Just Two Votes - Chapter 5, Barack Obama

Posted by Melissa Carter at 2/12/2008 9:28 PM
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: gay politics Obama Melissa Bert Show Democrats Katie Jo Democrat Bert Show Q100 lesbian Barack Obama votes

It's an Election year, and there will be plenty of analysis and media outlets in 2008 trying to speculate on who the next President of the United States will be.  But what about an average voter? What does she or he really think about what's happening? 

That's what Just Two Votes is - My and Katie Jo's debate on the candidates and issues as the year moves forward, with each revealing who they vote for come November 4th! 


Melissa - Youth vs. Wisdom

I've always been into politics.  I grew up in a household that discussed issues and encouraged voting, and when I turned 18 I was proud to know that I could finally cast my own vote.  And have been doing it ever since.

But I now see in myself what happens to most aging voters, the attitude that substance becomes more important than inspiration.

I say this because those are the questions I currently pose in regards to Senator Barack Obama.  I am excited for his rise from national obscurity to national prominence in such a short amount of time.  I am excited by his presence and cadence of speech.  I am excited by the motivation I'm seeing in younger voters to get actively involved in this race.

If I were in college I'm sure I would be just as inspired and ready to follow the promise of "Change" that Obama's campaign advertises.

But I'm no longer in college and don't need pep rallies.  I am an American who suffers from a chronic illness.  I am a lesbian who is charged the same amount of taxes as anyone else, but provided fewer rights.  I am a woman who is paid less than my male counterparts.  I am Melissa, who has grown older and my vote belongs to the candidate who best fits the aforementioned issues.

I am certainly not saying that college students do not understand these issues.  But I do believe that most only see them as issues, and not concrete decisions that will have a tremendous impact on their day-to-day lives.

With all this being said, what can Barack do for me?  He does not relate to me on any of these issues, and has only focused on one of them in recent debates.

I hope that Youth and Wisdom don't have to be separate.  If he were to win this election, I hope Obama can indeed cater to both the young and the experienced, so that when the pulpits and banners are taken down there is substance left to see.  

Katie Jo - Do some Democrats have a Dirty Secret?

The wave of success that Barack Obama is riding is inspiring as an American and as a Democrat.  As a proud member of Generation Y, this is the kind of future I dreamed of in terms of political opportunity.  I wanted anyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, whatever to have the opportunity for political achievement if they had the God given leadership skills which are a necessity when the objective is bringing people together. Obama has those skills.  Make no mistake about it, the reality that is Barack Obama is exactly the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.  

But despite all of his success, I am still hearing quiet comments from an element of the population and I quite honestly don't know how strong that segment is.  That segment are the educated, affluent white men and women who despite all their political correctness and despite their Democratic leanings, may be fine with a Black Man who is the Democratic Candidate but who may not be ready to vote for a Black President.   Maybe those comments are always around whenever change is near.  Maybe the power of those comments is diffused by those of us who simply ignore them.  I was at Waffle House last week.  I was sitting in the booth next to four men in their 50's.  All had wedding rings.  All were well dressed and seemingly affluent citizens.  One man said that he would vote for Hillary before he would ever vote for a black man.  Then one said something interesting.  He said, "I voted Democrat in the primary but if Barack is the nominee, I will vote for McCain.  I don't care what the issues are."

One thing is certain, if there is a white man against a black man in the race for the presidency, we will come face to face with the racial realities of America.  It will not be told by the numbers of Republicans who vote for McCain or the number of Democrats who vote for Barack.  We will see the answer to just how much race matters when they publish the number of registered Democrats who secretly walk into that voting booth and vote for a Republican.  



 

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  • 2/18/2008 2:13 AM Roxie wrote:
    "I am certainly not saying that college students do not understand these issues. But I do believe that most only see them as issues, and not concrete decisions that will have a tremendous impact on their day-to-day lives."

    I am a college student. College students have friends and families. We're far from a heterogeneous group (at least at GSU ;p)

    I am a cisgender black woman who has lesbian and homosexual friends and relatives.

    I have an intimate understanding of how the issues you broached affect people's lives. These aren't just issues for me, they're realities and they're always in my head. Especially when I have the power to change those in power. When their lives are impacted, my life is impacted. Not in the same degree, but I could never ignore it. (hope that made sense)

    "We will see the answer to just how much race matters when they publish the number of registered Democrats who secretly walk into that voting booth and vote for a Republican."

    Appreciated. I see so much talk about how this is a "post-racial" election. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!
    Reply to this
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