A Tony Award-winning actress and a veteran lawmaker teamed up Tuesday afternoon to encourage voter participation in the Nov. 4 election for the nation’s 44th president.

Phylicia Rashad, who is perhaps best known for her role as Clair Huxtable in the 1980s television series “The Cosby Show,” joined Sixth District Congressman and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and other community leaders during a S.C. Campaign for Change Rally at the Jonas T. Kennedy Center at Claflin University. The event was sponsored by Women for Obama.

Rashad spoke directly to young voters when she said they didn’t have time to waste in exercising their constitutional right to vote.

“Your time is not in the future. Your time is now. I encourage you to step into your greatness. I encourage you to step into your own strength,” Rashad said.

She said the right to vote is not based on gender, race or anything other than a basic privilege of which every citizen should take advantage.

“People talk about this election in so many different ways. It’s about us – the people. This election and every election is about us. We must assume our position of responsibility in reclaiming ownership of our government ... because we are the people,” Rashad said. “Don’t be dissuaded, and don’t be fooled.”

She said every citizen has a responsibility to not just become educated on voting and other constitutional tenets but to continue to “pay attention” and remain engaged in the issues that affect their lives.

“That’s the job of we, the people, ... and that’s something that we have to do for ourselves. Ignorance is no excuse,” Rashad said. “You know what you have to do. No one has to tell you what to do.”

Clyburn said he has traveled in approximately 20 states in the last 30 days. Having made an earlier stop at Charleston’s Trident Technical College along with Rashad, the legislator has been pressing the importance of early voting, specifically for people 65 and older, students and individuals who will have to work on Election Day.

“Let’s not wait until Tuesday to get our votes cast. I’m convinced that this election will be won or lost before the polls ever open on Nov. 4,” Clyburn said. He noted that some early votes, including that of a 93-year-old North Charleston woman who passed away soon after casting her vote, have been challenged.

“That’s the kind of mentality that we’re up against,” said Clyburn, who urged the audience to not let Martin Luther King’s prophetic Mountaintop Speech from 40 years ago be in vain.

“We have been wandering around in the political wilderness for 40 years. It is our time to get to the Promised Land. Coming here today helps remind us of our responsibility, not just as voters, but as citizens,” Clyburn said.

Claflin University President Henry N. Tisdale also encouraged young voters to maintain their fervor for change beyond next Tuesday’s election.

“College students throughout the country are totally engaged. We must continue this engagement. We are on the verge of history,” Tisdale said. He said the country not only has the potential to have the nation’s first black president in Illinois Sen. Barack Obama but to have the nation’s first female vice president in Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

“I never thought it would be possible in my lifetime,” said Dr. George E. Cooper, president of South Carolina State University. “We all make a difference when we go out and vote in this election. If we do so, we’ll be part of a great nation.”

Orangeburg County Democratic Party Chairman Betty Henderson said unity is the key to success for the party, not only in the national presidential election, but local Democratic races as well.

“When we unite, we’re unstoppable,” Henderson said.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534.

You must be logged in to comment.