I'm actually voting FOR someone this time

I'm probably not the first registered Democrat to admit he held his nose while voting for the last two Democratic presidential nominees.  While Al Gore would make just about the perfect candidate today, back in 2000 he was a polished Washington establishment face.  His views on the environment were green in just about every way.  But throughout that campaign season he received a great deal of money from registered Washington lobbyists.  With George W. Bush's name also on the ballot, I held my nose and cast the first presidential ballot of my young adult life for Al Gore.  In 2004, it was the same deal, except a little worse.  John Kerry voted for the war, and changed his position on just about everything.  Then again, with Bush's name on the ballot, disliking his policies even more than I did in 2000, I voted for the Democratic nominee.

This time around I have a different view about the upcoming presidential election.  For the first time in my life I am actually going to vote for someone, and not because I am trying to prevent a Republican from becoming president.

Barack Obama is a change candidate.  I knew it when I watched his speech at the Convention in 2004.  I knew it when he passed the toughest ethics reform bill in history.  I know it today because he has opposed this awful war from the very beginning -- so when he says he wants to begin rolling back force numbers, I believe him.

But it's also more than that.  From the time he launched his campaign last year, I knew that Barack Obama would be more responsive to the grassroots than any other major Democratic presidential candidate since RFK.  When you make a decision early-on to not accept political action committee money and money from federally registered lobbyist firms, your hands are not tied when you write legislation.  You don't have to appease your friends and destroy your foes.   Politicians are indebted to those that give them money.  In this case, Barack Obama is indebted to ordinary Americans that donated $5, $10 or $50 here and there.

And lastly, within the past few weeks, another element has been added to my respect for Obama.  He is bold.  He does not fear addressing the issues that divide us, and at least try to generate at least some sort of understanding in an effort to bring us together.  Racial insecurities, economic troubles in rural America, our call to action -- Obama is not afraid to talk about this stuff.

For my age group, at least, this election is about a new beginning.  It's about a chance to start over.  It's about a chance to be inspired and answer Obama's call to every American to get involved in their communities and to help rebuild our country for the next generation and the generation after that.  No more Washington money games.  It's our party now.  It's our country.  Let's take it back.

Comments

[RJ]

Is Obama not indebted to Tony Rezko and the multitude of corruption that Rezko used to line Obama's political coffers? Does Obama not take money from oil industry people just like his opponents? Didn't his biggest funds-bundler get most of the money from oil industry people? Did he not put special-status favors into a bill to help Rezko's Asian friends business be exempt for taxes while doing business in the US? How did he just raise millions at the San Fransisco high-end luncheon for millionaires and billionaires if he's just gotten $5/10/50 from little people like me? Is a speech that says change 5 times in each sentence any substitute for real change? Did Obama really pass the ethics reform himself or was it someone elses bill he attached his name to after it was complete, then voted for it like the majority of his peers? It's good you and Chris Matthews get a tingle every time he talks, but I still say he has not been fully vetted yet and we have let other better leaders slip by the side.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Truly pathetic. Do you really think Obama is indebted to Tony Rezko? If so, then for what? Does Tony Rezko have ANY say on K-Street? Give me proof of that.

Also, the people from oil companies donating to him are INDIVIDUALS. That's the difference between him and other candidates, who take money from the companies themselves. And yes, Obama did help pass ethics reform because he helped form a bipartisan coalition to get it done. What about the idea of bipartisan reform makes you feel uneasy?

Actually, the good part about the primaries being so long is that Obama has been vetted. If the whole Tony Rezko thing is the worst that the entertainment-driven media can find on Obama, then I think our candidate is in good shape. Obama is a lot more genuine than that phony John Edwards, that's for sure.

No other person since RFK and MLK have been able to inspire our nation's youth like Barack Obama. It's not about what Obama will do for us, it's about Obama is inspiring us to do. ANY leader that inspires young people to get involved is helping our country, and I am PROUD to vote for this guy.

[RJ]

Todd, didn't the Tillman Act of 1907 ban companies and banks from political contributions? So again, how is Obama different if he accepts the INDIVIDUALS money just like his opponents. If you happen to know of a oil company that is donating to his opponents, please let us know and I'll see to it the company and politician is outed.
As for Rezko, we both know he didn't buy the empty lot next to Obama's house and then donate part of the land to Obama just to be a nice neighbor. It just happened to coincide with Rezko's criminal problems dissappearing at the same time (back then).
Also, nothing about bipartisan reform makes me uneasy. I just know not to credit one person for the work of fifty.

[RJ]

Todd the link below came from YOUR page under "LATEST ELECTION BUZZ". It links Obama to a home-grown '70's terrorist and a Palestinian resistance attack supporter (among other items). It's titled: The Bad Company Of Barack Obama (CBS News).

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/11/opinion/main4009369.shtml

This adds to my point that Obama has not been fully vetted. When the media's stops their Obama Honeymoon, and starts their tear-down phase, we'll see we've selected the wrong person to oppose McCain.

[RJ]

One last item -- on Factcheck.org it has an article on Obama's money from oil industry personnel. Also, one of the last paragraph's show's how the lobbyist still get their money to him - their spouses and other employees.

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obamas_oil_spill.html

Cut and paste the link into your browser's address line, then read the article. So yes, he is the same as the other candidates. They all take money from the lobbyists and big business.

[Emma]

Shut your face about all this Obama shit.
As a young adult, I've been so interested in politics lately only because Barack Obama as inspired me. If he were president and he called on people like me to get involved, I would do it in a heart beat.

Todd, don't EVEN bother with this guy. All of us have our flaws some more than others. Especially pollitions but this guy has everything you could ever want in a candidate. So let RJ go on this rants.. DON'T waste your time, Todd. We will continue to be inspired.

[RJ]

So the hope and change Obama has installed in you, Emma, comes out in curse words and denigrating those who don't share your views? What next, am I now a racist or even an anti-feminist since I agreed with candidates other than Obama or Hillary? Is this what I can expect from his presidency -- a group of people who believe the dissenters are trash, instead of discussing their ideas? Nice job showing your true self.
Also, just for the record, I think Obama is being misquoted on this "bitter" issue and the "normal white person" statements. I'm sure you'll agree with me on this point, but not that others may be misquoted, since they're not Obama.

[RJ]

Emma,on the issue of Obama and lobbyists -- check out the link below (might have to cut and paste into your browser's address line)

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/ny-usobam0413,0,6020233.story

So, no, he doesn't take lobbyists money, outright, he just visits their firms and takes individual contributions. Now, this is no different then his opponents, but he's no angel either. So the lobbyist get their money to him, just like everyone else.