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The primary elections in Texas are one week away and from the early voting results voters in Texas are very interested in this election. But here I sit trying to make up my mind as to whom I should vote for. I started off a year ago for John Edwards thinking he was the Democrat that could best beat any of the Republicans. I guess even then I was worried about Senator Clinton not being able to win the general election. I still am today. After all most polls show that over 50% of the voters say they could not vote for her. I do think that would change if she was the nominee, but that sure would be rolling the dice.
Then there is Barack Obama and his phenomenal rise in the Democratic primary in the past two months. Who cannot be impressed with his momentum and his personality? He has not only inspired the young folks but many of us older adults are also impressed with his message and his desire to change America. But does he have the experience to be President? And does it matter.
Going back to 1952 when the U.S. elected General Eisenhower we have elected Presidents that had experience in Washington or in national defense or were Governors and look what has happened. Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush (41), Clinton, Bush (43). Most had problems either in foreign affairs, conflicts, wars, recessions, scandals, you name it. Perhaps no one is really qualified by experience to be President. Maybe you need to look at the character of the person.
John McCain does have the experience and perhaps the character. He is crusty and perhaps a little of an old grump, (he is older than I am and older then Reagan) but he will run a good race this fall. And he has national security experience. But now days he is moving to the right and relying on folks like Phil Gramm for his advice. Would he change Washington for the better? Would his Supreme Court appointments be good for the nation or would we get some other white conservative anti abortion, anti civil rights judge? I fear the latter.
So I am back to where I started. Hillary or Barack? My sister has already voted in Washington State and my brother in Arizona and they each voted for Obama. We are old folks, with the youngest 62 and I at 70 and according to the exit polls the three of us old Anglo voters should be voting for Hillary. But my two siblings went for the young guy Barack Obama and that feels just right for me. I think Senator Obama can win the election and I think it is time to give the next general of Americans their turn at leading our country. They can’t mess it up any worse than our generation has done and perhaps he can change the culture in Washington and at the same time improve our standing in the world.
I am under no illusions that the GOP will give Senator Obama a walk. They will use every negative device including his race, his background and his tries to some radical ministers to try and destroy him, but perhaps the American public is sick of this type of campaigning. Maybe the candidates will stick to the issues and not raise some personal problems from their pasts. But the stakes are high and Karl Rove and his friends will try to move the GOP to take the low road and go all out to defeat Obama. That will tell a lot about Senator McCain’s character.
So, I am voting for Senator Barack Obama and I think he will win Texas and then let’s wish Hillary does what is good for the party and concedes the race and unites the party for the race this fall.
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