Why I've Decided to Support Barack Obama

Dear Arianna,

On March 15 of 2007, I wrote you a letter at your request based on our discussions about what qualities I think our next President should have. At that time, I told you that it was still too early in the race and that I still had a number of questions and that therefore it would take me some time to really look at the field and make up my mind. As you know, I have a number of people whom I consider friends in the race and I certainly didn't want to be disrespectful to any of them.

I also told you that I am only one vote and that I doubted that anybody really cared. Quite frankly, I was surprised at the reaction to my article that you published on the Huffington Post

In that article, I enumerated a number of criteria upon which I would make my decision as to what candidate I would support in the presidential elections. I wrote that while I have a number of personal reasons to support my friends, I would come to a conclusion after listening carefully to all the various parties, and that only then would I present my thoughts to you. I wrote that I would arrive at a decision that, while still bearing some emotional taint, would best represent my thoughts on who should be President.

My first criterion is trust. Trust is the basis of every relationship and clearly, the American people s trust and faith in our government have been eroded by the past seven years of the Bush/Cheney administration. There has been a distinct lack of independent thinking in the Judicial, Executive and Legislative branches of our government. I know about compromises, but some of this has gone beyond compromise.

Politics has become an ugly game. During the Clinton administration, America's image was that of a strong, confident and kind world leader. Today, that image has been deeply soiled both in the eyes of the world at large, and in those of our own citizens.

Since then, I have been looking for a leader who, above all, will lead by example and who is above politics and special interests. I have been looking for a leader who is smart enough to align him or herself with the majority of Americans, but willing to side with the minority if he or she believes that this is right for the future of our nation. I have been looking for a leader who is willing to compromise to get things done but does not let the polls decide the nature or strength of his or her beliefs. I have been looking for a leader that will practice the politics of inclusion and will help solve the many challenges that are facing us today and will best represent the next generation, who, after all, have everything at stake.

I have listened to the arguments that neither a woman nor a minority could get elected in this country. I have even heard the argument that some will not vote for such a person because they think others will not vote for them. These assertions I find to be ridiculous. If everybody thought that way, nobody would vote his or her conscience. The herd would decide. In my mind, American people are far too intelligent to decline to vote for a deserving candidate because of that candidate s gender, race or religion. Incidentally, I find the argument made against Mitt Romney, based on his religion, to be just as silly and unfair.

I am a legal immigrant whose parents went from Russia to China to Chile to finally reach the United States and thereby give me a chance to have a better life. I served six years in the US Army Reserve, went to college, have a successful career and have dedicated my life to being a good citizen. I have lived the American dream and that is the dream I want for our children and all children everywhere. I see that we are facing economic challenges and that the way in which we meet these challenges will have an immense impact on all the other trials we must face. It is not only about cutting taxes, it s about balancing our budget and living within our means. We cannot be a shopping mall for the rest of the world.

We cannot hope to improve our environment without making sacrifices. Our parents made sacrifices during World War II and the war in Vietnam. We owe them a willingness to do the same, especially when it comes to health care and social security. We need to provide for our children an educational system that is better than anywhere else in the world. We owe the less advantaged, the elderly and the sick the best of our efforts. We face a nuclear threat and the threat of terrorism. I believe it was Einstein who said that he did not know all the weapons that would be used in World War III, but he believed that World War IV would be fought with sticks and stones.

We have to live by what we preach. We are all God's children and I think it is naïve to think that one person could solve all of these problems. It is really up to all of us to shake off the politics of division and demand a change. We need more than 47% of the people to show up to the polls representing the other 53%. We live in a shrunken world in which everyone sees what everyone else is doing, as though we re all living in a glass house. The fact that this glass is breakable forces us to ask ourselves serious questions about the nature of humanity. We have all been sold a bill of goods, packed with lies and corruption, that highlights the differences between all of us. The future of our country and our world depends on our ability to start highlighting the similarities, the common ground upon which we can all stand. We need to be a part of the Global Community, not a self-proclaimed brothers keeper.

It is for all of these reasons that my vote will go to Barack Obama. His policy proposals are very close to those of his Democratic rivals with a few exceptions. He has flaws like all of us. Politics, however, like much else in life, is all about timing. That s what matters. It is about the face that represents our choice of leadership. That is why I supported John F. Kennedy, Gary Hart and Bill Clinton. They were the right candidates for their time. Senator Obama's journey is not unlike my own, though I am white, Jewish and have red hair. His face, in my view, best represents America an America that's willing to change. And yes, he's strong enough to take on military challenges.

Many people criticize Senator Obama based upon their perception that he's lacking in experience. In my view, it certainly seems that few people could hope to have as much experience as Vice President Cheney. It is less a matter of experience than one of judgment, I believe. There are a great many people around the world who believe that America has lost its moral compass. I believe that Senator Obama is the right choice to lead the next generation of Americans out of what appears to me to be a position of great peril. We need a leader who will follow his conscience at the helm of a nation of citizens who are not afraid to vote theirs. There are those in this world who will hate us no matter what we do, but following the compass of our consciences, we will have behind us the moral and legal justifications for our actions -- actions that for the first time in too long we can support together as a nation. America can once again lead the way to hope and human dignity for all.

In my view, the Obama Candidacy is about more than just an end to the war abroad. I'm not suggesting an immediate withdrawal of our troops from foreign soil. It is about an end to the war in America -- a cultural and religious war that eats at our nation's soul. Repairing America's image to the world is going to be one of the major challenges that this country will be facing. We are all immigrants, or the children of immigrants, who have come to this land looking for the American Dream. I believe that as the next President of the United States, Barack Obama can make this dream a reality.

Perhaps this will convince no one. But, now you have my opinion.

Warmest Regards,

Mike Medavoy

Comments

[RedBarberian]

Obama says he will make nicey-nice with the pharmaceutcal misanthropes. His health plan will be strictly voluntary. (Can you imagine auto insurance being voluntary?) He is either naive or elitist or both or more cynical than he pretends. He has also spread the Republican canard that social security is about to go bust. Actually, on my wish list for 08 is the reelection of Al Gore.

[marcialosangeles]

Please tell me how Barack's words have translated into action. He states he is against the war--from the get-go. But did he support Ned Lamont the anti-war candidate for US Senate in CT? NO, he supported Lieberman. Did he vote against the confirmation of Condi Rice for Sec of State? No, he voted to confirm.
Did he vote against the '05 Patriot Act? No.
Did he return to the USSenate to talk against and vote against the Iranian Reolutional Guards being classified as terrorists? No.
Did he return to the US Senate to protest the recent FISA bill? No. (Dodd did and successfully delayed its passing). Just what did Barack DO that actually gives you so much confidence? He sure talks a good game. I have not seen any action. And if he really thinks he is offering us a new Washington--then why does he brag that 40 of his highest foreign policy consultants are from the Clinton White House. Just what are we really going to get from Barack???? I wish I had your confidence. Show me the actions. I've heard the words.

[lamarguerite]

Well put, Michael.

I too support Barack Obama. And I need to share what I have been hearing in some Democratic circles.

That Barack Obama will not get elected because he is a black man. That regardless of his potential as a leader, one should think strategically, and not support him, because many Americas are racists.

The same people assert that Hillary cannot be fully herself, that she has to think twice before she speaks, or else she will get nailed. Hence what may seems as a lack of honesty on her part.

To these people, I go by what I see and what I hear. And Obama, to me, sounds and looks like the real thing. He is the only one to get me enthused. For he embodies what we need most at this point, leadership, vision, and authenticity.

Being an environmentalist, I have also been following all the candidates on the issue of climate change. Obama is the only one to have come out with a clear, decisive policy in that respect.

http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com

[bates]

I too love the things Obama says and his vision of what politics/government should be, but what it comes down to for me is: Can he deliver? For that reason I'm supporting Richardson. He's already demonstrated he's committed to promoting green/sustainable energy and universal health care - he's making progress on it already in his own state as a popular second-term governor, and this while working with a Republican legislature. He's committed to getting us out of Iraq ASAP and has the foreign policy/negotiating credentials to give me hope that he might be able to do it with the least amount of damage. He's got a sensible and humane take on immigration, and knows the issue well as a border state governor. The conservative Cato Institute rated him the most fiscally responsible Democratic governor, which should play well with independents and despairing "traditional" Republicans. He may not be as charismatic or be as polished a speaker, but we're hiring someone to do a very important job here and he has the best qualifications, hands down. Obama is appealing and has good theory, but he hasn't demonstrated he can do the things he says he'd like to do yet. I hope with time he will, but right now I don't feel like gambling. We have a huge mess to dig out of and we need proven experience and competency in foreign and domestic arenas. Reconsider and go with Richardson.

[cblcar]

I'll vote for Obama in 2016. By then Biden will have turned the country and the world around Obama will be ready to take the reins. But not now. Not with the world the way it is. This is no time for a rookie. Biden '08.

[mlmstate]

Obama hasn't really done anything. His is a cult of pure personality. Beating Hillary will be a whole lot harder than beating nut-case Keyes. Get your excuses ready for Feb. 6th.

[ang4ever]

.
Why I Decided To Vote For Hillary Clinton !

[LenP]

I hope this country will step up and do the right thing by electing Senator Obama.

And if he becomes President, God help him. He will have many important choices to make for the future of this country and the world.

I believe he is a good man and I wish him well.

[Hoelder]

I want to add what my Latin professor said in college and I translate: "It is not important to know a book by heart, it is important to know the shelf the book is in." To translate into the presidential candidates: it is not import to select a candidate who has experience in all things, it is important to support a candidate who knows how to pick his cabinet and advisers. For me the question is who can overcome the legacy of the sitting president which above all he will inherit. The main focus right now seems to bridge the abyss of left and right. I do not think that is possible. I believe the new president has to carefully chose the battles he can win and change the political agenda to the challenges in energy, environment and social injustice. I think that Obama can succeed because we know that Republicans have a no mercy, no prisoner and take it all mentality even if it conflicts with their base. You cannot negotiate with people that do not want to negotiate. Obama will have to bypass those and directly address and convince voters of what he stands for. I still have doubts, though, whether the proverbial American People have the guts to elect a minority president. As it stands with me, I would be a happy American under President Obama.

[rjcrane]

There are many fine qualities about Obama to admire and that make him a good choice to become the next President although my guess is we could have all said the same about Jimmy Carter and look what happened to his presidency and how some of his own betrayed him. So not sure you can function that well in a Presidency and swim with the sharks if you haven't been one of them before to understand fully how they operate. Will Obama find the bugs in the oval office that his opponents will plant or even think to look for them? How will he handle people that make will make it their mission and spare no expense to destroy him?

RJ Crane
topplebush.com

[HAP]

This is an excellent piece, that captures what many of us feel.

[tumblewind]

I am sick to death of the 'Christian Nation' nonsense! All it is, is right wing propaganda at it's absolute worst! Everyone knows we are a Christian Nation, so why do we have to wrap ourself s in that religion and show the rest of the world how ignorant and backward we really are??? We are sinking into a pit of mediocrity that the Christian fascist's have put us in. They don't like birth control, stem cell research, gays, illegitimacy or anything of a sexual nature. They subscribe to everything rotten in the Christian religion. Their ideas of Christianizing the world through war is an insult to our troops who risk their lives every day for Bush's stupidity. They have become a greedy band of warrior's who indeed have frighting connotations to them. They are multi-billion dollar corporations who don't even contribute taxes to this country. They have ridden that gravy train for years and expect the taxpayer to shell out more tax dollars to support their schools and pet abstinence projects. When you brainwash your children the way they do we are truly headed for the bottom of the heap! Isn't it about time we grew up and left this 'Twilight Zone' Bush and his Christian cohorts have created for us. Isn't there enough room in this country for something other than a Christian????

[jazzman]

Unity is not uniformity. The right wing has attempted to coerce the nation into uniformity through 'with us or against us' black and white mentality. The evangelical wing of the Christendom has attempted to make Christianity the root of America rather than the Constitution and enforced a uniformity of religious culture upon the country. It's now time to rid ourselves of these convoluted ideas of unity which actually have left us divided and look for true unity which is the respect for all peoples and cultures wrapped in a Constitutional and legal framework that upholds the rights of all people and forbids the trampeling of those rights by others. If Obama can move us in this direction then he should be our leader.

[poopdeck]

Since I am an atheist I have not the foggiest idea of any religious war going on in our country. And a cultural war? What a silly notion. I can go to my Houston Symphony concerts without being bugged by "cultural" protesters outside.

[jptona]

And you also supported Eugene McCarthy