It's official... No more "presumptive." The Democratic party has
nominated an African-American for the highest office in our nation. I moved to the office television, occupying myself with busywork as the
nominating speeches began.

Clinton's nomination was introduced
by Dolores Huerta, an activist great grandmother who worked with Cesar
Chavez for worker's rights. She passionately spoke of her and
Clinton's commitment to their shared causes. In a telling moment, she
revealed one of those causes to be support for Obama as the
next presidential nominee. It was a pleasant surprise and harbinger of
better things to come.

Registered Republican and Iraq war
Veteran Michael Wilson presented an emotional nomination speech for
Obama to thunderous cheers. He spoke of generations of his family's
military service and his upbringing in a small Tennessee town. He
talked of struggling to save a group of Marines targeted by a suicide
bomber in Northern Iraq. His heartfelt comments were tailor-made for a
candidate who seeks a united America that reaches across partisan lines.

As
the roll call proceeded, it was clear that despite posturing from the
"millions" of PUMAs, there was not going to be any nail-biting about
the results of the ballot. A slip up from the Arkansas delegation
delivered a stunning symbolic gesture by announcing all 47 of their
votes for Obama. The response was so overwhelming that they didn't
bother to correct the record. In the end, Hillary Clinton, standing
with a New York Delegation that included Governor David Patterson,
moved that Obama be declared the nominee by acclamation.

I
exhaled a sigh of relief as the impact of this historic moment settled
on me. Now McCain was alone as a "presumptive" nominee. We have our
candidate, and he will be the next President of the United States!