My Father's Swearing-In

From the gallery above the Senate floor, I sat next to my grandmother and peered down on our newest class of senators, my dad Sherrod Brown among them, as they swore to Dick Cheney and the nation their commitment to public service. My grandmother reached over and patted my hand, "I can't quite believe this." And I knew just what she meant. Afterward, as my dad buzzed around talking to so many people who are, every day, shaping our country, I thought yet again about the great swell of idealism and excitement that helped get him here. The activists who worked together to make this day happen are steadfast and inspiring visionaries, and it is their passion that put the buzz in my dad today. He has spoken with me over and over about his keen awareness of what today truly means. Sure, we are all happy to have the campaign behind us, but this day is not about the campaign that ended fifty-eight days ago. It's about every day that comes after this one, every day that he has the opportunity to fight for social justice and real American values and every day that the American people will hold him to a higher standard.