The Election Is Tomorrow

[shipperx]

The election is tomorrow and my fingers are crossed that Barack Obama wins.

Why do I choose to vote for Obama?

Because I believe that he's smart. That seems like a really good thing to be though it isn't always high on the menu with political candidates. Obama graduated a prestigious university with a BA in Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations, which, I believe provides a good foundation upon which to build.

After working as a research associate for a business corporation he moved to Chicago and worked as a grassroots community organizer, working with people one-on-one, on the bottom rung of the political ladder, doing what politics can do at its very most local level.

He attended Harvard Law, becoming the very first African-American President of the Harvard Law Review and graduating Magna Cum Laude. And, while education isn't everything, I do think showing intellectual dexterity and curiosity is a plus. (And, all the better for having been earned. Obama's mother didn't show up at school to beg convince them not to kick him out, while reminding them of her husband's and her father-in-law's rank *cough* nor did he graduate fourth from the bottom of his class *cough**cough*.)

As a lawyer he worked on voter rights and employment litigation and served as general counsel for a variety of clients ranging from health clinics to charter schools.

He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. As Wick Allison, the conservative former editor of The National Review wrote, it is comfort to think that we could have, for a change, a President who has actually read 'The Federalist Papers.' (To be fair, I'm sure that Hillary has as well. Sarah Palin on the other hand...)

He has also served 12 years in state and federal elected offices. Certainly, there can be more experience in office, but... FDR only had 6. Lincoln had 10. Bush only 5. JFK only 14. So, while certainly he hasn't had the most experience, he isn't exactly busting the grading curve. Also, (despite the naysayers)he has done his job in the Senate

No, I do not buy wild-eyed conspiracies of Manchurian Muslims (I mean, Occam's Razor, people), mis-defined socialist and/or Marxist ideology (have we all forgotten the definitions we learned in Civics class? And when did the progressive tax become re-defined? We talking about the tax rates that we had in the 1980s, for goodness sakes!) And, I'll be honest, the Ayers/Annenberg Foundation thing bothers me not at all (and not just because Obama was eight when Ayers did his batshit, but because the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) was a grant from the Annenberg Foundation [Annenberg being Walter Annenberg, an American of Jewish descent who was the U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. under a Republican president and whose wife Lenore was the Chief of Protocol under Ronald Reagan... and she is currently a McCain supporter] The "radical" CAC had on its board the former president of Brown University, a former dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a former Deputy Secretary of Education under George H.W. Bush (and who works on the McCain campaign) a former dean of Princeton and Tufts Universities, a civil rights attorney formerly of the U.S. Department of Justice, the former dean of Radcliff, etc. An Illinois State Representative (and Republican) Diana Nelson (who also served on the board) said point blank: "There is no reason to smear Barack Obama with this association. It's nonsensical, and it makes me crazy. It's so silly." So, in sum -- for me -- this is so not an issue.

As far as a "we don't know him" argument, he's been running for President for two years. His background is readily available to anyone with internet access (and I don't mean strange conspiracies). I rec the Time Magazine article on his mother . She was an interesting woman.

I don't think he's perfect. I don't think he's a Messiah (of any sort). I don't think he's a panacea for all of our nation's (or the world's) woes. I do think he's an intelligent, energetic, focused human being with contemporary ideas, excellent organization skills, and who looks towards the future. I agree with him on the need for investment in alternative energy because fossil fuel is a limited resource that's, by its nature, an ever diminishing resource. Plus, even if we were to increase domestic drilling, we simply do not have the supply to cover our current -- much less our future -- demand. Also, getting ahead of the curve on this one would be a big a boon to our economy, as important as being on the ground floor of the internet explosion. We need to invest in our infrastructure, in science (which means education!) and in technology again. Plus, our dependence on foreign oil... well, if you want to talk the redistribution of wealth, look at how much oil money we are shipping to countries that hate us.

Speaking of countries that hate us... you know, diplomacy with many of them is a really, really good idea. I'm not sure how talking got to be teh evol, but thinking that diplomacy is a bad thing seems very short-sighted to me. First, we should have an open dialog with our allies (which, means talking to people like the President (Prime Minister?) of Spain instead of sulking like some spoiled adolescent because they've chosen not to remain in Iraq for as long as we tell them to. I'm just sayin'...) Plus, there are areas that could stand diplomacy with our enemies.

I realize that diplomacy isn't a panacea, but it's also not something to be tossed aside as outdated and naive. It's necessary.

Finally, I hate the whole Red State/Blue State thing. There isn't a "real" America and a "fake" America. There isn't a "Red America" and a "Blue America." There is ONE America, multi-faceted in all its flawed glory, a place where we are supposed to have the right to believe what we like, where we're allowed to agree or disagree, and where we don't have to hate someone just because they don't see everything exactly the way that we do. We should be capable of discussing these things without resorting to hysterics or donning tin foil hats.

I believe in Obama's efforts to try to steer our political rhetoric (as much as one man can) away from division and more towards inclusion.

Barack Obama isn't perfect. But I do sincerely believe of our presently available choices, he's the one with the most to offer our future, and that's why I'm voting for him tomorrow.

Comments

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

Well said!

[thedabara-cds.livejournal.com]

*crosses fingers and toes*

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

[elisi]

Very well put!

[paratti.livejournal.com]

Well said.

P.s. its a Prime Minister for Spain.

[molliemole.livejournal.com]

Whichever one is elected will face enormous problems (mostly messes left by Bush). I prefer to have a young president with a good brain and good ideas rather than one who is old and tired and who exhibited colossally poor judgment in picking a running mate to succeed him, should he not live out his term. If Obama is elected (please, Lord!) we'll have someone in the White House who can speak entire sentences, even whole paragraphs, that make sense. We can hold up our heads proudly when talking to our foreign friends. We'll have someone who'll protect the environment instead of seeing only dollar signs in our national wildlife preserves. In short, we'll be full of hope.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

There is ONE America, multi-faceted in all its flawed glory, a place where we are supposed to have the right to believe what we like, where we're allowed to agree or disagree, and where we don't have to hate someone just because they don't see everything exactly the way that we do. We should be capable of discussing these things without resorting to hysterics or donning tin foil hats.

VERY well said, my dear! I think that is actually one thing that has really impressed me about Obama's campaign - he has not spent a vast amount of time spewing vitriol about the other guy and has instead focused on what he wants to do in office! Because in the end, the President has to govern EVERYONE.

[cy-girl.livejournal.com]

For all our sakes, I hope Obama is the second coming of FDR! Seriously, though, I believe he has the combination of intelligence and judgment that will enable him to navigate these tough times.

[spacedoutlooney.livejournal.com]

Here, here!