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• Friday, September 12, 2008 06:36 AM

  The Argument of Identifying With A Candidate Is A Strong One

  I don't "identify" with Senator Obama very much since he voted against FISA. I know that will be dismissed as leftist sulking and I should "get over it." And, yes, I can always hold my nose and vote Democratic for the "greater good." Or I can simply vote for him safe in the knowledge he won't be elected even with my vote anyway; that way I wouldn't have to feel "guilty" for not opposing McCain. Right now I simply don't know if I'll vote; but I know one thing. If I do vote for Obama, it'll be for one reason: because he's black. I'm not black; but I'm getting up there in years and I truly believe that if Obama does not win - and especially if he loses by a big margin - that I will never again get a chance in my lifetime to vote for an African-American for president. No doubt that will be dismissed as some kind of convuluted projected racism. The point is, I no longer identify with the ideas Obama espouses. Not because of his ideas per se, but because his FISA vote - as well as his position on Afghanistan - has shown me that his money is not where his mouth is. Instead of sticking to his guns and influencing the electorate to accept his position, he caved under pressure. And - lo and behold! - actions really do speak louder than words.

  —howardmk Read howardmk's other letters
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