Voting Obama

[pjthompson]

I decided to quite some time ago. I haven't talked about my conversion experience and mostly won't now. But I thought I'd put that out there, not to be some Pammy-Come-Lately, but in case anyone was interested (which I suspect, not) or that it might do some minisucle bit of good (which I suspect, not).

I was bitterly disappointed when Hillary didn't make it. Most of the bitterness came from the blatant sexism and ageism thrown the way of anyone who supported her. Not to mention at her. It felt like we'd tried so hard and walked so far and hadn't made any progress at all.

But Barack Obama wasn't responsible for any of that. And I never, not for one single solitary moment, ever believed the Republican party was a better deal for me and mine, or that Sarah Palin ever represented me and all the other women out there trying to make a better life for themselves.

I wanted Obama to show me some stuff at the convention, and he did, and I felt I could in good conscience vote for him. That conviction has only grown in the weeks since, and now I'm proud to vote for him, completely in his corner. His grace under pressure has been phenomenal to watch. His calm, his reason, his thoughtfulness are such an antidote to the mean-spirited littleness of the Bush Agenda. We've tried blatant emotionalism for the last eight years, and see where that's got us. We've tried pandering to the rich, and see what's become of that. We've tried religious intolerance as acceptable codes of behavior, and see what it has made of us.

I want to be better than that. I want my country to be better than that. I want to be governed by reason and calm and dignity, and thoughtfulness. I want to be governed by Barack Obama.

So, fwiw, me, the roommate, and Colin Powell—we're voting Obama.

Comments

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

I was very pleased during the primaries to see the quality of the candidates, particularly the Democratic candidates, because for maybe the first time I felt I wouldn't be having to choose the lesser of two evils while voting for president.

I was bothered by a lot of the negativity directed toward Clinton, even after I had decided that, much to my chagrin (since I've been waiting a long time for a viable female candidate) she wouldn't be my first choice as the Democratic presidential candidate. Throughout this campaign I've been amazed by Senator Obama, not just by his eloquence, but by the thoughtful nature of his responses and by his ability to handle himself calmly in every situation. It's my hope that he will be able to bring the country together, as well as to work diplomatically with nations around the world in ways that will be beneficial for us and the entire world.

[pjthompson]

Yes, it was great this year that we had substantive choices. Some Obama supporters really worked against their candidate and stirred up a lot of resentment in Hillary's people, but in good conscience, I couldn't say he was directing that.

And he's just been remarkable to watch.

[hollailama.livejournal.com]

Well said. My thoughts exactly.

[pjthompson]

Thanks. :-)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes! I felt exactly the same way.

[pjthompson]

Here's hoping...

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

I really hope he has something very exciting and cool in mind for Hillary. She's wasted as a mere Senator.

[pjthompson]

I'd hope so, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't give her cabinet post, et al. Maybe she can be the new Teddy Kennedy in the senate. But she definitely has too much talent, intelligence, and gravitas to be wasted.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

I know I definitely was negative toward Sen. Clinton, but I hope I wasn't sexist. That was one line I tried not to cross.

I could see her on the Supreme Court.

[pjthompson]

If you didn't talk about her fat ankles like that was relevant to governing as Carl Bernstein did; or remark that they didn't think the American people wanted to watch a woman age in office like presidents do; if you didn't call her a bitch or imply she was a lesbian because she was tough and capable; if you didn't suggest that she was horribly ugly, a bone deflater, a guy's worst nightmare because she was just as competitive as the boys...you probably weren't sexist.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Okay, I think I managed to avoid all that. :-)

[pjthompson]

I was reasonably sure you had. :-)