From USA Today:

I’m thrilled about having Barack Obama as president. It feels like a personal triumph, as I was fortunate enough to have served as a campaign surrogate (hosting events to promote the candidate) during this incredibly exciting year.

My parents have never voted, and they always taught me that this was not our country because we are not white. It was very disheartening to grow up that way. It made me feel like I could never have any choice or say or control over anything. Going from that state of mind – that feeling of isolation and powerlessness within my own minority status, feeling like a prisoner of my skin color – to becoming the president-picker is a huge and wonderful journey.

As a campaign surrogate, I gave talks about what Obama meant to me and answered questions about his policies. This was easy to do, as Obama meant a lot to me because he represents inclusion. He is one of us – a minority – so getting to represent him was thrilling because I felt like I was standing up for myself.

I got talked into it by Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam, House and The Namesake), a longtime Obama supporter. I was originally a Hillary Clinton supporter, but when Kal offered me an autographed photo of Hugh Laurie, of House fame, I changed camps immediately.

I am really glad to have Obama in the White House, even though I still haven’t gotten my autographed photo of Hugh Laurie.

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