My Vote and Why I Voted the Way I Did

As I said, I voted earlier this week. I have voted for a Republican for President for 16 years. This time around I voted for Barack Obama. This is why:

1. Obama had a clear message of hope of the future.

When I heard Obama speak, visited his web site, read articles about him. Do I agree with him about everything? No. Do I agree with his plan to get out of Iraq, work toward affordable health care (we will not get as far as he hoped), and the logic of his tax plan? Yes I do.

2. McCains lack of vision

I kept hoping McCain would communicate a vision for the future that made sense. He did not communicate any sort of hope for the future. He just relied on a his resume to carry him through. Surviving a prison camp in service of one's country is a noble accomplishment. It in no way has any bearing on how one will be president 40 years later. He is a survivor. He has been in congress for decades. His campaign is all about how he feels entitled to be president, much like Bob Dole.

3. The Vice Presidential choices

I predicted Palin would be chosen months ahead of time. I think she has a lot of political talent. She has good job as governor of Alaska. She is not ready to president of the United States. She is a female version of George Bush, with less gravitas (which is saying a lot.)

4. McCain's campaign
McCain, who I was open to be convinced by--especially after the choice of Palin--has failed to run a campaign with any focus or discipline. Instead, he has consistently run a campaign of attack on Obama on irrational, fringe issues. McCain has tried to appeal to the racism and fears of Americans, and I refuse to vote for anyone who does this. The last couple weeks I have been called by McCain advocates who say that Obama pierces children's head with skulls, inserts for church bullitens by a PAC that say Obama favors child sacrifice and making America a Muslim nation.

The communism argument is a red herring, and politicians tried to put the same label on Martin Luther King Jr. in the 60s. It is not socialist to stand for a fairer and more just economy. It is just moral and right.

As for the "associations"--they should have been mentioned but not dwelt upon. Do you want to be held accountable for every word your pastor has ever said? Do you want to be held to account for every committee member of every committee you have ever been on. I don't. Also, in respect for Bill Ayers, every urban area has that influential person that had a radical past. Especially when you are a community organizer in an established inner city.

If you don't believe me, I ask every White American with small town roots if they have friend or acquaintence with strong racist attitudes that somewhere in the past participated in some sort of racial violence or with a fringe group. Heck, I have a man in our church that is a member of the John Birch society. Another who talked about how minorities used to be out of town by dark, and that is the way it should be today.

5. Obama inspires me and makes me feel proud of my country.

McCain does not.

Well...there are several other reasons. But that is a short view of my rationale.