them.

What a great story you brought us with this one, with a great photo, and a good glimpse of how democracy and parenting work.

J's mom's got the parenting vibe. That tall guy in the picture has the democracy vibe, and you wouldn't be so damned tired if you weren't doing such a damned good job working in the service of both of those guys.

Thank you. Now let's kick McCain's sorry butt from here to Hong Kong.

[ibegurpard]

27. I really hope

that we are able to change things enough so that this young man has a future worthy of his dreams.

[NightWatcher]

28. so help me God, if they try to steal this, it will not bode well for them, nor will it be pretty

[Top Cat]

29. Happy birthday J

[karynnj]

30. This is a really sweet sorry

What an amazing boy - that bus ride must have been great. It is so nice that he was able to meet his Senator.

[jillan]

32. What an amazing kid! Not many 10 yr olds would want to spend their birthday canvassing!

Great story, thanks for sharing :)

[fortyfeetunder]

34. Happy B-day J!

You're an awesome kid!
:party:

[politicasista]

35. Great story!

Always great to see younger people involved in politics. And who knows, he could (or will) be president someday. :)

As singer India.Arie says, "There's Hope" :patriot:


Thanks for sharing this. :hi:


On edit: Happy Birthday, J! :party:

[Cha]

37. That's a beautiful sign of

Winning one little heart at a time.

My sis and I were in Manchester, New Hampshire on Nov 2, 2004 for Kerry's last RAlly.

[XOKCowboy]

38. Kicking a hella cool story...

[katandmoon]

39. BEAUTIFUL pic and story!

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. I love how Obama has inspired young minority kids

It's been a long time coming.

[rvablue]

41. Thanks for posting this....it made me tear up! n/t

[beachmom]

42. Beautiful story. Thanks, Tay Tay.

[sandnsea]

43. Beautiful!

What a great story! :)

[mokawanis]

44. Keep an eye on that youngster

He might just be asking for your vote someday. :thumbsup:

[XOKCowboy]

45. Kicking for the night crew..

get your hankies out..

[Chorophyll]

46. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

We need a new smiley for happy-crying.

Happy birthday, J. from MA! :party:

[wisteria]

47. What an inspiring young man. I feel as though I should be doing more.

I hope he gets to tour and Obama White House and gets to meet many great senators.

[Libby2]

48. Happy Birthday "J"

Thank you so much for sharing this heart warming story.

[XOKCowboy]

49. Kicking for the late night crew

It's a great story..

[TheDonkey]

50. What a great story.

I also love seeing Kerry out there for Obama. he's been there since the beginning.

[saltpoint]

51. Kick.

[Inuca]

53. Thanks for the kicks

I would have missed it otherwise.

Great story TayTay! Great picture too.

We most certainly can (but I am starting to turn into a nervous wreck waiting for 11/4)!!

[kid a]

52. Lov e it!

[stillcool]

54. I saw that video..

everyone looked like they were having a great time..and I loved what Senator Kerry had to say.

[politicasista]

55. Kick for positivity

Too much overreaction and concern today. :kick:

[windbreeze]

56. Happy Birthday "J"........and YES you can...n/t

[politicasista]

57. kick n/t

[graywarrior]

58. Wow, what a great story and what a fantastic kid!

[JI7]

59. he looks so happy and hopeful

[No Elephants]

60. He has my vote already. Cannot wait to cast it.