People have different reasons (or excuses) for their political choices. In this Presidential election, there are a number of factors why so many still cling to the far right notion of government.
The largest of these, I think, is the racial issue, although the vast majority on the right will deny this.
Next up, are the people who have always voted one way and always will, regardless of facts and truth.
Following that are those that believed every word out of Obama's mouth 4 years ago, and are disappointed that he hasn't fulfilled every last campaign promise he made then. They generally refuse to give credit to the almost total obstructionism of the Congressional Republicans, or the fact that they were joined in that obstruction by what we so lovingly refer to as "blue dog Democrats".
And last, there are those who begrudge Obama's efforts at compromise. They think that he should have gotten down to business with them after the first six months to a year, rather than continuing to try to find a middle ground.
Personally, I tend to agree with that last group, but not to the extent that many do. I refuse to abandon Obama for a couple reasons.
First, even though he has made his mistakes, how many of us haven't? After all, he's only human, and I think he's shown that he does learn from those mistakes.
Second, I think he's on the right track on most issues, and he has the intelligence to find ways to follow through, with or without cooperation from the right.
Third, he has shown, time and time again, that there is a better way to engage in politics than to constantly be attacking this, that and the other. He has, time and again, taken the high road, the civil and civilized path to his goals. He had consistently refused to wallow in the muck and mire of the extremists on both sides of the political spectrum.
And finally, there is the issue of his "foreign-sounding" name. Having travelled a good part of the world, visiting several countries and engaging in discussion on a variety of topics with people from countries I haven't been to, I have no fear of the different, the "other than me". I've come to know that, as the song says, "We all know ... that people are the same wherever you go." (Thank you, Sir Paul McCartney!)
On the other hand, I've come to see the near-total idiocy of the right which culminated in the Romney/Ryan ticket. Neither of these "gentlemen" have any sense of what is needed to get this country back on it's feet. They downplay or ignore the successes of the Obama administration. And they flat-out lie about so many things it's become something of a comedy of errors. And that's not even counting the inumerable flipflops of the Republicans' chosen standard-bearer.
So, even though Barack Hussein Obama isn't perfect, he is, in fact and in truth, the best candidate for the job. And that is why I will vote to re-elect this black man ...
No. That is why I will vote to re-elect this MAN that so many are afraid of to another term in the office of the President of these United States of America.
Namaste',
Donald Charles Rice Jr.
Hi Don, I agree with that last group too. I love the fact that President Obama tried to work with the GOP in the beginning and find common ground. However, since it was pretty darned clear that the GOP was not interested in anything but continuing being assholes and obstructing this president from accomplishing anything good, I feel that he should have abandoned any ideas of working with them and taken a harder stance. I love Barack Obama and I know that he has a good heart and means well for America. I never doubted for a second that I will vote for him again. Yes President Obama made some mistakes, however, like you said we all make errors. Our president has accomplished a lot in four years and the GOP has spent four years trying to bamboozle the public into thinking that he hasn't done a thing. Mitt Romney told so many darned lies last week during the first debate. That alone should seal the deal for Obama's re-election but all people are doing is criticizing our President. He obviously had something heavy on his mind that night.
ReplyDeleteHi, Princess Warrior! Thank you for your comments! I fully agree with you. In addition, let me share a comment I saw on FB that bears on the topic and concerns the first Obama-Romney debate:
ReplyDelete"This was the first of three debates (or three rounds) and President Obama just pulled off the classic "Rope A Dope" on Romney. The Prez hung back & let Romney speak. And in the process of speaking Romney abandoned his platform, abandoned his campaign & abandoned his party. He told so many untruths about his proposed policies that the media is going to have a field day with it by next debate. As will President Obama.
This is the Presidents style...let the opposition speak in public first then hang them with their own words. He's done that many a time to Boehner & Cantor.
The President did a good job presenting the REALITY of the situation we find ourselves in. Mitt Romney did not explain how he will create 12 million jobs, he did not explain his tax plan and he did not explain his health care plan. Essentially a lot of talk but no foundation.
President Obama let Romney hang himself. The President wasn't aggressive, wasn't rude, wasn't smug. He gave his critics nothing new to put in a campaign ad. However, Romney provided a wealth of lies to be used as contrast to his previous positions and statements.
And that my friends is how you may lose a battle but win the war!!!"