Why I Voted for Obama

It's no secret that I was a Hillary Clinton supporter.  As a woman, I was thrilled to finally be able to vote for a qualified person that shares my gender.  As a feminist, I was hopeful that we would finally break through the glass ceiling that has oppressed women since the founding of this great country.  So needless to say, I was disappointed when Hillary called it quits and asked her supporters to join the ranks of the Obama camp. 

I know that many people assume I am a Democrat.  In fact, I am not.  I am an independent.  I do not believe in "big government."  I am fiscally conservative.  I don't want my taxes raised. While I believe in many of the federal social programs and those offered in California, I also believe that major finance reform is necessary in this country. 

I also believe in reproductive freedom, gay marriage, and the death penalty.  I think Affirmative Action should still be in place in California.  I think we need to tighten immigration in this country and properly deal with the tremendous amount of illegals (and not by granting them amnesty).  I believe that education funding should never be allowed to be cut or reduced.  And I think private-school vouchers are a stupid way of dealing with an education problem.

In other words, I don't fall neatly into either the Republican or the Democrat camp.  I'm in that independent category that all Presidential candidates are supposed to be woo-ing over to their side.

When Hillary said to support Obama, I didn't just blindly say "Okay, whatever you say!"  I looked at both sides - McCain and Obama.  Until McCain literally slapped every woman in the face by announcing Sarah Palin as his running-mate.

Did McCain think that women are really that stupid?  Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton.  Palin has little experience, no foreign relations, and stands up for many hard-core conservative issues.  Sure, she was a woman and a working mother.  But it takes more than uterus to get my vote.  I could see that this was a desperate attempt by McCain to get both female voters and the conservative-Right voters that he has alienated year after year.

Still not entirely enamored with Obama, I watched all of the debates.  I watched as McCain acted like a grumpy old man when Obama spoke of McCain's alignment with the Bush Administration.  I watched as Sarah Palin arrogantly refused to answer the moderator's questions and push her own agenda.  I watched Obama speak about a real attempt at a healthcare plan for the uninsured.  I listened to Obama's tax plan.  I listened to McCain who kept trying to dodge that it would be "more of the same" without actually talking about how he would truly fix the economy or get us out of Iraq. 

I also know that both of these candidates already may not be able to live up to their campaign promises due to the credit crisis in this country.  The first year of this new Presidency will be consumed with avoiding a major recession or, worse, a depression. 

And so, I decided that I don't want a President who's weakness is economic policy.  I don't want a President that thinks "staying the course" in Iraq is acceptable.  I don't want a President who is going to tax my employer-provided healthcare benefits. 

My vote goes to Obama.  This country needs a change.  Big Time. When I casted my vote there was a part of me that wished I was selecting my preferred candidate, Hillary Clinton. But Obama will do.  Yes, we can change.  Yes, we can recover from these hard times.  Yes, we can send our troops home. 

Yes We Can.

Comments

[maya]

I loved this post, but alas, I wish I would feel confident voting for Obama. A part of me just does not trust him. I wrote a post similar to this- wishing Clinton was still in the running. Sigh.

[Jackie]

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