Why this republican is Voting FOR Obama
Let me first put my bona fides to the test, lest someone think I'm not serious about what I am about to say. I am an over 40 white male from Georgia who clings to guns and religion and served as {local chair} the College Republicans, even supporting Jack Kemp in '88. I successfully ran for office as city councilman in my small rural town. I've voted republican in every election since '84. I've contributed to the Heritage Foundation, Club for Growth and I am a Life member of the NRA (the horror). And I now call Enough is Enough to my party. What is my rationale? As they say - do the jump ...
Over the last few presidential election cycles I've grown weary of the constant republican push to vote AGAINST the lesser of two evils. I much prefer to vote FOR a cause or a person.
I want to make clear that my reason to renounce and reject republican tactics is it serves no purpose but to foment divisiveness. Race baiting, jingoistic attitudes and an absolute disdain for constitutional protections has left me scratching my head and becoming more and more pissed off!
What has moved me to Senator Obama? Not just one thing - but the entire package. Let me explain:
1. Republican jingoism is one major issue. Over the last several years as illegal immigration has reached a feverish crescendo in policy circles, republicans have gleefully pursued all people of dark melanin as a threat to U.S. security. Hogwash, I say! Republicans wish to round up not specific people, but an entire ethnic population while federalizing local law enforcement to do it.
Mexicans we know to be like people everywhere, good bad and ugly. They wish to immigrate to the US like the Irish, Dutch, Jews and others have throughout history. Yes, I know everyone came by boat but some did not. Nevertheless, we had a way of making sure people entered legally. Where are the immigration checkpoints in Arizona? None there, but Mexicans wish to make their homes here, and no one is at the border to greet them.
Instead members of my party prefer to castigate, round-up and drive them underground, while tearing apart families and businesses to find wayward illegals. Can you say police state!
Shame on Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and others in right wind radio who serve this pox on republicans. [Let it be known that I adamantly renounce and reject their insinuations on Senator Obama and other Americans]
But my enmity for the republican party doesn't stop there:
2. President Bush's unconstitutional power grab and violation of citizen rights to privacy is a travesty. He ignores the constitutional safeguards that our founders put in place just for exigencies this nation faces now. Constitutional protections are not to be used in times of fair weather but are precious in times of the foulest of weather - when politicians wish to set them aside for more power at our expense. Sure, they'll use language and fear to motivate voters to acquiesce their rights. (Remember Ben Franklin's admonition on security and liberty).
Anyway, warrantless wiretaps; expansive SWAT teams in small town America; suspension of habeas corpus because we divine a threat to national security, but ALL are threats to our civil liberties.
3. Hypocritical moralizing decorated as family values. My party is obsessed with regulating personal proclivities, a woman's womb and prayer in schools. We all differ in one degree or another over these issues, but to use the full force and coercion of government to champion one belief structure over another is, IMMORAL. To make it worse, republican officials are caught with their pants down; tapping their shoes; IMing teenage interns about sex and trying to explain it all a way. Their behaviors serve to eviscerate whatever legitimacy they may have wielded.
4. Finally, my children's future is too important to be voted away out of FEAR and JINGOISM. We have real problems to confront in this nation: education and access to college; healthcare; great access to jobs and so on. Political pablum over lapel flags, pledge of allegiance or contact with anyone whose ideas differ or behavior runs counter to my mind is as, Senator Obama makes clear - manufactured distraction.
UPDATED
5. An illegal war perpetrated by a coupd'etat within our own government. When politicians can lie, make-up excuses why to invade a sovereign nation and place our wealth and personal treasure on the line, we need to re-evaluate our priorities. The war in Iraq has torn too many families apart for a revenge killing. (Saddam Hussein). We've taken our eye off the ball in the war on terror and violated a basic principle to not invade sovereign nations without a declaration of war. A declaration never asked for by this president and contrary to what the Constitution prescribes.
Anyway, I've had enough of this bigotry and hate. Its time to stop it and lets move this nation forward and do good without splintering us into factions or tribes intent on destroying ourselves. America is indeed the last best hope (to borrow from Abraham Lincoln) and its about time we act like it.
As far as other republicans - I challenge them to read this and to challenge their thinking based on civic values and not FEAR. FDR said it best - We have nothing to fear but fear itself - thats what it means to make change, though. To accept change is to accept uncertainty and to stretch your cloak of comfort beyond what you are used to. That is good.
Obama is a symbol to the world that the US is a good and decent place to live and work, to raise a family and to know that all are accepted into our society. Georgia has voted and I cast my lot with the Senator from Illinois. He deserves my vote in the fall for tackling the tough issues no one else wishes to touch. I embrace change and look forward to an Obama administration. (I have other reasons I'm moving to progressive politics, but I've already intruded on enough of the readers time)
Thanks to everyone at dailykos who takes the time to read this screed. I feel better.
[Thank you to everyone for the rec, I don't know if it deserves that spot. i'm just glad people are interested in reading my thoughts.]
P.S. Once my Obama for President signs/stickers arrive they will find prominent places in the yard and on my non-Prius vehicle in my demographically mixed neighborhood.