I received one of those emails that have been going around - you've seen them, packed with lies about how we're all going to hell in a handbasket if Obama is elected President. It went to most of the people in my neighborhood and complained that we're all going to suffer with higher taxes. There were gross distortions with tiny kernels of truth. I would guess maybe 20% of my neighbors pull in $250K+ and 80% of them are social conservatives. While a couple of courageous, thoughtful people answered, refuting the email, most responses were shallow pile-ons: "Yeah, and he supports abortion, too!" and "We're gonna be screwed if he's elected President."
So...I couldn't resist. Follow me to the flip for my answer...
All,
I've been thinking a lot about the responses to the email that started all this (I'm home from work today helping my daughter move in and have some time to reflect). I've tried to keep this thoughtful and non-confrontational because we need discussions about legitimate issues.
Here's what I'm looking for in a President:
* Smarter than me. I don't want to have a beer with him. I want someone who has an excellent grasp of economics, geography, world politics. I want someone who respects science and doesn't foresake it for ideology.
* Articulate. Able to string multi-syllabic words together in a complex sentence that expresses a cohesive thought.
* Forward-thinking: I want a guy with a plan for the future, one that makes sense and takes into consideration all Americans, not just the ones who can fund his campaign.
* Honest: For example, if we need to go to war, I want it to be for legitimate reasons and because there are no other alternatives.
* Respects human rights and protects the Constitution.
* Serious. No jokes about bombing Iran or hiding WMD in the Oval Office.
* A leader: He needs to be able to see and understand the different sides to an issue, regardless of the complexity. He must have the skill to bring opposing sides together in consensus when possible, and make difficult decisions when not. He must encourage the advice of those with more knowledge about a given topic. We need a leader, not a bully, to get our country moving in a positive direction.
* Able to restore America's stature in the world, because he's smart, articulate, forward-thinking, honest, serious: a leader
The issues that are important to me are
* The economy: reducing the massive debt we've accumulated over the past 7.5 years, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, restoring America's economic base by investing in infrastructure and penalizing companies who outsource staffing and manufacturing to foreign countries
* Universal health care
* Ending the war in Iraq
* Going after Al Quaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan
* Environment
I'm opposed to a candidate who
* thinks trickle-down economics works
* favors Wall Street welfare
* thinks torture is OK
* relies on unqualified cronies to run the business of government
* puts his finger in the wind and changes positions based on polls or focus groups
Finally, we're in a deep economic hole, due to the war, deregulation and general malfeasance. Raising taxes on those with incomes above $250K, while protecting those with lower incomes, may be the only way to dig ourselves out of the current mess. And if you're still in a snit about the possibility of taxes going up, watch this and have a laugh.
So, what do you think? Was it worth the time? Or should I have spent those minutes contributing to Obama or cleaning out my closets?