E
Et_Cetera
Guest
So I just typed this huge post for a thread that was apparently deleted. I’m sorry, but I’m going to post it here. It’s about why I voted for Obama. I figure that some of you might want to read it.
I voted for Obama because I believe, most importantly, that he cares about giving people equal opportunities. I don’t fit the stereotype of the typical Obama supporter that seems to swirl around this forum. My family is comfortably middle class, and I have had quite a few advantages in my life. I’m in medical school, and I work extremely hard. In short, I’m not a lazy freeloader, but rather I am hard-worker from a relatively privileged background.
Everyday I think of all of the people who have my work ethic and intellect (or who are more intelligent, harder workers), but who will never get my opportunities because of their lack of advantages. I am referring to the culture of poverty that keeps people from feeling like they have the real ability to advance their socioeconomic status and children who attend failing inner city schools with burnt out teachers and outdated materials. I think of the kids who feel unsafe in their neighborhoods, who sometimes don’t have enough food or clean clothes, who feel like they are not meant to be one of the privileged few. During the second debate, Romney made a comment about cutting funding to PBS. In the practical sense, cutting funding to such programs would hardly a make dent in the deficit, but I also saw this as his lack of understanding about the importance of public works. I believe that President Obama is more in touch with the middle class and cares more for its members. Furthermore, I like that the President is more concerned for women’s health. He and other democrats would not make comments like some of the ones that Republicans made earlier this year…think Todd Akin. It’s cliche, but it’s also true. There a lot of older, wealthy Caucasian males in the party who are out of touch with the youth, with many female voters, and with many minorities.
I like the President’s stance on social issues. I have numerous homosexual friends who are cut deeply every time they hear that someone does not think that they should be allowed to marry. You don’t know these types of statements hurt people until you witness it first hand. It makes many homosexuals feel that their fellow countrymen see them as lesser people, who do not deserve the same rights as those who happen to be born heterosexual. I also believe that we need to address climate change and that we need to work to protect the environment. I am in favor of gun control, regulation of capitalism, and of helping those in need. I want everyone to be able to worship freely and safely, but I do not want any particular religion to have a big hand in government, and I think that the GOP panders too much to some religious groups.
For the past few years, I have been seeing frightening changes in the religious groups due to their ties with the GOP. I see things on this Catholic forum that make my head spin and that seem to directly contradict many of Jesus’ teachings. For example, I believe that Jesus would support a little bit of redistribution so that the poor and needy can live comfortably. I believe that Jesus would support environmental protection and that he would be opposed to the death penalty, etc. I think that Catholics on this forum are so hung up on the abortion issue that they forget that other issues exist. And since it’s such a major issue, I suppose that I will try to address the topic of abortion.
If abortion were made illegal tomorrow, it would not stop the desire for the procedure. It would create a dangerous market for the procedure. It would be like putting a small band-aid on a massive wound. You have to address the symptoms. Have comprehensive sex ed programs, and make birth control accessible, especially in poor areas. You are not going to be able to promote abstinence enough to stop people from having sex. You’re living in a dream world if you think that pre-marital sex is going to stop or that everyone is going to start using programs like NFP. It’s not going to happen. So make your choice. I think that most of you would prefer the use of birth control and better sex ed. Additionally, more women would be likely to continue with a pregnancy if they felt that they had more resources, the exact types of resources that the GOP wants to cut. Also, let’s not forget that we endured eight years with the very conservative Bush, and abortions still took place. And please stop the nonsense that Obama is pro-abortion. He is not actively promoting abortion. I don’t know any people of sound mind who actually want abortions to happen. They can be traumatic for the mother as well. I would like to see more sympathy for these women. You never truly know what another person experiences.
For me, it really comes down to support for the poor and middle class, care for women’s health, environmental and other social issues, and the fact that I think Obama is a more genuine person. Romney seemed like an automaton from the beginning. He was counting on people voting for him for who he was not–not who he was. He did not make many concrete points, and he flip flopped terribly throughout the election.
I am also really turned off by extreme, vocal groups like the Tea Party, who many Americans consider to be a small, nonsensical group. If the GOP wants to gain young and/or minority voters, then they will need to rethink the party platform and make it more inclusive. Women voters, young voters, and minority voters are largely liberal, and these demographics will likely turn out more voters in the next election. You might not like what I am saying, but look at the results of yesterday. I am speaking the truth, and until you embrace that changes need to be made, your party will only continue to decline.
I voted for Obama because I believe, most importantly, that he cares about giving people equal opportunities. I don’t fit the stereotype of the typical Obama supporter that seems to swirl around this forum. My family is comfortably middle class, and I have had quite a few advantages in my life. I’m in medical school, and I work extremely hard. In short, I’m not a lazy freeloader, but rather I am hard-worker from a relatively privileged background.
Everyday I think of all of the people who have my work ethic and intellect (or who are more intelligent, harder workers), but who will never get my opportunities because of their lack of advantages. I am referring to the culture of poverty that keeps people from feeling like they have the real ability to advance their socioeconomic status and children who attend failing inner city schools with burnt out teachers and outdated materials. I think of the kids who feel unsafe in their neighborhoods, who sometimes don’t have enough food or clean clothes, who feel like they are not meant to be one of the privileged few. During the second debate, Romney made a comment about cutting funding to PBS. In the practical sense, cutting funding to such programs would hardly a make dent in the deficit, but I also saw this as his lack of understanding about the importance of public works. I believe that President Obama is more in touch with the middle class and cares more for its members. Furthermore, I like that the President is more concerned for women’s health. He and other democrats would not make comments like some of the ones that Republicans made earlier this year…think Todd Akin. It’s cliche, but it’s also true. There a lot of older, wealthy Caucasian males in the party who are out of touch with the youth, with many female voters, and with many minorities.
I like the President’s stance on social issues. I have numerous homosexual friends who are cut deeply every time they hear that someone does not think that they should be allowed to marry. You don’t know these types of statements hurt people until you witness it first hand. It makes many homosexuals feel that their fellow countrymen see them as lesser people, who do not deserve the same rights as those who happen to be born heterosexual. I also believe that we need to address climate change and that we need to work to protect the environment. I am in favor of gun control, regulation of capitalism, and of helping those in need. I want everyone to be able to worship freely and safely, but I do not want any particular religion to have a big hand in government, and I think that the GOP panders too much to some religious groups.
For the past few years, I have been seeing frightening changes in the religious groups due to their ties with the GOP. I see things on this Catholic forum that make my head spin and that seem to directly contradict many of Jesus’ teachings. For example, I believe that Jesus would support a little bit of redistribution so that the poor and needy can live comfortably. I believe that Jesus would support environmental protection and that he would be opposed to the death penalty, etc. I think that Catholics on this forum are so hung up on the abortion issue that they forget that other issues exist. And since it’s such a major issue, I suppose that I will try to address the topic of abortion.
If abortion were made illegal tomorrow, it would not stop the desire for the procedure. It would create a dangerous market for the procedure. It would be like putting a small band-aid on a massive wound. You have to address the symptoms. Have comprehensive sex ed programs, and make birth control accessible, especially in poor areas. You are not going to be able to promote abstinence enough to stop people from having sex. You’re living in a dream world if you think that pre-marital sex is going to stop or that everyone is going to start using programs like NFP. It’s not going to happen. So make your choice. I think that most of you would prefer the use of birth control and better sex ed. Additionally, more women would be likely to continue with a pregnancy if they felt that they had more resources, the exact types of resources that the GOP wants to cut. Also, let’s not forget that we endured eight years with the very conservative Bush, and abortions still took place. And please stop the nonsense that Obama is pro-abortion. He is not actively promoting abortion. I don’t know any people of sound mind who actually want abortions to happen. They can be traumatic for the mother as well. I would like to see more sympathy for these women. You never truly know what another person experiences.
For me, it really comes down to support for the poor and middle class, care for women’s health, environmental and other social issues, and the fact that I think Obama is a more genuine person. Romney seemed like an automaton from the beginning. He was counting on people voting for him for who he was not–not who he was. He did not make many concrete points, and he flip flopped terribly throughout the election.
I am also really turned off by extreme, vocal groups like the Tea Party, who many Americans consider to be a small, nonsensical group. If the GOP wants to gain young and/or minority voters, then they will need to rethink the party platform and make it more inclusive. Women voters, young voters, and minority voters are largely liberal, and these demographics will likely turn out more voters in the next election. You might not like what I am saying, but look at the results of yesterday. I am speaking the truth, and until you embrace that changes need to be made, your party will only continue to decline.
