In 2000 I idealistically voted for Nader. I wasn’t really “into” listening to the political commentary, and the little bit of research I did lead me to vote with my heart, not to influence the election. I still stand by that vote.
By 2004, I was horrified and disgusted by the aftermath of September 11th and 2003′s start of the Iraqi war, which I protested against, lost sleep over, and, five and a half years later (or, worse, 4188 American deaths later), disagree with and despise more than ever. For the first time in my life I contributed money to a campaign: Howard Dean. I was heart-broken when he lost the primary. In the final election, Kerry didn’t really seem like a great choice, but the alternative seemed so much worse. I voted against Bush, which, by default, meant for Kerry. I was upset when Bush won.
Now it’s 2008 and we have, for the first time in my life, a candidate that I admire as a politician and as a person. If Barack Obama is elected, I will finally be able to say that I love my president. Do I have problems with him? Yeah, but no one seems to be willing to let me run things (which means they would get done the right way!), so Obama is a good enough alternative.
Also, I can’t endorse someone who is ok with this war that I despise going on for “a hundred years”, doesn’t use a computer in 2008, doesn’t know what a condom does, and who doesn’t believe that women deserve equal pay. The McCain family is worth $136 million, he’s not exactly sure how many houses he owns, but he “doesn’t consider himself a rich man”. In the worlds of William Shatner, I just can’t behind that. There are other, more in-depth tax and economic reasons that I’m voting for Obama, too, but these are the issues, too often dismissed as trivial, that I have with McCain.
I usually don’t think voting on social issues is wise because I think that We The People have more influence on those issues (for now) than any President will. Still, the extreme conservativeness of Palin scares me. I don’t believe extremes in either direction belong in the White House, even as VP. So Obama it is. It’s time to take back the White House from people who will fuck it up even more.
