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Warning: This is my long blog. Remember, last week I wrote a short one and got credit for one more long one. But it will be broken up into smaller bites, thanks to the advice of Michelle, my writing coach.

Another caveat: As I’ve explained before, I am a Birthright Republican and a sometimes Convinced Democrat, which might be regarded as a description of an Independent, or in Teddy Roosevelt’s less complimentary phrase, a Mugwump (someone sitting on a fence with his mug on one side and his wump on the other).

The trouble with this election is that it’s too complicated. Not like the old days. Back in ‘32, in a similar but much more perilous state, you could choose Herbert Hoover (“Don’t change horses in the middle of the stream”) or FDR, who said we needed a Big Change (he called it a New Deal). Since then, other campaigns have pretty much offered clear-cut choices. Now, both sides are trying to get into the other guy’s territory (BOTH say they want “change.”) Plus, rumors and innuendoes have almost taken over (Witness: pigs and lipstick.)

One thing this campaign has brought into sharper focus is: Don’t waste your time arguing with single-issue voters or die-hard partisans – those who believe that either Pro Choice or Pro Life is THE overriding issue, or likewise, trying to change the minds of True-Blue Republicans or Yellow Dog Democrats. And you know, that’s not all bad. They stick with what they know are, and will continue to be, their basic interests, and they’ll not be lured away by some flag-waving patriot or fast-talking jasper.

So Many Issues

Well, what are the issues? Now, here’s the good news: I’m not going into any depth on any of them or we’ll be here ten times as long as this probably-too-long piece is going anyway.

Start with the economy. Lordy, there’s nobody in Washington or elsewhere who really knows what’s going on, so we’ll take a pass. Health care: Very serious – but do you want everyone covered or prefer a new plan for the private sector? Immigration? Right now, McCain has the edge, but his reasonable approach got him in hot water with his own party. Energy? Possibly the hottest topic of the future, and both say it’s a priority, but both should have had a better plan ten years ago. Foreign policy? Obama has the edge because he chose Joe Biden, who has a close relationship with our Senator, Dick Lugar.

New paragraph: Now we come to Change. Ah yes, Change. Everybody’s in favor of Change (like Motherhood and Apple Pie). That was Obama’s very own possession until McCain sort of stole it away from him. Do you want “Change You Can Believe In” or “Change With A Guy Who Can Get It Done”? One is vague and the other is, well, hard to believe.

Sound judgment? Both carry baggage. One with a liberal agenda and the other with party loyalty that even McCain, a contrarian sort of guy, can’t move far away from. Surprisingly, George Will, the Patron Saint of conservatives, says McCain does not have the even temperament required to be the nation’s chief executive. McCain insists he should be Commander-in-Chief in dangerous situations, whereas Obama, he says, is not strong enough in judgment. But these last eight years the present incumbent has shown us how dangerous it is to have a cowboy in charge.

One anecdote that impressed me: Just two weeks ago, Mickey Maurer, a consummate Republican, a founder of the National Bank of Indianapolis, a confidant of Governor Daniels, wrote an article in the Indianapolis Business Journal saying he was “rethinking” his pick for President, meaning that with Palin on the ticket, and other factors, he was leaning to the other candidate. For a man in his position, that was a gutsy move. He was followed by a letter from Christel DeHaan, probably the richest woman in Indianapolis, seconding his opinion, stating, “We, as citizens, have the responsibility to vote with our head and not our emotions (to) assure that our country is led by individuals who have intellect, understanding, tolerance (and) global experience.”

It’s still a toss-up. Go with your interests.

Race Is Still A Factor

One more item: The factor of race. The most reliable of public opinion polls concludes that their results “suggest that Obama’s support would be as much as 6 percentage points higher if there were no white racial prejudice.” This is known as the “Bradley Effect” (derived from the 1982 election when Tom Bradley, longtime Los Angeles mayor, an African-American, ran for governor of California, and all polls showed him way ahead of his opponent – until he lost the election. Analysis showed that the difference was that many white people who told the pollsters they would vote for him, voted against him).

The undercover race factor bothers me. There are enough legitimate reasons for deciding votes in this election, but racial prejudice is not one of them. Bigotry is much lower than it used to be, but there is still plenty out there. I think we have to do what we can to level the playing field. Although we have come a long way toward fairness, this is the one grand event where we can strike the most telling blow against it. We have (in my opinion) a moral imperative to help strike that blow.

For that reason, racial progress is the tipping point of this election (for me), and it is why my vote is going for Barack Obama.

–Vic Jose

Vic Jose :: Oct.02.2008 :: Uncategorized ::

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