I am a member of the “Brain Gang” – an online “discussion group” that addresses many of the same 
issues we deal with on this blog.
Marc, the host of the group, shared a question this morning that I’d like to pass on to you: What will you do come Wednesday morning if your candidate for President doesn’t win Tuesday’s election?
I’m curious to hear your answers.
I’ve been watching the Presidential debates, as well as some of the polls and the commentary from the media. I’ve even been reading the comments on this blog (which have been quite interesting). And I continue to be amazed at how polarizing elections tend to be.
Once we’ve identified a candidate that we plan to support, he becomes “our guy”, and the opposing candidate becomes the enemy. In fact, we may even assign a “divine anointing” or “antichrist-ness” to our respective candidates.
From my perspective, this is not only dangerous – but also silly. There is no 1candidate on the planet that I will agree with 100%. (Most married couples can’t even agree on 50% of the issues in their relationship!) It is just impossible.
So, with my vote, I am not saying that I agree with all of your past policies and future proposals. I am not saying that you are perfect and will be the greatest leader of all time. Rather, I am saying that I believe that you are the best overall candidate (of those we have to choose from) for this day and time.
I reserve the right to disagree with you. I reserve the right to challenge you. And believe it or not, I reserve the right to think that your opponent may actually be right on some of the issues!
My vote simply means that I think you are the best of my current options.
Yesterday, former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, endorsed Democratic candidate Barack Obama for President. He said Obama a “tranformational figure”, and said that he will be voting for Barack. So, what’s the big deal?
In case you forgot…Colin Powell is a Republican! (see CNN article)
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist nor a political expert to understand the backlash that Mr. Powell’s decision has generated. But just like everything else, the issue that keeps coming is RACE.
Haven’t you heard it…The only reason that Colin Powell is voting for, and endorsing, Barack Obama is because they are both Black?
Personally, I don’t think Colin Powell is that shallow and superficial. A person with that kind of “inside track” understands what type of skills are necessary to success as the President. So, I don’t think Colin Powell’s primary criteria was the candidate’s ethnicity.
But let me ask you something, how different is that from women voting for, and endorsing, female candidates? Would that be any different than McCain selecting Palin as his running mate in order to attract the female vote!
Let me ask you a question…Why are you voting for the you candidate you plan to vote for?
I watched last night’s debate between presidential candidates, Senators Obama and McCain. And to be totally honest with you, it was very frustrating.
Most of the evening, the candidates used precious time to discredit their opponent and/or defend themselves. I don’t need to know about their charisma (or lack thereof), their oratorical skills, nor their ad campaigns.
I need to know two things: are your plans fair and sensible? (because policies shouldn’t just benefit me) and do you have a track record of consistently getting things done?
And I really don’t think that either campaign has done a thorough job of answering both of those questions.
Does anyone feel the same way?
Sen. Obama
This is an historical election year. We will either have a Black President or a female Vice President.
Gov. Palin
If you asked me 3 years ago if America was ready for either of those scenarios, I would have confidently said no.
With America’s frustration with the current administration (even McCain’s campaign is distancing themselves from George Bush and the ‘traditional Republican’ regime), it is very possible that America’s next President is a Black man.
Exciting, right? Well, not for everybody!
There are a number of individuals and groups that are afraid for Obama’s life and safety as a result of this possibility. They are afraid that not everybody is ready for America to have a Black President, and that if he won, his life would be in danger.
In fact, I’ve heard people say that they may not vote for Obama for fear that he does win, and later gets assassinated. They feel that they will then be a contributor to his demise. (Interestingly enough, I haven’t heard the same concerns for Sarah Palin.)
Do you share the same concerns?
lrubin39
hpettiford
