I'm that last 7-10% who was not truly decided during this campaign.
I'm the person, or the type of person, they are trying to convince.
I'm the tipping point to the next president.
I don't actually mean myself, but I that last few percent of stragglers trying to decide who to vote for. . .
Before I tell you what tipped me to this a little background. I believe my background is not too dis-similiar from other independant voters.
I believe in conservative goverment as far as items like spending or defense go. In many ways, I respect politicians like Ron Paul from that standpoint.
When it comes to most social issues, I'm left of center. My motto is 'stay out of my bedroom, I'll stay out of yours.'
I've watched Obama for two years. Often I grew frustrated with watching him answer questions because it always seemed like he was mentally going through every word 5 or 6 times calculating if what he was saying would come back and bite him in the a$$. I never disliked him because he was black or any of the other issues that have arisen in the campaign. I'm sure just about every politician standing in this country has associated with nefarious people somewhere along the way.
I used to respect McCain quite a bit more than George W. I always thought he would have made a much better President than the 'W.' I remember vividly how McCain was eviscerated by Karl Rove and Co. in the 2000 election.
I was disappointed in the pick for Biden. I debated with many work colleagues ( Republicans usually ) who thought he would take Hillary. I was 100% positive after the primaries were over there was no way Hillary would be on the ticket. They just didn't mesh as people even though their politics is almost the same. Furthermore, Obama could not afford her upstaging him after the conventions. But Biden. I was shocked he didn't go for some like Bill Richardson.
Then McCain showed true lack of judgement with the Palin pick. Within minutes of her announcement, I had found her little video in Church from June and I was appalled to even think this person would be a heartbeat of a 72 year old man from the Presidency.
I'm going to tell you what pushed me over the edge. I have been irritated this entire campaign with the way the Republicans have run down the final stretch. Where Obama usually talks about hope and the challenges that lay ahead, the Republicans are all about FEAR FEAR FEAR.
The final straw came this week.
I was visiting my wife's family a few weeks back. Some of us were discussing the election and someone said, 'Obama is going to raise your taxes.' This is about the only thing I commented that evening in the election.
I said, 'No, actually if you look at both plans, you'll see most of us will do better with Obama.'
Yesterday, this nasty email was sent to my wife from her cousin ( a women by the way ).
Well, I see <my name> has drunken the Obama kool-aid. I thought you were Republicans? What, are you feeling guilty for being white? Is <my name>
a socialist? You should go buy some brownshirts now, because after Obama is elected, you won't be able to afford any.
So I read this and the more I read this, the more upset I got. This was family. Not only that, this person had dated a black man in the past for over 12 years! It's one thing to debate a stranger or the people in your office, but this really illustrates a fundamental truth here with this election.
This is how Republicans think about the rest of us, irregardless if we're Democrats, Libertarians, etc. If you disagree with them, you are sacrosently evil. Even if your family.
We've lost all civil discourse in this society with the Republican party and the rest of us who don't agree with all of their ideas completely.
I am almost convinced, given half a chance, some of these people would be cranking up American equivalents of Buchenwald or Auswitchz for those they don't consider 'Real Americans.'
I don't know if Obama is going to win this week. I have doubts about the electronic voting machines. I've already seen the numerous attempts in several states by Republicans attempting to stop voters from voting. I've already seen the stupid tatic of telling people Republicans vote Tuesday and Democrats on Wednesday.
I know going forward, this country after this election is going to be a whole lot uglier if Obama does not win.