Why do I Support Barack Obama?

A Republican friend in Georgia asked me how I could possibly support Barack Obama. He wanted to know exactly "what plan of Obama's would be so great for America?"

How can I support Obama? First of all, it's not just one plan that drew me to him. When I heard him speak at the 2004 Democratic Convention, I saw a young man with unusual gifts, something I had not seen since I discovered another young man back in1972 (Sam Nunn of Georgia) who possessed the same characteristics. Twice in one lifetime I have met a person with all those intangible ingredients that go into making a great President: intellect, integrity, leadership, judgment and political instincts that cannot be taught, and cannot be bestowed by another. You either have them or you don't. It is rare to find all these in one candidate, but when we find them, our duty as citizens is to encourage that person to offer himself (or herself) in public service to the nation.

This election is not just another contest between a Democrat and a Republican. It is not about who has a plan to satisfy the social agenda concerns of one special interest group or another. It is not about blind pledges of any kind. It IS about voting for the candidate with the skills and character to lead America through a "tough patch" as Bush's Secretary of the Treasury described the horrible economic conditions we endure today. It is about being faithful to the United States Constitution you are sworn to uphold on the first day, having the good judgment to recruit America's best and brightest talents to your side, conducting your official duties with integrity, eschewing manipulation of the populace with the most basic of political tools: fear.

When Reagan was elected in 1980, the people voted for him because they were tired of prime rates in the 16 -22 percent range. They were tired of a president going around the country talking about a "malaise in America." They voted for a guy who promised "morning in America," a better day, "a government as good as the people" it represents. Such warm and fuzzy talk made us all feel great...but we were sold a bill of goods.

Barack Obama's speeches give people hope for a better tomorrow (and Republicans hate that) but he is also telling the American people the hard truth about the hard choices that lie ahead. I pray the voters will have the intelligence to understand that message and not succumb to McCain's patronizing Reaganesque promise of "just leave your problems to your kindly old grandfather; he'll make 'em all better."