Contribution to the election of Obama

Satya Chase
Published: November 9, 2008

As we celebrate the conclusion of the most intense presidential campaign of our lifetimes, I am sitting in stunned gratitude at the overwhelming response of our country to the inspiring young man who will
be our next president. Countless numbers of us, myself included, were moved to become involved in his campaign, to get out and do whatever we could. Volunteers represented every race and
generation, working together with a common purpose.

My small contribution came as a result of a phone call several months ago from Christine Ingram, campaign organizer for the Manassas office. 

After ascertaining that I was a supporter of Barack Obama, she asked if I could come down and help out, be a neighborhood volunteer and make some phone calls. 

I’ve never been particularly politically active and had never worked on behalf of a candidate in my life. Her invitation was simple, honest and direct: “If we work together, we have an opportunity to change
the direction of this country.” 

I was apprehensive but longing for change, so I went, finding myself among other mostly white seniors like me. From then on, I reported weekly for my shift of phone banking, calling other area seniors on
my list to promote the support of our candidate and perhaps to enlist more volunteers.

What was remarkable to me was that, as the tenor of the media campaign devolved into increasingly negative attack ads and specious rumors about our candidate, they didn’t become a topic of
discussion in the campaign office. 

With eyes on the goal, Miss Ingram always focussed on the positive, kept her trainings well managed and tight and continued to inspire dozens if not hundreds of people to join in the effort to elect Barack
Obama. I am amazed and awed by her dedication, persistence and stamina.

Toward the end of the campaign, the numbers of volunteers continued to increase. Their sheer numbers,energy and enthusiasm filled the atmosphere and spilled out into the parking lot.  From morning to
evening, people were everywhere, happily doing whatever task was asked of them. Volunteers. I’ve never seen anything like it.

I credit Christine Ingram and Liz Ogunwo, another able campaign staffer who came on board a little later, for inspiring these many, many volunteers who offered hundreds of hours of service, with the
success of getting out the vote and winning the support of traditionally Republican Prince William County. 

I don’t think it would have happened without them. I am grateful for their presence in our community and wish to say publicly, “Thank you, Christine! Thank you, Liz!  Thanks to everyone who worked so
hard to make this possible!”

SATYA CHASE

Manassas