Those of you who follow me on Twitter are probably getting tired of the political tweets this week. Sorry, I got a little fired up over the past few nights. And some may know I don’t usually talk politics, mostly because I know others are very sensitive about the subject and quick to go off the deep end if you don’t believe exactly the way they do. (Those would probably be the ones who unfollowed me on Twitter.)
I have never been into politics as much as I have this year, because so much is at stake. The two parties are so radically opposite, and it shows the deep division of ideology in this country.
I watched the DNC, and now I’m watching the RNC this week, to continue educating myself on the candidates. I’ve watched the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s VP candidate, and I then went to work learning as much as I could about her, ending with watching her speech last night.
The result? After that speech I was so inspired I made my first ever direct donation to a presidential candidate’s fund.
Obama’s fund.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t that keen on Obama at first. I was a Hillary Clinton supporter early on, and continued to admire her through the primaries. As it became evident that the nominees would be Obama and McCain, I started to research each more. I’ll admit I worried Obama was more into hope than action. And while I’ve always loved watching McCain on TV (he cracks a good joke!), I don’t like many of his policies. I can accept more of Obama’s plan for the future.
And then McCain picked Palin. I was really surprised by this choice. My gut reaction was that he picked a woman to try to win over the Hillary Clinton supporters. Only he picked a woman who is the ideological opposite of Clinton. (Gloria Steinem gives a great overview here.)
I’d like to believe he didn’t think he could convince women to vote in solidarity for a fellow woman just because of our gynecological similarities. Because while I think we’re long due for a woman in one of the top 2 government positions, I still have a brain, and I will look deeper than a double X chromosome to see what this woman really stands for.
And I’ve got some major issues with Palin. I don’t like her anti-choice stance, and I worry she wants to bring religion into government and schools when the constitution clearly spells out that religion has no place there. I disagree with her on global warming and drilling everywhere you can for oil. Oil is not an answer to the energy crisis – renewable energy needs to be developed further as a replacement. I think she lacks national experience, and wonder how much experience can be gained from being governor of a state that has a smaller population than the city of Columbus, Ohio.
Her daughter’s pregnancy is not an issue for me, although I do wonder if Palin is still a believer that abstinence-only sex education works. Her son having Downs Syndrome is also not an issue for me, as I’d imagine she has plenty of help to raise him. Those are her issues to deal with, not mine, and they don’t affect my voting choice.
Sarah Palin doesn’t represent me as a woman, and she won’t be getting my vote. I don’t think she’s the everyday “hockey mom”, “PTA mom” or “insert-adjective-here mom” that she tries to portray herself as. I won’t vote for a woman just because she’s a woman, just like I won’t vote based on a single issue.
Others will disagree with me, and that’s OK. That’s the beauty of this country – we have the freedom to share different opinions. Yes, you’ll find “liberal” leanings here at my blog – I’ll fully admit to being a Democrat. I ask only that you respect my opinions just as I’ll respect yours. I know I’ve already lost Twitter followers because of my liberal comments. Yet I have many conservative friends – we participate in good-natured debates and in the end, agree to disagree.
And I hope that anyone who goes to the polls will take the time to do their full research and make sure the candidates they’re choosing are really the people they want to stand behind. I’m sure more than a few are regretting they ever voted for the candidate that they would most like to share a beer with eight years and four years ago.
And finally, I’ll end with a lot of humor and a dose of truth, as is often the case with The Daily Show:
Great post. It echoes many of my own feelings. I haven’t been brave enough to post my feelings on my blog though.
I love, love, love the Daily Show video. I get so tired of the hypocrisy of the pundits–whichever side they’re on.
I agree with you completely (except I donated to Hillary)!
to read it aloud to my husband.
Very well said!!
Amen, I echo your sentiments. She drives me so crazy, kind of like the Southern Baptists I used to work for, and GEEZ they LOVE her. I hope more moderates like my husband and I will be turned off by her and vote Obama this year.
Thank you for this post – my feelings exactly. It’s encouraging to see that there are others out there that share your opinion (I was starting to have doubts after seeing the response of the media to McCain’s pick).
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I got all hot headed and pissed a bunch of people off myself.
Trust me, I know it takes a special kind of bravery to start talking politics on your blog.
I almost never talked about politics on my blog a year ago.
And tonight the political livechat I was moderating was featured on CSPAN’s website.
It’s a weird, weird world.
Excellent post. Thanks for sharing the Jon Stewart clip.
I’m sorry people unfollowed you rather than just tune out the twitter stream that didn’t interest them.
I’m the same way – I don’t talk about certain subjects – but so much of what you’ve said here echoes my own thoughts after watching her speak the other day. great post!
I big puffy heart Sarah Palin. I’ve also for the first time ever blogged about politics (you do have to be brave to do it).
One of the things I’ve focused on is the working mother – double standard issue, because all women should be disconcerted over that, regardless of their politics. I’ve posted on my blog and in an article at mommytrackd.com.
Good post.
Thanks for the comments so far, everyone. See? This is what I like – we can all have an honest talk about this without resorting to name calling and bashing.
And I’m so glad that people who disagree with me are commenting, too. (It’s OK to disagree – I won’t bash you, and I won’t let anyone else do it on my blog, either.)
None of us agree on every issue – if all of my friends believed exactly the same way I did on *everything*, I probably wouldn’t have any friends!
T With Honey – Just wanted to add that Obama’s stance doesn’t completely line up with my views, either. But we did our research and went with the person who best fit our needs. 🙂
Not going to say much. I’m applauding your choice, however 😉
Just wanted to thank you for taking the plunge and talking politics. I suppose it might help that I share your basic stance, but I think what matters to me is that it was intelligent and well thought out.
As a stepmom of a 5th-grader, we’ve already begun discussing the nature of the electoral college, and he’s had to watch both presidential nomination acceptance speeches. We’ve had the “what party are we?” discussion, and B has seen us growl uncontrollably at McCain’s words (we really tried to reign it in, I swear). I guess I just wish more moms were talking about the election and what it means to them, whether its about how they’re helping their kids understand this historic moment or about how they are feeling torn, or hopeful, or whatever.
So, again, thank you. I suppose this is why you are in my Mom Favorites folder.
You did your research and that is a whole lot more than a lot of voters will ever do. And, yes, some people will have a different opinion than you… namely me.
I did some research and found that between the two presidential candidates well, neither one really lines up with my views. But out of the two it turns out that I agree with McCain’s stance much more than Obama’s socialist tendencies.
Although we stand on different ground on social issues I still enjoy reading A Mommy Story.
Wow, I give you kudos for being brave enough to blog about politics. I have not done this yet, but was tweeting away about things this week. I wish I had been following you then since it would have been nice to see what you said.
P.S. Go you on everything you said!!!
I have a mad love for this Daily Show clip.
Excellent post. I’m not a fan of Sarah Palin and I find McCain’s choice of her to be cynical in the extreme. I don’t vote with my vagina and don’t appreciate being pandered to like that.
This post made me happy.
I often ask Baca if he’s checked your blog and seen the newest/most adorable picture of the girls… this time he informed me that I NEEDED to read your blog.
Time well spent, as usual. :oD
Maybe one of these days I’ll get to meet you guys… I hear Aaron still swears I don’t exist.
I appreciate your post. I have no problems with educated debate or discussion of ANY of the candidates. What I took major issue with during the whole Twitter thing was the tone of the comments (and I’m not saying yours!). But I already went into all that on my blog so I’ll just let it go now 🙂
Amen. You really summed up what I’ve been trying to say for days.
Good for you, researching the issues. I am rather disillusioned as far as people in high places are concerned. It seems to me they all owe one another too many favors by the time they reach a national level to really be honest. But, still, good for you. I enjoyed reading your post.
I feel confident we have two honorable presidential candidates. And I was thrilled to hear that they will meet for non political reasons in New York for 911. I hope whoever wins is able to bring both parties together to vote on the impending issues we are faced with today. The energy crisis, the home mortgage and our economy to name a few.
We need bipartisan and hoping both candidates understand that.
Thanks for taking the plunge and having the courage to give your personal opinion. I have a grandson who is a marine and in Iraq for the second time in three years. He has a great feeling for his country and so do I.
My vote is for McCain however, I’m always interested in how others feel.
My best,
Dorothy from grammology
http://www.grammology.com
Yeah, I rolled my eyes big time when McCain came out with Palin as he choice of VP. I mean seriously…so she is female, a working mother, has a child with special needs, has a pregnant daughter and is governor of Alaska. A who?? A What? All of that aside…what in the heck makes her at all able to be the VP of the USofA, let alone President should 71 yr. old McCain bite it while in office?
I find it laughable that the Republicans want to complain about Obama’s lack of “experience”…yet they pick Palin for the VP spot.
As one of your other commenters said…I do not vote with my vagina.
*blink*
P.S. I contributed to Obama’s campaign as well and I pray to God he wins/