By Jeff Orvis
We are finally on the eve of the
presidential election. So far, I have refrained from doing a lot of
commentary on this whole process, other than to point out the obvious
– that too much money is spent on the very annoying tactics the
representatives of the candidates are using to promote their person.
But after reading countless posts from
some of my Facebook friends, people I believe are otherwise really
intelligent individuals, here's my one shot at a response.
Last week, I went to our county
auditor's office and proudly voted for President Obama. I voted for
the man, what he stands for, what he has attempted to do to right the
ship these past four years despite overwhelming odds from the far
right. I voted for him because of the party he is affiliated with.
The Democrats have historically represented the philosophy that most
closely reflects mine.
The current crop of Republicans
represent the party of Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Bachman,
Sarah Palin, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich, that
congressional candidate who had to convince her voters that she
wasn't a witch, that congressional candidate who claims that women
who are raped will magically find a natural way not to get pregnant,
another congressional candidate who claims that it's God's will when
someone is raped and the list goes on and on. And let's not forget
that gleaming national spokesman, Donald Trump.
Some of my Facebook friends actually
quote Beck and Limbaugh, as if they are somehow equal to Cronkite,
Huntley or Brinkley. I find it interesting that some of the
candidates I've heard try to claim that the Republican party is the
party of Lincoln or Reagan. I didn't hear anyone claim it is the
party of Bush or Agnew or Dan Quayle.
This race is coming down to the wire.
A lot of people who claim to have voted for Obama last time are now
so frustrated with the economy that they are apparently willing to
try anything different. I hope that those who have not yet cast their
vote will take a minute to think before they fill in that circle next
to the candidate.
President Obama has experience helping
those who are down and out. He has grown in his tenure in the White
House and has shown that he is a strong commander-in-chief. Even
though I am one of those definitely affected by the sour economy, I
have faith that if given more time and a more responsive congress
(Republican and Democrat) that will truly represent their
constituents and work as a team with the executive branch, we can get
this thing turned around.
I have no doubt that Mitt Romney is a
good person. He has a strong wife who has battled serious health
issues to be a strong advocate for her husband. His family is
personable. He is apparently a man of faith. As a successful
businessman, he probably entered the race because of his fears on the
future of the economy.
Although he has won the endorsement of
several newspapers across the country, perhaps the Salt Lake Tribune
said it best in its endorsement of Obama. I'm paraphrasing here, but
the editors said they really wanted to endorse Romney. He did a good
job heading up the Salt Lake Olympics. But since then, it has been
difficult to figure out which Romney we would be voting for. He has
changed his positions on several issues in recent years, seeming to
see which way the political winds are blowing. As the leader of the
free world, we need someone whose stand is known and not subject to
change.
Although he has made some decisions
over the past four years that he might want to change, President
Obama has stayed strong in his principles. We know where he's coming
from. I am more confident with where we can go if he is given a vote
of confidence on Tuesday.
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