About our blogger

Clifton L. Yin, 22, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He currently is working in the office of Assemblyman Bob Huff. He and his Democratic counterpart have blogged on the presidential election for The Bee, focusing on issues that are important to younger voters. Clifton was born in California but lived with his family in Asia from age 7 until high school graduation. He returned to California to attend college at Claremont McKenna College, where he graduated in May 2007.

We make history

It is hard to overestimate the historical significance of Senator Obama's election to the American presidency. Politically speaking, as a strong supporter of McCain and opponent of many of Obama's ideas, I am disappointed. But politics is transient and history is eternal. Long after the petty politics of our era has become irrelevant, Nov. 4, 2008, will still stand athwart history as the day when the American people elected their first non-white president.

Just 40 years ago, many African-Americans could not even vote, let alone aspire to the highest office in the land. Forty years ago, when my parents were only a little younger than I am today, antiquated, discriminatory quotas had only just been lifted on Chinese immigrants seeking better lives for themselves and their families. 40 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr., was struck down for having a dream that one day our nation would "rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

I intend to take heart from the clarion call of McCain's superb concession speech, (which was overshadowed by Obama's even better speech - one last little injustice in the prolonged campaign, as it is far harder to be gracious in defeat than magnanimous in victory). "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans... I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties but to believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history, we make history."

I remain unconvinced that Obama is equipped to effectively follow through on his mantra of hope, change, and progress. Americans, after all, have always demanded greatness of our leaders. But in Obama, I do believe we have at the very least the potential of real greatness.

I sincerely hope that it is morning once again in America.

Democracy in America

I spent this past weekend out on the campaign trail, walking precincts for a state assembly candidate in the Bay Area. Volunteering is not glamorous: the candidate is too far removed to truly appreciate the effort, and your feet really hurt at the end of the day. In my case, torrential rain on Saturday left my feet both hurting and very, very wet.

While out walking, I encountered volunteers from other, opposing campaigns. It is difficult to think of a more awkward situation...which usually results in some variation of a mutual jerking nod of the head or mumbled greetings before both parties quickly shuffle away, averting their eyes. Politics is oft described as a competitive, contact sport or game, but the reality is that it is much more akin to war (Hat tip: von Clausewitz!). The stakes could not be higher and as such, there is bound to be tension between opposing camps. But there is a code of honor among us merry legion of volunteering politicos - if an opposing worker came before you, do not remove the door hanger or literature.

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Clifton Yin, 22, was a delegate to the Repbulican National Convention. He will be blogging on the upcoming presidential election.