Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I voted for change: part deux

Wow, I had no idea I'd get such a strong response to my little post.
I'm a registered republican and was an undecided voter until a few weeks ago. First let me say that I think we had two brilliant, patriotic, tirelessly dedicated men running for the presidency. I decided that before I went to the polls, I needed to do some research. I spent hours upon hours on several nights discerning 1) which issues were most important to me (i.e. health care, education, and stem cell research to name a few), and 2) where did the candidates stand on these issues? After reading both candidates websites, checking out cnn.com and other news sources (with both biases), looking at the candidates voting records over the last 3 years in the senate, and listening to LOTS of political debate, I realized that I don't agree with anyone 100% and I made my decision. To be honest, I found that the candidates had very similar views on a myriad of issues, and I would have been happy no matter the outcome of the election. I just happened to agree with Senator Obama a little more on a few of my key issues.
Of course I don't agree with the president elect on certain issues like abortion. But we've had a pro-life republican in office for 8 years and Roe v. Wade wasn't overturned. I have a feeling it's not at the top of the priority list.
Anyway, all of this is beside the point. The point is, I think you're all great for being so passionate. Being able to agree to disagree is a wonderful part of this whole process. So now what? We have a new president and I sincerely hope that we can come together as a nation and support him in what is bound to be a difficult few years (granted it would be difficult no matter who was in the oval office).
"As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." Thanks for reminding us, Mr. Obama.
So, friends?

15 comments:

Bret Baker said...

me+you+obama= bff 4L

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your post Lindsay. I still love you and your family. You guys are awesome people. I am just a little worried about Obama. I don't think he has the experience and the knowledge etc. to deal with things that will come up. He is very liberal and that scares me too. I just hope he can deal with everything ok.

Jared Wilstead said...

What's done is done. Always respect the office of President.

Shannon Elizabeth said...

i voted for change too. and yes on prop 8. and i think i am still a good person. so take that.

Kenz said...

Personally, I didn't think you would have "announced" your decision/opinion unless you were willing to hear how your blog "constituents" felt about that. So I'm surprised that your surprised. You know me, Linds. I've never been one to shy away from an opportunity to stand up for what I personally believe in. As far as your defense of the abortion issue, I am concerned that this president will have the opportunity to appoint supreme court judges who, if overly activist, will take extremely liberal views on our constitution. I don't want the power taken from the hands of the people (where it belongs) and placed into the hands of a liberal judge who supposedly knows best. Democrats (especially liberal ones like Obama) are notorious for big spending of our hard earned money. Even if that money goes to finance things like abortion that I am morally opposed to. I don't believe socialism is good for a country and I believe that is where we are headed with Obama. If you personally support those things, you made the right decision for yourself. You should definitely vote for who you agree with.

I was just surprised! You don't strike me as a liberal.

katie said...

This is honestly political efficacy and America at its best. You studied up on the issues that are important to you and decided to align yourself with the candidate that agrees, regardless of partisanship or community pressure. If people can manage to fault you for this, I am a bit appalled. I am proud to vote alongside people like you and to have a president elect that you helped to choose.

Bags said...

I still think Chuck Baldwin should have won. He's my home-boy!

M and M said...

friends for ever! It seems like most of the people who jumped on you got Obama "facts" from those emails grandmas send eachother full have half truths and then no one bothers to find out if it's true. Turns out Obama is a muslim and wants to eat your children! It's true, i got that forwarded to me from my uncle who got it from a guy at his work who got it from....

Anyway, I'm not a big Obama fan, but it seems like you went through the right steps to pick a president, so kudos for you. I am excited to see what he can do.

Shannon Elizabeth said...

i love direct quotes from ann coulter statements. very very legitimate information, i hear she gets her stuff straight from rush limbaugh, who gets it from lou dobbs, who gets it from God.

Matich and Amber said...

well said. love it.
(and a bit of oh my lands isnt the passion of politics fun....opens up all sorts of dsmIV excitment!)

STEVEN said...

I just voted for whoever had a cooler tie. And decided on Obama too.

breena rae said...

First of all, you are one swell citizen of the U.S.A. I love you Lindsay.
I believe Obama is a man that has the ability to bring our nation together with his words of inspiration and great leadership. And that's what this country needs right now. I pray that he will surround himself with wise people that will keep things in balance and actually get something accomplished!

Richard said...

Great decision to vote for Obama! I am hopeful one of the benefits of having a disciplined black man with a strong family in the White House will encourage other people of all races to hold fast to law of chastity, place the welfare of others ahead of their own, and recognize that happy families do not happen by accident. Therein lies happiness and peace of mind. I have had enough of national leaders who live lives of excess and in their leadership years attempt to convey an attitude of piety or talk of family values while trashing them by their examples...both parties of full of this kind of behavior.

Unknown said...

Jeremy and Mackenzie Ware:

Read this book and it may just change your views on the importance of electing a president on the basis of Supreme Court appointments. Seriously.

http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Inside-Secret-World-Supreme/dp/1400096790/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226341706&sr=8-1

Also that assumption that democrats will spend more money than republicans is an interesting one. Eight years of G.W. has taken our current national debt to the outstanding level of $10,640,129,659,196.66 and counting! Let's hear it for fiscally responsible republican leadership!
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

Unknown said...

That being said, I didn't vote for Obama or McCain but rather chose to cast my vote for a candidate that I felt represented my views on the role of government best even though he was not representing one of the two major political parties. And pinning Lindsay with the "liberal" label simply because she chose to vote for Obama is somewhat juvenile, don't you think?