Election Day ’08

Let me get this right out there: today I am voting for Barack Obama. I hope that you won’t stop reading if you’re a McCain supporter because I am not about to try and influence your vote. Nor I am about to defend my vote. I only ask that you will respect my decision. Because lately I’m feeling downright disrespected.

I don’t talk about it much on the blog but I am a political junkie. I listen to talk radio, I read political blogs, I talk about politics with my family and friends a lot. I make my decisions based on issues that matter to me and on values that I support. I do my research and I pick my sides. And I get mad and passionate and fierce when I have to defend my beliefs.

In the last few weeks I have been called anti-American. I have been called an over-educated liberal from New England. I have been called stupid and I have been accused of drinking the Kool Aid. The other day someone actually said to me, “Go on ahead and vote for the black guy just so you can feel good about yourself. But if you have a mortgage and bills to pay then you’re going to vote for John McCain.” I was pretty furious and I lashed out. I said that of course I have a mortgage and bills to pay. And I said my vote for Obama has nothing to do with having a mortgage. My vote for Obama has to do with the issues I deem important. Because the things that matter to me most – a strong economy, paying fair taxes, universal health care, a woman’s right to choose – most closely match with Obama’s views.

My choice has absolutely nothing to do with the color of Obama’s skin – I’d vote for him if he was purple. My choice isn’t because I distrust John McCain or feel Sarah Palin is unqualified. It isn’t because of 8 years of George Bush or Dick Cheney or Karl Rove. It’s not about the war in Iraq or the No Banker Left Behind Act. Do those things factor into my decision? To quote Sarah Palin, “you betcha!” But are they the overriding factors? Absolutely not.

And here’s the bottom line: my choice is my choice. Just as your choice is your choice. And I will defend your choice just as fiercely as I defend my own. All I ask is that we discuss things with mutual respect and understanding. I have several close friends who are voting for McCain and we have had many conversations about this election. We don’t agree but we listen to each other. And then we let it go. And we talk about knitting or restaurants or television shows. We talk about our kids and our home improvement projects and our mutual friends. We all have much more we agree about than we disagree about.

Other than the obvious – a clear and decisive victory for Obama – I have one other thing I’d like to see happen when this election is over. I’d like to see us all move forward and let go of the anger. No more name calling, no more finger pointing, no more hatred. Even if we don’t all agree on how to get there we all want what’s best for America. Right?

So go out there and vote. Watch the returns. Root for your candidate. Celebrate if he wins. Cry if he loses. And then move on. Tomorrow morning we’ll still all be Americans. And this will go back to being a knitting blog.

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This Post Has 101 Comments

  4. You said it, I said it last night too! I’ve always admired how intelligently you speak for your beliefs, and I’m proud that you are voting on your values and the available facts, not fear. To me, anyone who votes that way, regardless of whom they vote for, is voting in the true spirit of what it means to be an American.

  6. I was going to type “Well said!” but everyone else who commented already said that. I, too, am voting for Sen. Obama and have sat and listened to some of my friends whom I consider smart, highly educated and up on current events talk such garbage about a very patriotic person who seems to only want to do right by his family and his country. It has been an herculean effort to keep my mouth shut when I hear their fear talking because America has a candidate who looks different from them and has a “funny sounding” name. I have made it clear to them that, in my opinion, the last 8 years hasn’t worked for America and I am very willing to give the “new guy” a chance to fix it and make it better. This doesn’t make me a supporter of a “terrorist” or a “socialist”, it makes me a very proud and hopeful American!

  7. Thanks for this post, Carole! This is one of the hardest elections for me to vote in…thing is I have always voted Republican and for the first time someone has turned my head, made me think, made me question and given me hope. Today I will be voting for Obama and I too hope everyone can move past all the pettyness.

  8. Respect for others seems to fall by the wayside during political discussions. Sad. I will be happy to see dawn tomorrow.

  9. Well said Carole. I went bright and early this morning and cast my vote. The lines were long already but moved pretty fast. What an exciting day!

  10. Today, alot of republicians will be voting for Obama. My hubby, a staunch repub, pleasantly surprised me last week, and told me he was voting for Obama. We even went down and voted early. Something is in the air. Can you feel it?

  11. You snotty woman’s college girl 🙂

    What are you thinking on Question 3 — thought I’d ask you since it does really affect the economy closer to you.

    You know I was a Hill girl, but I’m impressed with Obama, or as my little one calls him, Obock Obama. He’s won me over with him calmness, thoughfulness and hopefulness. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that today marks the dawn of something new (oy, I
    think that’s a lyric from High School Musical.)

  12. The fear mongering has upset me the most in this campaign. I am disappointed more than anything that being called educated is an insult. That ‘socialism’ is somehow a bad word (Heck I’d love to retire to Sweden or Norway). I hadn’t dared believe we had given up on ourselves as a nation but all these things seem to point that way. Is it the result of the past 8 years? If so, I hope we can all move on.

  13. Great post, Carole. I’ve been baffled by the fact that us vs. them campaigning appeals to some people. And don’t even get me started on the anti-intellectualism. Have a great election day!

  14. Great post. Well thought out, so I can understand how your vote is, also.

    I was/am a Hillary supporter and when she was knocked out of the race I really had to but long thought into how I would vote. It wasn’t an easy and clear decision like past years.

    I am in India right now for work and the election is the first question that I am asked about and politics are a normal course of conversation here. It is more of a spirited debate than what I have experienced at home in Texas. There, you are either right or wrong in the choice being made. And are discounted if an opposing view is expressed.

    I usually do not share my vote. It is my business, I don’t even tell my husband (he can usually figure it out) but this year, I put a bumper sticker on my car. It was with trepidation and a bit of concern, though. Either candidate was bringing so much anger from people.

    What I found was many, many people coming up to me in parking lots sharing with me that they too are supporting my candidate. It has been like a secret that only a unknown talkative person next you on a long airplane ride will share. They figure they will never see you again, so why not tell the inner most fear with a stranger.

    I voted early, before flying to New Delhi. And, I just wonder if with all those parking lot secrets shared if Texas just might be a little less red and a little more blue.

    Go Obama. I want the world to respect us/US again.

  16. Me too, we too. But if the Republicans win again this time, we’re joining a movement to get the coalition of Blue States to secede from the Union. 🙁

  17. I’ll be headed out to vote in a while and I’m taking my 5 year old with me so he can see how important it is to vote. My daughter cast her ballot a couple of weeks ago and my husband will vote after work. I’d love it if we could have a 100% turn out.

  18. I vote Libertarian. You vote Democrat. That’s what great about this country. I am for the government staying out of my house, my purse and my body. 😉

    Work is heating up with political debates and yesterday, I had to very professionally tell my boss that I would not be sharing my vote with her b/c I was afraid of repurcussions. Imagine, feeling that your job is threatened b/c you vote differently.

  20. I couldn’t agree more. I’m tired of the hate and I’m tired of the negativity. I too have made what I feel is an educated decision to vote for the candidate that supports the issues I believe in and I will go cast my vote for Obama tonight and (hopefully) have plenty to celebrate. Then I will get up and go to work tomorrow just like any other day.

  21. What I want to ask McCain/Palin is how is it that apparently I am not a “real” American and yet I still have to pay real taxes?

  23. Well said Carole!

    I’ve just returned from the polls, and will proudly wear my “I Voted” sticker all day. I live in a town where I hold my political views very close to my chest since I differ with most here. I have been encouraged in this election to see so many signs supporting my candidate. Perhaps this election will show that divisiveness is not a way to victory.

    I agree with the other commenters who are horrified at the trend toward anti-intellectualism. Isn’t intellectual, creative and innovative thought something to be esteemed?

  24. Well said, Carole!
    My vote (and Bobby’s) will be for Sen. Obama.
    Living in a Really Red state is rough, lots of folks ‘scared’ and resorting to ‘bluster’… hmmmm, sounds familiar…. I believe it’s well past the time for our country to grow up, mature, leave the petulant juvenile behavior behind.

  25. Like the others before me – well said!! I tend to keep my views close to me mainly because I’m not very good at verbally expressing my thoughts. I am excited about voting for Obama today and hope that tomorrow we will all be able to put our differences aside no matter what happens and move on.

  26. Amen sister. My vote is going for McCain and folks have made the inuendo that I a religious fanatic or racist! What!?! McCain represents more closely my views( not perfectly, there never will be a perfect candidate) just like Mr Obama represents yours. I have harped over and over to my kids and anyone who will listen that what we are seeing from both sides is a lack of respect. Respect means you give the other side time to talk, you’re not rude, and you don’t make fun of their opinion. I long for the day when the media stops covering politics. I know that sounds crazy but once you’ve heard their platforms what more do you need? I respect your vote, your views and I hope that you don’t have to stand in long lines. But if you do I know you’ll be prepared with a sock!

  31. Beautifully stated. And I’m so with you. Sick and tired of hearing the slurs; do not, never have, understood them. I vote issues (which surprises those who *think* I vote gender) and consider them carefully. I’m amazed at the insensitivity of this particular election, the nastiness of the campaign (it just gets worse every year).
    (and I’m a political junkie, too)
    (I knit in line with my sock this morning…a 50 minute wait)
    (((hugs)))

  32. Very well said, Carole. To paraphrase (I’ve forgotten who…) – I may not agree with what you say/believe, but I’ll defend your right to do so… and I damn well hope you do the same for me. I don’t think most people have any clue how to respectfully disagree with each other anymore. They feel threatened by difference (race, ethnicity, belief, etc) and lash out instead of trying to understand. Being reactionary, fear mongering, attacking people who disagree… if those are signs of our times, we’re in very sad times indeed. I’m voting for hope today, not fear.

  33. Carole, very well put. This is why I am not a political junkie. I can not allow both sides (note I said both sides since I tend to agree with only half of each one) to tell me I am ignorant/stupid blah blah blah blah blah. Thankfully there are junkies like you, but I will stick to my opinions and avoid the hate that I feel from both political parties 🙂

  34. Thank you! Very well put – I hate the nastiness on both sides, and hope the country as a whole can move past it once the election is over.

  35. Well written!

    I’m with Laurie, I rarely talk politics as I hate that it seems to bring out the worst in people.

    I’m off to vote 🙂

  37. Thank you for your clear, concise expression of your views. The media could learn something. I took my kids to local campaign HQ’s for each party last night in the hopes of meeting some local candidates and getting info on ballot issues. Everyone was so focused on presidential nominees in both HQ’s that there was very little info on the local candidates and only ONE sheet that covered all (6) the ballot issues and they didn’t have copies that I could take with me so we stood there and read it in the HQ! I was really disappointed in BOTH parties. I really want to teach my children to vote the issues and not just be swayed by the “ads” so it was disappointing at best., We did have some great discussion though about stereotypes – gender and race and how different people were affected by and responded to stereotypes. I try to allow my kids to have their own opinions and respect that they do. I enjoy hearing their opinions and the rationale for such. We really had extensive discussions about what you just opined – the need to respect differences in not only opinion but other differences including gender, religion and skin color. So, although I HATE the ugliness that I have seen in this election season, I feel responsible to express my dislike for it and hopefully, by doing so, will raise tolerant, respectful citizens for future elections. I really believe that the hate-mongering makes both candidates and us as citizens all the losers in a process that very well could be a win-win situation. We as a society lose when we choose to hurl invectives rather than reach out with curiosity and tolerance. My prayer is that regardless of “winner” that Wednesday we all wake up with a greater sense of understanding and a unified desire for a better country. BTW – I was #56 @ my polling place and I live in OH!! T

  38. Well said! And it is so heartening to know that there are people, somewhere, that can talk reasonably on both sides of this issue and still be respectful, remain friends. It is a sad state of affairs in this Country – for all of our freedoms it is as though we aren’t allowed freedom of choice, not without risk of recrimination. I am all for Barack too, and also both because I am for his policies personally and petrified at what the current GOP establishment has accomplished in the last 8 years.

  40. I have to be civil – my dad and my DH are on “the other side”. I always wonder what that sort of snotty comment (drink the koolaid, voting for the black dude, whatever) is supposed to do. Does the speaker think it’s going to open a discussion? Does the speaker think I’ll change my vote because I’ve been belittled? Or is it just intended to be hurtful? Cuz if it’s the first two, they’re going about it in the wrong way, and if it’s the last, I’m not aligning myself with someone like that.

  41. amen. a very eloquent and moving blog post right there. i voted this morning and could not be more excited about it. here’s to VA going blue.

  42. “I’d vote for him if he was purple”..of course, if he was purple, he’d likely not be breathing…LOL (And then I got to thinking about other colors, like orange, but then that might mean a liver problem, or green, but….oh, anyway,…lol)

    As always, your eloquence is greatly admired. My kids and I have been talking a lot about this election, and I was reminded that no matter who wins, we will have a “first time” situation, and my boys are excited to be witnessing this history.

  43. GREAT BLOG CAROLE, YOU AND I HAVE HAD MANY A SPIRITED DISCUSSION. IM FOR MCCAIN BUT NO MATTER THE OUTCOME TOMORROW YOU AND I WILL BE HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE AND ROOTING THAT OUR NEW PRESIDENT LEAD US IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

  44. My mother accused me the other day of “drinking the California Kool-Aid” That’s my kind of beverage, thanks! And to think, those at the Economist and Colin Powell are all drinking the same cocktail. Good for us!

  45. “I’d like to see us all move forward and let go of the anger. No more name calling, no more finger pointing, no more hatred. Even if we don’t all agree on how to get there we all want what’s best for America. Right?”

    I hope this happens as well.

    Thank you for this excellent post.

  47. I’m wearing my “I voted” sticker and I’m hoping that Obama wins. I do hope that whatever the outcome is, we can all come together and stop the name calling and ugliness. I’m hoping that once this election is behind us the country can move forward in a positive manner.

  48. Hugs. It gets rather cutthroat doesn’t it? I wonder when the idea of political discourse left our country leaving behind the muck raking. Here’s to a better tomorrow, when perhaps we can finally return to some civility.

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