Why are you voting for Obama?
Ok, so I'm a news junkie. I'll admit it. I love news, because it tells me something about how the world works, and how people react to it. Right now, the news is unfortunately all politics all the time. So what do you think I spend my time thinking about.
As you know, I'm trying to give the current batch of candidates a fair chance for my vote, instead of relying on the party lines. I consider myself to be a moderate Republican leaning kind of guy (I think I'd call myself a Public Radio Republican). If you check my Facebook, you'll see that at least over there, I support McCain. (I added that support at about the time that Mitt dropped out of the race. No way was I supporting Hucky.) I also know that some of the readers of my blog support Obama.
In the interest of gathering information, and not descending into politics, I'd like to ask the readers of my blog why they support Obama. Use the anonymous setting to leave a comment, please, as I don't really want anyone to feel uncomfortable leaving their thoughts. If you support McCain and want to say something, just wait your turn... I'll get to you... :D
Also, I won't be persuaded by "He isn't Bush" or "He's for change." Give me something concrete to work with. ;)
posted by Brady @ 12:51 PM
7 Comments
7 Comments:
Earlier this year I was nearly dissuaded from supporting Obama at all when I read that he went bowling at a PR event in Penn. and scored a measly 37. But "Bowlgate" has mostly blown over since then.
I'm not but many of my friends are voting for him because they hate Bush, want troops out of Iraq, and want "change."
What is interesting is that according to votegopher.com they both support withdrawal. But Obama backed off from a specific timetable of withdrawal that he previously stated.
My opinion is that in politics talk is cheap, actions aren't. From my research, the actions aren't there for Obama.
I'm voting for Obama because in his acceptance speech and later he stated that he wanted to be energy independent in 10 years. This will be a huge fiscal stimulus that will more than pay for itself as an economic generator. Whether one believes in global warming, oil is running out and the rest of the world is quickly developing new technology that will take us into this green industrial revolution. The train is leaving the station and McCain hasn't even bought a ticket. Unless the US wants to be the next great 3rd world nation, we have to increase jobs, increase our science and math proficiency in schools, stimulate innovation in new technologies, increase our graduation rates, take healthcare costs off the back of business and set a clear course so business can trust that their innovations and investments will mean something by the time they get to market. "Drill, drill, drill!" simply isn't a solution to anything, although, I say, go ahead and drill, by the time it comes to market, we won't even need it.
In addition, Obama is inspiring a lot of people. Republicans may denigrate his "celebrity" status, but he built those crowds on his own. You may not like his adoring fans, but a leader leads when he creates enough followers to get something done. No one really wants to follow McCain.
Finally, I'm tired of the nastiness of Republican politics. Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and every speaker at the Republican convention rely on insults, contempt for the other guy, derision, sarcasm and outright lies in order to win. That may be funny in a comedy routine, but it is extremely destructive in a democratic debate.
Is he a perfect candidate? Certainly not. But he has proven himself to be extremely strong, methodical, thorough in his deliberations, intellectually curious, and inspiring to millions of Americans.
I am not happy with my choices but I am choosing Obama. I agree with the majority of his platforms, and goya, above, really hit the nail on the head on my main points that I was going to make here and I completely agree!
My vote wasn't totally sealed until McCain choose Palin as a running mate. I found it completely insulting that he would think that if I were a Hillary supporter, that I would support her because she is a woman. I look at issues, not gender, race or religion. (although, I do see why someone would choose a candiate because of religion as some issues have a moral basis).
My friend sent me this email which I found interesting:
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."
* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.
* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years
in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.
* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
* If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate laywer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession
of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now.
Bottom line, I could have probably sucked up McCain, but with Palin on the ticket it pushed me COMPLETELY the other way. She can't control her own household, let alone, if your family is going through that much STRIFE why would you put your teenage pregnant daughter in the limelight like that. As a mother I find her reprehensiable and plus, she is obsessed with Van Halen and Named the baby, Trig Paxson Van Palin. Come on NOW! Like the kid doesn't have enough issues.
Hey Brady,
I know I gave you some of my opinions on the matter a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to give you some others' opinions (maybe that aren't so heated ;)
This is an article that basically sums up Obama's way of thinking on a teacher-basis, which I think is interesting. I think underscores that Obama isn't all hope's and giggles. He's very analytical and practical in his understanding of the world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/magazine/21obama-t.html?ei=5070&emc=eta1
- I think how a person runs his classroom and how they run their campaign are both indicators of how they're going to run a presidency.
I also think that looking at what we're going to get by electing the other side is key in voting; and I think McCain is a military thinker who believes in pride and honor in the military. Which is great. But I think we need a diplomat right now. And what if something happens to McCain?? -->
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7623771.stm
What we DON'T need is a diplomat. What we do need is a statesman. Neither Obama or McCain is worthy of that title. Is this seriously the best America can do? We only have 2 options? If you really want something fun, look into some of the other candidates(Libertarian, Constitution, Green, etc) . For me at least, at least one of them, if not more, presents a much more appealing option.
So, Goya and Danielle said it all. But, I'm going to add, I don't want a commander in chief anymore. I want the president of the country I live in to be an ambassador. The rest of the world wants us to vote for Obama too. Is that not compelling?
So, in brief, I value his diverse upbringing having lived in the most multicultural state in the U.S. and abroad. Impressive C.V. even his honors thesis sounded interesting to me. Because he's a notable multiracial individual, I've had my eye on him for a long time and I've noticed a pattern in character. And, his voter registration campaign, website design, and brief informational ads have appealed to me. Plus, his economic plan, though lengthy to read, sounds like something with which I can live. Mmm, plus Biden's wife has her second master's degree in education teaching English in high school and college working with emotionally disturbed individuals. I want my leaders thinking about education, world relations and diverse communities as well as the "big" current things like the economy, healthcare and international conflicts. As a disclaimer, I wouldn't have minded McCain eight years ago.
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