Business as Usual
Published February 5th, 2008I believe in challenging the institution of party politics. I believe that everyone’s vote should be heard and counted. I believe that we need a mix of career politicians and outsiders. I do strongly believe that if there were significant changes to our government, America would be better off. I believe that someone’s religion, or lack thereof, shouldn’t be an issue and should not unduly color their decision-making. So did I cast my vote for the right candidate today?
Absolutely not. On these and other issues, there was no candidate that represented my views very well. I was stuck between choosing Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. While many out there truly believe that Obama is and will be an agent of change - I for one am extremely skeptical. To me, he’s as institutional and business as usual as anyone else. You see, if Obama had really been an agent of change, he would have campaigned in Michigan and Florida, been on the ballot, and been fighting to seat their delegates from day one. But he did not and has not - he continues to stand by the DNC and support the disenfranchisement of voters. Personally I find it abhorrent that he can say the things he says yet still continue to roll over to the DNC. He is an establishment politico just like the rest. And it’s this issue in particular that weakens my trust in him as a person. I actually believe that Hillary tells the truth and says what she believes more consistently than does Obama. And as I have posted, I like Hillary’s personality more.
Of course Hillary is not innocent in this matter either - she now supports seating Florida and Michigan delegates. Well of course she does - she slaughtered the competition in those states! Indeed, she had no opposition in Michigan, seeing as how establishment politicians Obama and Edwards pulled their names from the ballot, as per DNC decision. At least Hillary left her name on there, showing at least cursory support to those voters. But not until later did she speak up for them, and that’s simply politicking and gamesmanship. Of course, I don’t blame her for it - it’s a close race and she needs all the delegates she can get! But if Obama really believed in change, he’d have never bowed to the DNC, never taken his name off those ballots, and never opposed seating the delegates in the first place. Can anyone tell me how it’s a losing situation to campaign on restoring voter’s rights? How could it possibly be bad if he went to Michigan and Florida and said “Right now your votes don’t count. That is wrong and unacceptable. I want you to vote for me, but whether you do or not, I will fight to restore your delegates. Your voice will be heard.” Does anyone out there believe that would have lost him votes in Michigan and Florida? My god, he’d have taken those states in a landslide. But he didn’t. You know why? Because The Party comes first. The Institution, The Establishment comes first - even for Obama. Don’t fool yourself folks - he’s not that different than any of the others.
I only voted for Obama because the vast majority of his stated political stances match mine more closely than do Hillary’s. As I said, I don’t fully trust him to follow-through, but my trust isn’t damaged enough for me to outright disbelieve him. So he gets my vote. Additionally, when Hillary does things like agreeing to debates on FOX News, I feel that I did make the correct decision. Because I like her, I’m very disappointed every time she does something that is completely antithetical to my views. And it happens often enough that Hillary just disappoints me in general.
i ended up voting for obama too since my candidate kucinich dropped out of the race to save his congressional seat. i would rather see him get the nomination than her, but i still think they might run together in the fall. i have been saying that for a year now.
jennifer juniper
$5 says they don’t - I don’t think either one wants to be in the other’s shadow. They both have very big egos for this.