I support Barack Obama for President because:
His character/background
His ability to inspire – I have never been as hopeful about our country than I am today and never have I been as passionate about politics. I wonder if this is how my parents felt about Kennedy? Obama has an uncanny ability to inspire people and get people involved. (I mean, heck, I’m writing this blog right? I’m calling my neighbors. I’m even trying to fundraise. Who am I?) People are so inspired, that they dig into their own wallets (gasp!) to aid this campaign. The last numbers I say were like 94% of all contributions are $200 or less. That is amazing! His colleagues from both trenches have said, “Obama has an unique ability to bring people together.”
His intelligence - Senator Obama is a very intelligent man and a scholar. I feel confident that any perceived lack of experience that some people believe exists is entirely made up for by his ability to adeptly analyze any situation and make an informed decision.
His Experience - While we’re on that topic… I think Senator Obama does have plenty of experience and I like that his experience runs the gamut – from total grassroots as a community organizer to state level to the national level. What more could we want? I also think he just the right amount of experience in Washington without being a Washington-insider. Our country has been there and done that – let’s try someone a little different. Less experience IN Washington? GREAT!
His Sincerity and Honesty – When I hear Senator Obama speak, I hear sincerity and honesty. I know that he’s been in the trenches – a community organizer, a university lecturer, a state senator and now a US Senator. I feel that he truly cares about people and that is illustrated by his background. Also, the things he says can be backed up and corroborated (and, yes, I do check – see my previous post).
The Issues
Economy – Obama answers to me and to us! He does not answer to special interests and is not beholden to lobbyists. I think that this alone will make a huge impact in the integrity of our economy. He supports the working family – the middle class – me! His tax cuts will benefit me and most Americans. McCain’s tax policy will benefit the rich folks like him.
Energy Independence – Obama will provide some relief in the short term, but will trade in an oil-addicted America for an energy independent America with many new renewable resources as options. Also, most people don’t realize that “Drill here, drill now” won’t necessarily help because that oil will be sold on the world market and the oil companies will still be raking in the money. Not that it wouldn’t help in the short term…
Technology – Senator Obama truly embraces technology and understands what it can do for us. He said,
Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age. Let’s set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to succeed. Let’s recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more support in exchange for more accountability. Let’s make college more affordable, and let’s invest in scientific research, and let’s lay down broadband lines through the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America.
His position on the war – First let me say that I whole-heartedly support our men and women in the armed forces and feel incredibly grateful to them. I also feel that while they’re in Iraq, we (the government, the people) should support them by giving them all the resources necessary to keep them as safe as possible. Ok, that said, I disagree with our government ever having gone into Iraq. We never caught Bin Laden – hello? Yet, we up and leave that hunt, and devote too much of our resources to Iraq. So, great, Saddam’s regime was toppled…Now what? Obama says,
Here is the truth: fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer.So when I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on day one: I will end this war. Not because politics compels it. Not because our troops cannot bear the burden- as heavy as it is. But because it is the right thing to do for our national security, and it will ultimately make us safer.
Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning. In 2002, as the conventional thinking in Washington lined up for war, Obama had the judgment and courage to speak out against the war. He said the war would lead to “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs and undetermined consequences.” In January 2007, Obama introduced legislation to responsibly end the war in Iraq, with a phased withdrawal of troops engaged in combat operation. In case you’re wondering about McCain, check out this timeline.
Diplomacy - I feel that Obama will give this county a much-needed make-over in the world’s eyes and represent us in a more positive, dignified light.
His position on immigration - This is what he has to say,
The time to fix our broken immigration system is now… We need stronger enforcement on the border and at the workplace… But for reform to work, we also must respond to what pulls people to America… Where we can reunite families, we should. Where we can bring in more foreign-born workers with the skills our economy needs, we should.
To those out there who think we simply close the borders, case closed, I would like to point out that the some the hardest working people I know and see are immigrants. And, some of them are here doing the back-breaking jobs that we don’t want to do. Obama and Biden support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.