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my endorsement
Nov. 5th, 2012 01:17 pmI haven't made a lot of political posts this season; I spent most of the '00s doing that on LJ and it was frustrating and nonproductive. But I do want to take a moment and tell you who I'm voting for and why. I'm voting for Barack Obama for President of the United States. In 2008 I thought he was the right man for the job, and subsequent events have proven my judgment correct. He's accomplished a lot in the face of terrible economic struggles, tumultuous world events, and a bare-facedly obstructive party across the aisle. As President, Obama passed Health Care Reform which has already proven itself to be of benefit to millions of Americans. His American Recovery & Reinvestment Act brought our economy back from the brink of disaster. He tightened regulation on the banks and institutions behind the Great Recession with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. He ended the war in Iraq. He ordered the Special Forces raid that killed Osama Bin Laden. He repealed "DADT", joined America with the coalition that removed Gaddafi from power, reversed Bush-era torture policies and Bush-era restrictions on stem cell research, streamlined student loan policies, increased support for veterans, passed credit card reforms, and the list goes on.
His opponent stands in stark contrast. Before the election cycle we didn't really know Mitt Romney. Now we do. Turns out he’s an entitled son of privilege, a predatory financier profiting from the misery of others, a hypocritical political animal glad-handing his way from one position to its opposite with amazing speed. His policy advisors are Bush-era fools, his VP choice is an empty suit of right wing talking points, and his ideas for America are mere sound bites without thought or substance. His campaign has been built around deliberately vague plans, and when Romney talks in specifics, he lies- demonstrable, easily debunked lies, demonstrating amazing contempt for the citizens he supposedly wants to lead.
In terms of reproductive rights the Romney campaign and the Republican Party in general have been working very hard to reverse decades of progress. The difference between the candidates and parties is very clear on this issue - the Romney/Ryan team has spoken out again and again against the rights of women to control their own health care. In 2012 this isn’t just reactionary; it is atavistic, full-reverse thinking that rejects a century of struggle and the wishes of the American public.
The nature of this election has brought out the ugly side of America: casual racism, misogyny, paranoia, and hate, spread by people who profit from fear and confusion. It is, however, easier than ever to spot the liars and the haters, because the predictions they made in 2008 have all failed to pass. Obama has shown can take the heat. He has spent the past four years as the target for the ugliest rhetoric seen in the American political process in our lifetimes, and he has not only survived, he has thrived.
Do I agree with all of Obama's decisions? Nope. Do I think he's made mistakes? Sure I do. Are there issues he's sorely neglected or completely failed to take action on? Yes indeed. However, I believe he's done a better job than McCain could have and I believe he'll do a better job than Romney could ever do.
You know me, I'm an honest guy. I may be a sarcastic SOB on occasion, but in the years I've spent working with people in the nerd and real worlds, I'd like to think people know I try to be a straight shooter. I base my observations on facts and I say what I mean and I mean what I say. And right now the man who should be President is not the man who said "let Detroit go bankrupt", not the man endorsed by haters, thugs, and perennial embarrassments, not the man who is on the wrong side of nearly every issue that Americans face. Instead, we need the intelligence, the skill, and the character of the man who’s proven his worth in the struggle of the past four years. The President America needs is Barack Obama.
His opponent stands in stark contrast. Before the election cycle we didn't really know Mitt Romney. Now we do. Turns out he’s an entitled son of privilege, a predatory financier profiting from the misery of others, a hypocritical political animal glad-handing his way from one position to its opposite with amazing speed. His policy advisors are Bush-era fools, his VP choice is an empty suit of right wing talking points, and his ideas for America are mere sound bites without thought or substance. His campaign has been built around deliberately vague plans, and when Romney talks in specifics, he lies- demonstrable, easily debunked lies, demonstrating amazing contempt for the citizens he supposedly wants to lead.
In terms of reproductive rights the Romney campaign and the Republican Party in general have been working very hard to reverse decades of progress. The difference between the candidates and parties is very clear on this issue - the Romney/Ryan team has spoken out again and again against the rights of women to control their own health care. In 2012 this isn’t just reactionary; it is atavistic, full-reverse thinking that rejects a century of struggle and the wishes of the American public.
The nature of this election has brought out the ugly side of America: casual racism, misogyny, paranoia, and hate, spread by people who profit from fear and confusion. It is, however, easier than ever to spot the liars and the haters, because the predictions they made in 2008 have all failed to pass. Obama has shown can take the heat. He has spent the past four years as the target for the ugliest rhetoric seen in the American political process in our lifetimes, and he has not only survived, he has thrived.
Do I agree with all of Obama's decisions? Nope. Do I think he's made mistakes? Sure I do. Are there issues he's sorely neglected or completely failed to take action on? Yes indeed. However, I believe he's done a better job than McCain could have and I believe he'll do a better job than Romney could ever do.
You know me, I'm an honest guy. I may be a sarcastic SOB on occasion, but in the years I've spent working with people in the nerd and real worlds, I'd like to think people know I try to be a straight shooter. I base my observations on facts and I say what I mean and I mean what I say. And right now the man who should be President is not the man who said "let Detroit go bankrupt", not the man endorsed by haters, thugs, and perennial embarrassments, not the man who is on the wrong side of nearly every issue that Americans face. Instead, we need the intelligence, the skill, and the character of the man who’s proven his worth in the struggle of the past four years. The President America needs is Barack Obama.
