Driving around Fort Riley with a Kerry-Edwards bumper sticker on my car was not the most popular or recommended thing to do in the election year of 2004. Most soldiers on the base were still very pro-Bush and supportive of the war in Iraq. Americans had still not come down off the 9/11 defensive mentality that President Bush had been manipulating to justify his Iraq war policy. And the Republicans still had a monopoly on being the party that was perceived to be most supportive of the troops.
I knew what was at stake in the 2004 presidential election. A possible change of course for the war in Iraq or more of the same incompetence, arrogance, and disregard for helpful outside opinion that had plagued the Bush administration for the entirety of their first tenure.
The true reality of the war was kept secret from the American people and was shadowed out with macho slogans like "bring em on" and "we'll fight the terrorists in Baghdad so we don't have to fight them in Boston." It was nothing short of pure nonsense that was proven to be an effective smokescreen for the Bush administration to taint Iraq with 9/11, Al-Qaeda, and the war on terror.
Despite the atmosphere of intolerance for dissent by soldiers in the ranks... I was never persecuted by the military for being a Democrat, supporting John Kerry, or being against the war. Of course there were the individual spats between myself and others who didn't share my political views, but all-in-all, the men I served with were the best of the best who would put their lives on the line in a second for any American regardless of politics.
Once president Bush had won reelection I knew we would continue on the same disastrous path for another four years. There would be more unnecessary war, tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, disdain for the poor and middle-class, and a continuation of the total unshared sacrifice of America as a whole.
I'm just so very thankful that we have less than one year left of this tragedy that is the Bush administration.
Now we can set our sights on the 2008 election with hope that a new leader will bring about the change we so desperately need. I had supported John Edwards for his bottom-line plan to end the war in Iraq and his strong populist views that I believe to be the remedy for the setbacks facing America.
Now that John Edwards is no longer running I have many choices as to whom I can support for president. However, it is not a hard choice for me to make being that the biggest issue for America, in my opinion, is the war in Iraq.
I believe that the war in Iraq has been the precursor to most of the problems we are dealing with today socially and economically. It has drastically changed our foreign policy for the worst and damaged our image in the world community. It has hopelessly divided us here at home. It has substantially decreased our national security by expending our military to a breaking point. And the war has overwhelmingly contributed to our national debt rising to astronomical figures that will take generations to pay off.
We have to stop the bleeding. Who can do that?
Barack Obama had the prescience and foresight to oppose the war in Iraq before it started. His plan to end the war is sound and sincere. His record demonstrates his willingness and desire to bring our troops home without hesitation. He will follow through by making sure that our troops are cared for upon their return. He is armed with the moral authority to once again engage our allies in the world community and heal the wounds that were inflicted upon those relationships by the Bush administration. He will promote peace in the Middle East with strong diplomatic efforts that will bring all nations of that region to the bargaining table without prejudgment and non-starter ultimatums.
Most importantly, Barack Obama will unify the American people. His success in reaching out to people of all generations and walks of life is unmatched. He is equipped with a tremendous ability to inspire people all over the world to once again believe in America. His message of change and hope has crystallized with the American people and is spearheading this entire presidential race from coast to coast.
Barack Obama is simply the epitome of the American dream.
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Posted January 31, 2008 | 05:49 PM (EST)