Voting

[rm]

A few weeks ago, I wrote that politics will break your heart, and today, I'm hoping not to have my heart broken, as I'm going to the polls in a few minutes to vote for Barack Obama.

There are a lot of reasons I'm voting for him, including liberal policy that also keeps us from being a nanny state (note: on fiscal issues, I am less liberal than most of my friends), an actual understanding of Internet issues (thanks for Patty for finding this stuff for me), and a sense I have that he's actually willing to listen on issues like gay rights; Clinton, on the other hand, seems, like her husband, to just go for polls and expediency -- I remember when we all got sold out on Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Some of you will reply that these are vague impressions and not policy. You will tell me I am foolish; you will think I am stupid. Trust me, I know, I've heard it before. To all this my response is simple. Policy is not what this post is about, because that's what other people write about eloquently; I'm making the case that I think I'm uniquely good at making. Impressions matter here -- that's the case I'm making.

Obama is bringing people into the process.

A political process with more participants is a political process less ruled by extremists in both parties.

A political process with more participants is a political process less easily hijacked by our various sloppy, cobbled together or just not reliable or safe voting systems.

And a political process where people like the candidates is a political process that encourages more people to be candidates themselves. And this to me is key. I don't feel like Clinton is inspiring kids and young adults out there to want to be elected officials, and I feel like Obama is. I feel like an Obama victory brings us future candidates we can be excited about, not just on the big policy issues (e.g., Iraq), but on the small ones.

To me voting for Hillary Clinton would be a vote for where we should be today, but voting for Obama is a vote for where we will be tomorrow. I am not here to play it safe.

I live in New York City, famously described as an island off the coast of America. Despite the best efforts of my life, so has my heart too been such an island. My city has been used -- vilified first and then celebrated in destruction to unify a country I have never felt I was a part of -- because I am female, because I am queer, because I have had an abortion, because I am not Christian, because I am not as white as you think I am -- over and over again.

When I watch Obama speak, I don't feel that way.

When I watch Obama speak, I feel like 9/11 is finally over.

When I watch Obama speak, it no longer feels as if the smartest thing any of us can talk about is the fall of Rome. As if we should just be ready, and waiting and already dead.

When Obama says "in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope," I feel as if I have lived here all along, because my own story too has been so unlikely -- from how I choose to live to how my family got here and what we've managed to do and see. It turns out I was made for and from this country, more than I knew as a teenager who longed for football games and beauty pageants so I could be like an imaginary everybody else.

If the beauty of Obama's words can do nothing more in the next four years than bring people in the process so that we never, ever have another eight years like those we've just come through, that is enough for me. And it is more than I would have dared hoped for even a few months ago.

Hillary Clinton would surely make a fine and intelligent president. But she ticks people off, and is not our best choice to defeat John McCain or hold the White House for 8 years or for the party thereafter. She is wonkish and runs the risk of being a Jimmy Carter, who just didn't have that thing to make us want to endure difficult times, and those were difficult times. Right or wrong this is the nature of the world, and of people.

One of my very first memories is of the bicentennial parade in NYC in 1976, coming down Fifth Avenue at night, with girls in light up Minnie Mouse costumes and fireworks over the park that scared me -- I was three-and-a-half and in my mother's arms and she would rock back with each blast.

I am voting for Obama, in part, because I've spent most of my life since then -- more than three decades -- being told the myth of America was not really actually for me by everyone from my family to my television.

Well fuck that.

Comments

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

MN does the caucus-type thing and miep and I are going there. She hasn't made up her mind, yet, but I'm with you on how he makes me feel--genuine. Politics are something that can make me cry when I think of what has been done to it from within. It seems as if the worst of the worst have been hiding in Washington for far too long. I get the impression that that will all end with Obama. I don't get that feeling with Clinton so much. When Obama speaks he has a draw that is so inspiring. I really cannot explain the emotion that I feel, but I know I'm not the only one. I feel MN is firmly behind him. I have not seen a single Clinton sticker or other form of support. People need this inspiration and when it boils down to what will happen in November I think the Republican Party is going to see the worst defeat ever handed to a political party without a military coup and they only have themselves to blame.

[rm.livejournal.com]

A wise woman on my friendlist says she votes in part based on who the candidates have as friends and business associates, and Clinton has more shady ones than Obama by far. I think it's a pretty smart view.

And lord, I hope you're right. We need to beat the Republicans. Because what they've turned into is absolutely dangerous to this country.

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

The whole thought of the Patriot Act and the other assortment of bills that have passed since 9/11 have made me feel so entirely unsafe. Miep is not in favor of it, but I told her I'm even planning on getting my conceal permit. I know it's not entirely related, but there is a comfort factor in it for me. She and I had a long discussion last night about social programs and how it sickens me that the Republicans just liken them to people living of the system. I cannot image the dire situation if people were left to a socially Darwinistic system. For me, the decision of which Democrat has come down to who seems to have the better plan for the internal systems, healthcare, Social Security, etc. I've been impressed by what I have read of the healthcare situation in Chicago/Ill since Obama has been senator.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

I'm in teh process of getting my CCW as well. I'm only a casual recreational shooter, but the way things are going I can see where it might become impossilbe to obtain one in the near future. The best I can hope for ( outside of political change ) is to be grandfathered in should a change come about.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

And lord, I hope you're right. We need to beat the Republicans. Because what they've turned into is absolutely dangerous to this country.

Gods yes. I see Clinton & Obama as effectively identical wrt policy, and so my only concern is who will be better at getting the Republicans out of office. This is also why I'm far more interested in the Republican results, McCain deeply worries me, because I think he'll be more difficult for either of them to beat.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh. I remember that parade too! I was 5. My cousin poked me in the eye with a tiny flag.

I voted for Obama this morning. *crosses fingers*

[magnetgirl.livejournal.com]

Right on, Rach. Right on.

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

When I watch Obama speak, I feel like 9/11 is finally over.

wow.

[mobobocita.livejournal.com]

I believe Obama is the only person on either side of the list this year who has the slightest chance of repairing some of the damage to our international relations.

That alone makes him who we should elect.

I had such hope last time though that I'm terrified to hope again.

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

I heard Obama speak before he was a candidate. I shook his hand, he talked to me and asked relevant questions. I was impressed even though there was a huge room of people waiting to get their moment to speak personally to him. He looked me in the eye and he seemed genuine.

I'm with you on all your points made in this post. I don't know the first hand experience of 9/11, but I like your comment. I feel hopeful when I hear him speak.

I'll be at the Minnesota caucus in my neighborhood as soon as I leave work at 5PM (caucus starts at 6:30). I think there will be a ton of people - historically my neighborhood comes out to vote.

Susan

[weirdquark]

Obama is willing to risk more. So we have more to lose, but we also have more to gain. I'm tired of feeling like the smart thing to do would be to play it safe. Fuck that.

[kythryne.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful.

My partner and I both volunteered for Obama's campaign during the NH primaries, and it was the first time either of us had ever done anything in politics other than vote in the big elections. Obama motivated me enough that I was willing to go door-to-door in a New England winter and to cold call people during dinnertime to remind them to vote. There is seriously no amount of money that could convince me to take a job doing either of those things, but I did them for his campaign, because it was that important to me.

[katharwen.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I wish I were in the country so I could vote for Obama! Well, all I can do is pray and keep my fingers crossed.

And to those who are voting for him today- what a step in the right direction! Go you!

[aynatonal.livejournal.com]

I voted for Obama in the election that made him a senator. Here's hoping that I just voted in the election that will make him the candidate. I'd love to vote for him again, this time to make him president.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Well said, and I agree that Obama's more likely to appeal in the long run to more people.

Tonight a bunch of us are getting together to watch the returns come in. While I was on the edge of my seat with Kerry -- by necessity more than adoration -- I haven't been this excited since my first election in 1992.

[(Anonymous)]

well said, sister. i am trying to make a difference here in california, where i am sporting my VERY FIRST political button. "women for obama".

everyone else, GO VOTE!

[delchi.livejournal.com]

Can you pass on the information Patty found indicating he has an understanding of internet issues? I've had little luck finding anything.

[askeladden.livejournal.com]

Hell yes.

[minerva-one.livejournal.com]

Thank you for putting into such elegant words WHY Obama matters over Clinton.

I've already voted for him this morning.

[paynesgrey.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this so much. Thank you for writing it.

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

"Well fuck that" is what I am all about this year.

[hana-ginkawa.livejournal.com]

When I watch Obama speak, I feel like 9/11 is finally over.

I teared up when I read this, because it is so true. So very true.

[abnormal-apathy.livejournal.com]

I stopped at the polls this morning, still torn on who to vote for. And it was primarily this one thing: vote for a woman, or vote for a man. I'd read their speeches. I thought about the "Clinton years". I looked up their voting records. I read what the pundits had to say. I considered what those who are more well-informed than I am on my flist had to say. In the end I voted for Obama for many of the same reasons you've written here, only I can't say them as eloquently. I wish I'd seen this earlier so I could have given it to my boss, who as of 5PM was still on the fence but leaning towards the Clinton camp.

[newsbean.livejournal.com]

When Obama says "in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope," I feel as if I have lived here all along, because my own story too has been so unlikely

YES. This is exactly and precisely it. He makes me feel like I belong. I love that there is someone who looks like *my* family running for President. Someone articulate and funny and full of hope. We are unlikely, but also strong, beautiful and human.

[shadowsound.livejournal.com]

omg yes

thank you for writing ths