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Sunday, October 19, 2008

If it's not about issues, what is it about?

Christopher Hitchens, as he endorsed Barack Obama for president, wrote an article-- Christopher Hitchens in Slate where he said what I have been thinking. This election, it's not so much about the issues. It's more character and temperament.

When I knew I would be writing pretty much every day for the month ahead of our election, I planned to briefly cover the character of both (and their running mates) and then hit on their differences in the issues.

My intentions changed as the campaigns more clearly took form. I watched the news, read newspaper and magazine articles and it soon became clear that this time the issues, much as they matter to me, are taking a backseat. If someone says they will lower taxes but you can't trust anything else they say, why would you believe them on that?

I believe that this presidential election is about character. Can we trust what these people say they will do? Then, even if they want to do something, do they have the temperament to make it happen? A president, unless he acquires the powers of a dictator, can't run things by himself. Even if they have good intentions, what are their capabilities for bringing change to a government that has become caught up in greed and power struggles?

The man who I have faith in for his character and temperament is Barack Obama. I think he can get it done, that he will stand up and fight for what he believes is right. I won't and don't agree with him on all issues but do on most of them.

It is not like I have no issues that matter to me. Becoming energy self-sufficient, developing new sources of energy, creating and encouraging jobs that give families decent livings, working out a health care plan for us all that keeps costs down, teaching people that they can't keep borrowing to fund their lifestyles, a viable education system that benefits all levels of society, balancing the federal budget, improving our infrastructure, not fighting wars overseas without a security reason that we can clearly see, cutting waste in government.

There are other issues that Obama does not see as I do, but matter to me, and I'd like to see happen. For instance, I'd like to see gays have the right to marry. This is a matter of fairness. I don't say all churches should have to recognize their marriages, that's religion, but marriage itself is a government recognized contract between two people who come together sexually to form a family unit. Why should gays be denied that? Call them all contract licenses and do what is right for the future generations.

I would like to see abortion limited to the first four months of a pregnancy when it is purely the mother's preference, another month or so when it is about birth defects and after that, only danger to the life of the mother would allow an abortion. The idea of partial birth abortion is no different than infanticide to me; but I want women to have that first part of their pregnancy to have the choice, and it is one of my bedrock issues.

(Incidentally, they claim that Obama liked the idea of infanticide and voted against a bill in Illinois that would have banned it. As is usually the case with what 'they' claim, what Obama said is he voted against a bill that would have limited abortions unfairly. There were already laws on the book to protect a baby born alive.)

I also would like military, assault rifles banned. I believe in the right to go armed, in increased concealed weapon permits, in responsible gun ownership, and don't want anybody taking my guns.

I would like to see our national parks strengthened and in some cases enlarged. I think the environment should be a priority. Earth is our mother and through caring for the earth, we insure our own survival. This isn't about protecting every possible variant of a squirrel, but commonsense protection of animals and habitat. It's not just a physical cause but emotional and spiritual.

On global warming, I think we need more research on what we might have to do to protect our cities along the coasts and what about the possibility of massive storms inland? Are we prepared for what might be coming? It makes sense to me to limit carbon emissions, do what we can do, but this may be something we can't stop. Be prepared.

I would like to see our country buckle down and face the reality that the government can't keep borrowing even to fund good programs. We have to be frugal as a people and as a government, start paying down our debt, have good trade policies that are fair but recognize this is a world market. I don't want freebies. I want chances.

There are issues that matter to me and some of them are on Obama's list; some not, but it's his character that makes me believe he will do something about changing the direction of this country. I think he can stand up against the Nancy Pelosis and the left wing of the Congress when they want things without paying. He has said we have to be more responsible economically. I believe he means it.

It wouldn't matter much to me what John McCain said about any issues. If you think it does to you, please read this article from Rolling Stone. Anybody who plans to vote for that man needs to know who he is: Make-Believe Maverick.

Frankly, I think that McCain is a Jekyll and Hyde. If you saw him at the Al Smith Dinner, he was funny and charming-- so by the way was Obama. The next day McCain was out there with robo calls implying Obama is a terrorist wantabe. McCain seems to change into different people, and that is not the kind of person to put in the White House.

This election is about character. When all that McCain can dig up about Obama is an old relationship with Ayers, a pastor who was over the top, a businessman who wanted to befriend Obama for power, and none of these people impacted Obama's policy positions today, nowhere was he charged with ethical violations; then I think it's good he worked with and knew them. Having a leader in the White House who is naive won't serve us well in this day and age.

Obama has come through a lot, and I have more trust in his judgment for the fact that he has. I won't like everything he does. That's life. I hope that we, who support him will support him if he is elected to do what is right and understand this is no time for revenge. It's a time for moving ahead, for facing changes that the world forces upon us, and a time for justice.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll take Obama for temperament and I believe that he has character as well .

Rain Trueax said...

I was thrilled this morning to see that Colin Powell said the same. He knows a lot more than I do and perhaps he will impact some of those undecideds. Maybe now this race can settle down and quit being swung this way or that by every breeze :)

Kay Dennison said...

A wonderful, well-written post!!! And thanks for the great links.

Sylvia K said...

Great post! And, I too, am thrilled about Colin Powell's endorsement! I'm interested in a number of things, too, that I don't think have been addressed, but with all the name calling and other negative crap, I feel Obama has had to deal more with those than other issues I feel certain he is aware of and will deal with -- if and when we finally get past Nov. 4!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I just want to say something, and it wasn't directly noted in your post. But my husband is a doctor, and he has a patient right now who is a Down's Syndrome adult at a state mental hospital. I just want to say that, though everyone now is jumping on the bandwagon to say how wonderful Sarah Palin is for going ahead with her pregnancy, knowing she would have a Down's Syndrome baby; the following. The adult woman he has now as a patient has so many health problems it is truly alarming. This segment of the population does not age well at all. They routinely are studied for Alzheimers, as if they live to be in their 30s and 40s, they will usually have this. So there is much to be said for giving birth, knowing you will have such a child despite their prognosis. But think what they will have to endure as adults. Just a thought. It may be well-meaning as a mother, but please. Think of the quality of life for your child.
Brenda

Darlene said...

There is no president nor administration that is going to fill all of our candy jars.Therefore, as Rain points out, we have to take the best candidate who will lead this country with a wise and steady hand and hope that some of our pet projects become reality

Dick said...

Good points and well stated. I think the president does wield more power than any other person in government, if by no other way than having the ability to veto things. It takes a strong Congress to overcome his veto, as we have seen over the last few years.

I still say that the best way to handle universal medical coverage is to put everyone on Medicare. Including those currently in privileged positions with "special" insurance plans. By including all ages you would have a great group with young and healthy people rather than just the older and disabled ones currently on the program. If the people in Congress don't like the plan well enough to want to go onto it themselves, maybe that would motivate them to fix the problems.

Anonymous said...

BILL MAYER SHOW ----

Bill had Rep. Sanders (I-VT) on Friday night... He says he is a Democratic Socialist. Claims he follows the Scandinavian countries' policies...

RESULT -- Audience cheers wildly...

FACT: Would Bill Mayer want to open up his property to people who want to camp on it in tents????

BILL????

That is what happens in Norway... BY LAW YOUR LAND CAN BE USED BY ANYBODY....

Want to set up a tent on your neighbors land in the country -- you can!!!

http://www.eksportnettverk.siriusmanagement.no/NordlandEnglish.htm

Twelve percent of the land in the county is set aside as nature conservation areas, but backpacking and camping isn’t limited to park lands. Hikers roaming Nordland’s countryside take advantage of Norway’s lack of “trespassing” laws - one may walk or camp on any land which is not cultivated.

SO BILL ---- SHOULD I BRING MY TENT TO YOUR HOUSE TOMORROW AND CAMP OUTSIDE???

BTW -- I lived in Norway!!!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I agree that it is "charactr" and as far as I am concerned, Obama has lots and lots of "character". For me...McCain has none. I find him selish and self-serving and NOT about Country First, at all!
It seems to me this country will be in more danger than ever with a McCain/Palin win....(Why doesn't the media say more about Palin's Cessionist Husband??? Talk about not liking America....!)

I have no idea what I will like or won't like when Obama is President...only time will tell, but what I feel is a trust that what we see is what we will get and I like what I see a whole lot!

I have voted Already...By Mail. And I pray that people will really consider all the problems we have when they go into that booth and pull that lever or punch those chads....We need the steadist hand possibe sitting in The Oval Office. And the steady hand in my view is Obama.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Oh yes...And I forgot to say, Colin Powells words today were solidly important. I am glad he finally spoke out and said the things he did. THAT was Historic, in every way.

Rain Trueax said...

Our country used to be that way, anonymous. You could hike or camp anywhere and as we grew more populated, that changed. I like Montana and you used to be able to walk down to any stream and fish. Not so anymore as more people have put up private preserves and fences with no trespassing to keep it for their friends or those who pay. Not that that is wrong but life changes. Now a lot of places we are lucky to hike or camp anywhere. As for Norway's law, you mentioned land that was not cultivated. Doubtless Bill's place has a lawn; so guess you will have to go elsewhere to find a place for your tent.

Just remember one thing. Obama is not talking about starting socialism. He would not have to in this country as we now have many socialist practice, not the least of which just happened as Bush and McCain voted for with the banks.

One thing Obama has done which hasn't happened before is gotten his money from the people. No lobbyists, not a dependency on corporate support (although there has still been bundling). So his average donation for September was $87. It's why he has the money to possibly win-- which is not remotely a done deal. You people who like McCain Palin may yet win. It's not over until it's over and sometimes not even then. If you want McCain Palin, you probably wanted Bush and you will get more of him with the centralizing of power, the hate and fear continuing to work to get people elected. Personally, I think that is a lot more to be feared than socialism (they call it fascism and it takes the rights of the individual also.)

What I am beginning to suspect is that there is no perfect form of government, not capitalism, not socialism, none of them because of the nature of humans. It's change us or we corrupt whatever system anybody invents. (We certainly don't have capitalism in this country in its pure form. It sounds good until you look at the reality of humans with their greed and desire to always take advantage of others, then there are those who through no fault of their own need help and you end up down a road to other systems trying to fix the problems and sometimes the fixes become worse than the original problem.)

Not a happy thought to start my morning