So. The truth?
- I used to be an ardent Republican and even voted for BeelzeBush in 2000, but later became disillusioned. I did not vote for him in 2004 (admittedly, marrying a Gandhi-worshiping pacifist within that time frame probably contributed.)
- I am now a soft Democrat, but do not truly like any of the parties with all my heart. Maybe, the Libertarians. Maybe.
- I like Joe Biden better than Sarah Palin. He is a loudmouth, but what you see is what you get. And he is knowledgeable.
- I was relieved that Palin's last pregnancy was not faked and was not horrified in the least that her daughter is pregnant instead. Sad, but not horrified.
- However. I am absolutely horrified at Palin's utter lack of experience. DUDE. 8 vice-presidents have had to step up to the plate and SERVE. I take our VP nomination seriously. You should take it seriously, also. I am tired of the silly question "but what does a VP really do?". Who CARES? They are 2nd in line. That is enough for me.
- I am fervently anti-abortion, but am equally fervent in my belief that a woman should have the right to choose. Anyone interfering with that choice scares the hell out of me.
- I believe that we have the right to bear arms. It is in our Bill of Rights. No, I do not own a firearm, but I grew up in a household full of them. In a responsible household that taught me the proper respect of them. Do not mess with my rights. If you question that particular right, you are placing an unquestionable faith in our government. Are you ready to do that? I am not.
- I am against the estate tax and in general, love tax cuts because I think the government is frittering away the money that we already give them.
- I am so very, very ashamed of our presence of Iraq.
- I am so very, very ashamed of our lack of presence in Darfur.
And finally.
I like John McCain better than Barack Obama.
My dad came home from Vietnam in May 1969. I was born in April 1971. I will always have a special reserve held in my heart and soul for a Vietnam vet. Always.
I grew up with a haunted father. My dad began turning his life around when I was about 10 years old, but I will never forget the effect that Vietnam had on him. I will never forget the few times that he was willing to share his horrific experiences with me since he mostly kept those to himself. It is a small part of my story as much as it is a major part of his. My sisters and brother are so much younger than me, this is not even something that I have been able to share with them. I remember the agony, but I also remember the recovery. They do not.
So, yes. I have a profound affection for John McCain. I have been following his story since long before he had presidential aspirations (thanks Reader's Digest!) I would have proudly and enthusiastically voted for him in 2000, had he won the nomination then.
But.
I am older. I certainly cannot claim wiser. But I am older and now? I cannot vote for McCain. I am a mother. My children are not 100% white. I am furious and ashamed about our presence in Iraq. I am frustrated about our dependence on oil.
I need hope that our country can turn to a new direction. Obama embodies that hope in ways that McCain cannot.
Therefore, I will be voting for Barack Obama.
13 comments:
That was really eloquent. It's hard to explain one's politics sometimes, but I think you did a carefully considered job. Thanks for sharing!
-qir
Nicely put. This is the only political post I've read anywhere so far where it's about your views, and not a judgment on other people's.
Frankly, I feel cheated by the Republican party and what they've become. If they'd stuck to their platform of fiscal responsibility, and not become the standard bearers of the "values" conservatives, they'd be a party worth voting for.
Unfortunately I can't get behind a party that demonizes gay people and wants to outlaw abortion completely, among other things.
Mishri,
I feel cheated, too.
Interestingly, after reading your comment, I realized that I did not include my concern for the lack of gay rights in this. I wondered why, because it is something that disturbs me (the lack of the rights, that is), but I think I simply forgot. I suppose it because I consider gay rights a human right, not a political one.
Great great post and I agree with you on so many points and you said it better than I could have even attempted.
PS. See you are going to be signing books this Thursday, I am going to try to make it...
Wonderful post, Cagey. And even though I don't agree on some of the things you mentioned -- I certainly agree on the spirit of the post. I will also be voting for Obama, but he was not my first choice for the democratic party. I'm sort of "backing in" to voting for him myself...
:) It certainly does make us think differently as mothers, that's for sure.
I say this calmly and nicely...but I, too, believe that a woman has a right to choose...choose to be on birth control or have her man wear a condom. If she chooses not to do that, she must deal with the consequences. If she doesn't want a baby, she definitely shouldn't raise it. There are millions of childless couples that would be glad to raise the baby in a loving home.
I enjoyed your post.
All,
I definitely did not mean this as a "persuasive" post on my viewpoints and am not trying to convince anyone to agree/disagree with m. And I do appreciate hearing your differing opinions - really.
This was just a way for me to sort out a few points and why I would vote for Obama vs. McCain.
I should have also mentioned that one of my great-aunts was a former neighbor of McCains, which also lends to my positive opinion of him.
Great post. I wish more people would open up the political dialogue in a non-confrontational way. Thank you for sharing.
This was a great post, and I felt like I was reading my own thoughts. I wish I could vote on the McCain/Obama ticket because I think that ticket would embody the 'change' that the parties talk about bringing about in this election.
Yes on the vietnam vet father, yes on the VP being 2nd in line..yes yes yes.
Yes on gay issues/human rights how can we deny our friends and neighbors the right to marry whomever they chooose? I was particularly saddened (but not surprised) by Palin's statement that she did not support gay rights and had voted against it in alaska legislature...but that she had a lot of gay friends.
WTF?
Also I can't imagine how much it sucks to be Bristol Palin right now seriously. Talk about life being a pain in the but and making mistakes...it would so be so horrible tobe her and I've read some horrible comments on political blogs all ready and I just can't imagine attacking a child like that. I mean...she is going to have to grow up fast and we all know it but there is no reason for the nastiness...there never is.
GReat post...and I particularly appreciate the lack of venom...it is always so distateful
I too enjoyed this post. I currently feel like there's no party or politicians that push my view of socially liberal (heck yes on the gay rights) and fiscally conservative. The libertarians sometimes come close, but then they bring on the crazy...
I love that you wrote this.
I am always brought up short by the way red vs. blue happens in this country. I consider myself a liberal and yet time and time again, in the blogosphere, I find myself nodding in assent with people whom I would've thought would be on the opposite end of the spectrum. If conservative and liberal could be defined according to the way it seems to be lived by the majority of the folks I encounter in the blogosphere, this country would look a lot more like purple. Take your number 6 for instance — I suspect more of us live there than the polemicists on either end would care to admit. Instead we are manipulated and goaded into opposite corners, frothing at each other.
I have lots of thoughts about Sarah Palin, not the least of which is that the media commentary from the left AND the right is appalling. I have many issues with her as a choice, but I am simultaneously infuriated by the way her qualifications or lack thereof are once again being viewed in the most sexist terms. Can she be VP while caring for a baby, planning a wedding for her daughter and becoming a grandmother? Seriously?!
Well-put. Informed. Not snarky or mean. This was the BEST political post I have read in a loooooooong time ... bravo :)
Thanks for putting into words exactly what I'd like to tell my McCain/Palin supporting family.
I'm rather surprised at how close our political views run. Except I'm a centerist Republican, and not drawn to the Libertarians.
Great post.
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