For Obama.
I thought about my vote a lot. I asked my brother - he teaches at a school in Chicago and was very kind of tolerate my conservative question. He gave me two options for thinking about it correctly: computational and ontological. If you know what that means please let me know... in the end Donald Miller expresses why I voted for Obama well. I have a lot of hopes on top iof this, but here is what he has said...
By the way, right after this picture was taken, Caroline fell over her pumpkin... But, going to the patch (albeit expensive) was really fun... And, we have the pumpkin (a green one) on our porch. Thanks Ross Chaffin for copying this post so I could then steal it (also).
"Burnside: Can you lay out your biggest reasons for supporting Barack Obama?
Donald Miller: First off, I know this is an odd thing for somebody in my position to do, to support a candidate for President. But I do feel this candidate is unique. Barack is the only candidate willing to talk about his faith in Jesus. Other candidates are reluctant, but Obama is not. He is the only one who has consistently talked about the cross, about redemption, and about repentance. Many white evangelicals have a misconception about Barack...they believe that because he is a Democrat, he cannot be a Christian. But times have changed, culture has changed, and political parties change. So one of the reasons I support Barack is because he is my Christian brother, and other Christians are rejecting him.
But that has little to do with his candidacy. In short, there are a few issues I agree with Barack on.
Senator Obama is going to move us past the impasse in our cultural war, something I think of as a cultural Vietnam. On the issue of abortion, he is the only candidate who has a plan to reduce the number of abortions. John McCain's only plan is the same old trick: say that you are pro life and offer no plan at all other than to criminalize abortion. I simply think that plan hasn't worked, and we have to face that fact and look for other ways to make progress.
I realize this is controversial, that there are many who would rather vote for a pro-life candidate and keep the abortion rate the same, on principle. And like them I believe in the sanctity of life, I simply think we need to begin making progress, and Barack is offering progress. He is also standing up to his own party on the issue and moving the party forward to elevate the issue of the sanctity of life within the Democratic Party. I also see this as progress. I do wish we could end abortion completely, but the Republicans have not spelled out a realistic plan to do so, and until they do, I won't vote for a candidate who simply throws us a pro-life line and no plan. It seems insincere.
But let me add this: I do wish Obama were pro-life. His plan to reduce the rate of abortion is a great step for the party, but I also wish he would defend the unborn to a greater degree.
However, at this point, in this election, with these two candidates, I think progress will be made with Barack. Not enough progress, but some progress, especially within the Democratic party, who may soften their stand on the sanctity of life.
A personal connection with me regarding Obama involves the initiative he is taking with responsible fatherhood. He has already drawn up legislation to change the welfare state to stop rewarding families whose fathers leave, and is working to change the economic structure so fathers who stay with their families are given tax relief. This has been an age-old problem that was written about in George Gilder's book Sexual Suicide. (Gilder's) book is a Conservative's economic manifesto, but Barack sees a lot of value in Gilder's ideas. But because Barack is a Democrat, Conservatives are unable to even consider his ideas."
10 comments:
I think what he meant was, in a "computational sense" which candidate is likely to yield less death (in my opinion). Don't shoot the messenger, he was only answering relative to my question (so shoot me...). The ontological one is that it is difficult to support Obama if he is pro-Abortion (which he is not), or if he doesn't hold the sanctity of life in the same place that I do.
I don't know why I am posting this as a comment to my own blog...
me either. weirdo.
It's hard to answer because you didn't give the question. Or, I missed it.
Despite fear of sounding way more extreme than I actually am on this, I want to throw out some thoughts, because I like Donald Miller and am actually encouraged by his characterization of Obama on abortion, if it's true (the rest I'm leaving aside because I accept those thoughts and think they highlight great things about Obama, regardless of how I view his political stances).
While I've heard some startling things about Obama's abortion views--like, he supports letting infants who survive abortions die--I think they're often exaggerated. However, I don't see evidence of him going against his party to reduce the number of abortions--if there's some out there that Miller is referencing, I would love to see it. All I have seen is his plan to increase access to contraceptives (which might in fact reduce the number of abortions, but is controversial and troubling in other respects not relevant here), and beyond that, no attempt to support middle-ground initiatives (such as equal financial support for organizations that support carrying babies to term and giving them up for adoption)...or at the very least, an unwillingness to express a viewpoint at all ("that question is above my paygrade"). Furthermore, though I don't think it's true he supports letting survivors of abortion die (and in fact doctors are already under a duty to give them medical attention), factcheck.org had a good piece on why his explanation of those votes were really slippery. He also said one of his first tasks as president would be to sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act, which rather than reducing the number of abortions, seems to be an affirmative step in favor of validating them, a step many in his own party I doubt feel is necessary (considering that Roe v. Wade is already law).
Abortion's a huge issue and I don't want to debate it--all I'm getting at here is that I am skeptical of Miller's characterization of Obama and would love to see his basis for making it...it would be a relief to me, anyway, as someone who only hears how much worse Obama is going to make it for the pro-lifers.
I ditto Jessica, plus I read a lot of his opinions on a lot of his votes regarding abortion and was totally unconvinced. I'd love to know what miller is basing his opinion on.
This seems like an odd opinion based on your emails, which makes me think I didn't understand them totally.
I don't even know Jessica, but I totally agree with her. I was actually pretty shocked -- okay very shocked, and then not shocked at all -- to read this post. It was very disappointing to me. I like Donald Miller's writing style, but I definitely don't see eye-to-eye with him on what he writes about. But I've always pretty much agreed with you, Blazer, until this. Consider some things (since I missed On Tap):
Why I DIDN'T Vote for Obama:
6) Integrity. Obama doesn’t seem to have any. I’m not real excited about either candidate but there are some solid reasons why I chose McCain. A couple of years ago I remember McCain was convinced that we should “stay the course in Iraq.” I remember thinking then “I agree with you, but you probably just cost yourself any chance of being elected.” Apparently, other people had similar thoughts and conveyed them to McCain. His answer, “I’d rather win the war and lose the election than win the election and lose the war. In my thinking that’s character, a commodity which we are in dire need of in Washington D.C. There is a difference in a “Politician” and a “Statesman.” A politician holds his proverbial finger up and test the wind, then makes his decision based on what will get him into office. A statesman is a man of conviction and standards and runs his colors up regardless of the consequences. He puts his country ahead of his personal welfare. John McCain proved he had the mettle as a POW in Vietnam, and maybe that's just me because my dad was an insomniac for 7 years after Vietnam, but I take that seriously. When the enemy realized McCain was the son of an admiral they decided to let him go for propaganda purposes. McCain refused, stating the military code “First one in prison, first one out!” There were other American pilots who had been incarcerated longer than he, so he refused to leave until they were released. The North Vietnamese were outraged and began a brutal campaign, breaking his bones, teeth, etc. on multiple occasions. He never recanted. That’s character. (Have you ever noticed he can’t raise his arms above his shoulders?
On the other end of the spectrum we have Barak. In his third debate with McCain Obama claimed he knew virtually nothing about ACORN. I believe he said he represented them legally for some matter on one occasion. The facts revealed the next morning were quite different and this from a liberal pro Obama media. He had, in fact, quite extensive contact with ACORN and even taught classes for them. When ACORN was caught in the act of voter registration fraud, (ACORN had made up a list of fictitious voters, including the entire Dallas Cowboy’s football team), Obama tried to distance himself from them. (One voter was registered to vote 73 times).
Next, I don’t like his stand on Gay marriage. The gay agenda tries to present homosexuals as an oppressed people, just like the those individuals who were victims of the African American slave trade. An African American should be incensed at the inequality of that concept. I’ve met a number of “former Homosexuals,” but I’ve never yet met a “former African American.” I'm liberal enough to admit that I don't understand homosexuality and if it's science, biology, genetics, decision, or what... but it's not the same as race.
Furthermore, I am appalled by Obama’s spread the wealth concept. One school girl said it very succinctly. She said, "suppose I pay attention in class, do all my homework, do research and turn in a term paper for which I get an “A,” on. Then someone else in class doesn’t do any work, sleeps and talks in class doesn’t do their homework and turns in a paper and gets a “D-“. The teacher decides to “Spread the Wealth Around,” by adding the “D” paper with the “A” paper and dividing by two giving each student a “C.” That’s Obama’s plan." How do you answer a kid who says that? You don't. Or I don't. I'm a teacher. I live dollar to dollar, everyone knows we don't get paid crap. But damned if I support giving the income of those who work HARD to people like my aunt who sit around on their fat ass all day and collect welfare checks.
Regarding “botched abortions,” Obama thinks it’s okay to allow a baby who has against all odds survived a botched abortion, to simply lie on a porcelain table or worse set a shelf in a closet unattended until it dies from neglect. When Jill Staneck ( Born Alive Movement), went before the Illinois congress to give testimony to this barbarian practice, Obama acted as if he resented the fact she was even there to discuss it. Said she, “I felt like I was being criticized and scolded for even bringing up the issue. Obama voted, “Let them Die.” He also stated that he would vote to let them live if it became a National issue. Guess what, it did, and again he was one of only 3 (I believe) to vote for death of the infant by neglect. Even liberal Ted Kennedy acknowledge that this was something that should not be allowed and voted for life. TED KENNEDY!!
Next, I think Obama is WOEFULLY underqualified to lead this country. He is a FIRST TERM SENATOR with an incredible gift for oratory! You know who else had an incredible gift for oratory? Clinton. Do I think Clinton was the worst thing that ever happened to this country? Absolutely not. He did a lot of good. But his morals and his integrity sucked, and the American people were taken in by his charisma. I am shocked and incensed that the country voted down a tried and true die-hard American statesman for a completely untested, "Brother Muslim" (Moammer Kdafi's term for Obama)who slips in and out of the truth (I know Bill Ayers. No wait, he worked for me. No wait, he's a murderer, so our kids just played together. No wait, I gave him $60,0000.)
Finally, I feel like a lot of people voted for Obama BECAUSE he is black (or mixed, but only talks about his father, who stayed in his life all of 10 days). I just think it is wrong to vote for someone BECAUSE OF the color of their skin. If this was a popularity contest, fine. If it was a UNICEF high commissioner's job, fine. But it's a job being the leader of the free world. That's not something that you're good at because of the color of your skin.
In conclusion, you may think I'm a John McCain fan or a die-hard republican or something from this. I'm not. I voted for "the lesser of two evils" when I chose the Republican ticket this time around. But I'm an Independant. Thank you for your time.
It seems like, and it is hard for me to say, but Obama is our president-elect. Some people I trust very much very thoughtfully voted for him. Regardless of whether I, or we, disagree now, is moot. We can sit around and be angry about it, or we can pray for our leaders and look to the future. Maybe, this is really good motivation to have these conversations earlier next time.
I am sincerely interested in your thoughts, Blazer, as they would maybe make me feel more hopeful. I know that you did not vote on a whim.
I would say that Miller's quote is mostly hopeful.
Annie, I appreciate your words about our proper response now...
Jessica - you understand the process better than I do.
Elisa - You just seem so angry... I couldn't yet finish reading your post...
Here is a blog that is probably saying much of what I was trying to say, but did it better (although he voted for McCain):http://www.everysquareinch.net/
I'm not angry at all. I just think a lot of poeple have been duped.
He's going to be the president. He deserves our prayers. But I don't think he's a man of integrity or experience. That's all. I pray he becomes one. He certainly has the peoples' trust.
I also have NO idea why I ended with "thank you for your time" :) I think I ran out of words at that point!
Post a Comment