"What about Obama?"

"What about Obama?"

That's what my friend said to me in Spring 2004 when he asked who I was supporting in that year's senatorial primary race. Ironically, at that time my brother-in-law worked for a woman who had thrown her hat in the ring as a contender for the Democratic candidacy for senator. She seemed OK to me, not extraordinary, but fine. So I mentioned her name in answer to my friend's question. His reply: "What about Obama?"

Indeed. When he gave his outstanding key note address at that summer's Democratic National Convention, I thought "That's the person who should be president of the USA. I was deeply moved and inspired, and at that moment I felt like he was my president.

Of course, that was long before he announced his own presidential candidacy, but not that long before others were urging it. Here was someone with a bright and progressive world view, with a history of serving others, especially the neediest among us, and a legacy of bringing disparate viewpoints together to reach common ground. Extremely intelligent, self-aware and self-examining, well-educated, charismatic, a natural leader.

Tonight he will address 75,000 people (and millions more watching on TV) in an open air stadium, moved from the official indoor convention venue as a symbolic gesture, and it promises to be the speech of his life so far. His senior campaign strategist said that "Obama will lay out a case for sweeping political change and illustrate the choice voters face between his candidacy and that of Republican John McCain ... His goal is to talk to the American people about the challenges we face and what we need to do to solve them, and the stakes of continuing to do what we are doing."

Much has been made of his oratory, which is magnificent. But some complain that "it's only words." Well, there are words, and then there are words. Words mean something, words are important, words are the vehicle with which we carry intent, character, emotion, ideas, and vision. Without a doubt, deeds must follow words, and if Obama becomes president it remains to be seen what his deeds will be. But based on his past deeds, based on the character and content of his words, it's a good bet that good deeds will follow his good words.

Finally, the official nomination of an African-American as the candidate of a major political party for the presidency of the United States of America is nothing short of a sea change, a monumental leap forward in human consciousness. In my relatively short life time, African-Americans did not even have the legal right to vote, and now an African-American may become president. If that's not enough to instill hope in anyone, then nothing will.

I've never been prouder to be an American than at this moment.

Fred