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

[fullkelly]

I will put my 1960 Marine Corps experience to use by voting for another person who has leadership experience. Hillary is best suited through her National and Intrnational experience to keep "US" out of war(s).

[LostInTheStars]

I like Obama. I rank him high on intelligence and depth of character. He has the potential to be a good, possibly great president. Nevertheless, I have decided NOT to vote for him in the primary for the very reason that Medavoy has decided that he WILL vote for him: Obama's pledge to find common ground with the Republicans - who have almost completely dismantled the New Deal. Why should Democrats declare a truce when they have already lost so much territory? I want a fighter, not someone who begins the negotiations from a position of compromise. I'm afraid Obama will make too many concessions to big pharma, big oil, and the military-industrial complex. I think Obama's health care plan is weak and incorporates too many right-wing ideas. I am deeply disturbed when he suggests that Social Security is a big problem. The corporate world that rules America and the world will not give up their power without a fight. So I'm for Edwards. But if Obama wins the nomination I will support him.

[ednadumpling]

voting present will certainly provide the leadership we need

[abbiehoffmansghost]

Sorry, trust? It doesn't work when it comes to politics especially on the national level. It's naive and removes any sense of objectivity about what we can and should expect of the candidates in the current system. So for me I have to go for a candidate whose mouth does not parrot the corporations or the media or party talking points. Neither Clinton or Obama meets those criteria. A healthy dose of skepticism allows me to consider NO Republicans and for Democrats only Kucinich and Gravel and even then I don't expect more that a percentage of issues that they embrace to meet my beliefs and align with them. They are the best that we can do or should expect under the current system.

[bumpersticker]

I've reached the same conclusion as Mike. I choose to turn my Vietnam-forged sword into a plowshare, and cast a vote for Obama if I can.

What Bush/Cheney/Rush have exposed in my own soul is that the embrace of blame, denigration, and the pursuit of winning for the sake of winning destroys the best in a person, in a group, and in a nation.

My generation split over Vietnam and each side has harbored a brooding, divisive "them" ever since. My one vote will not be given to "show them" but to hold up my hand and say, "peace."

[OhgReaTone]

You are correct. Obama has managed to transcend the problem of race - he is truly an African-American, rather than an African living in America.
Ohg.
http://thefiresidepost.com/2007/10/11/obama-the-soul-of-black-folk-incarnated/

[Friday025]

I heard both Hillary and Barack have their hands in dirty money. I am a woman-of-color with a post-graduate degree. I am also 26 years old. I'll be honest, I'm sick and tired of old white men running the country (no disrespect to old white men because my father is one...but hopefully you get my hyperbole).

I really pulled for Hillary and/or Barack initially because they seemed different, considering what this country has been used to for generations. Yet, I've heard a great deal of negative criticism that both Hill and Barack have their hands in dirty corporate money, and are sleeping with greedy lobbyist. Can anyone validate these claims? (Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic, I really want to do my homework here).

I've even gone as far as looking at Ron Paul...but something throws me off about him as well (it's the trust thing again).

So as a young woman-of-color hoping to take part in electing a President who will actually lead this country in a progressive direction, can anyone offer me some sound feedback (as good as you can in a virtual space)?

I've given up on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC as "reliable" candidacy sources...(I watch FOX, but for entertainment purposes only:)

Hopelessly undecided...

[fullkelly]

America is a nation in decline brought about by and through the arrogance and ignorance of power hungry elitist who have fed their egos and multiplied their wealth at the expense of not only America but the entire world.

America is a nation in decline in dire need of experienced leadership. America is a nation in need of a leader who would not only surround himself/herself with knowledgeable trustworthy councilers and/or advisers, but a leader who has enough experience to know what to do with the counciling he or she recieves.

Hillary Clinton has BOTH the NATIONAL and the INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AMERICA NEEDS to rebuild our reputation and our standing in the global community. All the speeches in the world filled with platitudes of a man's childhood experiences brings absolutely NOTHING in the form of experienced leadwership.

America is in DIRE NEED of an EXPERIENCED LEADER not just a speaker only. America needs a PRESIDENT with EXPERIENCE not an EXPERIMENTAL president.

[syzito]

So by electing Obama peace will rule the world?You can not be that stupid and naive.The problem I have with him is his statement that all guns should be banned in America and only the police and military should be allowed to have them.Can you spell socialism and a complete despotic government?In fact most of the democrats are elitist in personality and carry the philosophical assumption of; {I know better than you so do as I say not as I do}.

[RileysMom]

and for the reasons you've listed above - I support Hillary Clinton

Obama is an empty promise that cannot go the distance.

[cuthbertallgood]

As a gay man, and a progressive, there is no way I can vote for Obama. He pretty much threw the gays out of his tent, you know, and he does call homophobes 'good, decent, moral people.'
So my questions to those who support Obama are as follows:
1. What sort of a campaign will Obama run against Huckabee? Will it be a race to be the strongest anti gay candidate? How much rhetoric will you put up with?
2. You may not know who McClurkin is, but if you have even once complained about Pat Robertson or Falwell, then you owe it to yourself to Google this man and the 'ex-gay' movement. MClurkin : "gays are tyring to kill our children." Inclusion, healing and hope?

Read Donnie's statements, replacing the word 'gay' with names of other minorities and see how it strikes you.

3.Are you glad to see a Democrat willing to attack a minority group by proxy at offical Democractic campaign events? Can you think of any other examples from Democratic history? Do you want more of that, only toward gays, or do we add other groups as we go along? If other groups, who should be next?

I'd vote against Huckabee under any circumstances. But if I have to vote for Barack Obama, it will be under duress, a vote against the GOP, not for this pandering man of last century's prejudices. I thought we Democrats opposed the Religious Right on principle, not partisanism. Now we are going to BE them. Ready?

Dennis Kucinich, the real deal.

[jrockbg]

I agree with many, that a Hillary administration could be equally divisive as Pres. Bush's. But I do not think that equals a vote for Obama.

[liberalnfree]

The other side is not going to just lay down their arms. If he gets nominated, the Republican noise machine and the hack press will seize on any little flaw in Obama to create a caricature of the man-- probably as weak and liberal and wanting to take their guns away. It is naive to think that Obama can unite the country any more than any other democratic candidate. Whoever gets the nomination will have to be able to take the fight to them, because these are people with whom compromise is impossible.

[GoodGod]

Are you kidding me? This is not a personality contest. Don't be so naive. We need a president that can clean up the huge (and very dangerous) mess that BushCo is leaving behind. Nice guy, "trustworthy" Obama is not the guy for that job. Clinton, Dodd, Biden or Richardson can do this. Or Gore (who might still win if he jumped in just after Iowa).

[bklynsam]

Perfect!!! Thank you, Mike !!!!