The Democratic Nominee

The long and arduous path towards the nomination of the presumptive Democratic presidential representative has finally been decided tonight. Obama took the lead in the lead in the delegate count tonight and will thus be the Democratic nominee. I cried during his speech tonight. I also cried during Clinton's speech. I cried because I do have hope for this country. There are some who see this "hope" as helpless and wonder how Obama can follow through on his promises (see Tucker Carlson, most of the commenters on MSNBC and Fox News); but because I have hope for something, anything better than the Bush administration.
Not to say that this primary season has been all peaches and roses. We have witnesses virulent misogyny and racism on the part of the Democratic nominees and their supporters as well as on the part of the Republican party (also add homophobia, transphobia, and just about any other -phobia to that side of the ticket).
I hope that this party can pull itself together. I voted for John Edwards ages ago on Super Tuesday. Since then I have sat back and watched this nomination process. I have listened to the sexism and racism and spoken my mind when people have uttered ignorant things in my presence.
I hope, that now that Obama is the nominee, the horrid sexism and misogyny that have run wild in the media and among so called Democrats is addressed. I was torn between Obama and Clinton, but felt that the constant attacks against Clinton because of her sex was something that I, a woman in academia (in a historically male dominated discipline) could identify with.
So, here's to Obama...I'm excited that one of my state senators could be the POTUS...I'm excited that the Repugs could be out...I'm excited that peoples' voices in all of the states (and territories) voices were heard...and mostly, I'm excited about the hope that ANY Democratic nominee can offer.