Obama's inauguration

Earlier today, upon the inauguration of President Barack Obama, I said that I was proud to be an American again.  Something has always troubled me about that phrase, though; “proud to be an American”.  Does it mean “I’m proud that I’m an American”?

I’m definitely happy that I’m an American.  I’ve always been happy, always glad to be an American.  I’ve always felt very fortunate that I was born in this country and for all the benefits that have come with it.  I’ve traveled to several other countries and couldn’t imagine not calling the USA home.

But pride is different.  I’m proud of positive things that I’ve personally done that have taken effort.  For instance, I’m proud of my college degrees, I’m proud of the business I’ve grown, I’m proud of my landscaping projects, and I’m proud of my marriage.

I can also be proud of other people for the things that they have done.  For example, I’m proud of my wife for her successes in her education and career.  I’m proud of my friends and family for their accomplishments.  If I had children I’m sure I would be proud of them for their achievements.

Immigrants to the US, who have had to struggle to attain their citizenship have a right to be proud of their US citizenship.  But I never did anything special for mine.  I was just born here.  For me, being proud of my American-ness is like being proud that I’m human, or have brown hair, or that I’m relatively tall, or anything else I had no control over.

So instead of saying that I’m proud to be an American, let me say that I’m again “proud of America”. 

I couldn’t have said that honestly for a long time.  I was not proud of America during most of the George W. Bush administration.  I was not proud that our government removed freedoms from its people.  I was not proud of the corruption in our federal government.  I was not proud that Bush usurped powers to the point of undermining the government’s system of checks and balances.  I was not proud that Bush escaped legal action for the crimes he committed.  I was not proud that under the Bush administration, scientists trying to help humanity and future generations – to explain global climate change and urge action, for example – were ignored and/or ridiculed.  I’m not proud that industries reliant on math and science in America are losing ground to those in other countries.  I was not proud that our government changed its policy of peace to a policy of war.  I was not proud that the Bush administration killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people abroad.  I’m not proud of the immeasurable damage our government has done to its people, people around the world and to its reputation.

But today, I’m very proud of America.  I’m proud of my country, my fellow Americans, for having elected such an intelligent and ethical leader.  I’m proud of Barack Obama for what he has achieved on this historic day.  I expect to be proud of President Obama for his accomplishments in the coming years.  I’m proud of America for having begun to repair the damage done by the Bush administration.

Long story short… Unless you’re already planning on attending the Republican caucus, please do whatever you can to attend the Democratic caucus on Thursday (Jan. 3^rd) at 6:30 pm and please read the following information.

Your caucus location is not necessarily where you vote.  To find your caucus location, go to: http://www.iowafirstcaucus.org/caucus_finder.php for the Democratic caucus locations (for the Republican locations, go to http://www.iowagop.net/countycontacts.asp).

I think doors typically open at 6:00, but if you’re not in line by 7:00, then you blew it.  The doors are shut and you can’t participate.  You don’t need to be registered to vote before you get there.  The whole thing will take about an hour.

The following is why I’m supporting Barack Obama:

Overall, Barack Obama makes me think of what it must have been like to see JFK or Bobby Kennedy campaign.  He makes me proud to be an American again.

Barack Obama

BIO

Barack Obama is very intelligent and an excellent speaker.  He was elected head of the Harvard Law Review.  He could have had a very lucrative business as an attorney, but over 20 years ago, he left a job on Wall Street to work with Christian churches in Chicago to fight for families when the local steel plant closed.  He’s been working as a public servant ever since.  He’s fought for working families and won – expanding health care coverage to 150,000 people in Illinois and putting $100 million worth of tax cuts in the pockets of working families.

Honesty

Senator Obama tells people what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear.  He told automakers that as President, he’d make them raise their fuel standards to help us become energy independent.  He put his political career on the line when he opposed the war in Iraq from the start.

Lobbyists

Barack Obama is the ONLY candidate in the race who hasn’t just talked about taking power away from lobbyists – he’s done it.  He brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass historic lobbying reform in both Illinois and Washington.  He’s also the only candidate not accepting ANY donations from PAC’s or lobbyists for his campaign.  Groups run by Obama’s opponnents’ Washington supporters have spent over $3.2 million in false political attacks, but Senator Obama continues to run an ethical campaign of truth.

Electability

Barack Obama is the one candidate who can end the partisanship in Washington and unite the country.  Poll after poll shows that he’s the only candidate who beats all Republicans running for President.  He’s our best chance to get a Democratic President elected in November and the one candidate who can really change Washington.

Health Care

Obama’s plan for universal health care will cover every American (despite what some attack ads are saying).  Also, his plan does more to cut costs than any other candidate in the race – saving the typical family $2500 per year.

Clinton

I personally have a great deal of respect for Hillary Clinton.  I think it would be great to have a female President.  However, I don’t think she’s right for the job right now.

A number of polls show that up to half of the country says they would never consider voting for Sen. Clinton in the general election.  I’m not saying those people are rational, but that’s democracy for you. 

On the other hand, Barack Obama attracts more Republicans and Independents than any other candidate running for the Democratic nomination.

There was recently a resolution in congress that would have allowed Bush to easily extend the war in Iraq to Iran.  Clinton is the only (Democratic) candidate running who supported that resolution.

Also, Senator Clinton (like the others) is using money from Washington lobbyists to fund her campaign.  I just think she’s a little too wrapped up in the corruption of Washington politics.

Edwards

Edwards, like Clinton, seem to be speaking the right message, but their actions don’t necessarily match.  Their answers in the debates all sound like the coached answers of politicians.  To me, they sound like sound bites and not honest answers from the heart.

Edwards says he’ll fight to keep jobs in Iowa, which is a good thing.  But he told CEO’s they couldn’t be blamed for taking advantage of tax loopholes that they use to ship American jobs overseas.  Also, Edwards voted to make free trade with China easier and Clinton called NAFTA a boon to our economy while voting to give more tax breaks to companies who go offshore to avoid paying taxes.  Edwards didn’t do anything while he was a Senator to reduce the power of lobbyists.  Obama is the only candidate to actually reduce the power of Washington lobbyists.  Obama will end tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas and will work to restore the middle class by giving tax breaks to the middle class and not the super wealthy.

Kucinich

Representative Dennis Kucinich is requesting of his supporters that if they caucus for him and their group at the caucus is “not viable” (meaning they don’t have enough members at the caucus and must change their alignment) then those people should caucus for Barack Obama.  Kucinich said this because he believes that Obama is the candidate most like him in wanting to bring about a real, positive change in this country.

But rather than dilute the votes, why not just support Obama from the start?

Richardson, Biden, Dodd

I respect each of these candidates.  In fact, behind Obama, they are my 2^nd, 3^rd, and 5^th choices, respecively.  However, I want to make sure we don’t dilute the votes and diminish all the good we can do by spreading the votes out to too many candidates.  I’m confident in Barack Obama’s intelligence and leadership such that he will not discount the good ideas and intensions of these great men.  For example, he’s aware of the education improvements that Governor Richardson made in New Mexico.  Obama and Dodd are both members of the Foreign Relations Committee and Obama agrees with Senator Dodd that we need fair trade that works for working Americans and that we need to restore our moral standing in the world and uphold the rights in our Constitution.

As president, Barack Obama will appoint people to his cabinet and other government positions based on their qualifications.  He will appoint experts in the respective areas and not cronies.

Overall

I personally think any of these candidates would be better than what we currently have and have had to endure the last 7 years.  But I think Obama is the best choice and is the best hope for defeating the potential Republican candidates in November who seem to already be campaigning on divisive issues set to categorize us into Red and Blue states.  Barack Obama appeals to all kinds of people of all ages, races, religions, etc. – Democrats, Independents and even Republicans.  He can Unite the States once again.

Thanks for reading.  Again, please remember to caucus.