I have remained silent on the upcoming election in November up to this point because I was waiting to see who the two candidates would be, come election day. But with the Democratic Primary not yet settled, Joe Biden still not a viable option, and most important, graduation for this senior columnist looming on the horizon, the time for this writer to endorse a candidate has arrived.
When John McCain finally disposed of Mike Huckabee, I thought he was the guy for me. I was seduced by the straight talk express campaign and even came to his defense in this very column when allegations of improper conduct with a female lobbyist came to the forefront of the national news.
On the issues I believe to be most troubling in this country, John McCain usually echoes my concerns. I don’t think we can pull out of Iraq anytime soon and I refuse to let the Democratic candidates convince me so as they pander to their ultra-liberal base. McCain has been at the forefront of campaign finance reform, an issue I believe to be essential to cleaning up Washington and ridding it of the influence of lobbyists whose pockets are overflowing with congressmen fighting for their causes on Capitol Hill.
And yet, this man who has served our country as a soldier and legislator for many years is not going to be receiving my vote come November. His lower tax economic platform will not help bring this country out of debt. He doesn’t support a woman’s right to choose. Those are deal-breakers.
With apologies to some of the special women in my life supporting Hillary Clinton, she’s not getting my vote either. I believe her policy platforms are sound and I believe that she could do great things for America. However, she is a divisive figure in Washington, and I believe in order for our country to move forward we need to elect a fresh face and not settle for another White House filled with Washington insiders.
That fresh face is Barack Obama. Forget his policies and his plans. His and Clinton’s are nearly indistinguishable from one another on most issues. Forget the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his inflammatory comments. We can’t hold members of a religious congregation responsible for the words of their spiritual leaders.
The time has come for a drastic overhaul in the way our country carries itself on the world stage. I admire Obama’s chutzpah in offering to visit Iran as president. I believe he will set us on the path of successful diplomatic engagement with our enemies instead of the largely unsuccessful path of military action.
The real reason I’m voting for Barack Obama is because he inspires me, and what is more, he inspires my peers. The argument that he is too inexperienced is na√É.√Øve. He will surround himself with the best and brightest minds to compensate for whatever policy and experience shortcomings he may have. His opponents and critics are disregarding his message of hope as wide-eyed idealism. But I believe, as Morgan Freeman says in the “Shawshank Redemption,” “Hope is a good thing, maybe even the best of things.”
America is in serious need of hope right now. Our economy is sagging, and morale across the fruited planes is sinking lower by the day. Barack Obama is just the sort of inspirational leader who will get America back on track. Clinton and McCain are attempting to bring America back to a more prosperous past. Obama will bring us to an even brighter future.