Post Election Thoughts

In forty years, will I remember who I voted for and and why in the 2008 presidential election? Will I remember how I felt upon hearing the results? Not if I don't write it down.

For this reason, and this reason only, I want to write about how I feel about electing Barack Hussein Obama into a chapter of American history. In other words, I have no stomach for debate.

The campaign was so long. I remember first hearing about Obama almost two years ago while living in Spokane. It irritated me that so many people liked him without knowing anything about him. He seemed all hype. I remember seeing a political cartoon that showed a young 20-something woman wearing a large belt buckle emblazoned with a glittery "OBAMA" and saying, "I don't know what it is, but I want it." The Obama girl song bombarded Youtube. Liking Obama meant you were cool and hip, part of the MTV crowd, and because I am none of those things, I didn't want anything to do with him.

That seems eons ago. Somehow, this one-term senator from Illinois moved from being an Internet sensation to being the overwhelming choice for President of the United States. Did people vote for him because a big-busted girl sang a song about liking him? No.

President-Elect Obama has charisma. He is an innate leader and gifted communicator. I listened to him and wanted to cheer, even though he didn't represent my politics or my views on many moral, economic and diplomatic issues. I guess you could say he has the "it" factor.

But as the campaign wore on, and the throng of adoring fans grew larger, I stepped back to check my own motivations for liking the man. Was I voting for a rock star or a president?

I decided I needed to start looking at this election with my head, and not my heart and in doing so, Obama lost a bit of his sparkle. His comments about "spreading the wealth around" and "economic justice" are so contrary to what I feel the purpose of taxation should be. More and more promises that require more and more money worried me. Was he advocating handing out fish or was he planning on teaching man to fish? The final straw was kicking reporters who worked for papers that didn't endorse his presidency off of his campaign trail to make room for more zealots.

As I went into vote yesterday morning, I knew who and what I was going to vote for. Each amendment, candidate - local, state and national - and referendum had been studied. When I began selecting boxes on the touch screen in front of me, my first selection was for McCain/Palin.

I finished voting, pushed "Next" several times until I came to the "Cast Ballot" button.

I paused.

What did I really want? Was the most important thing to vote for the guy who promises not to raise my taxes? No. Was the most important thing to vote for the guy who promises to scare away all the bad guys? No. Was the most important thing to vote for the guy who will put the least scary judges on the bench? I hope not. No.

At that deciding moment, I wanted the best man in office. I wanted an effective communicator...an effective leader - a person who will be a strong representative for America in this global age. I wanted someone with perspective, poise, energy and, I suppose, a little charm. I wanted to vote for Obama.

So I did.

His election does not cause elation, pride, or a strong desire to link arms at Starbucks and sing along with Bruce Springsteen with fellow liberals. I don't think that because I voted for Obama, I somehow "got it right"-- a sentiment I'm not sure belongs in politics. Instead, I'm hopeful. Hopeful that the man who gave an incredible and memorable speech last night believes the powerful words he spoke. Hopeful that America listened and put its hate for those who think differently to rest. Hopeful that he can and will change some of the ugliness in American politics. Mostly hopeful that it's not a mistake to vote for a man, instead of an elephant or a donkey.

Regardless, I refuse to be a cynic or an adoring fan. At this point, I don't believe it benefits our nation to cheer or heckle our president as if he were merely the quarterback of our favorite football team or our nemesis chess rival (do people heckle at chess tournaments?) For the next four years, I will put my trust in President Obama as long as he continues to earn it.