I received my “Vote for Change” bumper sticker in the mail last week. It is still sitting on the counter in the kitchen. I look at it every morning and just cannot put it on my car. Not yet. Not right now. It would be just too ironic for me to promote “change” when the change that I currently see is not what I had in mind.
Senator, you inspired me. You got me speaking out and explaining to people why you were just what we needed. You asked us not to make the simple choices, but instead told us the truth. We will have to work if we want to make a change in this country. That struck a cord in me and those around me. My husband joined your team after I laid out why I thought you were the right person for the job. I have defended you and battled against all the ludicrous claims. I’ve tried to explain Rev. Wright. I have convinced people you were not Muslim and that it shouldn’t matter if you were. (There are no religious tests for office in this country, remember?) I have sent my 10-year-old to school singing every word of the Will.i.am song/video of your speech.
Then you secured the nomination.
Things have changed since then. It is not the change that we are seeking. I understand declining public financing, yet, does this really match the principles that you are promoting? Your right, the system is “broken”. You’re right, the Republican party will have much more funding to support Senator McCain than the Democratic party will have to support you. Nevertheless, it is an easy target you have created. If this was the only change, I would not be concerned. While an easy target for your opponents to hammer at, it is also logically explained. Yet, there have been several things lately, most notably your vote for the FISA bill. In “The Audacity of Hope” you explain very eloquently that every vote can present tough choices; voting for a bill that you believe in may also bring along things that you don’t agree with. Every vote can be a compromise. I understand that. Your explanation to the 16,000 people you requested you not vote for the bill didn’t convince me. You congratulate the people for organizing and say you know you will “take your lumps” over the vote, but it comes across as condescending. Saying the ability to monitor and track individuals to protect the country is political speak. Saying you are voting for an imperfect bill now and will assess it further when you are president is just trying to have it both ways.
Say it ain’t so, O. I really just don’t want to believe that you are going to play the game like everyone else.
I’m having doubts, Senator. I am afraid that you are being handled. I am afraid that you are starting to compromise your beliefs, tailoring them for the general election. It is more than the normal shift of a candidate to the middle; you seem to be losing your compass. We loved you and were inspired by you, believing that this would not be a repeat of the same tired pomp and pandering that we see every election cycle. I want to put that bumper sticker on my car. I want to believe. Convince me.
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