I am having a dilemma. Jon's uncle, a staunch Democrat, gave us an Obama sign to put up in our front yard. Jon wants to put it up, but I don't know how I feel about it. After watching the debates I am leaning A LOT more towards the Democrats than the Republican on issues like the Iraq war, the economy, the environment, and health care. I think I could almost put up the sign, except that I don't agree with the Democrat's attitude towards abortion and gay marriage. These are BIG hang ups for me. I don't identify strongly with either party, but the problem I am having with the Republicans is that while they say they have different stances on abortion and gay marriage, they did nothing about changing them when they had control of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial (the majority of Supreme Court Justices are conservative) branches!
I feel kind of trapped. It is like I have a great big yummy sugar cookie (my vote) to give away, but my only choices are two VERY naughty and lying boys. Frustrating.
While what you say may or may not change my opinions, or convince me to put up the sign. I am VERY interested in what other people are thinking about this election. So, if you are a strongly for McCain, I'd LOVE to hear why, and if you are strongly for Obama I'd LOVE to hear why. If you aren't strong either way, I'd LOVE to hear why. OR if you just don't know and have given up all hope-- I'll agree with you and we can move to Canada together:)
Side note: Oh, and if you want to see how some people are making their decision about which boy to vote for, google Obama (no apostrophe) and then click on images and see the first picture that comes up-- PLEEESE, GIVE ME A BREAK!
6 years ago
13 comments:
I have a friend who's decided to not vote based on the abortion/gay marriage stance. Her reasoning is this: at the last Presidential election she voted for Bush because of those issues, he stayed president, and nothing has changed in either of those realms. She's decided that she's going to change her reasons for voting now since those issues don't really get addressed by the president.
I'm still up in the air, but I think she's got a good point...
One thing you need to remember, To be honest Presidents don't just change the law. They present what their choice would be to congress, and Congress makes the final choice. So Bush could have very well been for no gay marriage and no abortion, and presented it that way and fought for it, and Congress said NO. And I am not for abortion at all, but the thing is we are in a free country. People have the agency to make their choices. And honestly, I feel that if they were to make it illegal for abortions to be done, well the sad thing is, they would still be done. Only they would be done out in the streets with improper tools that are probably not clean and by people who really don’t know what they are doing. So my personal feeling is, if I can’t take away the right for people to make such a horrid choice as to have an abortion, would I rather that be done out in alleys in the street or would I rather it be done in a hospital.
And as for the gay marriage, This is why California needs to VOTE and Fight and VOTE YES on Prop 8, so same sex marriage will not be able to be performed in California. 21 or so states already have as part of their state constitution that marriage between a man and a woman is the only type of marriage. And So Far, only Massachusetts and California are the ONLY states that perform gay marriage. However California was upset by this ruling and we are voting for it THIS NOVEMBER.
If we don’t vote at all how can we complain? If you did not TRY to get your opinion heard how does that person have any right to complain how things are or will be? Since they did nothing to attempt to have it how they feel it should be done or the lesser of two evils?
Anyway, now that that is out.
*prepare your self I am about to be very bold on this statement* I think not to vote at all is discriminating to those people who died to give us the agency to vote. Especially women not voting. When Women fought for the rights to vote they were beaten, mistreated, tortured to stand up for their rights.
As hard as it is to vote on an election like this, I feel it is very important to still find out as much as you can and still put in your vote.
I am shooting for McCain mainly because he is the lesser of the two evils.
Obama has been caught to many times in his lies. Same with Biden.
And Palin was a good choice for McCain, because she is strong in everything he isn't. Such as family. And Yes she has lived her career in politics, but her husband has been home with the children. Those children have had a parent with them at all times. Exactly what people like Dr. Laura and phill speak about. There needs to be a parent at home. If for some reason the mother can't do it. Then The Father needs to. Otherwise Dr. Laura would be a hypocrite since she is in fact out working.
True Palin is not perfect but who in this world is? and given our choices, I would rather have the man who has fought for our country and the woman who is fighting for family values. I would rather have someone who will not allow socialism in our country. Socialism is so close to communism. Taking away agency. I have had ancestors fight and die for this county and the freedoms it has. I NEVER want that taken away. I pride the fact that America has one of the better health care providers in the world. Why would I want that to change to a level that is not as good? Why would I want Taxes to increase? It is bad enough how they are now, without them increasing.
I also don’t believe that people who have worked hard for their income should be punished and people who do not work as hard should get things for free. I also feel that people should earn the right to become American citizens and should not be handed everything to them on a silver platter. If I have to save and pay for my children’s college education why should illegal immigrants get college education for free?
Anyway I apologize for being so bold. Politics are a very sensitive matter to be discussed.
Hope you have a wonderful day :)
Sorry for the long comment, but you asked us why :)
my husband and i really liked obama for a while, but when i watched both obama and mccain at their respective national conventions i made my choice to back mccain. first of all, though obama seems like a very personable person, i do not agree with what he represents. mccain on the other hand, who i really don't like, represents what i beleive in more. also, i do feel that he has the expereince needed to deal with the war in iraq and on terror in general. obama didn't even serve in the military, right? also, i did like that he chose sarah palin, she seem to be, like the prior comment, everything mccain is not. they will be able to work well together. i can't believe obama picked biden for his running mate. somehow those two don't go together. but what confirmed my decision again tonight, is watching on cnn obama's history with ayers, a former domestic terrorist. and the fact that obama used to deny any connection between the two and then finally just down played the real connection.
anyhoe, like the former commentor, i am voting for mccain because he is the lesser of two evils, but e also represents more of my believes and values than obama does.
oh, and i also agree, not to vote at all would be a slap in the face to all those who fought so hard to give us this right! have you ever watched iron jawed angels with hilary swank? i love that movie!!!
I'm a big Obama supporter. I believe he's been more honest with his intentions with the country then the McCain/Palin ticket has been. Although I don't think McCain would be a bad choice to lead our country if he kept all his promises, I feel very strongly against Palin. I think it was a bad choice on McCains part, because I really don't think she has it in her. She could be a Token VP fine, but if McCain was to pass on, I don't think she has what it would take to lead this country.
It doesn't hurt that I'm very far left on issues. I fully support Gay Marrige and agree with a woman's choice in abortion. I wouldn't want a woman to have an abortion if it was my child, it is her right to choose. I think Ashley makes a very good point that it would still happen even if it was made illegal. At least if it is legal, there is a safe enviroment for it.
I looked at the picture... funny. My husband and I are honestly scared spitless of Obama. He seems to want to turn us into Commi's and ressurect Hitler's Youth. He freaks me out and I think he is a cocky jerk. Sorry, you asked. I don't like Mccain either though. We are debating whether to vote for Mccain and whether to make a statement and vote for Ron Paul or none of the above to show the Republicans and Democrats that we don't like our options and would like better ones next time!
The abortion and gay marriage issues have consistently been relegated to state legislatures; despite the president's leanings on these issues, I'm pretty sure it will remain in fashion to defer to individual states on them. The immediate, pressing matters are the economy, Iraq and healthcare. These are things the president CAN and WILL address when he takes office. Therefore, I would encourage anyone to go with their gut on those.
I can understand endearing yourself to a candidate based on their views of the social issues like abortion and gay marriage. In fact, I have very strong feelings about those issues too [clearly opposite to yours, but I still love you. j/k ;) ].
I've been paying closer attention to this election than any other I've voted in in the past, and I feel very confident in Obama. He's run a cleaner campaign (not flawless -- I don't think it's in any politician's character to be 100% honest and noble) than McCain, and I think Sarah Palin as VP is disastrous. I'm a 3rd-wave feminist and I fully support her as a woman in a male-dominated field and as a working mother, but she was a FOOLISH pick and it makes me doubt John McCain's judgment. I'm a Kucinich kid, myself, so I'm afraid my bleeding-heart can't do you very much good at this point. but kudos to you for taking this seriously. :)
p.s. why do you spell Obama with an apostrophe? Did I miss the memo? :)
HA! You know that is really funny that I have been spelling it with an apostrophe! I guess it is the Scottish blood coming out in me! Thanks for pointing that out, I'll change it. HA HA HA-- that really is funny :)
I have yet to decide who I am voting for. I choose not to watch the debates because listening to them attack one another makes me truly dislike them both. I am choosing to take the advice of a good friend of mine. I intend to read their stance on every issue and decide based on who I have most opinions in common. I just would rather vote for someone based on the good things about them, instead on this person being "less bad" than the other.
okay, I meant Irish blood-- not Scottish! Gee, I'm having a rough day. I haven't been getting anything right!
I finally decided last night for whom I will vote in the upcoming election. Like you I have been frustrated, by both candidates. In fact for the last presidential election I ended up writing in someone else’s name.
Last night I decided to list the issues I’m most concerned about, and I ordered them.
I chose:
1- Abortion [I decided to rate this issue first after reading an article by Russell M. Nelson that said, “Together, these two wars(WWI & WWII) , covering portions of 14 years, cost the lives of at least 30 million soldiers worldwide. That figure does not include the millions of civilian casualties. These data, however, are dwarfed by the toll of another war that claims more casualties annually than did World War I and World War II combined. Worldwide reports indicate that more than 40 million abortions are performed per year.” Those numbers stunned me- that’s more than six and half times the number of Jews killed in the holocaust, and it is every single year!]
2- Assaults on the family - such as is going on with Prop 8 in California
3- Pornography
4- War
5- The environment and alternative energy
6- The economy
After looking at my list I thought about my top three concerns. I realized that the thousands of state and federal legislators, and the president of the United States have very little control over any of them. When legislatures create laws they are often swept away with one swipe of a pen, and the executive branch can’t create laws in the first place. The only people who really make any difference in those areas are the nine members of the United States Supreme Court.
I look at President Bush’s record, and I think he has been a dismal failure in all but one thing. The one thing he has done that I agree with are his appointments to the Supreme Court.
So I finally decided last night that when I vote in November, I am going to vote in favor of whichever candidate is most likely to appoint justices to the United States Supreme Court who share my concerns.
Neither.
i'm voting for nader. he's not the crazy liberal wing nut that everyone says he is. he fights for consumers rights. he HATES the war. pro-education. pro-social healthcare. i'm sorry, but i don't think it's right for everybody to NOT be able to walk in and get the healthcare they need. speaking from a health care worker and a student with no health insurance. my diabetes is running RAMPANT and i have a feeling my organs won't be able to keep up with it much longer and i can't afford treatment or a good doctor. i'm not lazy and have worked since graduation and am studying my BUTT off at school right now so i can be the little worker bee. people who work hard deserve medical attention. it's a basic human right.
(btw, do you know the ridiculous profits they make at hospitals and such? i KNOW how much it costs to order IV fluids....you can get a box of 25 or so bags for around $20....they charged my mom $50 something for her IV fluids while in the hospital this summer....disgusting)
nader is against the 2 party system as when it comes down to it, they have very similar belief systems. they throw out gay marriage and abortion as distractions. as you know, we completely disagree on these stances. i wouldn't personally choose to get an abortion, but if a woman feels that that is her only option then it's on her shoulders, not mine. and i believe it is also a basic human right to marry who you want. it is a civil right whether you agree with their lifestyle or not. you got to choose who you wanted to marry, correct? what does it hurt you and your family if a gay couple who is truly committed and in love marries one another?
ANYWAY...
i want to walk away from the polls that day and say "no i didn't vote for the lesser of 2 evils. i voted for what i truly believe and that is not a wasted vote"
btw, if it hadn't been for ralph nader you wouldn't have safe, reliable cars or SEATBELTS. no prescription drug warnings. no food labels. the man is THE consumer safety advocate of all time. he believes in truth and practices what he preaches. he lives on like $25,000 or something like that. go rent "an unreasonable man" it's actually reallllly interesting.
p.s. i know nader will never win but it's completely besides the point. and i sure hope mccain doesn't win. he scares me. we'll never be out of war and the gap between the super rich and the lower class will be even FURTHER apart and then when he died in office we'd have this HORRIBLE woman as president. palin scares the hell outta me. come on heather, are you really going to support someone that charged women for their own rape kits?????????
Hey Heath, I know that you and I don't agree very much on politics, mostly because we have two very different ideas of what the political realm is all about, but I thought I would chime in on a couple of things that I find very important. As many people have been saying, the issues of gay marriage and abortion are issues specifically delegated to the states. Many states have banned gay marriage (including Idaho), others, like Connecticut, have legalized it. I think one important thing to remember is that the president will have very little to do with that. I'd also like to shed some light on the conservative Supreme Court idea that I've heard being discussed. I don't think this is a viable reason to vote for president because the probability of conservative supreme court justices overruling a previous decision are close to zero, even if they are conservative. It has only been done a few times in the history of the United States (brown v. board of education overturning plessy v. ferguson is the only major decision I can think of). That decision came more than 70 years after the original court decision, and more than 150 years after the controversy began.
I am an Obama supporter for several reasons. Most of the reasons are because I like his policies (which I believe defines how a president will change our country). Here are the policy changes that Obama supports that no other candidate has supported:
1. Education reform with incentives for good teaching and increased teacher salaries (which are at around a 25,000 a year average in Utah and Idaho right now...how can someone support a family on that?!?)
2. Mandatory health insurance for children.
3. Tax reform to help small businesses (like Britt's parents) for health insurance for their employees.
4. an increased tax credit for each independent from 3,500 dollars a year to 7,000 dollars a year.
These are just a few of his many policies that he wants to implement. A LOT of people have told me that they aren't voting for Obama because he and the Democratic party don't value the family. But I just want to ask, how isn't he supporting the family? The way he wants to reform the system would provide better health for children, better education for all children, less taxes for those who need money to take care of their children, and financial incentives so that people who want to be teachers and other socially important jobs can support their families. Those policies would support the family more than any president has done in my lifetime.
I think a politicians policies can tell you a lot about what they value, and if you take a closer look, the policies that Obama is presenting are protecting and enhancing things that you value. Just think about education for a second, Asher will start school in 4 years or so, you can make a decision next month, that could change (and better) the education system for Asher as he is growing up. To me, that's the most important. If the education system continues to deteriorate and go downhill because people can't afford to be teachers, what kind of education will my children get? Just an example, but I think it illustrates why our vote for the presidential candidate can make a difference.
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