I’m pissed off.
You see, this election season I never really got attached to a candidate. I vote based on my issues that i care about, and experience. In 2004, despite Howard Dean being my political idol in high school, I went the route of John Kerry, feeling that he was best to lead our country in the right direction. His experience and his issues roped me in and I spent many months, many weekends in frigid New Hampshire, and many nights strategizing how to get out the NU vote. He was my guy.
This year, my politics have changed. It’s easy to be a bleeding heart liberal when you don’t have to worry about student loans, taxes, health care and the like. It’s easy to be idealistic when the largest bill you have is your cell phone and your money just gets pissed away in bars. Socially, I’m still rather liberal though overall, I actually consider myself a moderate. I’ve become increasingly more and more moderate in regards to my stance on healthcare and my stance on taxes/economic issues.
So much so, that I’ve begun to have a political identity crisis of sort. You see, I’m a registered Democrat. I have been since I was 18 and I’ve been to a convention as an elected delegate (alternate but still) in 2004. But this year? The democrats aren’t really doing much for me.
I’m probably going to get slandered and hated on by all my freaders because from what I’ve been reading in the blogosphere – not just 20sb but in general, it’s hip to love on Barack Obama and it’s hip to hate on Sarah Palin.
But I can’t lie, or hold a secret anymore, despite my disagreements with her politics, I kind of like her. I kind of like her and John McCain so much so, I’m considering voting for them. (note considering, not definitely)
Because for as much as I was all about Joe Biden back in January, vice presidential candidates are not and should not be the deciding factor on a vote.
But really, what’s pissing me off most is that I’m a feminist. And for people to brush off Sarah Palin not being a feminist choice, is disconcerting. Feminism, for the record, does not JUST mean being PRO-CHOICE. It simply doesn’t. Feminism is about empowerment. It’s about having choices – not just with what to do with your body, but also having choices in your career, having the choice to go into politics or stay at home and be a Hockey Mom or Soccer Mom. It’s about having the OPTION to do all that and the choice. Feminism isn’t strictly about the ability to have an abortion (which by the way, just because I am Pro-Choice, doesn’t mean I support abortion…I support having the choice to) which is what ever single freakin’ person who has been criticizing Sarah Palin has been insinuating. So what if she had a child with Downs Syndrome? Why does that make her a bad person? Seriously…it’s disgusting that WOMEN of all people would be so critical. Just because Hillary was the first woman to run for president, does not make any successful Republican women any less respectable. Sarah Palin is the first WOMAN in Alaska elected to state office – doesn’t that mean ANYTHING???
Onward to my beefs with the Democratic party.
I supported the Democrats because they were the party “for the people.” Unfortunately, the people really mean if you belong to a labor union, if you’re a student, if you’re a pro-choice woman, or if you’re a senior. It does not mean if you support the military, if you have a shit ton of student loan debt, if you dislike labor unions, or if you’re pro-life.
What enraged me most was this statement in Barack Obama’s interview with Glamour Magazine in the 10/2008 issue -
”
GLAMOUR: I have a question from a reader, 26-year-old Jennifer Peeler in Symsonia, Kentucky: “I’m in law school and will graduate with over $100,000 in loans. What will you do to help the rising number of students with such high student loan payments?”
BO: It starts with what I’m calling for, a $4,000 tuition credit [for] every student, every year, in exchange for [100 hours of] community service, or national service of some sort: working in an underserved hospital or underserved school, or joining the Peace Corps, joining the foreign service. That would make community colleges practically free for undergraduates! If they went to a four-year public college or university, it would cover about two thirds of the tuition. Now I’ll admit to your reader, I am sympathetic to somebody who went to law school and came [out] with a ton of debt. The truth, though, is we probably don’t need more lawyers. [Laughs.] So we’ll help you get your undergraduate degree. If you want to go to law school, though, you’re probably going to be able to earn enough to pay off your loans. It just won’t be any fun.“
I’m sorry but that? Is an insult. $4,000 for 100 hours of community service? Seriously?? That’s insulting considering $4,000 would have BARELY paid for my housing if I chose to live in the slummiest of NU’s dorms. But OH! You can go to a community college for FREE!!! I’m sorry but that? Is an insult. It’s an insult to college students and an insult to college graduates. It’s even more of an insult to people who have any sort of hopes to go onto pursue a higher degree – it’s as if he’s saying well…you don’t really need a higher degree but if you can afford it go ahead!
$4,000 is an INSULT. And what is he/the Democratic party going to do for college graduates? Raise our taxes to pay for this $4,000/student who wants to go into some sort of public service? I’m sorry but my taxes are high enough. It’s pretty sad when my state taxes (yes i know the government has nothing to do with this) make it so that with my last job when i was making $2,000 less than what I’m making now, I was bring home the SAME paycheck that I’m bringing home now. Granted then I lived in Virginia and now I pay DC taxes…but still…neither party really has a plan to relieve those of us who racked up a shit ton of debt except the Democrats plan essentially raises taxes and well the Republicans? Kind of lower them. Not gonna lie, I’m going to go for lower taxes here.
Regardless of his pure patronizing attitude to those who want higher degrees even if they can’t afford them and to those who want QUALITY undergraduate degrees (I should note that I have 100k in loans, despite having come from a single parent family who made less than $30k. Is there some sort of relief for need based students? Nope. They’ve tried to increase the pell grant but the pell grant? Is like $4k or something ridiculously weak in comparison to college prices these days.) This coming from a man who has not one, but TWO ivy league educations. And really? Debt from law school? Is that why you didn’t hold a full time job for SIX YEARS after law school? Huh. Funny.
I’ve always kind of had this conflict with Barack Obama, it’s so easy to rope people into your campaign with promises of hope and change, especially when so many people are so disenfranchised from the system but unfortunately as I’m slowly realizing as I watch coverage and read more and more about the candidates – hope and change? Aren’t policies.
So, there’s my rant. There’s my bone to pick. Yet somehow? I’m still left undecided and confused. I vote based on my heart, I vote based on my issues, you could go ahead and call me an educated, emotional voter. Most voters vote on emotions alone (which is precisely how Sarah Palin may rope in some of those Hillary voters regardless of the difference in politics) not based on the issues. I consider myself educated, yet the election is so close and I’m still so undecided because my politics and my logic are both going in two very different directions and both are making so much sense to me. I’ll have to wait till the debates (that Barack Obama DID NOT want to have btw) to decide but let it be known that no one is going to offend me and get away with my vote.
So to all my freaders – regardless who you’re voting for, if you disagree with me fine. If you take offense to my politics? Take it somewhere else because we are ALL entitled to our opinions and it is our DUTY to question those running for leader of our great nation and if you really think that my opinion is “uneducated” and “wrong?” Then I probably don’t care to hear about yours. If you can however, share your opinion in a respectful way (which i find is often not the case in regards to politics and the blogosphere) then I encourage you to do so. I always find other people’s opinions and reasons for voting for people interesting – especially since i’m a student of political science. That kind of stuff is always fascinating.
Some worth while reading for y’all?
Barack Obama interview with Glamour Magazine [10/2008 issue]
John McCain interview with Glamour Magazine [10/2008 issue]
What Mrs. Palin Could Learn From Mrs. T [9/5/08 oped WSJ]
Energy and Independence! [Delegate Commentary 9/4/08 Boston.com]
Wrong Woman, Wrong Message [Gloria Steinem OpEd LA Times 9/4/08]
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I am so with you on this! As a fellow 100K student loan victim, I feel your pain. I realize it was my choice to incur this debt, but, I wanted to go to law school and to follow that dream, I had no other choice. I wonder what his student loan debt was and when it was paid off? And who was paying on it for those six years? Interesting. I am also undecided on my vote, but I am thrilled to have the choices we have.
And I am pissed at the so called feminists who are so “sickend” by Gov. Palin. Please. Like you said, there is more to feminism than being pro-choice. Give her the credit she deserves.
And speaking of pro-choice – for everyone who is concerned, you need to be involved at your STATE level…the only way a case will ever even make it to the Supreme Court is if some State enacts some law that infringes on Rowe. Know what your state representatives are doing and what their stance on Rowe is and pay attention.
“hope and change? Aren’t policies”
THANK YOU! M and i have been saying this for months. you can’t have an entire campaign that just says “change!” it doesn’t even make sense but yet somehow everyone is behind it. i’ve talked to plenty of people who have said they’re for o’bama because they want a change. but they can’t tell me what they want to change. they just don’t want Bush in office. okay, fine. but that’s not an option anyway. Burt Reynolds would be a change too, but he isn’t on the ballot. i am all for people voting for whoever they believe will be the best, i just want them to have a REASON to believe that person will be the best. i can’t support people voting for someone because of sex/race… i don’t think that’s fair, it completely overlooks the REAL ISSUES! uggh… i hate political discussions this year. i’ll be so happy when it’s December.
I love to hear when someone gets educated about politics. I had a lengthy conversation about how Obama is the right choice, and he is so much better, but what is he really going to do? Push the American public into higher taxes and no real relief of any kind. He says he promotes change, but come on… He chose Biden as his VP? Why didn’t he chose someone like Palin, who really is different?
I wrote a blog post last night about Russell Brand and his comments on the VMAs. It doesn’t really relate to this post, but some of the comments do. Read here.
http://averagepolitics.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/russell-brand-vma-obama-endorsement/
Well, I will say that first and foremost, I do disagree with you on several points but I appreciate that you have a different view point. I like to hear from people who aren’t all caught up in Obama-mania.
I think the fact that Sarah Palin wants to take away women’s rights choose makes her not a feminist. SHE had the right to choose. HER daughter had the right to choose. But other women can’t? That’s just wrong.
Furthermore, even though Barack will raise taxes it will only be to the people who can afford it. Upper-middle class, oil companies. People LIKE McCain. And, you know, I feel for them but Barack’s tax plan will increase the average American’s income by something like 6% and McCain’s? Less than 3% for people like you and me.
I’m glad we’re talking about this!
Heidi – LOVE this post -I read the Glamour articles this weekend – was very interesting. But you hit on the points of Obama that I disagree with him on. When I have asked most people why they are voting for Obama – most tell me Change – lol thats not a good enough reason.
I love Sarah Palin – granted I am Pro-Choice – but I like her.
Awesome post!
You came out of the political bloggy closet!
Great post, Heidi. You know where I stand on things as well.
I don’t see any reason why anyone should attack you for this post. We may not agree politically but that is no reason for anyone to attack you. So I hope that doesn’t happen.
Now that being said, I do need to point out that in the interview with Glamour Obama does state that he would propose $4000, each year. Not just one year. I don’t have much college debt but I would gladly do however many community service hours I could get away with to not have to pay anymore on my loans…sadly I’m pretty sure I don’t qualify having already graduated.
Good post nonetheless, very well written and deals with issues that most of us aren’t looking at.
I may disagree with some of what you said, but I wholeheartedly support your informed, intelligent, wonderful opinions. This was an excellent post. Though I’m a huge advocate for personal definitions of feminism, I still can’t justify calling Palin a feminist. And it’s not just because she’s anti-choice. Because you’re right, that doesn’t define feminism. I just feel she panders too much to the patriarchy instead of trailblazing opportunities for women. Riding a man’s coattails to the VP as a political strategy? That doesn’t scream feminism to me. I’ve digressed. Great post. That is all.
This was a great post. Lately I’ve been trying to do a lot of research on both candidates, and I too struggle with Obama’s “Change and Hope” campaign. I haven’t been convinced of what he’s actually going to do. I feel that he is a lot of talk, but doesn’t have the experience to backup what he says.
I’m with you on the loan/student debt train, and I have major issues with his statement to Glamour. Who is he to tell us that the world doesn’t need anymore lawyers? Who is he to tell the youth of America what they can and cannot do? I think that’s a load of bs, and I’m very willing to call him on it. I’m not going to support a candidate because it’s the “cool” thing to do. I’m going to vote based on my heart and who I feel is the best choice to run this country.
Palin is a bit too extreme on certain issues, but for the most part, I agree with a lot of what she says, and not just because she’s a woman. I really applaud your writing and ability to express your opinions and frustrations, something I’ve had a difficult time doing. I’m looking forward to the debates to see how each candidate handles himself and the questions thrown at them.
This is a difficult time for me – I struggle with being thankful for democracy and extremely frustrated by all of the misunderstandings, ignorance, and judgments.
Just for the record – I’m an Obama fan, and it’s totally NOT the chic thing to do where I am. I’ve been attacked by parents, grandparents, and old friends for this. Just so we’re straight. Maybe among lots of 20SB, it’s the “cool thing to do,” but I think those supporters are just the louder supporters online. Just my opinion.
I love, love, loooove that Sarah Palin took her infant son to work and breastfed him & everything there. THAT is some real feminism, if you ask me. Making the workplace more woman/mom-friendly. I really like that. I’d love to have an advocate for that in office. (On the other hand, I didn’t like the mocking of Obama’s past as a community organizer and saying that he’s never done any legislation and other false facts. But, I digress.)
For your poli sci interest – I’m voting for Obama for lots of reasons – mostly because he’s energizing marginalized, previously uninvolved populations; foreign relations-wise, he’d be well-recieved abroad – and this is increasingly important in our globalized economy and world; and I’m pretty anti-war and he favors diplomacy over force. Tax-wise, analysts are saying they’d be pretty similar for those of us who earn less than 250K. 3% decrease with McCain, 5% with Obama. There are so many, many issues. I’m really looking forward to the debates! (I watched every single Republican & Democratic primary debate, so it’s like my new hobby.)
Also, I want to add that McCain was my FAVORITE Republican candidate during the primaries (besides Ron Paul, the most adorable feisty man ever!) – but I fear he’s changing. A lot. To the point where I wouldn’t be as okay with him leading us. I’m afraid he’s less moderate and more divisive. Check out this awesome NYT Op-Ed from McCain from 1996.
oh! This one is interesting, too. Okay I need to end this. I NEED TO STOP COMMENTING THE SIZE OF SMALL POSTS. I will work on this.)
I’ve come to the realization long ago than there will never be a politician who I 100% agree with. There’s no way. With that being said, I’m torn about the whole Obama tuition program. For starters, it is GOOD that he’s trying to do something. Right now there’s no program that helps us with tuition, we just have to pay it off on our own. So the idea that someone is trying to make one is a good step. $4,000 isn’t a lot, albeit, but it is something. The community service hours are weak as well, but again, something.
So it’s not perfect, far from it, but it is something. And that’s kind of how i’m trying to think right now.
Wow, I’m surprised – I thought you were a hardcore Dem! This is a great post.
Honestly, I think that Sarah Palin is a weak choice. I don’t care about her family issues – I think she has a beautiful family and don’t think they should be thrust into all of this. But, that’s just inevitable I guess. I don’t agree with her politics and stance on issues one bit – which is why I would never give that ticket the time of day. I think it is wrong that she slashed sex-ed funding in the state – because obviously abstinence just doesn’t work.
Besides that, given the state of the economy and the policies Bush has pushed on us for the past 8 years, can you honestly say that McCain would reverse that? That is a very scary thought to me. While I think Obama’s student loan plan is straight up ridiculous – I think a Democrat is this country’s best hopes of getting back on track.
I am torn on your post. I obviously respect everyone’s opinion and I agree with some of the things that you have said and what some of the comments have said.
You are right that a lot of people really don’t have a reason to vote for Obama because they haven’t looked into it at all.
In my personal opinion the President of the United States is not much more than a figurehead position. They have advisers all around them that tell them everything to say and what to do. So basically we are voting for the best to take multiple opinions and make them work for the country. And I truly believe that Obama will be much better at that. I think McCain is much more stubborn and will not be willing to listen on many fronts.
The college tuition help thing…..I don’t really have an opinion. I am sure it wasn’t meant maliciously in the interview. Everyone reads a quote in the paper or a magazine and then they form an opinion. But you weren’t there to hear the context that it was in or the rest of the conversation that took place. There may have been a lot more to it but that is what got printed.
I was pointed to a great site for deciphering truths and lies from the candidates though. http://www.politifact.org It shows what someone said and then looks at what they actually meant or what they have said previously.
The tax thing is big deal and the way I understand it is much like others here…Obama’s plan will be better for the middle and lower class and worse for the upper class….and McCain is going to continue Bush’s lead and keep the good times for the upper class and do minimal to help the lower and middle class.
I am not an expert on any of these things and am not trying to be one. If I am wrong on my facts than maybe someone can correct me. I have yet to decide who I am voting for and will wait to decide until much closer to the election.
This is an amazing post! I love that you took the time to research issues that mean something to you and are making an informed, intelligent, well reasoned opinion. It kills me when people vote for someone “because he is against the war” or “he is a stupid republican and therefore just like Bush”.
For me, the most important issue is the economy. Even with a husband heading to war in a few weeks, our economy is highest on my priority list. And the thing about Obama that gets me is his insane wishlist of things to spend! http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2008/2/14/obamas-trillion-dollar-spending-plan.html
$800 billion dollars in 4 years? I’m sorry, but there is no way in the world our country can afford that without digging a deeper deficit.
Good luck trying to make a decision!
Katrina, four dollar gas, a trillion dollar war, rising unemployment, deregulated housing market, global warming…no more
As a tax lawyer, I think Obama is right on the tax issue. First of all, you are not likely to pay lower taxes under a Republican administration. They will cut taxes on corporations, hoping to stimulate the economy. But with worsening inflation and a recession, they are likely to keep your individual tax burden the same. On the other hand, the Democrats advocate increasing taxes on corporations and high income taxpayers, and lowering taxes across the board to middle- and low- income taxpayers. Unless you’re pulling in hundreds of thou, that would be you.
But more important to me is the issue of education. McCain can send his kids to any schools they want to go to, he has the money — but he doesn’t seem to care about whether other people have the same options. I haven’t heard squat from him about grants or student loans that would be any different than the questionably meager federal resources already available. But to be fair, the current system does work, if you approach it in the right way. I graduated from law school with a lot of debt, and every month I pay my large student loan payment thankful that the Clinton administration made federal student loan money easy to access and at a low market rate. Would I have preferred grants? No doubt. But still, money is available for those who want it and are willing to work to pay it back over time. People should think of it as a mortgage on their education, not as a gift.
But my opposition to McCain/Palin goes further: They will cut school funding — especially when it comes to sex education, music education, and pretty much everything that motivates kids to go to school and keeps them out of trouble. And even if you don’t like the idea of abortion, the fact that we can control our own fertility in this country is important — especially to the hormonal seventeen year old kids out there. Taking that education — and the choice of an abortion — away ultimately means more pregnant 17 year olds out there having kids because they don’t know better and have no choices — and therefore have no freedom.
I’m curious: how is the Democratic Party (or did you mean Obama in particular?) not a place for military supporters? My husband did four years in the Navy and is very likely reenlisting in the next few months, so I’m very concerned about how the next president handles military issues.
Great post! I too have a degree in political science, and I too am confused on which direction to go. haha.
I’m coming from the other side, being a registered Republican for the most part, but voting based on issues. Which means the dreaded split ticket! 
A while back I started reading up on Obama, his books, and then his “Blueprint for America”, and it all sounded pretty good! Unfortunately I’m in the same boat of not knowing what to do. Hope and change are great and all, but it’s sort of all that’s talked about. Not a lot of substance or specific plans to support this said “change”. Seems that the rhetoric continues to be primarily focused on people “feeling good”, but not really becoming educated on the direction he wants to go- unless you read his full ‘plan’. Reducing taxes is great and all, but then raising the taxes of the people who “can afford it”? That just doesn’t make sound economic sense to me. Those “rich” people who are going to have to pick up the slack for the people who’s taxes are cut are generally the employers of the very same- which could still affect them. It’s a vicious cycle unfortunately.
I’m not sure what to do either.
I love that there are so many people “excited” about this election, but issues are not as cut and dry as many think. There are consequences to every policy and every decision. Unfortunately many just go with the feel good ideas without thinking rationally.
And with that incredibly long comment, I’ll go.
Great post!
Girl, I’m so with you. The whole thing is SO frustrating. And for me, I keep in mind that no one person is perfect, so there’s no way we’ll ever all agree on who should be in there… much less any of the issues.
All we can do is know what we believe in.
And also, I’m kind of with you on the being pro-choice but not really supporting abortion. It kind of comes down to (for me) we all have the CHOICE about whether or not we have sex and whether or not we’re careful about it… it irritates me that people don’t get that.
Heidi, we need more people who think like you do when it comes to voting.
The times I’ve covered political campaigns I’ve been blown away by how uniformed the average voter is. Nine times out of ten when I’d ask a voter what issues were important to them, they couldn’t come up with anything. And when I would ask them why they were supporting a particular candidate, it would be something vague like “I just like the way he/she … (talks/acts/portrays himself/etc.)” That scares the hell out of me.
I’m in the same boat you are. My political beliefs are so across the board that neither candidate aligns well enough with them for me to have a clear decision.
Hey Heidi, former LJ-friend here
I’ve been following your blog since you made the move, and felt compelled to comment, not just as a moderate but also as someone who works on women’s rights professionally. You’re absolutely right, there’s more to feminism than abortion, it is about women’s right to choose how to live. And that’s why the McCain (and especially Palin, who has been so vocal on this matter) are as anti-women as one gets. The ticket advocates not only for eliminating the right to choose an abortion (including in cases where it’s a health issue for the mother), but also eliminating the right to comprehensive sex education. Keep in mind also that Joe Biden has been one of the biggest advocates for women’s rights in federal legislature for years. Violence Against Women Act, the pending International Violence Against Women Act, pushing for ratification of CEDAW – all Joe Biden. And he and Obama are the only ones that brought up pay equality and women’s equality overall in their campaign.
As far as the other issues go, I agree with you, Obama is by no means perfect. I’ve been annoyed by some of his responses in this interview and in Marie Claire’s last month as well. However, he has been actively proposing plans and actionable goals, whereas all I’ve heard from McCain and especially Palin have been attacks. Their tax cut proposal is meager at best for those of us making less than $100K a year. Dara very rightfully points out that Republicans will NOT cut middle class taxes, and they sure as hell have done nothing to help student loan access or relief, and haven’t said anything on the matter either. The media has been ridiculous in its attacks against Palin, but her positions (and McCain’s, when he does mention them) just plain scare me.
This has turned out to be a wonderful forum! I’m loving reading everyone’s thoughts and opinions.
Yay!
Fantastic post Heidi! Fantastic!
I think the thing that has been so disconserting for me from the Dems side is that they are so quick to shut Sarah Palin down, even the women. I will be honest when I say I am not a “feminist” per say though I believe in the power of any woman, especially a mother and on top of that a mother with a special needs child is able to run ANYTHING. The reason I have such a hard time with the “feminist” label is because the ones I have come into contact personally and locally where the first to shoot down the attempts of any up and coming woman in a carreer or an office or a political forum. I have experienced it persoanlly. In my experience it is about agreeing with them, not thinking for yourself. And I find that hard to jump on board with. I try to keep my personal feelings about a small few that I have experience with not to cloud my judgement of a whole group of people, but when I see it happening on the national scale it makes me want to run the other way and it only seems to cement my feelings toward the group as a whole. Trying to keep an open mind with the same behavior being reciprocated is hard to overcome.
I LOVE the fact that Palin would be an advocate for children with disabilities, I love the fact that she is smart and hardworking, this article blew me away about how tough and devoted to her job she is. She delivered a speech leaking amniotic fluid for God sake! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26602065/
I love the fact that she is willing to stand up to the lobbyist and the boys club in Washington and try to make a difference. As much as I hate drilling we need an energy plan now to get us off the dependence of foreign oil. Something for the next 5-10 years until our alternative energy options can kick into full gear. And ALSO, I love the fact that both McCain and Palin have children in active duty in the military. From a military spouse you cannot understand the needs or experiences of a military family until you are one. You just can’t. It is a club, either you belong or you don’t.
Way to go Heidi. Home run!!
Sorry for all the errors, I have been in a hurry. Also, I think it is important to note that while all the resounding talk of “feminism” is so important and I loved reading the articles you referenced, very mind opening, I have also been googling Feministforlife.org a group she is a member of. I find it all very interesting.
Thank you! I was/am breathesymphony over on LJ and have been following you since we were both in college. While we were on opposite ends of the political spectrum then, I have to agree with everything you said in this entry.
Where is my moderate candidate? I feel like I need a third-party. No candidate satisfies my needs and I find issues with each one.
Thank you for that Glamour quote, too. I hadn’t seen it yet and as someone still paying back student loans for a small, local college- I AM INFURIATED. It may sound cocky, but I am very intelligent. Sorry, but community college was not in the cards for me. Instead I spent two years at the local state university. The state university. Which costs a good 8x that not-so-generous $4000 dollars. Oh, and I would love to volunteer to “earn” that. Except I needed to work all summer in order to afford books for school. And during the school year I had school work to do and activities to be involved in so that I could gain enough experience to GET a job.
Heaven forbid I go back to school. Thanks, Obama. I guess we aren’t encouraging those who are academically-inclined to do the best they absolutely can? Because I notice he went to two Ivy League colleges. And I guess his $200,000 in debt isn’t a problem? (An estimate for two Ivy League degrees).
Thanks again for this great post!
I’m a pro-choice “conservative Christian” who’s registered Republican. And it’s hard being one of the few twenty-somethings that’s even leaning toward McCain. I haven’t made my final decision yet, but it’s nice to know there’s someone who kill me if I make my decision and lean toward the right.
Thanks for the links. I love the informed viewpoint, although I disagree with it.
On the education point, a couple of things:
1) It is $4,000/year, not a one-time payment, as he says himself in that quote.
2) It would also cover 2/3 of the cost of public university, as he says. There’s nothing wrong with pointing out that community college would be free (as it should be). He’s not saying that’s your only option. He’s trying to reduce the cost of other educational options as well. I don’t find that patronizing.
In general, I agree with at least one above commenter that it’s not feminist to try to strip choices away from other people. You say yourself that you’re not pro-abortion, you’re pro having the choice, which is how I feel as well. Sarah Palin wants to take away that choice, even in cases of rape or incest. I fail to see how it’s a feminist viewpoint to try to force other women to make the choices you would make.
And speaking of feminism, in that same Glamour article there’s a spread comparing McCain and Obama on a host of issues of importance to women, including equal pay for equal work. The expert opinion in that spread was that despite McCain’s big talk on the issue, he’s unlikely to do anything about it, considering that he has never done anything about it in all his time in the Senate. Obama, on the other hand, takes that issue seriously and plans to take steps to close the gap.
I wouldn’t make a lot of personal choices that Sarah Palin has made, but I don’t have a problem with her choices as a woman or as a person. Personal choices are exactly that–they’re personal. The problem I have is with her extreme anti-choice stance, her anti-environment stances, her insistence on drilling for oil at all costs, her refusal to acknowledge that humans have played a part in climate change, her desire to teach creationism in public schools, her suing the Bush administration over its labeling polar bears as endangered, her platform of abstinence-only sex education, her attempts to ban books from her local library and her attempt to fire the librarian upon encountering a refusal, the ethics scandals she’s mixed up in, and her dismissing of investment in alternative energy sources as something that will take too long. (Did you see the thing in the Glamour article about how if offshore drilling does reduce gas prices, it will only be by a little bit and not until 2030?)
Those are things that bother me about Sarah Palin. It has nothing to do with her being a woman, or with anything surrounding circumstances in her personal life. Those political platforms are antithetical to pretty much everything I believe, and I’d be as upset about them in a VP candidate no matter who the candidate was. And particularly given McCain’s age, it seems prudent to consider the VP as at least somewhat likely to become the president over the next eight years.
And McCain isn’t much better. He’s not as extreme as she is, but he intends to spend another almost $500 billion in Iraq, he doesn’t have a long term plan for alternative energy, he doesn’t have much in the way of an education plan, his tax breaks would actually benefit the middle class LESS than Obama’s tax plan (although I do agree that both tax plans leave something to be desired), he’s offering only a small stipend for health care that will not solve the major issues at the root of the problem, he’s anti-choice, and he has never made women’s issues a priority. And if he gets into office, he’ll likely have a chance to appoint at least one Supreme Court justice who will propagate those politics long after McCain has left office. So no, I don’t like his politics, and I would never vote for him.
If you do like his politics, and you do agree with those stances, then you should vote for McCain. But I really hope that you won’t vote for him because you’re frustrated about a few quotes from Obama, and you feel that he’s talking down because he pointed out that community college would be free. I agree that Obama has had a lot of advantages that most lower- and middle-class voters haven’t had. Likewise, McCain is extremely rich (I’m sure you’ve read about his seven houses and his wife’s $280,000 earrings). So no, neither mainstream candidate is exactly an Andrew Jackson type, and perhaps that leaves something to be desired. But I hope that you, and everyone, will make their decisions based on the big picture, and the overall political stances of the candidates. For me, the choice is clear.
Great post! I don’t agree with everything you said, but I respect your opinion.
I do agree with Rally Grrrl:
“Katrina, four dollar gas, a trillion dollar war, rising unemployment, deregulated housing market, global warming…no more”
I have always loved politics, but I’ve been watching and researching more than usual this election cycle. I even started a new blog just for my political opinions:
http://ademocraticmom.blogspot.com
I do agree that Palin being a mother should have no bearing on her ability to be Vice President. I just don’t agree with some of her statements, and after closer research, I’m finding some of her statement are not true.
It’s going to be an interesting election! Keep on writing political posts – I love reading them!
i completely understand where you are coming from but I was wondering exactly what is it that you agree with McCain on?
I’m not asking that in a judgemental tone but more out of curiosity because of all the twentysomethings that I personally know, not one of them could come up with a concrete reason to vote for him.
I’m just curious!
This is such a great post and I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. I don’t consider myself to be a Democrat or Republican either (I would say I’m more Moderate) because there are so many issues that agree and disagree for both parties. I don’t know who I’m voting for yet, but I’m trying to learn what I can about each of the candidates before I make my decision.
Hi! I came here through DC Blogs. I want to thank you for a great post and especially for your comments on feminism. I don’t know if I would make abortion legal in the state society is now, but I definitely loathe and I feel like there are so many women who are staking the definition of feminism on one wedge issue I just can’t get on board with…so I guess by their definition I’m not a feminist. I believe, however you decide to vote, Palin has made her stand for feminism by being a working mother and making her workplace more friendly to mothers of infants, and by rising through the ranks to the governorship of Alaska. I will probably never exercise my right to an abortion, but these are things that are really relevant to my life as a woman and mother. I think we should be able to admire what she’s accomplished, even if we disagree with her on other women’s issues.
I applaud you for taking the time to consider how you’re going to vote. Most people don’t even go that far. A couple points of order, though:
* Who’s saying Sarah Palin is a bad person for having a baby with Downs Syndrome? Seems like a straw man argument to me.
* You don’t like Barack Obama’s tuition tax credit idea. Fair enough. Which one of McCain’s plans to make college more affordable do you support? Also, it was under the Republicans that programs like the Pell Grant suffered their most debilitating cuts in years, not the Democrats.
* Why does being a Democrat mean you don’t support the military? I’m an active volunteer for an organization that works with the troops after they come back home and I donate to the U.S.O. which provides them resources while they’re on active duty. I’m also a Democrat. As are millions of our servicemen and servicewomen.
* Finally, that old chestnut about Obama only offering “hope and change” offers evidence of nothing more than the inability of the one espousing it to go to Obama’s website and read his detailed policy proposals, or to pick up a newspaper and read a piece about him, or to attend one of his rallies where he lays out his policies in detail.
I really like this post! Thanks for the links.
#1
“Sarah Palin is the first WOMAN in Alaska elected to state office – doesn’t that mean ANYTHING???”
No, that statement means nothing. I don’t cheer candidates for winning elections, I cheer for candidates if they implement new strategies or actually improve the life of constituents. If Palin ran things horribly and the state is in worse shape than before, then no, being the first woman in the state office of Alaska does not mean anything positive.
#2
Don’t be insulted by Obama’s $4,000 tuition credit. It’s not meant for you. It’s meant for truly poor students who have never had anyone in their family earn a degree, or can’t even afford community college.
I agree with this statement: “you don’t really need a higher degree but if you can afford it go ahead!”
When did this becoming insulting or patronizing? Having a sense of entitlement that includes the government paying for or subsidizing YOUR 17th-19th years of specialized schooling seems patronizing. Thinking the government (aka taxpayers, aka fellow citizens) should help you financially so you can become a lawyer and make $$$ is insulting. You can pay back your student loans with your higher future salary.
(I understand not all law school grads go to high power law firms, but on a whole someone with a JD is going to make more money than someone with an Associate degree.)
My view of the government’s role in US society does not include paying for students to become lawyers. I pay for K-12 because I believe the government and society benefits from literate people with basic math skills to balance their own checkbook. I subsidize higher education through gov. education grants and reduced interest rate loans to empower people to make a decent living and to avoid expensive social problems (drug addiction, jail, crime, etc.).
It’s not harming the American way of life by not giving future lawyers breaks. But America does stand for things like giving immigrants opportunities to become successful, like going to community college. The American way does stand for programs where we leverage our diversity to share our wealth of knowledge, such as volunteering/community service, not feeling entitled to hand outs and be unwilling to pay taxes.
Let’s not characterize your interests as so “broad” and “diverse” that you can’t choose a candidate – you want to have your cake and eat it too. You want the government to help you (and only you), but you don’t want to fund it.
Maybe we all need a refresher in finances & debt 101:
1. If you are a college grad that cannot afford law school, work first and save up some money, or do the calculations and find out if your career interests can pay back your $100K in student loans.
2. If you are a country that is in record debt and the Chinese own your ass, re-think some of your priorities (War on terror, War on drugs, War on everything). Maybe instead of paying for wars you’d have money for higher education.
Maybe more attention needs to be given to this statement: “you don’t really need a higher degree but if you can afford it go ahead!”
Well, Ms. Pretty in Pink lawyer – you couldn’t afford it. I’m not here to pay for your mistakes. I’ll gladly pay taxes to help people struggling to get out of minimum wage jobs by getting a community college degree or people willing to EARN their $4,000 by providing community service.
Your comment that Palin is being maligned because she had a baby with Downs is a straw man argument -the type that Republicans disingenuously put out to paint opponents as too extreme and to avoid a discussion they would rather not have.
For instance, the comment about Palin being criticized for having a Downs baby–I haven’t seen/read anyone saying it makes her a bad person or that she shouldn’t have had the kid. On the contrary, i have read very admirable comments about that. By writing that people are saying that you are attributing ugly arguments to her critics that have not been made and that draw attention away from the reasonable objections people do have about her.
Also. I don’t understand how you can say Palin is a Feminist. It doesn’t matter what her personal choices are. The fact is, she would if she could withhold — even in the case of rape and incest — the right of any woman to have an abortion. If feminism is about choices, how can you possibly say she is a feminist?
The main — and justified — criticism I have seen is that she is unprepared to be president and that her claims to the reform mantle are not all that they appear to be.
Just a quick point…Hillary wasn’t the first woman to run for President (even from a major party). Victoria Woodhull ran back in the late 19th century for a “third party,” and Margaret Chase Smith ran in 1964 for the Republicans; not too long ago, in the 2000 election, Elizabeth Dole was running for the Republicans (for a short time). Hillary Clinton is the first woman to get so close, though. Let’s not forget either that it was 24 years ago that Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman to run for VP on a major party ticket…Mondale/Ferraro got stampeded by Reagan/Bush.
unless you consider “blogging” community service, I agree with you that seems like a flawed plan!
But I’m definitely not making any decisions until we see some debates.
Yay! You rule! Great post.
hey you, I’m still hoping to make it to HH you and Liz have, if you’ll still have me after this…
like others are saying, i totally respect your bravery for “going against the tide” and your thinking about these issues.but… yes, I disagree. oh, how I disagree.
I’m not an obamamaniac. I was torn between him and hillary, but yes, i’m disturbed and ANGERED by palin. and I am afraid for what happens if she gets into power.
The reasons are many (roe v. wade is only one) – the hypocrisy is a biggie, the calling me anti-feminist if I dare not to be awed by her is another and frankly the jews-for-jesus evangelical creationism-in-schools is the deal breaker (not a feminist issue per se, but as a woman and member of minority religion, one that’s critical to my having a voice).
I resent that she thrust her moral majority “I’m running for being a good mommy and a girl leader! gasp!” in our face and then got mad when people dared to ask questions about what else she’d done or how her statement that she supported her daughter’s CHOICE jived with her viewpoint that women (even married women, even rape victims) shouldn’t have that choice. I feel angry that when she wants her children to be in the spotlight, in they go (Track, Trig) but when she doesn’t (Bristol), that’s a-ok and how dare we put them there? I feel she abused her child’s disability by citing her own heroics for “not killing him” while meanwhile slashing funding for special needs programs and oh by the way, it’s a wee bit easier to care for a baby (of any kind) when you have your teenage children to do it for you (and the taxpayer money of alaska).
As for the college plan and other things you point out about Obama, hey I don’t disagree that they could be better but like the other poster… what’s Mccain’s better plan?
What I resent and think others resent about Palin is not that she’s a woman and it isn’t that we think Roe v. Wade support is the only way to be a feminist, it’s the attitude of mean-spiritedness giggleyness (see “palin mocks opponent with cancer”) and the presumption that “the liberal elite” (which is pretty hard not to read as “not evangelical christian”) is anti-feminist if they’re anti THiS woman.
I’m the white female demographic that’s supposed to be making the difference for the mccain ticket and she does NOT support a single thing I do. I do not think it’s amazing or ground-breaking that she’s running and I don’t see how she’s a feminist. But mostly I resent the attitude that anyone not wowed by her is anti-woman. I have to agree with Biden here. In my mind, she would set the woman’s movement back. Decades.
And as a Jewish female American and someone who worked with the developmentally disabled, I FEAR what happens if she gets into power in a way I have never been angry or fearful before. Please keep reading / thinking/ CONSIDERING before making this choice. If you do, I promise I will do the same. Someday soon I hope to be able to read something about her without gritting my teeth so much it hurts. Sorry for the rant, thanks for letting me get it out. sighgggh.
This is a great post…I love your courage to divulge so much of your political processing while it’s still in process. I think these types of conversations would go so much better if we all shared this way, rather than beating each other over the head with what we’ve “decided.”
I look at Obama’s college $ comments differently after a conversation with my friend Vincent, who comes from a very similar background as Obama. He says that for him, ANY form of college education for a member of his family–and most of the people he knows–would be an outright miracle. His perspective is that making education attainable isn’t about you and me, who have a pretty wide variety of options open to us. In a way, I can see his point.
That said, I too have huge school loans and would love to see the overall system change. But I don’t think that’s what Obama’s plan is aiming at; it’s apples & oranges.
John McCain’s “maverick” behavior frightens me. I don’t want our country run by slap-dash decisions; the stakes are just too high.
Like many others have said, I don’t think Obama’s college plan is leveled at women like you and me. I come from a POOR, POOR area of the country – one where less than 1/5 of graduating seniors go to ANY post-secondary education – be it community college or four year university – and of those that do start, even fewer finish. For those people, Obama’s plan could be lifechanging.
For me, I am aspiring to be a doctor. I come from a solidly middle class family, who helped with my bachelor’s degree, and that’s about it. I will be taking on about $200k in debt to achieve my career goals. And I plan to be the one to pay that back. Will it be hard, working as a primary care doc with an average salary of $100,000 a year? Yes. Do I think that means that I am owed something? No. It’s my choice to be a doctor, and my choice to take on that debt. This is how I view those with advanced degrees.
Any time people begin to complain about taxes under Obama vs. McCain I like to point out – analysis has shown that Obama’s plan cuts taxes MORE for 95% of the population. McCain’s tax cuts are for the riches folks out there, and wealthy businesses. That’s called a regressive tax system – and I think it’s shameful. The privileged have a moral duty to shoulder their own weight.
ADDITIONALLY, history has proven that EVERYONE earns more under when the Dems are in power. This includes those top earners. The economy performs better, overall, and that means good times EVEN IF the wealthy pay a bit more in taxes. See this article in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/business/31view.html?em
These are all reasons I’m voting for Obama. And they don’t even TOUCH the women’s right to choose issue.
If you want policy info on Obama, it’s as simple as clicking on over to his website, and streaming the video from his many town hall speeches. Or reviewing the policy pieces he’s posted. 10 second sound bites don’t give ANYONE (not even McCain) enough time to get into specifics about policies. McCain hasn’t done any better job in ads or quick sound bites of describing his policies. It takes time to go out and see the candidates speak, or debate, or time to read through interviews and news stories. McCain and Obama have both outlined their policies, and to say that Obama has only talked about change – that’s just not true. Yes, it’s a slogan of his. Is it the entire summary of his policies? No. It’s one word.
For the record, I’m a registered dem. And I wasn’t even sure I would vote for Obama in the primaries…
This is well-written and well-thought out. It sounds like you have thought about this alot. Follow your heart when you cast your ballot this November.