What to do?

A close friend of mine is confused.

On one hand, as a black woman, she feels obligated to vote for Obama. As a social worker she understands that hopes and dreams are important to children. And while white children know that one day they could grow up to be President black children do not harbor that hope. An Obama presidency could change that forever.

On the other hand, she also wants her children raised in a country that develops people such as John McCain. People of honor, service and integrity. She wants people to understand that there are real heros, not just in the movies.

Another friend is also confused, but for different reasons.

She, as a left leaning moderate wants to be able to be able to say "I voted for Obama" because she believes that there is something about this man that carries such promise and energy to bring a new day to Washington.

But she is also one of the smartest people I know and knows more about constitutional law than Obama could ever hope to. She has no problem with some of Obama's more radical plans for tax increases to help the poor, but she does admit it means that she would most likely have to stop donating as much as she does to charity. She gives away 10% of her salary to charities and non-profits on a monthly basis. As much as she dislikes that idea, it is the idea of legislating away our constitutional rights and the potential of stacking the Supreme Court with activist justices that alarms her.

As we were sitting around last night talking I told them that what they should do is try to overlook the emotional reasons behind wanting to vote for a candidiate and look at the facts. To vote with their head, not their hearts. To think of it as a serious decision, not a game with a "do-over" in 48 months.

(I have no doubt that before 8 pm tonight one will have voted for McCain... or not at all, and the other will have voted for Obama... or not at all.)

I am excited about the prospect of people voting who have never voted before in their lives. People who, like Michelle Obama said, for the first time in their adult lives feel proud to be Americans. People who prior to this election were not disenfranchised through the actions of others, but who chose to be disenfranchised through their own inaction. It always struck me as a shame that only 35% of registered voters actually vote... and only about 50% of eligible citizens are registered.

However, as excited as I am I feel equally saddened that so many people are voting without learning the facts, without understanding the issues. A full 80% of voters pull the lever for a particular party while knowing nothing about the candiate, in many cases not even their names.
I am angered that the media chose and propped up a marginal candiate like John McCain while ignoring other more vibrant candidates. I am perplexed that Obama, the least qualified man to run for a major party nomination, actually won it.

I voted for John McCain this morning not because particularly like him, but solely because many of Barack Obama's campaign positions run contrary to the ideals of the United States' founding fathers, our country's constitution, and my own principles.

And that is the saddest thing of all... that a country as great as this has two major parties who have a marginal candiate facing off against a man who is uniquely unqualified to run for the position of POTUS. We should have a real choice for the next person to hold the most important job in the world.