Joe got it right

by Bruce Plante at Tulsa World

At least Joe got one vote right. Don't get me wrong. I'm delighted as all heck that Obama won in a landslide victory. But I can't help but feel trepidation about some of the not so good votes that happened yesterday.

Ted the convicted felon was elected in Alaska.
Michelle Bachmann the neo-McCarthyist was elected in Minnesota.
Norm Coleman may eek out a win in Minnesota.
Proposition 8 looks like it will pass in California.
Antigay measures have passed in Arizona, Arkansas, and Florida.

We may have elected our first non-white president but that does not mean racism and bigotry in America is dead. Far from it. There's plenty of work left to do.

Take a day or two off but then think about how we can help Obama really change this country.

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.