Barack Obama

At the risk of losing friends and alienating people, I thought I'd add this little widget. I really like Obama. I've liked him since 2006, when I heard him speak in Austin. I want him to be president. I think he is an intelligent, thoughtful person.

Do I think he has all the answers for our country? Every single last one of them?
No. Who does?
That's why the president has a team.

For me, the question is not, Is Barack Obama better qualified to lead this country than anyone else we can think of? Anyone else who has ever lived? There probably are other people with more _______ (experience, economic insights, military prowess).

But the question is, Do I want Barack Obama/Joe Biden in the White House or do I want John McCain/Sarah Palin there? That's the question. For me, it isn't the time to wait around for the perfect candidate, someone who does not and could not exist.

Do I feel more confident in Obama's abilty to govern in the 21st century than his opponents?
Uh, see the widget. Yes, I do.

A ward friend asked me the other day, in a spirit of really wanting to understand, "Erin, tell me how someone can like Obama."
I appreciated the question.

For me, it's a level-of-comfort thing, at least in part. I like having an articulate candidate to support. I suppose that's the English teacher in me.

However, it isn't all about the words/speaking. I think he's smart. I think he understands the American experience, the American dream. I think he can help bridge racial divides. He has already given some speeches that speak to the need for fathers to be involved, for example. (That's the speech that made Jesse Jackson so mad!)

I've been heard to say that I would have some base level of happiness after the 2008 election no matter who was elected because I liked McCain more than the incumbent.
However, that feeling has been lessened somewhat. I feel like McCain has altered some of his earlier beliefs, the ones he actually held. I do not like the new emphasis on drilling in Alaska, for example. (See Thomas Friedman's recent NYT column on energy technology!) McCain clearly understands the unpleasant business of getting elected. He's made some calculated decisions. I don't fault him for having to calculate, but I don't feel confident about Sarah Palin.

Here's the Mormon mom in me - I don't think the job of VP is a good fit for a mom of young children. I'm sorry, but something would have to be sacrificed ... either her job or her children. That may sound sexist, but I have qualms about a mother of a newborn helping to run the country. I'm not saying mothers can't be politicians or have careers or be successful, but to everything there is a season, right? Being VP isn't an 8-5 job, home for dinner, tuck 'em in and all that. It requires travel, meetings, conferences, calls, non-stop work. The job must be the first priority.

I'm guessing that being a governor is less demanding. Most jobs are.

I don't want a VP whose first priority is something other than our country's security, safety and success. I'm sure every president and VP has had to find that balance, but I think it would be nigh unto impossible to actively rear small children and be second in command of our nation.

What about Obama, you say? He has young children too. But his children aren't as young, and he isn't the mother.

Hey ... I suppose I'm more conservative than I thought :)

I hope I don't offend friends & family members - politics can do that - but I also think we should be able to be our *real* selves on our blogs. It's MY lowdown here.
I often feel nervous telling other Mormons than I'm not republican. Why is this? Should I be afraid of revealing my truth self? Yes, I'm pro-life. No, I'm not a republican.

Anecdotal evidence points to yes, I should be concerned about opening up. There are Mormons who deride non-republicans. But I trust that no one in my ward - or at least no one who bothers to read this rag - would feel that way.

Fingers crossed!