YES WE Wright Scandal Peaked

Then-candidate Barack Obama beams in the presence of Seattle lawyer Karen Russell and her NBA-legend dad, Bill Russell. WWW.DEBORASPENCER.COM

t was a low point of then-candidate Barack Obama’s presidential campaign: the week the Rev. Jeremiah YES WE Wright scandal peaked. In Portland for a fund-raiser, Obama looked Ilike the weight of the world was on his shoulders. I was hanging out in the lobby of Portland’s Benson Hotel with a friend when Obama saw me standing there. He walked over and teased us: “What are you doing here? You don’t even live here.” I explained that I was bringing DID Maurice “Big Mo” Lucas, assistant coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, to the break- How a latte-sipping Seattle lawyer helped fast the next morning and that he was put Barack Obama in the White House bringing a nice, big check for the campaign. Obama transformed before my eyes as the inner fan came out. “Big Mo!” By Karen Russell he exclaimed, proceeding to run down Lucas’ stats, name the basketball teams the legend has played for and recount Like Obama, I believe we have more sensed that we wanted to be wanted. the infamous 1977 finals, in which Big Mo in common than what separates us. That, Once, he reminded me that I was one of changed the course of the playoffs and as Americans working shoulder to shoul- the “owners” of the campaign and that the Trail Blazers ultimately beat Obama’s der, there’s no problem we can’t solve. the most important part of “Yes we can!!” Philadelphia 76ers. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky once was the “we.” It was nice to see Obama flash his said, “I skate to where the puck is going Obama’s staff encouraged me to play to killer smile again. For those few minutes, to be, not where it has been.” That night, my strengths. They pointed out that I had I knew my hard work had given him a Obama was already helping us skate to an excellent network for raising money and break during one of the toughest times of where the puck was going to be. recruiting celebrity “surrogates”—because the campaign. That felt really good. My Obamabuds and I went on to Barack and Michelle couldn’t be every- I was a latte-sipping, Prius-driving, become volunteers, donors and dele- where at once—from the sports world and HuffPo [Huffington Post]-blogging, tree- gates who organized our neighborhoods. my prior work in Hollywood. hugging, eggheaded Seattle attorney, Seeing people from all walks of life come In particular, the campaign wanted wearing several hats as a volunteer for together was awe-inspiring. African-American surrogates to go to the Obama for America campaign. Since Three watchwords of Obama’s historic South Carolina for the early primary. meeting then-Sen. Obama in October of campaign were painted on the walls of his Some forget that, early in the campaign, 2006, I knew that, if he ran for president, I Iowa headquarters: “Respect. Empower. Clinton had the majority of black voters would do all I could to convince America Include.” It was a dazzling, inspirational, supporting her. My successes included to hire the best person for the job. emotional roller coaster of a campaign, playing a role in getting Academy Award My parents always said, “The more and I learned some effective ways to nominee and Emmy-winning actress you give, the more you get back.” My make change by following those leader- Alfre Woodard to South Carolina; putting parents were spot-on. My life has been ship rules. They work just as well in fami- National Basketball Association legend enriched by the amazing people I met lies, organizations or firms: Show respect and “Dancing with the Stars” contestant on the campaign trail. I call them my by having an authentic vision; empower Clyde Drexler on the radio in Texas; and “Obamabuds,” and they come from all others by asking for help; be inclusive by working on a fund-raiser with NBA leg- walks of life. “hugging it out” with rivals. ends Lenny Wilkens and Bill Russell (for- As a volunteer, I learned a set of Obama talked about a new kind of mer Boston Celtics player, former Sonics leadership skills that I use every day in politics that focused on ideas rather than coach—and my dad) in Seattle. my role as a diversity counseling and petty distractions. Even at the darkest Though Obama was on the road to employment attorney at Davis Wright times, he refused to swing the first punch. becoming our 44th president, he was Tremaine. I help organizations, law firms The voters appreciated it and rewarded humble enough to be overwhelmed by and other clients make change in their him for keeping it real, though Sen. Hillary meeting these personal heroes. It’s some- institutions. Clinton had the money, the machine and times a burden to be the most important the name. The Clintons ran on inevitabil- person in the room, so it was nice to be PLENTY IN COMMON ity. They ran a top-down campaign, while able to send people who would bring out I met my first Obamabuds at Obama’s Obama had to build his from the ground the fan in him. In the challenging weeks infamous standing-room-only book sign- up. The Clintons didn’t seek a lot of help and months to come, I like to think these ing at Benaroya Hall in October 2006. It from outside the beltway. Obama couldn’t memories will give our new president a caused quite a frenzy when the $5 tickets afford not to. But he took this weakness smile when the weight of the world is on sold out instantly, then went for big bucks and made it his strength. Through tech- his shoulders. L&P on Craigslist. nology, the Obamabuds were able to con- Karen Russell is a Harvard-educated I fell in love with my hometown nect, volunteer and donate. lawyer and a diversity consultant at Davis again that night. The Seattle crowd was Perhaps as important as being a great Wright Tremaine in Seattle. She blogs on great. So diverse. We were black and orator, Obama is an amazing listener. Huffington Post; frequently appears on white, male and female, gay and straight, It was breathtaking to watch him work CNN, MSNBC and TruTV as a legal and young and old. Looking around the small rooms. People are inspired to work political analyst; produced the film Good room, I thought, “This crowd LOOKS when they can see their own thumbprint Luck Chuck, starring Jessica Alba; and wrote like America!” on projects. But Obama also made it clear for the NBC sitcom The Single Guy. She It was immediately and abundant- that, after soliciting input, he would be volunteered with the Obama for America ly clear that Obama was the best ora- the “decider” and we wouldn’t always campaign and is the proud daughter of NBA tor in modern politics. I loved his heal- agree with him. legend Bill Russell. Karen was appointed to ing message that “there’s no blue-state Everyone I talked to was eager to give Obama’s Justice and Civil Rights transition America or red-state America; there’s back to this country, whether they worked team to help vet agency appointments and just America.” on Wall Street or Main Street. Obama review agency positions.