"I refuse to go backwards"
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"I was raised to believe it’s part of my civic duty to get involved in local and national elections, to know who is running our government—to be what I call ‘a citizen of the world.’
"I joined the military as a nurse as soon as I turned 18, and I got involved in my first campaign as soon as the military released me. Like Barack Obama when he was young, I was a community organizer, but in Detroit. I started a union, worked for the mental health department as an on-site crisis counselor, and mentored teens to make sure they graduated high school.
"I love that President Obama fought hard to pass health care reform, because I know what it’s like to fight difficult battles. I’ve survived cancer three times. Each time the doctors found it, they told me I didn’t have a chance or that it was inoperable. I’ve been through chemo; I’ve had a mastectomy; I’ve been given a death sentence. But as I’ve told my doctors, you don’t know this tough old lady.
"That’s why I refuse to go backwards. I’ve put 50 years of hard work into building this society, persevering through struggles, volunteering for my community, and I don’t want my rights taken away from me. We have to protect the progress President Obama has accomplished for our children and our grandchildren. We need every Nevadan this election—every American, really—do get out and vote.
"So get involved this election. Be a citizen of the world and vote."