Kevin Hamilton's Post Prop-8 Letter

Many of you undoubtedly have seen this letter from Kevin Hamilton in light of Proposition 8 passing. Our church has sent out a statement basically saying "Hey, we were just exercising our right to vote and voice our opinions. What's your problem?"

Well.

Here's the letter and my responses to each point:

In the aftermath of the recent election, we may find ourselves oddly on the defensive regarding our support for the Yes on Proposition 8 cause. Our young people have been especially subject to mean spirited comments by high school friends and teachers. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We did nothing wrong. In fact, we did everything that a civic minded American can and should do. I have put together a few facts that help me to appreciate our position better. For example:

1. Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California. There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.

2. Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6% of the Yes vote and 2.4% of the total Proposition 8 vote.

And yet the members of our church donated nearly half the money to the cause.

People aren’t angry at us because we make up the majority of the people in California who voted yes – they’re angry because we bankrolled it. Money talks in politics, as we all know. You could say that without the LDS so greatly invested, this proposition would have lost.

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.

Actually the Church did, well within their legal limits (something like a little over $2000), but they did donate.

Encouraged? When the Prophet says jump, we ask how high. That's how it is. We follow the prophet or risk being unworthy of many, many blessings like going to the temple. Yes, some people understand the principle of praying to know for yourself, but most consider this a matter of belief vs. non belief.

Encouraged? Some people were called into their leader's offices and were asked specifically if they would be willing to give more.

Flyers were placed in the foyers of ward buildings. Sign up sheets were passed around. Announcements and discussions took up the majority of some class times. Donations were “encouraged” over the pulpit. Some people were strongly encouraged – bishops and leaders alike. I’m glad I wasn’t a leader. Makes me wonder if I would’ve been released from my calling.

That makes some wonder about the tax-exemption thing. I don't think it'll happen. I think the Church flirted with the line, but nothing will happen.

4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.

And?

5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.

And yet…not. I’ve got all sorts of evidence to the contrary. If they weren’t outright lies, they were half-truths meant to deceive and scare people. If you know law, you know loopholes, and that nothing is cut and dry. Context is everything. Look it up.

6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.

Not as many of our "friends and neighbors" voted as they did back in 2000. About nine percent less. That's a lot of people.

And uh, LA County was 50/50. 16,000 votes separated Yes from No. In a county of millions, that doesn’t hold much clout.

7. African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8. This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.

What does this mean? “It’s not our fault it passed! Go after the blacks! Go after the Hispanics! The Catholics! Just not us, we don’t deserve it!”

You voted for it. You called people, knocked on doors, gave up your life savings in some instances for it. So stand up for it. Be not ashamed. You expressed your right to an opinion, to a vote, to get others to vote - these people are expressing their right to be pissed off. As long as they're peaceful, who cares. And they do want to be peaceful about it - you just always have your idiots on either side.

8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).

See response to 7

9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims – all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.

See response to 7.

10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or her self. Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with "civility, respect and love," despite their differing views.

And yet I’ve been chastised for going against the prophet, testimonies have been called into question, various idiots on some discussion boards have declared we should rip up our temple recommends, family and friends can’t really look me in the eye anymore, etc.

I don’t want to be told how to vote, what to think, what to do or I’ll be ex’d, lose my calling, etc. I don’t appreciate those regarding the proponents of 8 as the “moral majority.” I don’t like the Church calling those gay couples who want to marry “selfish.”

11. The Church did not violate the principal [sic] of separation of church and state. This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process, to the extent permitted by law. U.S. election law is very clear that Churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues. The Church as always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.

Like Prohibition?

What about other causes of a moral nature?

You know what else grates me? A story on The View yesterday recounted about a boy with some problems who nobody wanted to adopt. Finally, a couple who specialized in working with kids like him stepped forward and put in papers to adopt him. His reaction? "Somebody wants me!"

It was a gay couple. You're going to tell me this is immoral and wrong? Tell that little boy that.

And can we quit implying that separation of church and state doesn't exist? No, the phrase verbatim doesn't exist in the Constitution, but the idea is absolutely there. We don't live in a theocracy, and I'd prefer to not live in one right now thankyouverymuch.

12. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support, and then vote in the regular electoral process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair, and civil way. Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars, and worse. The fact is, we simply did what Americans do – we spoke up, we campaigned, and we voted.

They spoke out on an issue that concerned them? I know of a handful of people who wouldn’t have voted yes, donated, made phone calls, etc. if the Church hadn’t made an official plea for its members to do all it could to allow it to pass. Pretty sure there are many more.

And we’ve been just as awful to the No on 8 people, calling them selfish and abhorrent to God and that giving them the ability to marry would bring down society and the world as we know it. Yeah. They really should just have thicker skin than that.

Neither side was right in calling names. Don’t for a second think it was just the No side. We got in the mud, we got dirty, deal with it.

Hold your heads up high – you did a great job on this most important cause. We will have more opportunities in the future to participate in our democratic process. Let's remember the lessons learned and do an even better job next time.

These are my personal opinions and thoughts; any errors are mine and in no way reflect official Church policy or doctrine.

Thanks,
Kevin Hamilton

Thanks, Kev.

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The Wait for Eight

Arizona's already passed their version. Florida, too.

As I type this, I find out now California has joined the throng.

After ensuring an Obama win *dance* I went to check the news on our very own Prop 8. What I found around 9 o'clock last night that it was, with 11% of the precincts reporting, passing with 55% to 45%

I used to wonder how I'd feel if that proposition passed, being stuck between that stupid rock and a hard place, but last night I realized that I wanted it to fail, how sad it made me to think it wouldn't.

It was like wondering if I'd get to my polling place, stand there and stare at the ballot, wondering what the right thing to do was.

That didn't happen. I voted without a second thought.

I know I don't need to tell anyone this; it's really none of your business, and it's none of mine to know how you voted unless you care to tell me (or I already know).

But my reaction to the early news last night surprised me, and the news this morning saddens me. The only thing I can think of is that this thing is so headed for the U.S. Supreme Court.

My heart just dropped though. I know, Bad Mormon! But these are people's lives we're voting on. Good people. Good people who only want good things. Good people who don't want to affect our religious beliefs, only to be entitled to their own beliefs, to be entitled to live as anyone else.

In a good faith effort to understand, I went to my bishop on Sunday and tried to see if I'd been missing anything. My bishop is an unapologetic supporter of the cause, and he's been working tirelessly with members of my ward to pass this thing. Though I don't know him very well, I consider myself a decent judge of people and I trusted him (unlike my last bishop...).

I told him I struggled with understanding, that I wanted to do the right thing. Please tell me why this is the right thing.

My gut told me going in this wasn't going to change my mind, and it didn't. I told him most everything I've told you. He asked me why I voted for Prop 22 back in 2000. I think he was expecting a "because the prophet said so" kind of answer, but the truth was that back then I didn't know what the Prophet said (I was very green in the church), I grew up in a Republican household, my mom was for the Prop and I wanted to please her and prove that the Church was good, and well, aren't all LDS Republican? Don't all Christians vote against gay marriage? Isn't acting on homosexual tendencies wrong? I wanted to be good.

I think my answer threw him off, but he was respectful of it. I didn't want to get into a debate with him. I told him it bothered me that so many seem to think I'm going to get ex'd or something for being against this prop. He said he wouldn't put it against me if I was against it. It was between me and the Lord.

It was nice to hear. Though I wasn't looking for his blessing, it was nice to hear, and I wanted to be able to tell you all that too.

Maybe I went in to speak with him as more of a reporter, but anyone who knows me knows I don't treat things of this nature flippantly.

I voted no.

And I hoped with everything in me it fails - the fact that we voted on a person's right to marry just makes me sick. It makes me wish I would have done more to stop it. That I'd have responded to the person who regarded the proponents as "the moral majority."

But I felt too alone and too scared to do more. Even up until yesterday.

Damn.

He won he won he won!!!!!

It was barely 8 o'clock in the evening here in California when Obama was projected winner - not even 8:30 when McCain offered his concession.

People are crying. I'm ecstatic.

333 electoral votes and counting. "Landslide" doesn't even begin to describe this.

Now the idea I and so many others had of having to stay up late tonight, chewing off our fingernails in a repeat of 2000 seems silly.

Barack not only got the blue states, but key red states as well.

He nabbed Pennslyvania almost right away. Then Ohio. And just some minutes ago, Florida.

Hope always wins.

Vote for Barack Obama

Just voted for Obama - I feel amazing.

I know a lot of you are tired of this election and cannot wait for tomorrow morning, but I'm totally jazzed up and can't help but think I could've done or said more. I hope I've said and done enough.

If you haven't voted yet, please go with your gut. Go with hope, not fear. Go with a man who knows what its like to start near the bottom and work his way to the top. Go with a man who put off school and a decent income ($1ok a year) to work in the inner Chicago neighborhoods to help the less fortunate have a better life. Vote for a man who had a single mama. Vote for a man who knows what it's like to not have daddy around. Vote for a man who understands race both black and white - far better than McCain ever will. He's experienced it. He knows. Vote for a man who will tax fairly and use those tax funds for the greater good and not to make the rich richer. Vote for a man who believes in investing in our future. Vote for a man who will fight for you. Vote for a man who is focused and determined, who hasn't compromised his ideals and values for political expediency. He is who he is, and as long as we've known him that has not changed.

Vote for a man who not only believes in himself, but in all of us to make the change necessary to bring this country back to life.

BARACK OBAMA 2008

Would everyone SHUT UP about Socialism!

It's not socialism!

Socialism: social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources. According to the socialist view, individuals do not live or work in isolation but live in cooperation with one another. Furthermore, everything that people produce is in some sense a social product, and everyone who contributes to the production of a good is entitled to a share in it. Society as a whole, therefore, should own or at least control property for the benefit of all its members.

Honestly, it doesn't sound that bad to me. But I know people aren't ready for this. I know the attitudes of most if not all people go against this. You would have to have a body of people ready and willing to follow this. You would have to be purged of most, if not all, corruption. Honestly, I would think more LDS would have a softer spot for this idea.

And no, I'm not anti-Capitalism. I just don't drool at its shrine like some do. It's not by any stretch of the means a perfect system. It leaves too many behind and allows too many to ignore them. It's a class system: upper class and lower class. Middle class is for those who make too much to qualify for assistance and yet too little to thrive. I find, too, that those who are able to break through the lower class threshold somehow think they've license to judge those who have not been able to. It's disgusting.

But anyway.

McCain is capitalizing (haha) on Obama's unfortunate choice of words. McCain and his buddies think it was more than just a freudian slip of the tongue, but...ergh.

By the way, what has proved to add up to a $1 trillion bailout? Buying up banks? Buying so much stock that the government now owns companies like AIG? That's socialist.

The government programs: Welfare, WIC, Food stamps? That's socialist. (agh! these programs suck, too. I think we can do better)

Our public schools, fire, and police? Socialist.

Palin raising taxes on oil companies and handing out the profits thereof in the form of checks to each Alaskan resident? Socialist. (by the way, for what I know, I'm not so much against this.)

When confronted with the fact that the bailout is a huge socialist move, even McCain has said there is a time and a place.

Obama is liberal. He's voted with his party on many, many things. I don't necessarily see this as a problem, though I understand why some do. We want a president who will work with all the people regardless of political convictions. I do believe with everything in me Obama is open to being wrong and listening to others. I know this from the things I've heard him say. I know this from those who have recounted stories of working with him, seeing a junior Congressman speaking with and against veteran Congressmen. He doesn't respectfully defer because of their experience. He was voted into office and he intends to do his job. Not many people do this.

He's a liberal.

He may be more liberal than most.

I appreciate that he's not trying to centralize himself for political expediency. He is who he is.

But what he has suggested is not socialist. He wants to bring taxes back to where they were when Clinton was president. He wants the middle-class to have a tax break and give the top 5% back their taxes because they can afford them. Because, as he's said, as well off as he is, he should not be paying the same taxes as a waitress does.

I know some of you have issues with the ideals behind that. Punish the successful? I get it. I really do.

But we should punish the unsuccessful?

Yeah, that'll help.

I don't see it as punishing the successful as much as I see it as an opportunity for those who have to contribute more to society. I know a lot of you may see this as compelling charity, which is wrong, but then we must work with the attitudes of people. When businesses go up, oftentimes they are required to help build up their surrounding area (fix up the landscaping, streets, etc). This is no different. Let's help. Let's build up when we can. This isn't tithing, people. This is taxes.

Listen, it's easier to make money when you have money. When you have no money, it's really hard to make it - harder still to become comfortable.

We say we want smaller government. Republicans generally support smaller government - unless you're George Bush. Unless you're John McCain.

Oh yeah - and Obama is not calling for Universal Healthcare. His plans will not, unfortunately, cover everyone. It's a step though.

By the way, I'm going to post quotes over the next few days in the hopes it will sway those who are not planning to vote for him. I think many conservatives would be surprised. You can find the quotes to the right side of your screen.

How can you NOT vote for Barack Obama?

I'd really like to know.

I don't want to hear about Bill Ayers. I don't want to hear about Obama's lack of experience, either.

Honestly, it's been done. Both arguments are easy enough to refute.

Give me specifics. Policy. Character. Don't give me the crap about McCain being a POW. We all know it, we all really revere him for it, but it's been done. Let's find something else to point at, if we can.

I'd also like to know if you're voting FOR McCain or against Obama? Or are you voting for a 3rd party candidate (and why) or none at all?

I just don't get it. The more I hear from Obama, the more I don't get why people don't like him. Forget about the Liberal thing! I mean, damn! Listen to what he's saying!

I was incredibly impressed with him when Rachel Maddow interviewed him. This is an excerpt from their discussion last night:

"MADDOW: Well, yes, actually. I mean, other Democrats, you will hear them talk about the GOP as the party that's been wrong on all the big stuff. Creating Social Security, civil rights, the War in Iraq. But, you don't really do that. Do you think there is a stark difference between the parties?

"OBAMA: Well, I do think there's a difference between the parties, but here's my belief. That I'm talking to voters. And I think they're a lot of Republican voters out there, self-identified, who actually think that what the Bush administration has done, has been damaging to the country.

"And, what I'm interested in, is how do we build a working majority for change? And if I start off with the premise that it's only self-identified Democrats who I'm speaking to, then I'm not going to get to where we need to go. If I can describe it as not a blanket indictment of the Republican Party, but instead describe it as the Republican Party having been kidnapped by a incompetent, highly ideological subset of the Republican Party, then that means I can still reach out to a whole bunch of Republican moderates who I think are hungry for change, as well."

You can read the rest of the transcript and view the interview here

Fellow LDS especially: how can you watch a McCain rally, a McCain campaign ad, or just listen to the man and Palin speak - all of the hate and the snarling and the pointing of fingers...

And then listen to Barack who refuses to sink as low as McCain and Palin; who, when his supporters "booed" after the mention of McCain said "Hey, don't boo. Vote."

Work with me on a semi-decent analogy for a moment. The starkness of atmosphere between the two campaigns reminds me of attending Conference in SLC seven years ago. On one side you had people with their hate-filled signs damning waiting Priesthood to hell while the Priesthood decided to respond by singing "I am a Child of God."

Stark difference.

Obama is classy. He's intelligent. He's courageous. He isn't quick to anger or accusation. He respects people.

He's human and has faults. I don't agree with or love everything, but nobody is ideal.

I just don't understand why anyone would want McCain in office. All he's doing is spreading fear and allowing hatred to blossom. He has said very little about what he intends to do. Sure, we know about his health care plan, the one that is dismal, at best. Who can live on $2500 ind/$5000 family annually on health care?

Are you kidding me? You'd HAVE to get your own private insurance to supplement, and then what? If you have a pre-existing condition, you're screwed. If you make no money, you're screwed.

Yeah, I have a hang up on the preexisting condition thing. It's...beyond me.

And besides that, he's screaming about Obama having to raise taxes when he admitted he'll have to raise them, too - for his health plan. The one that sucks.


McCain can't seem to talk as much about himself as he seems to want to talk about Obama. It reminds me of the church I used to attend where the pastor would start praying and suddenly start talking to the devil.

It just doesn't make sense.


He's drowning. He's flailing. And the only supporters I see are either the blind ones or the ones so full of racism and hate (I've heard "dirty Arab!"). I hate to think that perhaps some of my "brothers and sisters" would vote for this man just because he's Republican.

He's not what we need. Maybe eight years ago McCain was a "maverick" (take a drink), but he's a puppet now.

McCain instills no sense of pride within me. He doesn't seem sure of himself. Colin Powell said it all (and I read today that Ronald Reagan's Chief of Staff endorsed Obama today. OUCH!).

I don't respect McCain. He won't set his supporters straight, not until it gets so bad he has to. While the moment where he corrected the older woman who spat "Arab" was refreshing, he could have done better. "Arab" isn't a bad word. He could've said "He's not an 'Arab' but even if he was, so?" Then he could have continued with "He's a good, decent man who I happen to disagree with."

Haven't we learned? Japanese internment camps? Don't we remember?

And then Joe the freaking Plumber (take another drink. Two.), McCain's "blue collar mascot" who is getting a record and book deal. And has a publicist. The guy he allows to talk policy with supporters. The one who is agreeing with those who feel a vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel (see previous post). He has no control over his campaign. NONE.

Yeah.

Please. Don't vote McCain.

Obama '08.

McCain on Meet the Press

Have fun, kids!

I hope McCain supporters will watch this as well. Meet the Press is arguably the most respected political talk show out there. It really is a shame Tim Russert isn't around anymore...He'll be missed next week for sure.

Scroll down to "Netcast" All of the McCain clips should be from Sunday. Unfortunately, I can't find anything that captures the entire interview, but this should be enough.

Squirm, Baby, Squirm!

I love Meet the Press.

(I know! Not a Prop 8 entry! Wow!)

If anyone missed it this morning, you really ought to go see if you can find a clip or watch your DVR.

I mean, I have the transcript, but it doesn't do near the justice it ought to. You can't see McCain's tic like blinking, figeting, stammering; his forced smile (you know, the one that says he's trying hard to not seethe certain words through his teeth)...did I mention fidgeting?

He backpeddled and, as my husband described it, did a bit of fillibustering. Tom Brokaw kept showing clips of previous McCain appearances on the show, at various rallies, etc. from the past that totally contradict the John McCain of today.

Talk about an inadvertent stuffing of the foot in the mouth. It was like watching a tennis match, with one competitor standing tall and calm while the other slouched, acted jittery, and couldn't seem to return the serve.

And ol'Sarah really isn't helping the cause. She's referring to the President as unpopular (which, I know "duh" but Sarah's supposed to be wooing the base. Insulting the base's Budda, so to speak, won't help things). She's referred to the campaign's robocalls as "irritating," which I tend to think is more her attempt to be folksy again - she's so folksy - but the campaign itself has tirelessly defended their tactics and strategies, and as of late, the robocalls have been a large part of it.

(speaking of, I guess Barack's campaign passed around robocalls to decry McCain's use of the robocall, hahahaha)

Some are calling Palin's acts and words as of late "rogue" and there are whispers that, since the polls are looking so dismal (but don't tell John that!), she's working on her own political future.

Ahhh, politics.

It shouldn't be funny, though I do admit to some giggling, that watching the McCain campaign lately is a little like watching a nasty spider wither as it dies, but the desperation levels have reached a bit of a tragic humor level.

I am not so naive as to believe Obama has it in the bag - we've learned that lesson before - but it's looking good. I think even McCain understands this.

There's just something cool and confidence-instilling about Obama right now. He's cool, calm, and collected. McCain can't seem to stand up these days.

I wish my husband wasn't so bogged down with homework, though he will be home November 4th....I won't be alone for the first time ever on election night! Yay!

I just hope we don't have a recurrence of the 2000 election. Silly, young me was up until midnight that night, gnawing at my fingernails in the hopes that Bush would win.

I don't want to be up again. Really, everyone, there's no use for it.

Please don't vote McCain just because you're LDS and it's somehow written in between the lines of the covenants we make at baptism. Look at the issues, look at the man, read the articles.

McCain and the neo-conservative values/principles are hardly conducive to what we believe in our core. You cry out that we should vote yes on 8 because of the Prophet? I say vote Obama because you believe in being good, getting better, and in serving your fellow man.

I truly believe Obama has our best interests at heart, much moreso than McCain, and if you insist on throwing around the "socialist" label, I'll be more than happy to blog on that as well.

Obama '08!

To all the lovely sign snatchers

You're idiots.

You know, this is one thing I don't get. It's childish and lame. It only says that you've no other recourse, that you're so desperate, that you'll trespass and steal signs.

It also says, in the case of Proposition 8, you're just as prejudiced as you claim the "yes" crowd is. It says you're scared. It says you have the same lack of respect as you claim you or your friends are victim of.

Just like you have your right to freedom of speech, so do those who don't agree with you. It's one of the lovely things about living where we do.

I have every faith that what is supposed to happen, will happen. What you think should happen may not, but truth always prevails in the end. Sometimes it takes time, sometimes it doesn't, but truth always prevails.

Trust in that. Be the bigger person. Let's not resort to name calling, sign snatching, etc. It says more about us than it does about them.

As for the question as to how I think this will affect churches should Proposition 8 fail, I imagine graffiti and other hate crimes would be happening now. It's no secret that many Christian churches are very much against this proposition. What's stopping the backlash now?

It's just sign stealing, and I don't mean to say that as if to brush it aside. What I am saying is that the law is on the side of the anti-8 crowd, and if they wanted to do something worse they would now.

As far as I can tell, that hasn't happened yet. We're allowed to believe as we will. We're allowed to disagree. If someone feels the need to violently attack anyone who is against gay marriage, the law will undoubtedly be on the side of the attacked.

There will always be those who feel they have to resort to baser methods to prove a point.

On an ironic note, I just noticed two of our pumpkins were stolen overnight. Mmph.

Anyway, listen: the Church's stance on gay marriage is no secret. It's only expected that they would feel the need to take an official stance on this proposition. Everyone wants to think they'll be a victim of their beliefs. Let's not forget, though, that signs are stolen in every election.

Did anything happen after Proposition 22 passed back in 2000? For those unfamiliar with California politics, Proposition 22 called for the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. The California Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional and overturned it this past May 15th. Proposition 8 calls for an amendment to make Proposition 22 constitutional.

Seriously though - did anything happen? I don't remember anything earth shattering happening. This kind of thing, the sign snatching, happens every election year.

I mean, somebody felt it necessary to remove half of our Obama '08 sticker on one of our cars in the last few months. Classy, right?

I actually laughed. We live in one of, if not the, most conservative county in the state. As far as I can tell, we're the only ones with an Obama anything.

It's no more personal than it has been in the past. I'd be rather surprised - and dismayed, don't get me wrong - if these kinds of actions continued and escalated after November 4th.

I really think we're all better than that.

Why Barack Obama?

I'm going to do my best to address the question directly and not go off on McCain or Palin.

That would be a fun separate entry though...hm.

Over the past year or so, I've received e-mails regarding the frightening entity that is Barack Obama. He's a radical Muslim (false), he attended a radical Muslim school known as a "madrassa" (false), his middle name is Hussein (true - but c'mon, are we really going there? let's grasp at another straw, shall we?), his stepfather, Lolo Soetero is a radical Muslim (false)

etc. etc. etc. Check out Snopes.com, people. Even if the email you receive says Snopes has already been checked, do it yourself. The authors of these emails hope you're just stupid enough to trust what they say. Don't let them call you stupid.

I've looked all of this up. I've been looking at Mr. Obama for quite some time - I'd even say a few years, now. At first, I wasn't thrilled with a few of his stances, like those wedge issues (Roe v. Wade, etc), but upon exhaustive introspection, I find I feel the same way. Read the previous entry and its comments to understand why.

Really, though, these issues distract from what would be true substance. I like Barack for a number of reasons:

1) He won't be intimidated.
I'm going to say this once, because I know everyone's heard it so often our ears flinch: he was against the Iraq war on the onset and spoke out against it. I heard that speech, and it took guts.

Not only that, though, but when Bush wanted yet more funds to support this war last fall, Barack spoke out against it when many were afraid to. Bush likes to put the fear of God into people by warning of the world crumbling to bits if we don't do what he says. Barack didn't take the bait and stuck by his principles. His quote:

I will not support funding for a failed policy. It is long past time for the Republicans to stop filibustering a responsible removal of our troops from Iraq, and for the President to stop threatening to veto anything that is not a blank check for his failed strategy.

Our troops must not bear the burden for the failure of Iraq's leaders to reconcile, nor should they be kept in Iraq to counter Iran.

For his entire statement, visit the page at Project Vote Smart


2) One of the greatest characteristics of this country is that you can succeed, even when working from the ground up. Obama has done this.
A major part of what pulls so many to America is that it is known as "the land of opportunity." Anyone, if they work hard enough, can accomplish whatever it is they want to here.

By basic definition, Barack came from a broken family. He never knew his father. His grandparents raised him for some time. He rebelled. He struggled. He had ill and confused feelings toward many things.

BUT.

He overcame. This man went to Harvard, became the first African-American Harvard Law Review president. He's practiced as a civil rights lawyer and taught Constitutional Law in Chicago, IL.

This man has tenacity and is unafraid (many have expressed their discomfort at having a President who very well may be the victim of an assasination - Barack is undoubtedly aware of this danger, but he presses forward).

Either way, he's a wonderful example to disadvantaged and otherwise advantaged youth alike. I'm going to speak to any Christian people reading right now and say that Barack's time in Chicago is more Christ-like than anything I've seen in other politicians.


3) He cares about the "little" people.
He put law school and corporate life on hold to work with a church in Chicago, IL to better the lives and living conditions in poor Chicago neighborhoods. When he concluded he could do more for them if he held office, he went into politics.

If he cares about them, to the tune of living in poverty himself to do it, then he'll remember the poor when he is in office. I'm tired of hearing about the rich getting richer. I understand the Republican doctrine of helping corporations to have more money so they can create more jobs, etc, but that just isn't happening. Everyone else is being forgotten. (I'll get more into this later).


4) He hasn't forgotten where he came from.
Granted, he was not born in Illinois, but that's where he put so much of his efforts. After he earned his Harvard degree, he returned to Chicago. Not many decide to take their education back to their neighborhoods - instead, many may decide to swim in their own newfound riches and intelligence. Academic learning does not intelligence make (have you heard Bush speak?), but this kind of compassion is what is needed in our country, if nothing else but for an example.

Barack also intends to make it easier for many to attend college, but if they are to receive a financial "free ride," he wants them to agree to 100 hours of community service.

Makes sense to me.


5) He didn't wear the lapel pin.
This was, by far, the stupidest thing I'd ever heard...well, maybe a close second to the Republicans' insistence to remind everyone what his middle name is. Seriously though? We're really going to question a man's patriotism because he chose to not wear a pin?

Peer pressure, anyone?

On a humorous note, this always reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Cosmo Kramer wouldn't "wear the ribbon" in a race for a cure...can't remember which one, but the point stands.

Come on.


6) Tax cuts people.
I know, I know - tax cuts when the economy is flushing? We'll have to see what we're able to do, here, but if Barack can't cut taxes, McCain won't either. This may be beyond any good intentions and promises each candidate may make.

However, I do like what he wants to do. He wants to give tax credits to companies that maintain or exceed the number of employees in America relative to employees working internationally, maintain American headquarters, pay well, support their military employees, provide decent health insurance, and prepare workers for retirement.

And as far as this crap about him raising taxes on everyone: FALSE.

I get my information from sources such as Fact Check and Project Vote Smart, by the way.

Fact Check states that two conditions have to be present if your taxes will be raised under an Obama Administration:

1) You make more than $200k single/$250k family

And

2) You receive dividend and capital gains income.

Now, it is true that under an Obama Administration the national debt will rise. I won't lie and say I don't know if it'll go down in time, if these are just initial operating costs, but lets also consider this:

Under an Obama Administration, the national debt will rise to $5.9 trillion dollars over the next ten years.

Under a McCain Administration, the national debt will rise to $7.4 trillion over the next ten years.

Both suck, but at this point I don't know what can be done. 5.9 sounds better than 7.4, though.


7) He didn't choose Hillary.
I'm not saying this because I'm anti-Hillary. What I am saying is that he didn't give into the vice-like pressure to ask this woman to be his running mate. Instead, he went for old white guy Joe Biden. That says volumes to me. He could've asked another African American, an African-American woman, or a woman/person of any minority ethnicity.

Instead, he chose based on merits and the person. Think what you will of Biden, but he's not afraid to speak his mind either.


8) Will not resort to scare tactics.
Every time something happens, Bush gets on the TV and describes with great urgency how this world will come to a crashing end if we don't do what he says.

Each time, he's been wrong - most recently on this bail out plan. Congress passed it, and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) continues to plummet.


9) I like his optimism
We could really use some anymore. Call it unrealistic, whatever, anyone who can rally us together, who can inspire us is someone we need right now. He's, as they say, "cool, calm, and collected."

I also like that he's thoughtful and for the most part (I hesitate to use an absolute here as I haven't watched everything), he's prepared.


10) He wants to modify No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Speak with any teacher - my husband is one, my FIL is another, and they will tell you NCLB is a joke. Teaching to the tests doesn't accomplish near what it should.

As for FMLA, Barack wants to modify that to allow family leave for employees who need to care for their elderly relatives, attend their children's events, and allow time for victims of domestic violence.


11) I like what he wants to do for the elderly.
Barack wants to eliminate taxes for any elderly people making less than $50,000 a year.

For more on this, see Barack's Seniors and Social Security page.


12) He's not war hungry, and he wants to talk.
*gasp* I know. Talk? To...the Iranian president? Awful people like that?

Yeah. Why not?

Not talking to them is doing us soooo good right now, isn't it?

That said, our military is overstretched right now. To even hint at a war with a place like Iran is extremely irresponsible. We also have Russia preening their feathers right now. We have to be careful, we have to be thoughtful, and leave war as a last resort.

13) Universal Health Care

We need it, and Barack wants us to have it. This isn't beyond our ability to solve, here, everyone. Too many people either think it is or don't think we need it, that people without health insurance somehow deserve it.

That's a narrow-minded conclusion to come to. My family was without insurance for just a month when he switched jobs (from grocery store clerk to middle school math teacher), and it was honestly a frightening month.

*adding this topic to list of issues to tackle* I won't bore you any further, but this is sorely needed.

And I like his plan. Call me a Socialist if you want to (it seems to be the insult du jour) but his plan resounds with me. It may not be perfect, but he's got the right idea. Just remember that we need Congress, too. The President isn't the end all be all, folks.

For a short list, though, and you can read more about his plans at his official website, here is what we're looking at with Obama as quoted on his site:

• Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.
• Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees.
• Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.
• Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.
• Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees health care.
• Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage.
• Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums.
• Reduce Costs and Save a Typical American Family up to $2,500 as reforms phase

Conclusion:
I know Barack isn't perfect. He's not a messiah as so many like to joke. I do think he's exactly what this country needs right now. I also realize Barack makes promises upon promises upon promises, but I don't mind. I know that he won't be able to fulfill all them, perhaps even most of them. I'll be happy if he's able to follow through on just a few.

Just before anyone assumes anything (by the way, we all know what happens when we assume, right?) I don't agree or like everything Barack stands for or says.

But what I do like overrides the things I don't like.

And in the end, I trust him. I don't trust McCain.


(Sources not cited here: CNN.com)