Tomorrow, I Encourage You All To Roll The Dice And Vote For Obama
Former president and prospective First Gentleman (now that would be an ironic title for him) Bill Clinton, said a few months back that voting for Obama would be like “a role of the dice.” I completely agree with him. Obama has little to no executive experience. In addition, he has only a few years under his belt as a Senator (for the record he is more experienced then Abe Lincoln was before he was President) and Obama has not sponsored tons of major legislation. However, some of the legislation the Obama has sponsored gives us an insight into his character and what type of President he would be.
Here are 2 prime examples: Obama co-sponsored the Transparency Act with Senator Coburn which creates a website viewable to the public that lists all agencies/organizations receiving federal funds, the amount of $$$ given, and the nature of the grant or contract. To put it another way, the bill makes it easier for people to track where their tax money is going and holds the government more accountable for wasteful spending. Obama was a co-sponsor of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act which strengthens public disclosure requirements regarding lobbying activity, places more restrictions on gifts that members of congress can receive from lobbyists, and mandates disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills. Both the Clinton and Bush presidencies have been marked by secrecy and scandal. I believe that Obama will bring much needed honesty and transparency back to The White House.
There are many aspects to being a president and one of the most important is being a statesman (or woman) and the number one ambassador of the United States to the world. I ask you when the world looks at the United States who do you want to represent us? Hillary Clinton who voted to authorize the Iraq War and would continue the cycle of Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton that makes us seem like a nation controlled by family dynasties and not the democratic constitutional republic that we are? Or even worse the face of McCain or Romney who have talked about keeping us needlessly as an occupying police force in Iraq for the foreseeable future? Or will they see Barack Hussein Obama? Obama a self made man of modest up bringing, mixed race, who representatives a new generation of American voters. More so than any other candidate, I believe Obama with his personal story and charisma can bring us closer to our traditional European allies and maybe, just maybe, lessen the flames of hatred that burn against us in pockets of The Middle East and Africa.
Obama has not just shown an ability to unite and enthrall usually politically disenfranchised groups such as African Americans and people under 30, but has also shown an ability to get political heavy weights (and in some cases I mean that term literally) such as Ted Kennedy to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano behind him. Though Obama himself is relatively inexperienced, I believe he will be able to assemble an A-List cabinet who could help him transition into the presidency and advise him.
Finally, he is charismatic and can give a kick ass speech. While this seems like a juvenile reason to support someone, sometimes it takes someone with these abilities to galvanize the nation to tackle a problem. For example, my pet issue that I believe is the number one issue of our times that affects everything from national security to the environment is energy independence. Many candidates on both sides of the political spectrum have recognized this and talked about starting on the road to take the tough steps to reach that goal. The same way that JFK set the course to unite the nation in the common goal of reaching the moon, I believe Obama’s ability to inspire can unite the nation in the critical common goal of energy independence.
Just like the roll of the dice, I can’t guarantee that Obama will be a great president. On the other hand, I can say with some certainty that the election of Clinton, McCain, or Romney will bring us back to the same divisive failed politics of the past. Thus, I implore you to take a chance on hope, to take a chance on a new style of politics, to take a chance on youth, to take a chance on change, to take a chance on the skinny guy with a funny name. Tomorrow when you enter the voting booth, take a chance and roll the dice with a vote for Obama.
Here are 2 prime examples: Obama co-sponsored the Transparency Act with Senator Coburn which creates a website viewable to the public that lists all agencies/organizations receiving federal funds, the amount of $$$ given, and the nature of the grant or contract. To put it another way, the bill makes it easier for people to track where their tax money is going and holds the government more accountable for wasteful spending. Obama was a co-sponsor of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act which strengthens public disclosure requirements regarding lobbying activity, places more restrictions on gifts that members of congress can receive from lobbyists, and mandates disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills. Both the Clinton and Bush presidencies have been marked by secrecy and scandal. I believe that Obama will bring much needed honesty and transparency back to The White House.
There are many aspects to being a president and one of the most important is being a statesman (or woman) and the number one ambassador of the United States to the world. I ask you when the world looks at the United States who do you want to represent us? Hillary Clinton who voted to authorize the Iraq War and would continue the cycle of Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton that makes us seem like a nation controlled by family dynasties and not the democratic constitutional republic that we are? Or even worse the face of McCain or Romney who have talked about keeping us needlessly as an occupying police force in Iraq for the foreseeable future? Or will they see Barack Hussein Obama? Obama a self made man of modest up bringing, mixed race, who representatives a new generation of American voters. More so than any other candidate, I believe Obama with his personal story and charisma can bring us closer to our traditional European allies and maybe, just maybe, lessen the flames of hatred that burn against us in pockets of The Middle East and Africa.
Obama has not just shown an ability to unite and enthrall usually politically disenfranchised groups such as African Americans and people under 30, but has also shown an ability to get political heavy weights (and in some cases I mean that term literally) such as Ted Kennedy to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano behind him. Though Obama himself is relatively inexperienced, I believe he will be able to assemble an A-List cabinet who could help him transition into the presidency and advise him.
Finally, he is charismatic and can give a kick ass speech. While this seems like a juvenile reason to support someone, sometimes it takes someone with these abilities to galvanize the nation to tackle a problem. For example, my pet issue that I believe is the number one issue of our times that affects everything from national security to the environment is energy independence. Many candidates on both sides of the political spectrum have recognized this and talked about starting on the road to take the tough steps to reach that goal. The same way that JFK set the course to unite the nation in the common goal of reaching the moon, I believe Obama’s ability to inspire can unite the nation in the critical common goal of energy independence.
Just like the roll of the dice, I can’t guarantee that Obama will be a great president. On the other hand, I can say with some certainty that the election of Clinton, McCain, or Romney will bring us back to the same divisive failed politics of the past. Thus, I implore you to take a chance on hope, to take a chance on a new style of politics, to take a chance on youth, to take a chance on change, to take a chance on the skinny guy with a funny name. Tomorrow when you enter the voting booth, take a chance and roll the dice with a vote for Obama.
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