Why Obama?
I’m for Obama. That’s probably obvious. After two years of campaigns, speeches, ads, mud, and fact checking I’m pretty sure anyone capable of making a decision has made one by now.
For the one or two people who haven’t, here’s a summary of my reasons for voting for Obama. First the reasons against McCain.
- McCain says he’s for change. However, he only said this after it became clear that the public wanted change. Before that, he was for continuing the status quo.
- McCain has few specifics of what he plans to do on his website. He’s not started a full-blown transition effort. It’s not clear to me what he wants to do except carry on and he’s not ready to do that.
- McCain’s choices of advisors and V.P. candidate leave me wanting. His economic advisor was an architect of financial de-regulation. His V.P. candidate still doesn’t know what the V.P. does - and apparently doesn’t have a constitution handy to read the description. (Hint: you can get one from the ACLU.) And many of his advisors are lobbyists or former lobbyists.
- McCain’s history in the Senate tells us who he is better that what he’s saying in his campaign. His campaign rhetoric has swung wildly. But since he hasn’t run a consistent campaign, we no longer can trust his background either. In short, we only really know he’ll continue the Iraq war and continue to de-regulate the economy as those are relatively consistent positions.
That’s why to vote against McCain. Why for Obama?
- Obama’s run a consistent campaign, his positions now are mostly more detailed elaborations of his earlier positions. When Obama’s asked questions by anyone, he answers clearly and deliberately and with detail. It’s clear that he’s thought through what he wants to do and why and isn’t just taking his advisor’s positions.
- Taxes and health care: Obama wants to change tax policy to rebuild the middle class and reinstitute tax rules that reduce obscene weath imbalances. He wants to make health care a priority. Clinton lost on this in his first term against Newt Gingrich in Congress. It’s high time to fix this.
- The economy: McCain grandstanded when the market tanked. Obama quietly and without fuss helped move the bailout bill through Congress to get a band-aid on the situation. And we’re not out of this yet. For once I want a president who understand the issues and thinks through the solutions before acting.
- Beyond understanding issues and thinking things through, I get the sense that Obama cares about people and really wants to solve problems to try and make the world better. He’s not just doing this for personal gain, but for a desire to improve things.
There’s much more than can be said, and many more issues to explore. These are some of my personal reasons. If Obama wins I don’t expect to be happy with everything he does. I already dislike his FISA vote last summer. But I trust him to do what he can and try and make the best compromise possible. And I trust him to listen to objections.
Whatever you do, you need to make a considered decision and vote. If you don’t vote, you’ve lost your moral right to complain. But if you don’t consider relevant issues and make your considered decision, you shouldn’t vote. Basing your vote on how Sarah Palin or Michelle Obama dress is an insult to our founders. (Yes, I’ve heard of people who are doing that!) There’s plenty of ignorant nonsense out there - stick with the facts.