"You can't vote for Obama in the primary," my mother informs me over lunch today. "Why not?" I ask, between bites of chicken.
"That's like throwing your vote away!" she says, pounding her fist on the table. For an elderly little woman, she can still do some good table-pounding. The silverware shook. "You have to vote for Hillary - because she's the only one left who MIGHT stand a chance of beating the Republicans."
"Well, I don't like Hillary as much," I say. "I like Obama's platform better. I actually believe he can do some good for our country."
"It doesn't matter what he says he can or can't do," she says. "They won't give him the
chance. No one's going to vote for a colored man down south." She's 78, and still hasn't learned how to say black or African-American. "Even Democrats down there will vote Republican if he's white. They might not vote for a woman either- but she's got a better chance at least. If only Edwards hadn't dropped out.. he was our best hope. But the Republicans - they pushed Obama ahead. That's what they want us to do - have him run against McCain, because they know they can beat a colored man. Do you want to just play into their hands? Don't throw away your vote!"Actually, what I wanted her to do was stop talking politics so I could go back to eating my chicken. From past experience, I knew that no matter what I said she wasn't really going to listen anyhow. To her, voting for Obama would be a cardinal sin - one that would assure the downfall of my party and doom us all to four more years of Republican tyranny. So what was I going to do?
Well, for one, finish my chicken. It really was very tasty. And also - vote for Obama.
To a certain extent, I can understand her reasoning. Historically, the majority of presidents have been rich old men of the Caucasian persuasion. Obama is different - he's young, black, charismatic, and (as my mother is quick to point out) relatively inexperienced compared to the other candidates. But what makes these bad things?Historically, some of my favorite presidents have been outside the established presidential mold. Abraham Lincoln. Grover Clevland. Teddy Roosevelt. Franklin Roosevelt. Jimmy Carter. Bill Clinton. In many cases, no one expected them to win, either. But they did. And they went on to bring fresh perspectives to the presidency.
I also believe that established mold is changing. Politicians have Myspaces and Facebooks; they are here on Gather! They make videos that appear here on Gather, on YouTube, all over the internet. We have a woman running for president . We have a young black man running. We had an Italian in the race. All kinds of diversity, not just a choice of this-rich-old-white-dude or that-rich-old-white-dude. Isn't that a good thing, no matter who wins? Isn't that a trend you'd like to see continue? I know I would.
So am I throwing my vote away by voting for the man I consider best suited for the job? I certainly don't think so. Even if Obama doesn't win, I will know that I voted in good conscience for a candidate I truly believe in. And I certainly hope that my fellow Americans are getting out there to do the same.
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Comments: 75
repeat after me.
I liked all those Presidents that you've mentioned as well and I'm hoping that Obama will follow in their foot prints of making great, much needed changes in this country.
I love chicken as well. That experience should never be ruined.
He's got my vote.
I think it is okay to go with your gut sometimes on a candidate. It is our job to use our judgment as voters. If we drop our judgment and resort to handicapping the election like a horse race, is that really wise? I think that is focusing too much on political party loyalty.
Never let what you believe in get squashed. Work for who and what you think is the best. Ideas are funny things.
You might want to remind your mother than the South "went Republican" starting with Reagan...
I think the US is ready for a non-white president. I think the US is ready for a non-male president. I think the US is ready for Obama.
However, to be honest, with a 50% disapproval rating, I don't think the US is ready for Hillary.
Tuesday, I'm goin Obama. People can tall it throwing away a vote but I'm not going to cast a vote to just divide the nation even further than it is now...
Take it to the bank.
As for those who are trying to handicap the race, a friend from Canada told me that the Democrats could run a dog and it would win. I don't think I am that optimistic...the country has let me down before (ie, GW Bush). Still, I think that we must vote for what we believe in and aspire to, as a country.
Earl's brother Randy comes across more intelligent.
But I do see the perspective of people vetting for Hillary. She has been in the lime light for a lot longer. Most people would have heard of her, seen her etc. Obama is a relatively new and uncommon face. Also no matter how politically incorrect your mother maybe when referring to a 'coloured' man, she definitely has a point.
America never had a woman or a black person for a president, so either of them would be welcome change and indicate progress.
My Dad (an uneducated, blue collar, Navy veteran of WWII, bigot, sexist guy who busted his ass to keep his family going) is spinning in his grave to see a woman and a black man dueling for their names to be on the Democratic presidential ballot.
Dad would study, study, study each of the presidential hopefuls, scrutinize every idea, plan, and dream each of them is proposing, then march right into the voting booth and simply cast his vote for the aging white vet, former POW ~ even if he IS a Republican.
Sorry, Papa, my ballot will be checked right next to Barack M. Obama.
Is America ready for a white woman in the White House? Is American ready for a black man in the White House? Well, American, ready or not ~ here they (or at least one of them) come!!
Personally I love Obama. I like where he stands on issues, particularly on the war, tax cuts, and health care, but I am also inspired by him. When I hear him speak, I feel like things can be put right - that we can and will change things for the better. Perhaps this is a naive view of things, but after the last 7 years, I am ready for optimism.
By the way, I don't really like Hillary, mainly because of her record on Iraq, but I do think that in other ways, she is a great candidate. However, I feel exactly the opposite of your mom - I think there are so many irrational Hillary Haters out there, that if she wins the nomination it will bring out people who otherwise wouldn't even consider voting just to be able to vote against her - in droves.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
But many here have mentioned what I also believe. A contest between Hillary and McCain is far from a Democratic slam dunk. Hillary's show of tearful emotion I personally found heartening, but her normal, calculated approach all to often denies her humanity. McCain's straight talk, although frequently not very politically correct, is precisely what many of us democrats find appealing. It's something Hillary too often appears to lack.
Long way of saying, I think your mother's wrong. If Hillary gets the nod in Denver, I think McCain will be our next president.
Times have changed. While there are still throwbacks to a time when racism was accepted, the vast majority know that race or gender is not a reason to vote for or against anyone. The person who is able to think, and to listen, is the person to vote for.
I think I plan to vote for Obama. I think he would be a shoe in.
Personally, Obama bothers me. He's not just RELATIVELY inexperienced, he's INCREDIBLY inexperienced. Being a good public speaker, does NOT make you qualified to be the leader of the free world. We've just suffered thru the Bush administration and lived thru his ingnorance, do we really need to do it again while Obama "learns the ropes?"
Bill's potential role is one of my biggest concerns. Bill Clinton was the first president who motivated me enough to vote, who actually inspired me during his presidency to better myself. I also remember that Hillary did have a significant role in that presidency-- part of her "experience," and it doesn't sit well with me that one minute she points this out, and the next minute she downplays Bill, saying it would be HER presidency. Bill had his eight years, and I don't believe for one minute he is going to be content to read stories to preschoolers.
Much like Bill Clinton did in the 90s, Barack Obama inspires me. Hillary said in the California debate, "It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, it may take another to clean up after the second." That may be true, but at this point I think Barack is the better "Clinton."
I'm not fond of Hillary to be honest. However, she is apparently a lot more popular among those who actually go to the polls and vote than I thought. The Republicans on the far right are threatening to stay home and not vote because McCain doesn't fit their agenda. If they do that, then it will tip the election to the Democrats.
If the Dems nominate Hillary, they will hold there noses and turn out in droves to defeat her!!
If there is indeed a surge in the youth vote, after all they will be the next surge in Iraq.
If blacks are not disenfranchised in the South...
If Americans finally wake up and vote for their best interests, like the knowledge that the government is NOT a " bidness"....
If the war goes worse......with unintended consequences [I think the war is going right on schedule[Bush's].......mission accomplished....we'll be there 30 years guarding Haliburton's OIL]....
If ... if.... if......they don't put up gay marriage and abortion as a wedge and if.. if... if Americans finally wake up and see that these issues are irrelevent [ as irrelevent as body bags not clogging Barbara Bush's beautiful mind]...
Then perhaps we will have a Democratic preisdent.
But I fear I agree with WM H. hate trumps love in politics.......esp republican politics.
My vote is for Hillary.
and that's why Hilary is not the best candidate....you should be suspicious of anyone who has ALL the details ....especially when the predicament is so dire..... perhaps a few good slogans like Kennedy or FDR had might be better than a plan that needs [and will be] to be fought over anyway.
Regardless I will still vote for whomever the Democratic nominee is.
A couple of personal asides. I am a registered Libertarian...nobody votes Libertarian because they figure their vote is wasted.
I was in favor of Hilliary until I started listening to her and remembering what she is.
Obama is a good man, too young to have been totally poisoned by the system.
I would much rather see a naieve young man with ideals, than a hardened woman who has been investigated several times for whatever...
I plan personally, to vote for Dr. Ron Paul. Even though the mainstream press has totally ignored how well he has been doing, I called his office in 2004 to encourage him to run.
There is NO SUCH THING as a wasted vote.
There is such a thing as a wasted vote....the current Bush is a prime example of that.
Dr Ron Paul has NO chance of winning the White House....and the Republican party has every chance of continuing Bush's misguided policies through warmonger McCain.
So resign yourself to the facts.
PERSONALLY, I want your mother to know that I am a white man, born and raised Republican. . ( Dad is a county GOP big wig. ) BUT during college and now as an adult I have re-evaulated my own soul and found that I am actually more of a Dem.
( Friend of mine had me list the top 25 issues ( one per week ) of politics in my opinion and the side I was on for each. THEN after done we sat down together and counted and I found that as a GOP'er, I had 17 out of 25 views on the wrong side. - I have slept better and been much more at ease since stopping this lie )
ANYWAY, as a John Edwards supporting, democratic party member, I will vote for O'bama if he is on the ballot BUT IF IT IS Hellary, I would vote McCain before her. ( see my article about Hellary to find out why )
I am proud of you for giving this such thought and taking your choice seriously
( BTW to the rest of you, Romney, Huckabee and Ron Paul also scare the hell out of me )
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