Although I've never whispered in Obama's ear, I'm a lifelong registered Republican who intends to vote for BHO for POTUS in 2008. Before I get tarred and feathered for my affiliation perhaps I should explain that I've never been a devoted partisan. In fact, the last time I voted for someone, rather than against others, was probably almost 30 years ago. I recall voting enthusiastically for Reagan for POTUS and Tom Bradley for CA-Gov in 1980. I've never forgiven myself for the former and never regretted the latter, although Bradley lost of course. Since then my voting priorities have mostly been anti-incumbent and more recently strictly anti-Republican. Being a registered Republican gives me the opportunity to vote against them twice each election cycle and I vote for minor-party candidates in the GE whenever I believe it's practical, meaning it will not influence the end result, which is quite often.
I'm quite inspired about voting this election cycle, for the first time in as long as I can remember, and Obama is the reason why. I've listened to him speak at every opportunity and read both of his books. His eloquence has transformed me from a cynical participant in the democratic process to one filled with hope and enthusiasm for the future. I'm fascinated by his intelligence and the thoughtfulness of his principles and policy positions. Never did I believe that a politician would ever come along who I could trust, but I do think that Obama is honest and sincere. As Dick Schaap said, "Sincerity is the key, once you learn to fake that you've got it made." While I'm open to the possibility that Obama is another posturer, up to this point he's convinced me otherwise.
My political philosophy is not well aligned with his, but then neither is it with anyone's in the mainstream of modern-day discourse. What I do believe is that he will bring into the office a unique consideration of differing points of view, which is really the best that can be expected in today's partisan political environment. After all, who can get elected by telling people the truth about our ugly militaristic tendencies, our closely associated addiction to deficit spending, or our sordid history of nationalistic xenophobia.
I believe that government is inherently evil, albeit a necessary evil, likewise unregulated laissez-faire capitalism. Greed and the lust for power reduce human behavior to its basest instincts, those associated with the reptilian brain. Being a proponent of small government, I could never rationalize away the hypocrisy of the Republicans and their desire for ever enhanced military and police powers. It seems to me that these are the tools of large, powerful and repressive government and provide the necessary means to suppress the will of the people.
As a country, we will never become more democratic by focusing political power within a large federal bureaucracy at the expense of regional and localized government institutions. If we want to be honest with ourselves then we should return the name of the Department of Defense to what it was, and what it has become, the Department of War. Preemptive war has no place as a diplomatic strategy in a democratic government and we should be ashamed of ourselves as an electorate for allowing it to happen during our watch. This is especially true of a nation that has more military resources at its command than the rest of the world combined.
I believe Obama is with me on this last point, as I am with him on surgical strikes based on actionable intelligence and negotiation with our enemies. Likewise I believe in universal health care and the government defining minimum standards for the dignity of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as the U.S. Constitution provides for the primacy of the individual over the government. No citizen of this country should ever want for preventative health care, nor for food, clothing or shelter. We should all agree that these are basic human rights necessary for survival. My only preference in this matter is that the government assure that these services are provided to its citizenry without handing out checks to individuals, provide the needed services directly.
I consider myself a Progressive Civil Libertarian, as opposed to the Corporate Libertarians who pass themselves off as Libertarians these days. We should let the Bill of Rights be our guide, the Bible of American political philosophy. I respect Obama's knowledge and reverence for the U.S. Constitution and believe a professor of Constitutional Law belongs in the White House. I also admire Obama's devotion to political action at the local level, as evidenced by his work as a community organizer in Chicago. While I'm sure our differences are greater than my desire for a dismantling of the military industrial complex, term limits for politicians, a sunshine provision for all laws passed by Congress and a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, as BHO often says, we have more in common than we realize. What brings us together is more important than what drives up apart.