Editorial: Obama offers Americans what country needs now
There are different ways to look at the choice for president of the United States.
We can look at the record of Republican John McCain and see there is a long story of duty — from Vietnam through Congress.
We can look at the shorter story of Democrat Barack Obama and see youth’s great potential alongside questions of his early influences and concerns about his approach to spending.
We see the historical contexts, including race and this being the most trying of times — so trying that they may shape the presidency rather than vice versa. We size up the outgoing presidential administration and find both candidates running against it.
In McCain and Obama we have candidates who say they are ready to make a change.
Obama, we believe, is the right candidate for true change, a clean break from the current administration. To be sure, most change has to go through Congress, but the tone is set at the White House.
Obama has the sharper vision on health care, with an accent on expanding access and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
Obama has the stamina, as evidenced by his calm, measured responses to everything that has been thrown at him — from hatred to wild claims — in two years on the campaign trail, without demonizing questioners.
Obama has the brighter view on education, breaking with his party on charter schools and merit pay, and proposing AmeriCorps-style civic duty and tax credits to help pay for college.
Obama has more clarity and urgency on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He would set a course for bringing troops home from their victory in the former and move resources, allies and local and regional support to prosecute the latter more strategically. He would think thoroughly before getting us into another.
Obama has it more right on the economy, with emphasis on new jobs and tax breaks for more Americans. At the same time, he understands each new program must be met with a proportionate budget cut, to avoid worsening the deficit and to heed the lessons of history that quick, costly fixes tend to make major economic problems worse.
Both Obama and McCain used their third and final debate to shed light on their economic strategies. The nation would benefit from both of them using the time left in the campaign to do more of the same.
Southwest Florida is accustomed to the role of leader or observer of the American economy. Now we are a part of it and share the pain.
We also share a sense of optimism and a belief in the strength of America’s greatest assets, its people — who now long for something different. It will not be government solving all of our problems and fears through spending and growing and removing liberties. It will be individual Americans making decisions to improve their families and communities and their country, with good government an as ally.
Then we look at the vice presidential nominees. While Senate veteran Joe Biden disappoints those who push Obama for change at every opportunity, McCain chose Sarah Palin to preside a heartbeat away.
A selection made by a maverick?
That, with McCain vowing “a new direction,” was akin to praise for FEMA for a job well done on Hurricane Katrina.
That is our tipping point in this race. Forget what candidates say they will do if elected. The choice for vice president was their first clear indicator of how they will lead.
We can do better.
It is instructive to look back to Sept. 11, 2001. One of our darkest days. But our nation was together and the world was with us.
Now look: Seemingly never-ending wars and energy and health-care policies short of where they need to be. An economy of distrust.
Which brings us back to the various ways of looking at this contest. There are intense, loyal partisans who could never, ever vote for the other party’s candidate. We respect that and thank goodness for presidential elections, this one more so than some others, stirring that passion.
All of them want what’s best for America.
To the undecideds, we say we believe what’s best for America is a president who is bright, can listen, learn from mistakes of the past and lead us toward the change we need to make at home and abroad.
We believe the candidate to do that is Barack Obama.
1 comments:
As the election draws closer to Nov 4, the American people will see the true results if Obama wins. There are just too many questions on his past, his vision of the future (EuroSocialist Government), spreading the wealth from those who are working for a living (Rich @ $42,000+) to those who would rather live under a welfare state, a medical system such as Canada. We just do not need to have Obama elected. We would have just more of the Democrat philosophy running our lives. Heaven forbid. With Obama’s, Biden’s and Democratic leadership’s rhetoric, or I should say, lack of we would be in a world of hurt.
Obama is promising legislation that would make it more difficult for workers to hold a private ballot vote in unionization drives, which critics say would lead to harassment and intimidation, has spurred a pitched battle between powerful labor unions supportive of Sen. Barack Obama and big business in the presidential campaign. Seen by the AFL-CIO as a way to boost union rolls by hundreds of thousands of new members, the hotly-contested bill has become this year's No. 1 election issue for organized labor. Mr. Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has promised union bosses that the Employee Free Choice Act will become law in 2009 if he wins the presidency in November.
Barack Obama was shaking hands the other day, which is a necessary thing for politicians. The question he got, though, was not typical. A man who described himself as a plumber by trade said Obama wants to tax him more Obama's response was typical: "It's not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure everybody behind you has a chance....just spread the wealth around." Sounds like a confirmation, if any is needed, that this man is glued to the redistribution of wealth. His running mate, Joe Biden, in his “Patriotic Comment” on paying taxes also confirmed it. Any doubts? I didn't think so. Anyway, I don't think many Americans in Obama's dreams even pay any taxes to begin with. 44% today, do not. Folks, more handouts are coming if he's elected. You can bet on it.
The print and news pundits have really become surrogates for the Obama campaign and should register as such. I have lost all faith in the majority of them. They need to become more fair and balanced in their reporting and coverage of the facts. I would love to see a more truthful analyst of Obama. There are too many unanswered question on him and his agenda. It is about time that the "True" facts on Obama’s past associations are exposed. Look... We need to continue the Ayers Obama connection however, his associations with ACORN, his campaign contributions, particularly foreign groups, Aslinksy, Rezko and Wright are just additional examples of issues which need to be addressed and exposed. The ACORN relationship, particularly, should be addressed. Socialized Medicine is something we do not need. Look at the number of Canadians who come to the states for medical attention. The same applies to Mexican citizens who cross the border for medical care. More importantly, look at the level of care in countries under socialized medicine compared to the USA. No comparison. As we get nearer to Nov 4, think hard on your choices. You've help make your country great, now vote to keep it the same Vote Wisely Nov 4th!
Post a Comment