John McCain is running a campaign which is unworthy of my respect.
This is election is driving me insane. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of the way our democracy is disrespected by those who seek to lead us. I'm sick of having candidates I support have their patriotism questioned by despots like John McCain, who claim that the only patriots in this country are those who will vote for them.
I'm sick of the inane and the insane overshadowing the real hurt of America. I'm sick of the casualty list from Iraq being on the back pages but lipstick and pigs being on the front page for the whole world to see. John McCain and his Republican friends have turned our national debate--and our democracy--into a pig sty.
Those of us who think we should put people before banks are looked down upon by McCain and his elite friends. Those of us who think we should make sure everyone has access to health insurance, not tax it like McCain wants to do, are tired of being called socialists. We're tired of John McCain and his Republican friends implying that we're unAmerican because we want every American to have the right to go to the doctor and be treated with dignity. Those of us who think we should've caught Osama bin Laden by now are tired of John McCain and his running mate telling us that Iraq was linked to 9-11. We're tired of being called unpatriotic by John McCain and his Republican allies because we advocate keeping our eye on the ball, and shifting resources to Afghanistan. Those of us who believe that we have a commandment from on high to take care of this planet are tired of John McCain's running mate denying our neglect of God's creation.
I am a member of the party of Thomas Jefferson. I am a person who believes that throwing around slogans like "Country First," and implying your political opponents are unpatriotic is harmful to our democracy. To be polite about it, there is no way John McCain can govern now. Not after he's called me, and people like me, unpatriotic fools who are unwittingly undermining America (and that has been the point of his campaign).
Barack Obama says "Enough!" And on that, I whole heartedly agree with Senator Obama. On September 11, a friend of mine wrote something interesting. She wrote,
"I am remembering September 11th as a time when there was no liberal America or conservative America, there was just the United States of America."
She was obviously riffing off of Obama's famous line from 2004. But she was right. There was a time not so long ago when the vindictive political climate we are currently enduring seemed inappropriate. There was a time not so long ago when we were all on the same side. Then George W. Bush decided re-election was more important than the betterment of the country; we had Karl Rove's swift boats. George W. Bush got re-elected, but our country became paralyzed by division.
Now, John McCain decided that attaining power is more important than treating citizens of the country he seeks to lead with respect. Instead of being a true patriot and seeking to close the divide whether or not it was good for him politically, John McCain is attempting to take the cheap route to power. And so, if McCain wins, we will be divided for four more years. We'll be unable to work together to make a better country and world. Even Karl Rove is beginning to say enough. The only thing which can stop this sad cycle and close the division in our country is our vote.