Teary 86-Year-Old Volunteer Meets Obama (VIDEO)

Charles Alexander is an 86-year-old Obama campaign volunteer from Boulder, Colorado. He won a raffle to meet Barack at the rally in Denver on October 26th. Watch him emotionally recount the experience below.

**See other teary-eyed people meet Obama.**

**See more Obama slideshows.**

**Read Obama election day coverage**

Comments

[mimi333]

speaking with my dad, him telling me stories of what it was like growing up in summit, ok, I just keep thinking that this historical moment is for him and everyone like Charles. all of the suffering our ancestors were put through, this moment is for them. this moment is for all of us. i am so happy and blessed that i was able to experience history. GOD bless you all. ( can't stop crying)

[mia8485]

Oh, man...Just when I thought I had it under control. Now I'm cryin' again!!

[mmgbizgirl]

Here is my souvenir tribute to the President Elect and family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5QigRkg9G8

Enjoy!

[TedB]

Stop! I can't take anymore of this, but I can't help clicking! I am having a tough time convincing my coworker that it's just 'allergies.'

[Pupadup4oBama]

Ok, THIS is what's been making me cry. Forget the rallies and the speeches - it's the individual stories that have really gotten to me.
What a sweet, gentle man. I would love to give him a big hug.

[klandish]

What a beautiful man. He represents the heart of this campaign. This should have been one of Obama's ads. I'm teary eyed and at peace watching this man.

[The Lorax]

He made me cry.

[The Lorax]

Charles Alexander, thank you for your volunteer work. You are helping to make history. I am happy for you that you got to meet our next president.

[Pisana]

Charles has seen so much history in this country and with the help from all of us we can make history with obama!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[DaisyDooks]

Oh my God, tears are streaming down my face. My nose is running. This video just tugs at your heart strings, doesn't it? I am so proud and so happy for America. America has matured. We are finally recognizing that we've made considerable progress, but still have more ground to cover. We are a beacon for the world. Let's work together to usher in better domestic and foreign policies and join the world community as a truly civilized nation.

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[JMBrodie]

Wow. Inspiring. Thank you so much for this image.

[DaisyDooks]

You're welcome, friend.

[Softnsweet]

Thank you Daisy, Awesome!

[The Lorax]

That's AWESOME!!!

[breezyislandgirl]

That is so freaking cool! how long did it take to do?

[IgIzBliss]

To cop a line from Tom Cruise's A Few Good Men,
We NEED YOU on that wall! We WANT YOU on that WALL!
Go out and VOTE! Without you we might not DRAG Barack across the finish line.

Go out and VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Otherwise
Ig Iz Bliss!

[JMBrodie]

I wonder how many of us would try to do what Obama is trying to do -- faced with raw hate from some in our nation who cling to a shameful past. He truly is putting his life on the line.

This is why so many of my older relatives feared his campaign. They didn't want to see him get hurt and leave his family alone. But to my surprise, they have come around. They were the ones who marched and withstood the hoses. They see a finish line that they could only dream of. They essentially are telling Barack, "we got your back. If you really want to do this, we are with you."

I know a few of our white brothers and sisters have a hard time understanding this. For for a lot of us this is a moment to pass on to a younger generation. That we have to endure the Palin/McCain taunts and threats is really not so big a deal after dealing with Bull Connor, George Wallace and the boys (and girls) in the white hoods.

As a nation, we will get through this and be stronger, and more united, than we ever have been. This is the year America starts to grow up.

This is an election that is 400 years in the making.

I remember when Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa. I recall thinking that if it could happen there, perhaps one day I would see it my own country.

[IgIzBliss]

here here. I remember when they released Mandela from Robben Island--I CRIED and CRIED and CRIED, like a baby! Though he is not imprisoned, when Barack does this, it will go right up there with that moment.

I remember watching Ossie Davis in a documentary giving the eulogy for the fiery Malcolm X:

"And we will know him then for what he was and is—a prince—our own black shining prince!—who didn’t hesitate to die, because he loved us so." (http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/071.html)

That's what Barack braved just to enter this race, getting Secret Service protection WAY before any other candidate.

Only in the Fire THIS Time, he didn't hesitate to run, because he loved us so! ALL of us!

Whew!
This is a tough, tough, emotional, joyous day. Even if he doesn't win (which he will), he has transformed the political landscape. He is Shaq being such a dominant center that rules of the game had to change to accommodate him. His voice, united with ours, will continue to be powerful should he NOT win.

But he WILL. He WILL. Waiting for tonight, so I can get my street dancing on at 2 AM!

[JMBrodie]

Can I have the first dance?

[watchingwaiting]

I adore this man. He gets it. God bless him and his wife in heaven.

[justobserve]

A Real American: a witness of slavery and its inhumanity but without hatred, only Endurance, Hope and Love for A Better Day for Our Country. McCain and Palin's Straight-Faced Lies Express! McCain-2008 and Palin: a double fraudulent act that even McCain-2000 would NOT approve of.

[JMBrodie]

There was hate, but he found a way to handle and live with it.

There is a myth of this "noble savage" endurance of Black Americans. Make no mistake -- we were mad. We were treated terribly and we were mad. It took deep faith, a belief in something much greater than us, to see our way through that pain.

When I look at this man I see my elders. It hurt them to see some of the same wrongs they endured visited on us. But they told us to remain strong. That there are angry Black people should be no surprise. Reverse the dynamics and tell what you would feel. But it does say something about a collective people that we found ways, many imperfect, to carve out lives of decency and hope -- even as we carried the burden of being labled the poster children for America's ills.

Barack is special. He is the best of us that we always knew, but that the world refused to see.

None of this is said in anger, but to give a perspective. It is how my elders would wish me to act.

[DaisyDooks]

You have beautifully and accurately conveyed our sentiments as people of the African diaspora. To borrow from Pat Benetar, "We are strong. Heartache to heartache, we still stand." We have endured some of the most grotesquely, inhumane treatment and discrimination and we still find it in our hearts to forgive, have compassion for and love our enemies. That speaks to a unique spiritual quality and a god-conscious connection that we have to this Universe.

Good post, JMBrodie! Godspeed to you and all of our American family!

[VotingMom]

I cried like a baby...