One question from last night's debate stood out more than any other:
Senator Clinton, that you have claimed that your presidency would bring change to America. I'm 38 years old and I have never had an opportunity to vote in a presidential election in which a Bush or a Clinton wasn't on the ticket. How can you be an agent of change when we have had the same two families in the White House for the last 30 years?
I can't get over this. At 31, I can relate. But here's what kills me: Barack Obama turned 18 in 1979. The current leader in the race to the White House has never had the chance to vote in a presidential election that did not include a Bush or a Clinton.
From my vantage point, the American political system is little more than an oligarchy. And I don't say that to be cynical, I'm serious. Here is the White House from my perspective:
- George H. W. Bush became the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
1974: My parents were married.
- Donald Rumsfeld became White House Chief of Staff.
- Dick Cheney succeeded him when...
- Donald Rumsfeld became Secretary of Defense.
1976: I was born.
- George H.W. Bush was named Director of Central Intelligence.
1980: Barack Obama voted for the first time.
- George H.W. Bush was elected Vice President.
- Colin Powell named as National Security Advisor.
- George H.W. Bush was elected President of the United States.
- Dick Cheney became the Secretary of Defense. Again.
- Colin Powell became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- War in Iraq.
- Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States.
- Hillary Clinton became First Lady.
1996: I voted for the first time.
- Bill Clinton is elected to a second term.
- George W. Bush named President of the United States by the Supreme Court.
- Dick Cheney is now the Vice President.
- Hillary Clinton elected as the junior senator from New York. And we all know where she's headed...
- Donald Rumsfeld became Secretary of Defense. Again.
- Colin Powell became Secretary of State.
- More war in Iraq.
2004: My first son was born.
- George W. Bush is sworn in for a second term.
- Dick Cheney is, too.
- Hillary Clinton begins a run for the White House.
I'm tired. I am so very tired of politics as usual. I know it's hard for an older generation to understand, but the prospect of another Clinton presidency makes me sad and frustrated. The idea that Obama should wait 8 years to run for president (to gain "experience") is laughably backwards. In my view, Hillary needs to wait. I'm not ready for her presidency. The country isn't ready for her presidency. We are fractured. We are cynical. We are tired. We need a change and we need it now. The last thing I want to hear is 8 years of Republican talking points written in 1992 (when I was a sophomore in high school). Let them write new talking points. And let's move on!
I am an unabashed supporter of Barack Obama. There has literally never been a politician like him in my life. Comparisons to John F. Kennedy are fine, but mean little to me. I have never been moved by a politician. Truth be told, I never thought I would be. I had almost given up. In 2005, I was nearly resigned to permanent defeat, almost totally convinced that George W. Bush was only a few more broken laws away from dictatorship.
But then something happened. A fire started. And it grew. And it's growing. I donated money for the first time. I volunteered for a campaign for the first time. And I had hope for something different for the first time. I'm excited. I'm hopeful. I'm working towards a better future.
I look at Barack Obama and think, "I hope my son grows up to be President of the United States."