Decision '08

I don’t think I have ever talked about the presidential race in my blog. I guess I’ll do that today.

This 2008 race has been spectacular to follow-up from all the ups and downs, surprising developments, media commentary, and such. But I must say it has rendered many doubts in me about the political system and the candidates themselves. Growing up, I have always leaned liberal and progressive and for that reason I am a registered Democrat. It aligns with most of my beliefs and values. However, coming to this point in the election, I am not confidently backing Barack Obama for president. What I mean by that is that I am going to vote for him, there is no doubt about it, but I still fear how he will fare as the President of the United States of America. His policies, though both ambitious and promising, seem financial taxing on the already rundown economy. This goes for both candidates when I say this, it is obvious that politicians just spit out what will initially ease the people’s fears until they get into office. Once they get into the oval office, that is when they will start being practical and speak the real deal. What I want to hear are their priorities and what sacrifices they have to make in order to execute their top priorities. I want to know which people they truly stand for and not just those from whom they want to collect votes. For Obama, I truly believe that he stands for what I want in the President: equality and equal opportunity, middle- and working-class, minorities, youth and education. But his policies worry me. For example, with his health care proposal he expects to make up for the excess costs of granting universal health care by transforming the hospital paper system into an electronic one, which sounds absurd to me. Not only do I think that he won’t be able to cover the excess costs, it also does not address the problem of skyrocketing premiums. Albeit, McCain’s proposal is far worse, I just hope that Obama can refine his proposal. I remember someone saying this in an email, but I hope it is not true, “It’s like we’re voting for the lesser evil.”

What I do think is stupid about the campaign is this guilty by association. There is no true substance to this argument. It is as if McCain has nothing to back up his own character and policies that the only way he thinks he can win is if he lashes at Obama’s past associations and somehow prove that he is a terrorist. And to hear what people have the nerve to shout out at his rallies is absolutely frightening. They are instances like these that make me scared to actually meet an extreme conservative or even think of living in Middle America.

I think I still stand by the belief that Hillary Clinton would have been the better Democratic nominee, but I definitely won’t go as far to say that McCain should win. I just hope that Obama can put truth to his words and execute his policies by continually standing by his principles and beliefs. Well, let’s get him elected first and then we can put our faith in him.


Reminder: Deadline to register is October 20. Please don’t get lazy or forget. Your vote might be more important than you know.