Why I Will Vote for Obama

When I first heard that Obama for America paid more than $3.5 million for a thirty-minute advertisement, I was a bit hesitant to agree with the decision. No major party candidate had done this in over 30 years, and no candidate has done it period since Ross Perot in 1992. I did not see the validity of using this large amount of campaign funds for an outdated tactic. What new could possibly be said that hasn’t been preached in rallies all over the country? What new could be said that hasn’t been documented on his website or in newspapers? When watching Mr. Obama’s thirty-minute ad, however, I was reminded why exactly I chose to support him several months ago.

In recent weeks, I had become focused on who’s policies matched up better with my view of how the country should be run. Who had a better energy policy for the future? Who was going to end the War in Iraq more responsibly? Who would make healthcare more affordable for Americans? Who would stimulate the economy and create new jobs? Who would show better judgment during a crisis?

Not only that, but I spent an enormous amount of time and energy emphasizing why John McCain’s policies and judgment were not the way to go. I spent days explaining why Sarah Palin was the worst possible person to put a heartbeat from the presidency. I spent way too much time doing what the McCain-Palin campaign has been doing to Obama since they began running together; attacking the opponent when there are more important things to discuss.

I sat down tonight at 8pm and turned on CBS. I heard Obama’s voice and then his face appeared. I watched with a skeptic eye as he talked about policies, introduced American families, and spoke of his upbringing and private life. Then I remembered why I chose to support him in the first place: his character.

Obama in 2004

When Obama launched himself into the political spotlight 20 months ago, I had no idea who he was. I wasn’t into politics by any stretch of the imagination, but he caught my eye. He was a fresh face, a fresh voice. Then, one day in class, I had to watch his Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and write a paper on it. I was genuinely moved by his speech. I had to know more. I had to know who this man was.

I bought his book Dreams From My Father and read it cover to cover. In those autobiographical pages I saw a child raised by a single mother. I saw an adolescent struggling to find himself and his place in the world. I saw a young adult start to put the pieces together and put his life on the right track. I saw an honest man. I saw a decent man. I saw myself.

In his thirty-minute ad, Obama described his relationship with his father as meeting him for a month when he was ten and that was it. He said he was influenced and shaped by his father’s absence more than his father’s presence. There was a time when I did not recognize my own father’s voice when he called on the phone. There was a time when I could not have picked my own father out of a line up. I’m not saying that this makes me or Obama more prepared or more deserving of the presidency. I am merely saying that this makes us human.

In the last few months, I turned away from Obama’s message of “hope” and “change” and traded them in for the same style of attacks that McCain was using against Obama since mid-September. How ashamed I felt when I realized what I was doing. If the man getting attacked can keep his integrity and morals, then so can I. I should be focusing on supporting Obama, not cutting down McCain.

It isn’t just because of policies that I am voting for Obama. It’s also because of the message he is delivering the American people; the message of hope, unity, opportunity, and prosperity. It’s also because of the way he inspires people to work harder and to help one another. It’s also because he puts American needs first, whether it be the economy, education, healthcare, or creating jobs. It’s also because he believes in the American people; he believes that we can be prosperous, he believes that we can change our perception around the world, he believes that we can better ourselves.

Obama said in his infomercial that he is not a perfect man. He even said that he would not be a perfect president. Honesty from a politician? Not in America. Not in this day and age. Well, maybe we can turn the page on that America. Maybe we can turn the page on the fear tactics, the smears, the off-base attacks, the corruption, the greed, and the suffering of middle-America. Maybe we can change the world. Excuse me; Yes, we can.

“I am reminded everyday, I am not a perfect man. I will not be a perfect president. But I can promise you this, I will always tell you what I think and where I stand. I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you when we disagree. And most importantly I will open the doors of government and ask you to be involved in your democracy again.” – Barack Obama October 29, 2008

Alex J Martin