It was the most agonizing Election Day decision since I began voting (for Jimmy Carter) in 1976. I literally went back and forth not just every day, but hourly, as the moment of reckoning loomed. I read volumes of columns analyzing the candidates, watched the debates and queried friends on both sides for guidance. But in the end, in New York's Democratic primary, I voted for Barack Obama. Read on to see why, and feel free to weigh in with your take on the campaign.
The determining factor for me is that I am sick and tired of the Bush-Clinton merry-go-round, and just want to move on. There has to be more than two political families who can run this country.
While I believe that on her pure resume alone, Hillary would be better prepared to get started on her first day as President, I think that Obama has the best shot of uniting the country around a progressive agenda and more reasonable foreign policy than does Hillary, with her polarizing persona.
Most voters, I believe, are as disgusted as I am with hyper-partisanship and the politics of destruction, and I think they will rally around the charismatic Obama to change all of that. If he's elected, those who stand in his way in Congress will do so at their own political peril.
I also could not get past the pragmatic argument that Obama has a better chance of defeating the likely Republican candidate, John McCain. Obama stands in sharper contrast to McCain than does Hillary on the war in Iraq, given her authorization vote, against his early warnings about the likely chaos that would result.
I also believe Obama has a shot of winning a few southern states, but that Hillary has virtually no shot of winning any of them.
Hillary's approach to health care reform–focused as it is on mandatory coverage–worries me as well. I don't want to see universal health insurance turned into a negative for those who need it most, but who might fear they won't be able to afford mandatory premiums. Obama's approach–mandating coverage only for children, while depending on affordability and availability to draw the uninsured voluntarily–may be the more politically feasible choice right now.
Last but not least, I am inspired by the way Obama has energized the young voters of this country, as well as African-Americans, and am very concerned many of these discouraged voters will sulk and stay home on Election Day if Hillary wins the nomination. I also think Obama has a much better shot of rallying independent voters and maybe even a few moderate Republicans to his side. However, if Hillary loses, I doubt her supporters will shun Obama.
Obama's election will also restore the credibility of the United States–both at home and abroad–as a land of true opportunity and justice for all.
Some say Obama will find tough sledding as a black candidate, but Hillary has her own personal hurdles to clear–not only the fact that she would be the first female nominee, but because of her negative name recognition.
Nothing will unite the Republicans more around their candidate–even McCain, who at best enjoys lukewarm support from conservatives–than a lightening rod like Hillary. Besides, I think for most open-minded people, Obama transcends race. Those who find his race a problem wouldn't vote Democratic anyway.
Finally, I must admit that I find Obama's campaign far more inspirational than Hillary's. I feel I can vote for Obama with true enthusiasm, rather than merely settling for Hillary because she appears to be more qualified from a pure experience factor (even though her judgment may be suspect on many issues). I was also turned off by Bill Clinton's bellicose campaigning, and am not eager to return to a co-presidency or the Clinton-Republican Wars of the 1990s.
A true leader like Obama might get people's attention and spur real grass-roots action. Instead of our obsession with celebrity hijinks and perverse “reality” programs, perhaps a captivating speaker like Obama could focus everyone's attention on the “realities” that matter. Like the fact we are devolving into a second-rate country, with crumbling infrastructure, dysfunctional education and health care systems, an increasingly worthless dollar and token gestures of empty patriotism (such as flying an American flag on our gas-guzzling SUVs during another Gulf War).
There you have it. I still think Hillary is the favorite. If she wins the nomination, I'll vote for her in November and root like hell that she overcomes her many negatives to get into the White House. But yesterday, in good conscience, Obama got my vote.
What do you folks think?
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