Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Obama Nightly News.
I am writing this on Sunday afternoon while waiting for Hurricane/Tropical Storm Sandy to hit New Jersey. My university has already decided to close tomorrow, and we are expecting rain here until Weds. If my power and my internet go out, I hope that I can post this from my cell phone. This is my closing argument for why we need to do everything in our power to re-elect President Obama and Vice President Biden.
I want a president and an administration that cares about 100% of America. Governor Romney famously told his rich donors that 47% of Americans were dependent on government, see themselves as victims, and feel entitled. The link to the infamous video is here. He also said:
I’m not concerned about the very poor — we have a safety net there.
Romney also does not like unions, and he's not in favor of the Dream Act. In short, he has written off large sections of the American public.
I am a few years younger than Mitt Romney, but I live in the real world of 2012. When I bought my house in central NJ in 1985, the local population included a white majority and a substantial African-American minority. Today central Jersey is very different. Not only are we home to the largest Cuban-American population outside south Florida, we are also home to the largest South Asian-American community in the US. My university is close to having no majority. My students and my colleagues include African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinas, as well as people from around the world. This is the reality of 21st century America.
But take a look at a couple of photos from recent Romney campaign rallies:
and
When I look at the audience, I see mostly old white folks and lots of older white men. This does not look like America. It is certainly not the America I want for my kids. I want to see us pass the Dream Act. I want equal pay for equal work, and I want women (not Todd Akin) to make their own healthcare choices. In the long run, demographics will doom the Republican Party. But as John Maynard Keynes said:
The long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead.
Despite Republican obstructionism, President Obama and his team have made great progress toward universal healthcare and toward repairing the economy that was brought to the brink of collapse by George W. Bush and his policies. The Iraq War has ended, and we will be getting out of Afghanistan. We must do everything in our power to give President Obama another four years. Volunteer, donate, and vote!
Postscript:
Our power was restored at 5:15 this morning. After almost two days of suburban camping, I was delighted to return to the 21st century from the 19th. Call me soft, but I like electric lights, flush toilets, hot showers, refrigerators, and phone service--not to mention the intertoobz. I am proud of all levels of government, from our local township committee to our governor (not usually my favorite person, but he has done a good job on Sandy) to President Obama and his team. Taxes are the price we pay for civilization. I will happily pay my property taxes tomorrow. Imagine what would have happened if FEMA has been privatized. If you support a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, get out and vote for Obama/Biden and the down-ballot Dems. Our future and the future of our kids are far too important to us to allow Romney to win.
Link to Transcripts and Documents.