I was just on MySpace and I had a new message. I checked it out and it was a guy that I haven't talked to in a really long time. He replied to a video I had put up as a bulletin:
I guess he wasn't too fond of the video and he tried to convince me to not vote for Obama and to be "informed."
Here's what he said,
First, I know I have no right to tell you what to think or how to look at the candidates. I am very happy to see so many people engaged in this election. However, I have become very political over the past 4 years and have done a great deal of research on all matters of politics. Politics are a very tough subject to talk about, along the lines of religion. I will say that I do not like McCain either, however I fear that no candidate currently running for office is worthy of being elected into office. Our government is corrupt to no end, and the President has no "real" power anymore. The candidates are hand picked and they say things like "change" to engage people. The matters in the link below are all a matter of public record, from reliable sources, no spin doctors here. Please before totally committing one way or the other, research the real issues. Do not take the words of the candidates at face value. There are a lot more issues that are not being talked about. However, if you truly believe, then disregard everything I have said. I am just trying to spread the word of being truly informed. To achieve real change, we must be informed. Race, creed, religion, gender do not matter, the fate of our very way of life may hinge on this vote--sounds drastic I know but may very well be true.
I'm not going to put the website he gave me here, because it's a load of crap. Overall, this message makes no sense to me. I can't tell if he was attempting to convince me to vote for somebody else or to just not vote at all.
Anyway, this my reply to him:
I've been committed to politics since the 2000 elections (I was 11 years old at the time). And when I say committed, I mean I've followed it completely. I've had a passion and great interest in politics for quite some time now and I've always been a liberal Democrat...even at that young age! lol I would be the kid in class that would talk politics with my teachers, because none of the other kids knew what the hell I was talking about. In regards to Obama, my mind has been made up now for over a year and honestly nothing can change my mind...no matter what. I constantly follow the election...even when I'm at school rather than studying I go on to a bunch of websites and explore the new stories of the day and the past. So, I can say I am an informed voter for sure. But let me ask you something if it's not too personal...if you don't like McCain much either, who are you going to vote for instead?
By the way...I agree with Obama in regards to social issues as well as with the economy, energy, and healthcare. And hey, if he's such a crappy guy that won't be committed to his word, then we'll see that after 4 years and then he can leave the White House. But until we see what he has, we must take his word. In fact, EVERY CANDIDATE is just giving us their word. We don't know whether or not they will stay true to it...and that goes for third party/independent candidates as well.
I know that my response might have sounded weak, but this is truly the first person that has attempted to convince me to not vote for Obama. I was really caught off guard.
In some ways, I feel like what he said to me was a slap in the face. I think there might be this notion going around that since so many people are voting for Obama, then most of them must obviously not be informed. That isn't the case though. Many of us have done our research. We ARE informed. I don't want to take what he said personally, but I just don't want people to think that we're voting for Obama to simply jump on the bandwagon. Is it not possible that we are voting for Obama simply, because we agree with his policies? Is it not possible to be an informed voter and still vote for Obama?
Overall all I can say is that I am an Obama supporter through thick and thin. I know he will bring about great change. And others may not want to believe that, but once he gets into the White House they will see...
By the way...sorry if it seemed like I rambled a little bit...just have a bit of frustration in me right now.