His last--and hopefully best--case is made here.
I agree with most of it, but do not have the industry or talent to match it. Certainly not with words, anyway. And though my take is a slight bit more negative than his in proclaiming my endorsement and future vote for Obama, I will say the following: I am tired of being ashamed.
I am ashamed by the fact that we torture. That Americans, serving in an official American capacity, have tortured people--many of them innocent by the Pentagon's own admission. Some, tortured to death. Yes, innocent people--tortured to death. By Americans.
I am ashamed that we can't deal with our nation's successes and accomplishments--left to us by our generations past--and continue to fail again and again by managing wars without competance, economies without reason, and politics without respect.
I am ashamed that my president for the last 8 years has viewed the Constitution of the United States as an obstacle vs. something that he needs to protect (as is mandated by his Oath of Office, btw).
I am ashamed that my conservative friends can sit with my liberal friends and, within minutes, all of us come to levels agreement that show a way forward through the most contentious issues in this country such as abortion, the death penalty, economic equality, etc., but my goverment cannot.
I am ashamed of having a President who is rightfully mocked, rebuffed, and disrespected. Of our loss of respect in the world, our dreadful economic situation, of having people like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell playing an influential role in our politics. I am ashamed of it all, but I will never be ashamed to call myself an American.
And that is what Andrew and I share mostly. A desire to be believers in America again. A desire to be proud of ourselves again. And that's why I am voting for Barack Obama.
I agree with most of it, but do not have the industry or talent to match it. Certainly not with words, anyway. And though my take is a slight bit more negative than his in proclaiming my endorsement and future vote for Obama, I will say the following: I am tired of being ashamed.
I am ashamed by the fact that we torture. That Americans, serving in an official American capacity, have tortured people--many of them innocent by the Pentagon's own admission. Some, tortured to death. Yes, innocent people--tortured to death. By Americans.
I am ashamed that we can't deal with our nation's successes and accomplishments--left to us by our generations past--and continue to fail again and again by managing wars without competance, economies without reason, and politics without respect.
I am ashamed that my president for the last 8 years has viewed the Constitution of the United States as an obstacle vs. something that he needs to protect (as is mandated by his Oath of Office, btw).
I am ashamed that my conservative friends can sit with my liberal friends and, within minutes, all of us come to levels agreement that show a way forward through the most contentious issues in this country such as abortion, the death penalty, economic equality, etc., but my goverment cannot.
I am ashamed of having a President who is rightfully mocked, rebuffed, and disrespected. Of our loss of respect in the world, our dreadful economic situation, of having people like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell playing an influential role in our politics. I am ashamed of it all, but I will never be ashamed to call myself an American.
And that is what Andrew and I share mostly. A desire to be believers in America again. A desire to be proud of ourselves again. And that's why I am voting for Barack Obama.
