I’ve contracted a bad case of hope…

Recently, MoveOn.com had an Obama in 30 Seconds ad contest.  One of the honorable mention winners featured a bunch of people concerned that they’d caught something, looking worried and saying "it could happen to anyone…."  You think at first it’s going to be an ad for STD awareness or something.  But, then you find out that what they’ve really come down with is a bad case of hope.

The ads not just funny, it’s true.  It seems that everyone I know, including myself, have contracted a bad case of it and it appears to be spreading.

So, last night when I was sitting around a table at Zona 78s with my group of Obama women, planning our trip to the Denver Convention, I wondered why.  What is it about Obama?

After kicking it around for awhile, I’ve concluded that, for me at least, it boils down to his use of pronouns.

Yes, pronouns.

You dont’ here him talk about what he can do.  He never says I am the one, "I can make change happen." Instead, he calls to us, by reminding people that "We can make a difference."  It’s up to us to work and serve, and help make change happen.  By doing so, Obama is inviting us to reclaim our lives, neighborhoods, communities and country.  He’s inviting us back to the table.

Log onto www.barackobama.com and you’ll see at the top of the page the following words: "Together We Can Help the Disaster Victims…Donate/Help the Victims.  The link takes you directly to the American Red Cross donation page. I know because I did it last night.

It’s not just the words, it’s the actions they’re inspring.

Supporters across the country are organizing Obama Works Community Service Projects.  Inspired by Obama’s call to make a difference, these folks are cleaning streets, parks and neighborhoods.  They’ve sponsored the Missoula River Clean-up effort, organized book drives, food and clothing drives.

On Friday, May 2, Obama supporters right here in Tucson collected over 350 pounds of food for the Tucson Community Food Bank.  Their next Obama Works Project is going to target the homeless population.  They’ll be delivering brown bag lunches, lots of water, and a little hope to those folks in need right here in our backyard.

So if you’re feeling a little light headed, dizzy, maybe even a little giddy, don’t rush off to the doctors yet.  You may just be coming down with a little hope yourself.