Special Report - Election 08

A friend of mine once told me that you have to do more than think outside the box. You have to think outside the table that the box is sitting on. It’s this mindset that got me thinking about who I would vote for president and why. The more I started paying attention, the more I started to realize the magnitude of this election, which is easily the most historic in my lifetime—and possibly one of the most of all time depending on the outcome.

Early on—back in 2006—I thought staying the course and voting for John McCain was the way to go. I love the America McCain represents. The one where we’re the top dog and the rest of the world exists to do our bidding. The problem, however, is that America—McCain’s America—is a thing of that past. These days, the American Dream is shared by people all over the world and it’s time to take that into consideration.

In a world where our leaders admittedly say they are figuring out problems like the war in Iraq and the problems with the economy as they go, we need someone who will be able to adapt to the changes taking place around us. To me the younger, more motivated man seems like the right choice. Now, more than ever, we need to have open minds and share our ideals. And that is what I’m voting for. Not so much the man, but the ideals he represents.

After all, “Change” is the cornerstone of Barack Obama’s campaign. Most people hear the word “change” and associate it with swapping the current administration for what Obama and the Democrats have to offer. There’s way more to it than that. The change isn’t something that’s coming from within. It’s the ability to adapt to what is going on around us. Not just in this country, but all over the world. What Obama lacks in experience can be made up along the way. Part of being successful in life is having the ability to act like you know what you’re doing and Obama has done a fine job of that so far with a brilliantly run campaign. So much so, Advertising Age recently selected Obama’s Campaign as its Marketer of the Year. He’s reached out to younger voters using the web to his advantage—using social media sties like Digg, Twitter and Facebook. It’s also important to note, Obama carries fewer political debts than McCain.

The biggest problem most Americans have with Obama is his name—Barack Hussein Obama. Doesn’t sound much like the other 43 guys who had the job, huh? And people thought a catholic Kennedy was a tough sell. Besides, it’s not so much the man that dictates the times, but the other way around. And, one man isn’t going to change the nation. He’s not going to make people work harder, or make children smarter, or even keep family structures intact.

Those are the reasons, as scattered as they may be, why I’m going to vote for Barack Obama for the next President of the United States and not John McCain. So what was it that did McCain in? Actually, let’s start with what didn’t sway my opinion. It’s outrageous that McCain is judged so heavily on his mannerisms and public appearance—especially by the Hollywood-jerkoff types. To an extent, the way a candidate presents him self in public is not necessarily the best way for form an opinion. McCain isn’t the wrong choice because he’s awkward. By that same logic, Abraham Lincoln—with a raspy voice and frail figure—would have been a terrible candidate.

As much as these people (who represent a large number of Obama’s fan base) drive me crazy, they’re not even a fraction as bad as the nut jobs in McCain’s followers who won’t vote for Obama because he is an “Arab” or a “black.” People who think like this should worry everyone. The rest of the world sees this too, and it just adds to the perception that Americans are dumb, fat and lazy. A vote for Obama might change that perception.

McCain’s fatal flaws were his age and choosing the wrong running mate. A lot of people were turned off by Sarah Palin’s interview with Katie Couric. But it was her appearance on SNL that showed her true colors. She is oblivious and never realized the joke was on her. My dad told me at a very early age that it’s one thing to be laughed with and laughed at. “Make sure you know the difference,” he told me. This is a lesson Sarah Palin never bothered to learn. Unfortunately, I feel like a vote for McCain is a vote for Palin for President.

I don’t know if this is true, but I heard he asked Michael Bloomberg to run with him and was turned down quicker than a bedspread in a Nevada brothel. Now there’s a guy who should run for president. A successful businessman and politician. He has done such a good job as mayor of NYC, they have waived their term limits to keep in office. I can’t say I blame him for staying away. He’s got a good thing going and probably doesn’t want to be bothered.

In an abrupt closing, it’s laughable that people believe the outcome of this election will change the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. It will however, set the course for the future—one with more uncertainties than ever before. For those of you who still aren’t sure who to vote for there’s always the George Carlin school of thought that says, if I don’t vote then I’m not contributing to the problem.

God Bless America!