Man-of-Leisure Endorses Barack Obama
While my endorsement isn’t likely to stir-up as much interest as Colin Powell’s did this weekend, these thoughts have been percolating for a while and I”ve only recently reached a clear decision. I hope that each of you are able to do the same. Whomever you favor, please get out and vote in November. We have the opportunity to show the world, simply by turning out to vote, that our democracy is alive and well, and that the USA is going to make a comeback…
I cannot recall a time in our nation’s history when we were in more dire need of serious thought, and honest dialog of the very serious issues facing this country. This is precisely the moment that we cannot afford the lazy thinking encouraged by myopic hatred of a race or religion. Nor can we afford to blindly consume the crap fed to us by both parties.
Internationally, we are less liked, less respected as a nation than perhaps ever in history. We are fighting a war in two countries while we slowly lose the respect and support of even our staunchest allies.
Domestically we are seeing critical indicators of our standing as an “advanced society” slip; a rise in infant mortality, a rise in the # of people living in poverty, a drop in mean income, rising illiteracy rates, and a falling aptitude in math & science even among our college graduates. All of this in the midst of one of the most far-reaching financial crises we”ve ever seen. We are a divided people, intentionally split by the major political parties over polarizing issues such as abortion. All the while, our president elect makes bad jokes and spends us into oblivion. Our national debt has reached 70% of our Gross National Product – a level not seen since just after World War II. We are indeed a nation in crisis.
These are the facts we face heading into this election. Forgive me if I cannot base my vote solely on the fear that some wild-eyed Muslim might attempt to fly another airplane into another tower somewhere in the US. I am scared that we are going to take ourselves out. I am scared that my children will grow up in a poverty-stricken, ignorant, scared, and violent society; crumbling from within.
I am voting for Barack Obama in November because I believe that he represents our best hope on the ballot. I believe he has the intellect, courage, and demeanor to lead us out of this mess. I am disappointed in the way in which John McCain and my party – the Republican party – has handled his campaign. They were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to campaign on these incredibly important issues, and instead they’ve chosen to platform on rhetoric and disgusting innuendo. I respect the hell out of John McCain, not only for his years of service in the military, and the 5 1/2 years he spent in a Vietnamese POW camp, but for his service as a US Senator. As a senator he’s proven himself to be someone who does give careful thought to the issues, and is not afraid to buck the party line. Unfortunately, as a presidential candidate, he’’s shown a willingness to play dirty pool, to accept politics as usual, and to let the far-right party elite dictate his strategy and his words. Note that these are the same knuckle-heads that have dug the hole we find ourselves in today. I cannot cast my vote for someone who willingly subjugates his own personal beliefs to the gamesmanship proposed by his political advisors. With Barack Obama I see a man who wants to lead. Someone who fully understands the dire situation we find ourselves in, and who wants to give the best of himself to right the ship.
I am a registered Republican and I am voting for Barack Obama. And I do so fully understanding that I will pay about $100 a month more in taxes for each month he is in office than I would if John McCain were elected. I’m not sure a Republican anywhere can give a more glowing endorsement, except maybe Colin Powell as referenced above.
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