As with most Americans in the final weeks of this heated election season, I am absolutely experiencing campaign fatigue. The anger, the negativity and the constant bickering from both sides is exhausting. I could say I’ve never seen America more divided, but I think it was just as bad during the 2010 midterm elections as well, around the time I participated in the Jon Stewart Rally to Restore Sanity in D.C. Tensions were at a fever pitch then too, at the height of the Tea Party movement. What I can say without a doubt is that not in my living history have I ever seen the country so polarized as it has been in the last 4 years. And what I’ll never understand is the disparity in perception from two core groups of people over one man, President Barack Obama.
I want it to be over, and yet I can’t escape it. From social media to television to talks with friends, it always seems to turn to politics. While this is usually a subject I love to talk about, I have been actively trying to NOT engage lately because I just don’t have the energy for it. I post or comment on about 1/10th of the things I am seeing or thinking, which is a definite cutback from my usual enthusiasm, because a simple comment can literally spawn a thread or discussion that can suck hours away from my time. And what for? Even with the most solid argument, actual facts and genuine passion, I know enough to know I will not change people’s minds. Not at this point. Not in this state. I am done with playing Sisyphus.
What is hardest for me to grasp is how, or more to the point why, people view Obama the way that they do. No other president has had to endure the barrage of insults, blatant racism, disrespect and dishonesty than he has. The claims that he is anything other than a natural-born, Christian, educated biracial man who worked his way up from poverty to the White house are what is particularly vile in my opinion. Just yesterday, Donald Trump is now demanding he releases his college transcripts. Why? WHY? So Obama can prove he has more education, class and integrity in his thumb than Trump could muster in a lifetime? Unbelievable. I hope Obama ignores this sad little man definitively.
Why the hate?
For whatever reasons, many people who don’t like Obama don’t simply dislike him, or his policies, or his agenda. They hate the man on a deeper level that belies some very disturbing truths about their own prejudices, in my opinion. As long as this exists, there can be no real balance to any argument. My husband and I have supported Obama since his first term and have defended him on countless occasions. What I find time and time again is that simple truths and facts are pointless in most of these arguments. When people have predetermined notions about a man they believe is evil and intent on destroying America, despite all evidence to the contrary, all logic goes out of the window.
I am not saying Obama is perfect. There has been much done but so much left to do. But all of you who know me and or read this blog know I support him. Living in a red state where more than 90% of my friends and family are on opposite sides of the political fence can make one weary. I’ve been told time and time again that I have “forgotten my roots,” live in an echo chamber (quite impossible in LA), have too much racial sympathy, am educated but lack common sense, haven’t seen enough of the world (from people who haven’t left their home towns), will grow out of my liberalism or simply support him out of “spite.” Wow. Once and for all I would like to set the record straight on all of these accusations.
Why I support Barack Obama, the man, the President
I support Obama for many, many reasons. I am not a sheep…I read and attempt to educate myself on a wide range of issues, and I try my best to understand the history of America as well as our current challenges. But my support is personal. I have a real fondness in my heart for this man, who has time and time again shown what a qualified, highly intelligent, capable, classy, compassionate and tolerant leader he is. How can one not look at the two candidates, their records and their personal histories and understand that Obama is the only candidate that has ever walked in your shoes, knows your plight and will actively work to better our country as a whole? And his record proves it. Republicans don’t want to hear about how this man was handed a broken country but that is the simple FACT. And yet, he has taken us from the brink of economic collapse, jobs have grown, troops are coming home and most importantly to me, our standing in the eyes of the world has greatly improved. He is not an embarrasment…a costumed cowboy making gaffes and making a fool of us everywhere he goes. He is firm yet respectful and I think it goes a long way towards why we have experienced relative peace during his term. And the idea that he is soft on terror is laughable.
He inspires me, he makes me proud…in short I trust this man with my country, I trust him with our future.
While I’ve come to expect Republicans lodging constant criticism at what he has and hasn’t done, even more maddening are liberals who think he hasn’t done enough for them. Again I say, it will take more than one term, it will take more than two terms to fix all the ills of this country. It has been said it will actually be more like a 40 year process.
So to expect a 180 degree reversal in a term in which one man is trying to work against a force (The GOP) that wants to see his failure more than they want to see the success of the country, it is amazing he’s managed to get ANYTHING done. I suspect his second term will take a more aggressive rhythm. If, God willing, he is granted it.
On Partisanship
On a final note, I’m often asked why I am personally so partisan. Many people believe that in itself is the problem with them country. I won’t wholly disagree. As long as we hunker down so strongly within our camps, it is hard to see how we will ever be able to work together on common ground. And yet again….the clear evolution of the two parties into very, very different ideals that it feels as though you simply must pick a side because the paths and outcomes are so vastly different. I simply cannot abide by what Republicans believe and have in store. I came across a post recently that succinctly described my own personal reasons for choosing to be a liberal, a Democrat. This is what I believe in….this is how I perceive my party versus the alternative. Every now and then someone else can find the words couldn’t. From Ron Tschudy:
“In my canvassing I often hear “I don’t pay much attention to party affiliation. I just vote for the individual.” That may have been OK fifty years ago, but times have changed: now there are stark differences between the parties.
One Party wants to dismantle Social Security and send part of our paychecks first to Wall Street for them to take a cut. The other knows Social Security can easily be strengthened, should not be privatized.
One wants to give back total control of non-Medicare and Medicaid health care to profit-driven insurance companies. The other knows ObamaCare is not perfect but is a good start towards breaking the insurance companies’ chokehold and improving and making more affordable our admittedly flawed “system” of health care.
One refuses to recognize the reality of climate change and stubbornly advocates for dirty energy.
The other knows we have to begin changing directions on our sources of energy, and works toward that goal.
One enthusiastically endorses the flow of unlimited corporate and anonymous money and the corruption this inevitably produces in our political parties’ ideology and election campaigns.
The other wants a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court decision which has spawned this corruption. The other has also tried (and been blocked by a filibuster) to bring disclosure to this flood of money.
One believes –against all evidence– that continuing the decades- long process of concentrating wealth at the top rungs of our society will drive the economy.
The other believes our nation’s economic well-being centers in a strong working middle class, itself strengthened by real equal opportunity.
Finally, all Americans should be outraged by Republican attempts to intimidate voters and suppress the vote of groups of voters — minorities, students, seniors, etc. Voting is the main pillar of our democracy, our most basic right, and we are ALL threatened when anyone’s right to vote is threatened. It this tactic works and delivers the presidency to the GOP, it will be another national disgrace.” -Ron Tschudy, ArtistsNorth
To be clear, I have many Republican friends and family. I respect them and would never cut these people out of my life for their beliefs, even though I remain privately incredulous to many of them. I just wish many of them could show the same respect. I am so ready to move forward. Now, go vote.
October 25th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Oh Vanessa I understand. Today I told a friend, “I don’t want to meet anymore conservatives or learn that yet another of my friends and family will vote for Romney.” I have grown weary of it. I feel helpless to argue anymore and personally betrayed by those I love who cannot or will not see my family’s plight. To me they are saying, “Yes Jason I like your family and kids but it is more important that I pay less taxes this year”. AHHHHHH! My own parents who helped us create a family do not see the dichotomy. They are terrified of Obama’s plan to “Destroy the United States” as touted by Fox news. They genuinely believe he is part of a vast conspiracy to turn us into some USSR-like country. How can I argue with insane paranoia?
October 25th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
I just don’t know. I could abide by differences in opinion if they were legitimate. It is the fear mongering and absolute belief that Obama is (choose one) 1.) a Muslim Antichrist 2.) A Kenyan born Socialist, 3.) Going to take your guns….you know the crazy list goes on. How do you even argue points like that? I can counter economy, civil rights, foreign policy….but it scares me that these irrational arguments truly taint such a large population of seemingly otherwise intelligent people. Very sad.
October 25th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I think you have a great many fantastic points but I know that, as you cite yourself, there are plenty of respectable Republican and conservative folks out there, and the reality is that TRUE Republicans and TRUE conservatives, as I’ve learned on a growing basis, don’t harbor pure unadulterated racist hatred toward the man, it’s the very vocal, very extreme intense minority that is setting the bar so low for the political right. True Republicans can’t wait for the Tea Party to take a tea break – they’ve hijacked the message and the conversation and have led to much of the issues in both the general public and the governing bodies. There are conservatives and Republicans who want progress and bipartisanship and, yes at times, are willing to block certain initiatives in order to have the conversations necessary. But certainly not all are calling for birth certificates and passport records and spewing hate. The folks I’m talking about would much rather sit down and talk issue points, not rhetoric.
October 25th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Oh absolutely Parker. Did you watch the HBO series, The Newsroom? That was one of the underlying themes the whole season. Anchorman Jeff Daniels was a self proclaimed Republican who took on the Tea Party for hijacking the party. Of course, in doing so he was labeled a liberal. Sometimes I think this is probably the greatest challenge of the right is the divide WITHIN the party…I hope the extremists don’t win the battle. I will say I actually think Romney is a moderate and more of the type of Republican you are talking about. But I am afraid of him being puppeteered by those very extremists were he elected.
October 25th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Oh….that was me that posted the last comment…wasn’t logged in.
October 25th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Sadly I don’t get HBO, though as a former/current journalist [I feel I should NEVER stop asking questions
], I really want to see it. I was more enthused with Romney at the start of the discussion because I felt he could maintain more of a moderate position to echo my own. Indeed though he’s moved further right during the election and one does hope that if he’s elected he won’t pander to the vocal minority – or even have to answer to them anymore. A Romney administration, I think, would comprise established personnel and a qualified Cabinet that should rise above the daily harping of the Tea Party or any vocal minority. That’s what comes with an election, I guess.
October 25th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
I know exactly what you are talking about. I just admitted to my father that I’m a democrat, a month or so ago. He was SO disappointed. And my sister’s answer was something like, “let’s hope one day she comes back from the dark side”. I just don’t talk politics with them at all because it is depressing to hear some of what they believe, made worse by the fact that I love and respect them so much.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Good for you Alexis! It is hard to be a Democrat in this state. Which is baffling because less than 15 years ago, most people were (the EWE years). Republicans were regarded (and rightfully so) as rich and out of touch, the elitists. They were unrelatable. I don’t know what has changed in the psyche that make Louisianians in particular think this party has anything to offer them but more taxes and fewer services, not to mention the people who really run the party wouldn’t piss on most of their constituents if they were on fire. They manipulate and tap into them on two levels, faith based issues and lingering racism. These days if you are a Dem here, you are regarded as though you just admitted your had some incurable affliction, or even worse, outright anger. As though your very beliefs are threatening their well-being. I can’t bear to discuss politics with my family anymore, and some of Brent’s family won’t even talk to us period because they are so offended by our support of Obama. I’m better off without that petty ignorance in my life.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:47 am
What a wonderful post, Venessa!
October 26th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Thank you!
November 9th, 2012 at 1:26 am
I totally dig this particular rant.
. I live next door in Texas and people look at me like I’m a traitor when I don’t buy the “Obama the kenyan who is tied to muslim terrorists” theory. if it was known I voted for our President, there may actually be repercussions. It’s a crazy political climate. I enjoyed your post – keep looking up! I do believe it will get better and he’ll have a great 2nd term.
November 10th, 2012 at 12:01 am
Thank you! And I absolutely LOVE (and have shared) your recent post. You really nailed it.