In choosing my presidential primary candidate I could not depend on my social construction of race, my blackness or my creative design by God, my gender.

I had to do what I believe, or at least hope, most folks would do in such an important venture in voting for the highest office in our nation, and that is to think about my choice.

And, having done so, I choose Senator Hillary Clinton. First, she won her Senate seat not by default, but by defeating all of her opponents in a state that truly represents the world, New York. Chicago, my hometown, is a world-class city, but its diversity does not span that of New York City.

Senator Clinton's experience with foreign policy is not only based upon her role as First Lady and visiting foreign lands, but by her service on the Armed Service Committee for five years. She is a champion for women's rights in the workplace and in the domestic sphere with the introduction of her Paycheck Fairness Act so that women can get equal pay for equal work, and Families Come First, Senator Clinton's progressive vision for strengthening families with a return to a society of shared prosperity and tax fairness. And many American families are run by single females.

She believes the words of Catholic social worker Dorothy Day, "we must work for a world in which it is possible to behave better." Senator Clinton is not concerned only for homeland security but homestead security as well, thereby fighting economic threats on the home front and the possible military threats from foreign lands.

Her innovative employment opportunities for America's unemployed citizens will come through her pushing for a cleaner environment. With green work, building solar panels and creating more ethanol plants for fuel, we can employ many folk. She will inspire and make possible new business ventures by Americans for Americans through fair small business loans and government incentives. She realizes that the economic strengths of our foreign community weaken our economy when we outsource jobs to those countries. She wants to reduce our national debt to foreign countries that threaten our sovereignty.

I have traveled the country on the Senator's behalf and have witnessed the confidence that people have in her helpfulness, not hopefulness, for this country.

I hope that the African American community will use this moment in history not to continue to be hyped by the political process. For those of us who didn't vote for a mayor, state representative or senator, a governor or a congress member, I pray that they continue their enthusiasm.

Some critics try to blame Hillary Clinton for what they perceive as failures of the Clinton Administration, while giving her no credit for any of its great successes. They cannot have it both ways. I say let the thoughtful voters decide.

The exciting thing about this race for the Oval Office is that America is once again engaged in the political process. And, the bottom line is that we get the Republicans out of office. As Sojourner Truth once stated: "Well children, where there is so much racket there must be something out o' kilter."

After eight years of George Bush, surely there is something 'out o' kilter' in America, and Hillary Clinton is the one, for me, to set the country on a better course than the one we have had for the past eight years. It's not a dynasty that she will create; rather it is her leading our country to a greater destiny.

We need amazing grace from the people of faith who are hopeful, but equally important, we need accountable governance which Hillary Clinton will usher in with her role in the Oval Office.