My Soapbox

When I opened up the Sunday paper and was pleasantly surprised to see the Houston Chronicle’s endorsement of Barack Obama. When I went online to read about my hometown news in Coeur d’Alene, I was disappointed to see that the Coeur d’Alene Press did not endorse a candidate. Perhaps it’s futile: Idaho will always vote Republican, just like Texas will always vote for a Bush. But, wouldn’t it be something if Idaho’s four electoral votes were cast in favor of a candidate who supported education, universal access to health care, and the protection of Idaho’s beautiful environment? For these reasons and many others, Barack Obama is the candidate for me.

McCain possesses an indisputable love for America; his unwavering patriotism and military background indicates that he would put ‘Country First.’ I have a sister and brother-in-law in the military, and I want to make sure we support our troops. I cannot be convinced, however, that McCain’s VP pick was not a purely political move, one to round out his ticket in the eyes of the electorate rather than serve the best interests of the country. Sure, she is a very smart-looking woman with ties to Idaho. I even am tickled to think that she and I both have taken classes at North Idaho College. While I would love to have her as a neighbor, I’d hate to have her as the Chief Executive in charge of judicial appointments, legislative vetoes, and international representation of the US. But I digress…

Our country is in desperate need of a strong and thoughtful voice. We need a leader with creativity and stamina. We need of a fresh face that will strengthen our international partnerships. We need someone on whom to pin our hopes and expect real outcomes.

Barack Obama is the galvanizing force this county needs. His electrifying vision for America’s future will get us through this tough economic time. It’s time to rally. It’s time to come together as Idahoans and Americans. It’s time to stand behind a candidate who will bring positive change. I invite you to join me (and the rest of the world) in jumping on the Barack bandwagon. When Inauguration Day arrives, I really believe President Obama will be sworn in, and won’t that be wonderful?