Election Day - Get out and VOTE!

Election day is one of my favorite days. I remember back in 1992, I voted for the very first time at East Elementary School (the same elementary school I attended growing up). The debates were heated at my house, as my father considers himself to be a Republican and, since turning 18 I have been a Democrat. I remember one day I came home from school and there was a Bush sign in the yard, it made me furious. My first time voting, gave me a chance to do my homework on the issues and debate them at home with my father. There have even been a few times when we have even agreed on issues as well (which is a shock). The second time Clinton was up for re-election, I was in Granada, Spain. I made sure that my absentee ballot was sent in long before leaving the States.

On a trip through the Madison airport this summer I ran into Russ Feingold, as my dad would say, one of those liberal Democrats from Wisconsin. My high school youth group took a trip to Washington, D.C. our senior year, and I remember meeting Feingold briefly. Of course I had to say something when I saw him in person. I mentioned that I voted for him in 1992 and asked him if he was running for President. He smiled over the president part, “we shall see,” he said. When I got back to Philadelphia, I sent him one of my handwritten notes. Melanie hates when I do this, because they usually never write back, and she considers it a waste of a stamp. I have sent Christmas cards for the past three years to Charo, Dolly Parton, Bill Clinton, and Governor Rendell, and never get anything in return. However, Feingold did write me back and encouraged me to keep in touch with his campaign headquarters.

My voting booth is only ten steps from my house in South Philly, yes friends I counted. I am looking forward to going to the election booth with this kid 18 years from now, and hopefully the “Republican gene” will not come through.