Written by Colmon Elridge, President

I know we talk about those moments that will stay with us forever, but as we heard the news last Tuesday that Barack Obama would be the 44th President of the United States, I know we all realized that we had been part of something that we could never, ever shake.

You saw on TV the thousands of people across the nation who shared hugs, tears, high-fives. Maybe you shared a hug, cried, or gave a high-five. I had a powerful moment – and I know you did, as well…the only way you could define it was by saying, Yes we did!

Something happened across our nation. For months, I have talked about the America that is and the America that can and should be. Tuesday, we saw a glimpse of the future America – an America where people from different backgrounds, faiths, genders, races, and income levels stood with a singular voice. In that moment, we ceased to be that which we have used to define us as a means to separate us. We stood as Americans. We stood strong as did those patriots who, on a warm July day in 1776, spoke with one voice in declaring our independence. We stood united in rejecting fear and rejecting the status quo, and we embraced our better angels.

We stood strong as did those patriots who, on a warm July day in 1776, spoke with one voice in declaring our independence.

Realize that what we did Tuesday was not radical. It was not far left. It was not socialist. It was actually one of the most conservative things we could have ever done. We remembered what made our country the greatest country that has ever existed: In this country, we the people speak and the government listens. In this country, we the people spoke and our independence was declared. In this country, we the people spoke and blacks and whites were able to sit together and walk together. In this country, we the people spoke and wars ended. And in this country, we the people spoke and we brought change.

We have a lot of work to do in the next four years. Change was not achieved simply because of an election; it must now become systemic. We must look to our better angels and see an America that is enriched with the opportunity that has allowed a guy named Barack Obama the greatest honor any American could have. We have sought to bring change and we now must be the change we wish to see. Remember this was more than a campaign. This is a movement. What we have done nationally, let us now seek to bring to Kentucky.

Yes we can -

Colmon