I write this note because it is Super Tuesday, and because of the e-mails, the notes, etc., that I have received regarding Barack Obama's candidacy, what I hope will be his future presidency, and people's odd, cultlike devotion to his campaign.
In truth, I was an Edwards supporter until he dropped out of the race. His attention and devotion to the problems facing the nation's most vulnerable citizens was needed this campaign season, and would provide a great new direction for this country in the coming years.
That being said, when he dropped out, I decided to support Barack Obama. I am supporting him because he is a progressive, and a viable one at that. I am supporting him because of his nuanced approach to foreign policy, his ability to remain progressive while working with those with whom he disagrees with, and because he has sold out to the Bush agenda less than Hillary. (However, I would still support Hillary in a general election should she win the nomination.) The fact that this guy is a progressive democrat who can fill a 20,000 person arena in Boise, Idaho.
Despite all this, I want to make clear that I am not backing Barack Obama because of "Yes We Can" or the fact that we are a "United States of America." To be honest, I don't even know what either of these things mean, yet people seem to be falling over themselves because of it. I am not supporting Barack Obama because Scarlett Johanssen or John Legend wants me to. I really could care less about what they think here, despite the fact that I am glad that they are getting involved in the political process. I am not devoting my support to him because of the emails and the notes I have received, or the zombie-like enthusiasm I sometimes see in the diaries on this site. I'm tired of seeing this man, a good and decent politician, being treated like the messiah.
He's not the messiah. He's just a Senator who may become President.
I support Barack Obama, and I proudly cast my vote for him today. But I did it because his politics appear to be closest to mine, he's smart, he appears to be a natural leader, and I think he'd be a good President.
But I don't necessarily ask you to do the same. I ask you, today, to learn as much as you can about the people running for President, to make your own decision based upon your politics, the policies you want to see, your values. Not because of some celebrity, or some pundits, or emails, or notes, or some vague movement based on soundbyte politics and catchphrases. Politics is too big, too important for that, especially at this critical moment in history.
If, at that point, you vote for my guy, great. If not, that's fine too. But get the information, and make an informed decision. And then get out there and vote.
I know this is long, and maybe self-righteous or whatever...so feel free to take this with a grain of salt. Just please, please, please...stop bombarding people with emails about your candidate. It's driving my girlfriend crazy.