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The 2008 Barack Obama campaign marked the first time that I felt vehemently compelled to work on behalf of any political candidate. My sister, Anastasia Ali and I traveled to colleges, rallyies and community centers across the country helping to register voters.

In Philly a group of us, including actor Mechad Brooks, even registered voters in a nightclub! We went to where the people were to relay our candidate’s beliefs and plan of action. We made a lot of promises.

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Some people say that President Obama has not yet lived up to those promises–that the pace of change is too slow. I beg to differ. I believe that President Obama is responsible for fundamental reform that will begin to change the daily lives of millions of Americans.

I know this is true on a very personal level. My best girlfriend has an 11 year-old son.  She is a single working mother. Her job does not offer health benefits. For years I have heard her talk about the costs of keeping her son healthy. I’ve seen her panic when he’s been sick.

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He had an ear infection recently. My friend walked into the doctor’s office. They had her fill out some brief paperwork, and then they gave him the attention and the antibiotics he needed. She called me excitedly telling me that it was the easiest doctor’s visit they’d ever had.

And she didn’t have to pay a dime.  Her son was covered. I told her that that was why we campaigned. Children across the United States of America are now covered by the Affordable Care Act, sarcastically dubbed “Obamacare” by the conservative media. And that’s only the first stage of the bill.

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By 2014, the full breadth of the bill will be felt by the entire country. (For conservatives who may be reading this, my friend is Asian-American, not on welfare and a very responsible hard working woman. Don’t get it twisted.)

I didn’t want a President to grandstand or make dramatic promises that he couldn’t fulfill. I wanted a President who would actually change the quality of life for my family, my friends and me. I wanted a President who would keep his promises and so far, I believe President Obama has.

-Tatyana Ali|Follow Me@officialTatyana

 

Editor’s Note: Tune in at 4 p.m. ET on Viacom’s CMT, BET.com and MTV for ‘A Conversation With The President.’ You can also tweet your questions by using the hashtag ‘ask’ plus any specific issue. For example, you can ask a healthcare related question by adding #askhealthcare