Samuel L Jackson admits to voting for Obama because he is Black. http://t.co/mNOKJ5ip
In 2008, 96% of Black voters voted for the President compared to just 43% of White voters. The first Black President is gearing up for the 2012 Presidential elections, and we should look beyond the color of his skin to determine if he deserves a second four year term in the White house.
It’s easy to discount the remaining candidates on the Republican side. Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul are beating up on each other for the right to take on a weakened incumbent. The President has been dogged by a persistently weak economy, accusations of class warfare, and spending that has been characterized as out of control, with the US deficit resulting in a downgrade of the government credit rating, for the first time ever.
Unemployment is persistently high, more people are getting by with the help of government programs such as unemployment insurance and food stamps (SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), the housing market hasn’t bounced back to pre-recession levels. For a wealthy super power it may shock you to hear that more than half of all Americans are earning less than $26000 per year.
Obama is the one person in the presidential race who has demonstrated a commitment to fight for those of us, who have to elect politicians, because we can’t afford to buy them.
The Democratic President is not the cause of all of these problems. In fact, many of the difficulties were inherited from the previous administration. Former President George W. Bush cut taxes on the wealthy, engaged in two expensive wars, and increased federal government spending throughout his 8 years in office. Obama took office in the midst of a financial crisis, and did his best to put a halt to the carnage. Bank and auto sector bailouts, were not popular, and extremely costly both in dollars and political capital, but the damage would have been much worse without the President’s intervention.
We should vote for Barack Obama because he has restored America’s standing on the world stage. He excels at foreign policy, and today’s world is a complicated dance of diplomacy, globalization, and rapidly changing dynamics. Those that would run against him are constantly ramping up the rhetoric against Iran, threatening towards China, and pandering for votes by stoking Israel’s military ambitions. Take a look at Obama’s policy towards Cuba, and compare it to the overheated Republican strategy, trying to look tough by talking tough towards their tiny powerless neighbour.
We should vote for Barack Obama because he has shown a steady hand in his first four years. The experience gained as the “leader of the free world” will serve him well as he navigates a second term. More than his Republican opponents he demonstrates leadership, sensibility, and a willingness to work with others. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for those that are vying to replace him. In fact, the stated goal of the Republicans is not to govern, not to do what is best for the country, but to defeat Obama in 2012. There is an underlying current of racism, when the Republican candidates refer to the President as Barack Obama, or “the food stamp President.”
Obama deserves our vote not because he is black, but because he has restored some dignity to the highest office in America. Turning it back over to Republicans, with their plans, to colonize the moon, aggressive war mongering, and dishonest pledges to continue reducing taxes, without fully explaining the consequences would be a disaster for the country, the middle class, the poor, the elderly, Blacks, Hispanics, working people, those that serve in the military, women, and anyone else who does not fall in the 1 percent. In other words, Obama is the one person in the presidential race who has demonstrated a commitment to fight for those of us, who have to elect politicians, because we can’t afford to buy them.
Finally, we should cast our ballots for Obama because this President, although not perfect, has taken his opportunity and done better with it than anyone could have expected in exceedingly challenging circumstances. He has restored some dignity to the Whitehouse, he has charted a balanced course for the country, and we haven’t even mentioned Michelle!
