A Vote For Reality
Thursday, October 30, 2008
It would be a massive understatement to say this election season has been "interesting". The Republicans have done an extraordinary job of turning a Presidential election into top notch theater. Well, maybe not top notch - more like "Gilligan's Island" with a hint of "Survivor". We've got everyone here - Mr. Howell (McCain), Mrs. Howell (Cindy McCain), the Skipper (Karl Rove), Gilligan (Tucker Bounds), Ginger (Palin), and MaryAnn (Nancy Pfotenhauer). Now comes the part where we get to vote everyone off, right?
It's fun to play Central Casting, but in all seriousness I'm afraid we've lost sight of what we're really doing here. Because this isn't Central Casting at all; it's nothing less than the future of a once-great nation. We really are at a pivotal point in our history and the decision we make next week will determine our direction for not just the next four years, but for years to come. No second takes. No alternate endings. It's the real thing. We're not casting for the role of President and Vice President, we're selecting an actual leader who will have an enormous impact on lives around the world, not just here at home.
I know image has always played a big role in politics, but it never should have been allowed to eclipse the actual issues. We're not voting for leaders, we're voting for mavericks and plucky frontier mamas because we think they're fun to watch on TV every day. Yes, it applies to Obama too. Jamie Foxx recently told Newsweek, "We need a cool President." Well yeah, that'd be nice - but I'd also like a competent President. If he makes a major mess of things (see: Bush Presidency), it's not like I can just change the channel and make it go away.
As much as I'd like to see every eligible voter out there speaking up for themselves, I do worry about people's motivations for their vote. Bush got elected by people who voted for him because he seemed like the kind of guy they could have a beer with (never mind that he was a recovering alcoholic and probably hadn't seen the inside of a local watering hole in... ever). Don't vote for someone because his campaign marketing was more exciting and you think he'd look good behind the podium - vote for him because you believe he'd be a good leader.
So when you make your final decision, turn off the TV and turn to the issues. Make a responsible decision, not only for you and your family, but for the nation as a whole. You get one vote - make it a vote for reality, not ratings.
(For the record: yes, I support Obama. But if you truly believe McCain's positions on the issues - see: Bush Presidency - are better for the entire nation, then that's how you should vote. You're disturbingly wrong, but you're free to make that mistake. And I was always partial to The Professor on Gilligan's Island - he's more like Obama. :-)
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