Insane reasons to pick a President
Issues for the next President, Presidential Candidate
Written by Michael Vass
If you have never worried about politics before, if you never really paid attention to Presidential primaries and nominations, start. If you don’t you will be very afraid once the nominees are finally selected.
I say this because I just read possibly the worst reasons I have ever heard for anyone to be elected President of the United States. Mr. Don Campbell wrote, in an opinion piece at USAToday.com, about the probability of people voting for either Senator Barack Obama or Senator Hillary Clinton because of their gender and race. The obvious and probable answer is yes, some will.
Mr. Campbell states
* “It would be an insult to my intelligence to suggest that I’d vote for Obama just because I’m black and he happens to be black.” This vote is in the bag for Obama.
* “She wasn’t necessarily my first choice, but I will say this: The fact that she happens to be a woman shouldn’t count against her.” This is a man who will never vote for Hillary.”
In those statements I agree. But as Mr. Campbell goes on he treads into waters I cannot abide by.
“And I should practice what I preach. Both Clinton and Obama are too liberal for an extreme moderate like me, so there has to be a reason that trumps ideology. In Clinton’s, I can see one.
I’m prepared to vote for her because I’d like for my daughters to see a woman president in my lifetime. Lord knows how long it will be before another female candidate rises to the top.”
Image. He has stated he would elect a person to the highest office in America because of an image. And if this opinion is only held by 10% of the nation that means that potentially some 10 million potential voters might chose either Sen. Obama, or Sen. Clinton, because of their images. That is more than enough people to elect a candidate in the last several elections, combined.
It is also probably the most inane reason I have heard in years, if not ever. No candidate deserves the Presidency because of their gender, race, age, weight, or religion. They may be factors in an overall decision that includes their platforms ability and experience, but not the primary focus. That can only lead to chaos. I mean if that is the case why not pick a candidate that wears your favorite color Election Day? Or because their bellybutton is an innie or outie?
Mr. Campbell states he does not agree with the politics, platforms and goals for America held by both of these candidates, yet he will risk the health and status of the nation so his daughters can see a successful woman. Respectfully, go rent a video of G.I. Jane and make a vote based on your real convictions.
I can respect that some view various candidates as far too liberal/conservative, hard/soft on immigration, too willing to run from Iraq or too tunnel-visioned to stay and fight. Those are reasons. Respect can be held that some view that the historic political party affiliations will lead to more taxes, bigger government, more states power, less money for public interest programs and so forth. But an image?
It is not the primary goal of the President to be a role model for children that cannot find one. The Iraq war will not be resolved because Senator Obama is Black, or that Senator Clinton is a woman. Taxes and the economy will not improve for those reasons. Women will not suddenly get equal pay, and African Americans will not get immediate fair treatment by law enforcement due to respective candidates’ winning. To think so is both insane and ultimately stupid.
I have seen people pick lottery numbers based on their favorite numbers, football teams due to uniform colors, and horse races based on their phone number. They have even won based on these choices. That’s fine and it’s a system as good as any other for a frivolous choice. The next President of the United States will change the course of the nation, and their administration will have affects that will reverberate for the next decade or more. That is hardly frivolous.
Oh where is the scotch to steady my frayed nerves.
Pick Senator Obama because he has always stood against the Iraq war, is not an old school politician, and has new ideas. Or don’t.
Pick Senator Clinton because she has been in politics for decades, is familiar with world leaders, and wants to increase public entitlements. Or don’t.
But to make a lame decision for a silly reason, potentially electing someone you don’t agree with that will negatively impact (from that point of view) you and your children is tantamount to suicide by proxy in my opinion.
Yes, make a choice. But can you please make one for a reason.
admin @ October 10, 2007