CNN

I served our country several years in the United States Army both at home and overseas. I cannot imagine serving under a Commander-and-Chief with no prior military experience! I cannot respect someone who will not salute our flag, or place his hand over his heart when the pledge is recited or the Star Spangeled Banner is played! He was sworn into office using a Koran Bible, and his wife even stated she hated Americans! I could go on and on! I can only pray that God and the Holy Spirit will work in this man's heart if he is elected and all of your all's as well. I pray that our country will remain one nation under God for which it was founded! God is ultimately in control no matter what the outcome and it will be for His purpose no matter who is sworn into office! God Bless America and Americans!!! I proudly voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin!

I served our country several years in the United States Army both at home and overseas. I cannot imagine having as my Commander-and-Chief a President with no prior military experience and serving under such a person while in the service! I also can't respect someone who will not salute our flag or place his hand on his heart when the pledge is recited or the Star Spangled Banner is played. His wife even stated that she hated Americans!! He was sworn into office using a Koran Bible! I could go on and on with more!! I can only pray for this man and hope that God and the Holy Spirit will work in his heart if he is elected to do the right things for our country, Americans and to keep our nation-One Nation Under God upon which it was founded!

we better open our eyes and see the light MR>OBAMA , is the light at the end of the tunnel , where hope is other wise we will keep going down the drain with the same peoples gwb and jhon mccain .

go mc_cain, palin for 2012

I guest Ohio still have over 50 percent of stupid racist uneducated people. McCain is winning in Ohio.

Patrick, I am genuinely proud of you for your character. I really like what you wrote and how you came to the intelligent conclusion that Obama is worth voting for!! I wish there were more people out there who looked at this election as you do.
Go Obama/Biden 08!!!!!

Barrack Obama is the AMERICAN DREAM–not only for America–but for the entire world. Good always prevails.

THIS IS AMERICA, VOTE YOUR CHOICE, THE BEST CHOICE FOR ME IS BARACK OBAMA, IF ANYONE DIDN'T VOTE TODAY BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE DATE WAS CHANGED TO THE FIFTH, THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON THE FIFTH. VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN

I am proud of those waiting in line, I remember when the election in South Africa people were in line 2 – 3 days. They may have also taken a day to walk to the polling place. We as Americans, with the world watching, should do no less. I am proud of the way first time voters are engaged in the process and looking towards the future.

I am a true Clinton supporter and was saddened when she did not get the nomination. I contributed to the McCain and Palin campaign immediately after Palin was introduced......then I heard her speak and I started slowly warming up to the idea of Barack Obama as our leader. I proudly voted for Barack Obama and Joe Biden today and I know deep down that they will be great leaders for America. Mr. Obama is a brilliant, articulate, real, Leader. I truly am proud of America again. Obama/Biden 2016!

Wow!!! What a couple of years we have had. I teach VA and US Government, which is for 12th graders. The NEW ELECORATE. I only hope when we return tomorrow, they will all be as excited as I am for them. They know they have the power in their hands for the first time in their lives. To the new electorate...Thank you for excercising your natural right to choose.
Race is an issue. This is part of the solution people. Admit you have racism in your bones and we can all begin to heal. I voted my gender in the primary. However, I am a Democrat and I vote social issues. Poverty, equality for women and protecting her right to choose and Civil Rights for every person whether you are an Amercican, white, black, woman, or man.
We need to dicuss race in order to heal. If you voted against Obama because he is black, I extend my hand to you so we can talk. If we can not do it, how do we expect our Congressional leaders to act in a bipartisan manner?

Thank you to everyone who voted today. Thank you for finding your voice no matter which candidate you selected.

The record number of new voters in this country as well as the voter turn out is incredible. It is a shame that it took the historical moment of having a black Presidential candidate to make people in our country come forward and want to vote. The right to vote and have your voice heard is a privilege which none of us should ever take for granted. If Senator Obama has done nothing else, he has generated the desire in the American people to have their voices heard no matter what their background or race.

I am really hoping for a clean win for Mr. Obama. I think is it about time that people in the US had a sense of hope and a truly clean slate. All Americans have been through alot the past eight years. It's time to turn a new leaf and bring "THE" people together.

This election is historic because of what it is....a presidential election. People and or the media can put whatever spin they choose, to glorify the election based on race or religious beliefs or terrorism. That's the beauty of a democratic society. Say and believe in whatever spin you want America, just get out and vote to make the past 8 years a part of history that nobody wants to remember!

As I watch this day unfold, I'm reminded of the comment made at the Republican National Convention by Rudy Guilliani where he said in his comparison of the candidates that "He [Obama] worked as a community organizer. What?" Perhaps now Rudy and his Republican counterparts understand exactly how important that can be! Sure, it may not look impressive on a "resume", but it surely looks impressive when operationalized. I'm so proud to witness how Obama motivated an entire nation to do the RIGHT thing! Now THAT'S COMMUNITY!

YOU NAIVE MORONS THAT VOTE FOR MCCAIN BETTER HOPE YOU DEMS. WASN'T INVOLVED NOT SENDING MILITARY THEIR BALLOTS IN TIME.TRYING TO SCAM AND CAUSE MCCAIN'S VOTES NOT TO COUNT. YOU R CANIDATE HAS NOTHING BUT CAUSED HATE AND FRAUD THROUGH THIS WHOLE ELECTION RACE. HE IS NOTHING BUT A CHICAGO CON MAN.THIS COUNTRY IS HEADED FOR THE BIGGEST DISASTER IF LITTLE BOY OBAMA GETS ELECTED.

RACE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS RACE. YOU VOTE FOR THE

CANDIDATE THAT AGREES WITH YOUR IDEOLOGY. WHO CARES

THAT OBAMA IS HALF BLACK. HE WAS RAISED BY HIS WHITE SIDE

OF THE FAMILY. HIS FATHER ABANDONED HIM AND HIS MOTHER.

THANK GOD FOR HIS MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS THEY SHOULD

GET ALL THE CREDIT...

Dense dense dense, I tell you.

LBJ was not a SITTING Senator when he was elected or sworn in..He was VP when sworn in and incumbent when elected. Kennedy was a SITTING senator when elected like Obama and McCain

Quit nit pickin and get a clue!!!!!!

Mark, you're right but that statement refers to the President's immediately previous position and for LBJ it was VP, not congressman or senator.

As a white woman who has been active with civil rights of those living in this wonderful country, today is a remarkable day. Too see not only a black man running for president, but this man running for president.., win or lose and I pray he wins I think people are less afraid and more accepting then they have ever been in this country. He is the bridge to bring us together.

as a 22 year old white male in the military, my choice for obama doesnt exactly fit my demographic. in my mind it was the perfect decision for change in a struggling nation.

I am a Canadian student, and today on Campus I saw about a half a dozen "Obama 08" t-shirts.
Frankly, I am jealous that as a Canadian we did not have that same enthusasim that the Americans do in this election.
Never in Canada during my time as a voter have I seen line-ups blocks long. It shows that Americans are craving for a change, yerning for something different then what it has been served up for the past 8 years.

This election has shown the Democratic process at it's finest. This is YOUR "finest hour."

I was moved to tears when I placed my vote for Obama this morning as I remembered how as a child I once told my mother that I wanted to be any astronaut only to be told that little black girls could not be astronauts. I cried because there will never again be a dream crushed because of the color of their skin. Thank you Obama for the audacity of hope.

This truly is a very historic election. For the first time in history, people are voting for a candidate NOT for what they stand for, not because of their party line, but because of the color of their skin.

I couldn't agree more! I am a 24 yr. old black American and I have been brought to tears all day because I'm just starting to realize how far we have come as AMERICANS in history. 40 years ago my grandparents would have never thought that they would have lived to see this and they are both alive today and voted for Barack! This is a time of hope and change not just for black America but all of America! Today I am truly proud to be an American!

you talk about unification these new voters are a disgrace to America. how come you never voted before? get out and serve your duty as an American and educate yourselves. good luck USA

The change we seek is within us

Socialism would be a change for this country – just not a good one for America, unless we want to join the likes of Cuba, China & Vietnam. I backed McCain.

America is going to heal in so many ways when Obama becomes president tonight. I am looking forward to having him as our president and I am thrilled that this amazing man is giving the African Americans the joy and pride they so deserve. For the younger generation it is a lot less significant but still, very significant, however, for the older generation, this is a moment that is beyond their imagination and wildest dreams.

"History at the ballot box"
I just hope it is not a repeat of the history of the 2000 and 2004 elections where in 2000 there were thousands of ballots in Floriday denied (by a Republican state official) – ballots that were from predominantly Democratic leaning areas (Bush won the Florida and the election by the slimmest of margins) and in 2004 where there were numerous reports of computerized voting machine irregularities (how else did Bush get re-elected?). The Republicans have demonstrated one consistent behaviour – win, win at any and all costs. Steal it if necessary. Power doesn't give it up easily.

I would hope no one would vote solely determined on the race of a candidate. Race does not determine whether an individual is fit for office or not. Not voting for Obama would not make someone a racist anymore than not voting for McCain would make someone a racist. Racism cuts both way...

My daughter missed filing an absentee ballot so she drove home to Richmond from Sweet Briar College some two hours away to take part in the democratic process for the first time in her life. There were no lines however just after I was asked for my ID to verify my registration I was asked to remove my Obama button from my blouse prior to entering the booth. My daughter was surprised as was I. If I had an Obama T-shirt on would I have been asked to remove it and vote naked?

I would like to see people recognize Obama for being a potentially great leader because of his character and not because of his race.

I believe some doctor had a dream about that at one point...

Don't cheapen his skills and character by labelling him as black and McCain as white.

-Young white male.

Tears fill my eyes when I think about all those people who fought in the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s; those who were hosed down and beaten by police, those who remember a time when they could only sit on designated park benches, drink from designated water fountains, those who were there when Martin Luther King recited those famous words. I can't imagine the dreams that filled their heads and how real the dream has become today. America was built on dreams and today is a dream so many of us, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, etc... We knew the future would bring equality, but today it is very, very real.

I would hope no one would vote solely determined on the race of a candidate. Race does not determine whether an individual is fit for office or not. Not voting for Obama would not make someone a racist anymore than not voting for McCain would make someone a racist. Racism cuts both way...

This is a pride to all, black , white Hispanic and Asian American who all felt that we just could not doi t. Thanks Obama whether win or loose you have lay a foundation for all Americans. We all work hard towards this achievement.

A big thanks to CNN for not being bias during this election season.

gud luck obama

I too have seen my husband (56 years old) brought to tears while listening to Obama. He gave up on voting. He decided years ago, it wouldn't make a difference because there is no one to vote for who really cares. This year he participated in the early voting and is sitting on pins and needles awaiting the outcome.

The change has already begun. We can see it in the voter turnout and in the changed hearts and minds of the American people – of all races/color.

OBAMA 08

Watching CNN today I noticed a "Fact" which read: I am paraphrasing, That Obama or McCain would be the first president who served in Congress to be elected President since John F. Kennedy.

Either I am missing something but didn't Lyndon B. Johnson, serve in the House and a Senator and was elected President in 1964? If so that was after Kennedy in 1960.
Mark from Oklahoma

This is the best time I've ever seen in our history. I'm so proud of America right now, I could cry. From a 57 year old white woman who thinks Obama is great.

Notice that the author here doesn't break taboo and point out that anybody in the race or at the voting polls is black. I haven't heard any racial labels used at all during this race, though it's so very obvious that these labels are still guiding opinion and determining what is historic and what isn't, as in the above article.

If it's so historically significant, why can't you say WHY it's historically significant? If reporters are taking racial labels as a touchy taboo subject, they shouldn't even be dancing around them. Either come out and say, "This is a historical campaign because a black man is running for president and likely to win," or treat him like an ordinary human being without trying to attach significance to his skin color or the skin colors of those voting for him.

Me, I'm voting for Obama. I don't find anything historical about it: my skin is white, I'm an immigrant to this country, I'm a registered Republican, and the Republicans lost my vote every chance they had to retain it. It's only natural to go with the other guy, and I don't see where skin tone has anything to do with it ... and if that's the only thing that's guiding the vote or making this race more historic than any previous election, then America is shallow and beyond saving.

But clearly, reporters who can't see past it still have to dance around it and find other ways to point it out even if their code prevents them from doing it directly. This media self-censorship needs to stop, this walking on eggshells about racial issues that only exist in the minds of the easily-offended is only creating more tension.

The above article is clearly meant to draw attention to racial issues without directly doing so. Obfuscation of intent leaves for some pretty dry and pointless reading.

I think that regardless of your political affiliation, you should be proud of this moment. A lot of hot air gets released regarding the "historic" nature of elections (aren't they ALL historic?), but there is something profoundly moving about this one.

The republican party are fear mongering, loveless and greedy. I'm glad there are still some people who vote from their heart and not from a position of fear. I have lost allot of respect for John McCain. He should be ashamed.

as a proud CANADIAN and one who was born in kisumo kenya,i feel very honored and proud that i am alive to see this historic event take place....the africans's that were brought to the USA without their consent many hundred's of years ago.....DESERVE AND ARE 100% WARRANTED to have BARACK OBAMA AS THE NEXT PREZ OF THE USA. we in CANADA see the blacks as AMERICANS!!!!! NOT AFRICAN AMERICANS!!!!! all the caucasians are not called EUROPEAN AMERICANS!!!!!! ARE THEY?

This is a wonderfully historical day for African American's across the US and also for minorities globally. Equality has been reached as of tomorrow morning.

And I'm a white Irish dude.

I am proud to be an American!!!!!! Today, I am proud to have placed my Presidential vote. I did not vote because of the color of skin, I voted because it is my right and responsibility as a American. It is time for change, i see this change in Barack Obama, I truly believe this man can bring great changes to America, i also believe he can and will strenghten our economy. I am proud to have Barack Obama as my President and Joe Biden as my Vice President.

Elizabeth from Iowa

Nice article!! It's nice to see people moving on with their lives.

The republican party are fear mongering, loveless and greedy. I'm glad there are still some people who vote from their heart and not from a position of fear. I have lost allot of respect for John McCain. He should be ashamed.

This Presidential race is a big deal to many Americans of different ethnicities and cultures, not just to African-Americans.

Sadly, my son came to me the other day and mentioned that two of his school friends said their parents were voting for McCain. It wasn't the news of who they were voting for that broke my heart, it was the reason they were voting for McCain. Racial equality can never happen until we can all look past the color of our skin. It's not just a black and white issue, it's also all the colors in between.

US is a Great Country. I always believe in this Country as one of Imigrant from Congo(RDC). I have been here for 14 years and so far I never experienced any Racial or concern in my carrier. I work in the Insurance business with all races and I have been having most of my friends as white and has been a speaking throughout my carrier about this Great nation. We are one people and one God. Obama/Biden 08

I'M A PROUD BRUIN!!!

Closer to American History but further away from what use to be the United States of America.

This is my daughter's first time voting,I'm glad she's able to witness this historical event.

Oh there is history in the making all right... we're about to elect the first Marxist as US president, ever.

Talk about change... oh, there will be change... but I don't think you're much going to like it.

Regardless of whether you are a Republican or Democrat...GET OUT AND VOTE!

Waiting for hours in line versus four years of someone you do not want in office is well worth it.

Me, on the other hand voted for...

Obama/Biden!!!!

~Lawrence in Denver

I feel the same. I had to vote my pocketbook and my vote went to Obama.

Voted October 20th

I am very happy to see peolpe go vote and hopefully we will come together and fight for all rights. We pay for taxes on everything and out of our checks, at the stores, for our homes, clothes and etc....... on on on so many hands out but we need to come together to put a stop to this all. we need free health care like canada. I'm confused is this the land of the free??????

I just returned from Europe and this election is top of the list for conversation. I was also reminded by a European colleague that only in America can Barack Obama, a first generation of immigrant parents, a man or woman, or any other naturalized citizen seek the highest office in the land. This year casting my ballot was a tangible reminder of how fortunate we are and a reminder of how many people would get on their knees to have what we have.

The Obama campaign has devided this country in ways I never thought possible. He truly is a disaster for America whether he becomes President or not.

I voted for Obama 26 times. Thanks ACORN.

MY FIRST PRESIDENTAL VOTE WAS FOR CLINTON. I WAS GEEKED HE ACTUALLY CAME TO MY CAMPUS ON HOMECOMING AND IT WAS AN ELECTRIFYING 8 YEARS. WE GOT OUR DEGREES, FIRST JOBS, FIRST HOMES, SPOUSES AND CHILDREN UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION

I HOPE THAT THESE COLLEGE STUDENTS GET THAT SAME EXPERIENCE UNDER OBAMA.

MICKEY MOUSE, GOOFY AND MINNIE VOTED FOR OBAMA TODAY. THANKS ACORN.

My husband and I waited in line today and we've never been happier than to vote for Obama in this historic election.

I hope that after all is said and done that we can all come together as a country and support Obama.

CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

Obama will be one of the best presidents in U.S. history who will reunite our country. We will gain back the world respect.

Asian voter for Obama 2008.

if your still in line b4 the closing time, you will get to vote. 4-6 hours is less than 4-8 years

Never doubt the Bible again… It is really happening here and now:

.. “And in the land shall rise the son of Cain” From the north The Deceiver[Palin] a known Beast of false witness, will take the mark of Cain.
Together they seek to spread fear and invoke hate among the refugees of sin.
In their quest for power they will ignore the light of truth shining on the deeds and words they proclaim.
But take heart, for throughout the land the seekers of light shall rise up and not be fooled. With their strength, the mark [Cain] will be cleansed from the earth and no longer hold power to sway the blind.

Can I get an amen…?

Making history is a great thing, but too bad Obama is one of the worst possible choices to make that history.

GOBAMA!

Never thought this would happen in my lifetime and I'm only 34. Godspeed Obama!!!

I'm hopeful that American's make history today and choose Barack Obama. I'm hopeful and inspired. Godspeed.

I don't make much money so Obama's socialist agenda suits me just fine! Can't wait to get my tax cut and get some money from my idiot neighbor!

Speaking of student voter turnout, did anything happen with that attempt by the Falwell folks in Virginia to get their own students to turn out in the thousands to try to get a McCain win?

I have a 24 year old son and he and ALL of his many friends are going to vote today. I am so very proud of all the young voters who are turning out. I had a young girl in back of me today when I went to vote who wanted to leave and I am so glad I along with another voter encouraged her to stay and vote. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE hang in there and cast your vote because it DOES matter.

They are already popping champagne here in No. Cal. I just hope they are right. Champagne was leaving the Safeway stores in droves.

Go Obama go!

CALIFORNIA... VOTE NO on 8

NO on HATE, NO on 8!!
NO on HATE, NO on 8!!
NO on HATE, NO on 8!!
NO on HATE, NO on 8!!
NO on HATE, NO on 8!!
NO on HATE, NO on 8!!
NO on HATE, NO on 8!!
NO on HATE, NO on 8!!

African American students; California = Good news for Obama.

I think we'll all be happy when Lying Sara is shipped back to moose land.

Obama/Biden

I could not be more happy! We are going to make history with Obama. It all comes down to today. I'm proud to be an american!