Subtitled: Or why I am defecting from my party.
In 1991 I attended a Clinton rally in Eugene, Oregon. Still too young to vote, I nonetheless felt part of the electoral process, energized by Clinton's thrilling locution skills. In 1995 I was mere months away from being able to vote but again found Clinton's stance on many issues to be most aligned with my own. Most concerned with a woman's right to choose and civil liberties, Clinton and the Democratic party were the de facto choice for me when juxtaposed with the Republican party. Yet even at this point, and although I didn't fully understand why, I began to realize that even the Democratic party failed to truly represent me. As my education in politics continued, I discovered that both major parties fell way short in terms of representing people like me, people like my neighbors, and the people that make up the majority of the citizenry of the United States. They fail to adequately represent the interests of the people because they are too busy making deals with lobbyists, political action committees, and shareholders. And all too often, they themselves are major shareholders in companies for which beneficial policies increase their personal wealth. (Cheney and Haliburton; Gore and Occidental Petroleum to name two of the better known connections.) I searched for a political party that would better represent me and the values and ideals that I was developing.
In time for the 2000 elections, I had discovered Ralph Nader. A lawyer and politician for decades, Nader appealed to me at a fundamental level. Here was a candidate talking about issues that the others did not even mention. In Nader I found a candidate that was unafraid to take on big business, question the status quo, and demand systemic changes in our government. In the four years between elections I worked with my local Green Party chapter on an occasional basis. By the 2004 elections I rededicated myself to wholeheartedly working for change and became one of the predominant local campaigners for the Nader/Kucera presidential ticket. It seemed ironic to me that the most vociferous opposition we faced was from Democrats. Arguing that the 2004 election was too important to muddy with a third party candidate, Democrats were relentless in their assault on Nader and on those of us campaigning. But I refused to accept less than the best as the recipient of my vote. Unfortunately, John Kerry was not the best. Al Gore, before him, was not the best. I refused to accept that I had to vote for the lesser of two evils. I refused to believe that a vote for a third party candidate was a wasted vote. I believed, and still do believe, that the current two-party dominated electoral system is a sham that cheats us out better debates and candidates. And even though we, as a nation, have now endured the results of 8 years of a Bush/Cheney White House, I still believe no person should ever cast a vote for anyone they feel is not the best candidate....by whatever standards you choose to judge them by. We are the United States of America. We should not settle for anything less than the best.
And so that is why, today, I am personally endorsing Barack Obama for president. In Barack Obama I see a man poised to bring back the greatness that I know this country deserves. I see a man dedicated to the fundamental principles upon which this country was founded. I see a man unafraid to take on the status quo, to challenge big business and champion the working class. I see a man who represents the promise that this country has made to its citizenry and to the world, and a man that will work to fulfill that promise. Here is a candidate that refuses to accept lobbyist and PAC money. When he became the Democratic Party's candidate, he made them change their donation rules so that the DNC similarly cannot accept lobbyist or PAC money. Here is a man who is beholden to no one and thusly can work for the best interests of everyone. Here is a man who understands Hubert Humphrey's admonition that a nation will be judged by how well it cares for those in the dawn of life (children), the twilight of life (elderly), and the shadows of life (sick, needy, and handicapped). Here is a man who can renew the spirit of America and energize her people. I could go on and on....instead I'll encourage all to visit barackobama.com and go to the Issues tab and then click on Blueprint for Change - a document that details his policy choices and, more importantly, how he intends to make those choices happen and his record on similar issues.
Now, let's open up those debates to third party candidates!!
In 1991 I attended a Clinton rally in Eugene, Oregon. Still too young to vote, I nonetheless felt part of the electoral process, energized by Clinton's thrilling locution skills. In 1995 I was mere months away from being able to vote but again found Clinton's stance on many issues to be most aligned with my own. Most concerned with a woman's right to choose and civil liberties, Clinton and the Democratic party were the de facto choice for me when juxtaposed with the Republican party. Yet even at this point, and although I didn't fully understand why, I began to realize that even the Democratic party failed to truly represent me. As my education in politics continued, I discovered that both major parties fell way short in terms of representing people like me, people like my neighbors, and the people that make up the majority of the citizenry of the United States. They fail to adequately represent the interests of the people because they are too busy making deals with lobbyists, political action committees, and shareholders. And all too often, they themselves are major shareholders in companies for which beneficial policies increase their personal wealth. (Cheney and Haliburton; Gore and Occidental Petroleum to name two of the better known connections.) I searched for a political party that would better represent me and the values and ideals that I was developing.
In time for the 2000 elections, I had discovered Ralph Nader. A lawyer and politician for decades, Nader appealed to me at a fundamental level. Here was a candidate talking about issues that the others did not even mention. In Nader I found a candidate that was unafraid to take on big business, question the status quo, and demand systemic changes in our government. In the four years between elections I worked with my local Green Party chapter on an occasional basis. By the 2004 elections I rededicated myself to wholeheartedly working for change and became one of the predominant local campaigners for the Nader/Kucera presidential ticket. It seemed ironic to me that the most vociferous opposition we faced was from Democrats. Arguing that the 2004 election was too important to muddy with a third party candidate, Democrats were relentless in their assault on Nader and on those of us campaigning. But I refused to accept less than the best as the recipient of my vote. Unfortunately, John Kerry was not the best. Al Gore, before him, was not the best. I refused to accept that I had to vote for the lesser of two evils. I refused to believe that a vote for a third party candidate was a wasted vote. I believed, and still do believe, that the current two-party dominated electoral system is a sham that cheats us out better debates and candidates. And even though we, as a nation, have now endured the results of 8 years of a Bush/Cheney White House, I still believe no person should ever cast a vote for anyone they feel is not the best candidate....by whatever standards you choose to judge them by. We are the United States of America. We should not settle for anything less than the best.
And so that is why, today, I am personally endorsing Barack Obama for president. In Barack Obama I see a man poised to bring back the greatness that I know this country deserves. I see a man dedicated to the fundamental principles upon which this country was founded. I see a man unafraid to take on the status quo, to challenge big business and champion the working class. I see a man who represents the promise that this country has made to its citizenry and to the world, and a man that will work to fulfill that promise. Here is a candidate that refuses to accept lobbyist and PAC money. When he became the Democratic Party's candidate, he made them change their donation rules so that the DNC similarly cannot accept lobbyist or PAC money. Here is a man who is beholden to no one and thusly can work for the best interests of everyone. Here is a man who understands Hubert Humphrey's admonition that a nation will be judged by how well it cares for those in the dawn of life (children), the twilight of life (elderly), and the shadows of life (sick, needy, and handicapped). Here is a man who can renew the spirit of America and energize her people. I could go on and on....instead I'll encourage all to visit barackobama.com and go to the Issues tab and then click on Blueprint for Change - a document that details his policy choices and, more importantly, how he intends to make those choices happen and his record on similar issues.
Now, let's open up those debates to third party candidates!!
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