On Tuesday it finally comes down to trust for me.
One of the many reasons I trust Obama is precisely because he has "paled around with terrorists" as his shameless opponents say.
After listening, reading, and researching Barack Obama for almost two years, I have come to trust him as a man of character.
I trust him because he is a man of integrity who can engage others in dialog and debate without losing that integrity. He knows who he is.
He can debate with and "pal around" with questionable people and stay true to his character. (Need proof, look at the debates) I want a President that can wade into the most perilous waters, domestic and foreign, without losing or surrendering his authentic self.
So I was thrilled to see this yesterday. Do you see what I see?
From the Washington Post:
It's fair to question why Mr. Obama felt as comfortable as he apparently did during his Chicago days in the company of men whose views diverge sharply from what the presidential candidate espouses. Our sense is that Mr. Obama is a man of considerable intellectual curiosity who can hear out a smart, if militant, advocate for the Palestinians without compromising his own position. To suggest, as Mr. McCain has, that there is something reprehensible about associating with Mr. Khalidi (or Ayers, or Jeremiah Wright, or anybody else) is itself condemnable -- especially during a campaign in which Arab ancestry has been the subject of insults.
Bold type and parentheses are mine.
Get that? "can hear out a (fill in the blank) without compromising his own position"
He has kept his integrity throughout this campaign in spite of an onslaught of baseless lies and shameless attacks on his character. I can trust that he can negotiate with even our enemies and not be cowered into any position that would hurt the United States or violate our Constitution. In fact, he might even win them over! And we know what McCain has offered as an alternative: "bomb, bomb, bomb," division, erratic impulsiveness, arrogance, self importance, poor judgment, a lack of dignity, of character, and of honor. Yes, I said it. McCain is a dishonorable man.
I trust Barack because I have seen his strength of character: refusing to take shots at his opponent even as many of us encouraged him to. He never hit below the belt. There have certainly been opportunities to do so. After all, McCain has numerous associations with very questionable people, some like Gordon Liddy, who could be characterized as terrorists.
It is evident to me that Barack Obama views every human being, even our enemies, and those with whom we disagree, as "sacred human beings" because, based on his form of Christianity, we are all children of God. And, I suspect, he may have learned some of this from Jeremiah Wright.
He has called us to a higher politic worthy of a great nation and he has shown us the way. And he has demonstrated, by word and deed, how he will unite our country and yes, change the world.
I am so thankful that the Republicans have brought Barack’s associations to our attention. It sealed the deal for me. (Gifts sometimes come from such strange places.)
Yes, I trust him to be my President.
So Tuesday, I will proudly cast the most important vote of my 62 years for Barack Hussein Obama.
Now back to the phone and GOTV.
Disclosure: I am White, Male, a gun owner, a hunter. I have four adult children all working for "O". I served, with distinction, in the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam. I worked on Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s volunteer staff during my undergraduate days in Washington, DC.. I have been a registered Independent (because of my profession)all of my adult life.