Posted by
Forgive My Patriotism on Monday, February 11, 2008 2:43:41 PM
I've decided to no longer be a protestant voter who sits out the election.
I was pretty upset when John McCain was prematurely declared the Republican nominee for president. I'd listened and read what I could and just couldn't see it happen. I had a completely emotional response and then declared that my principles were at stake. "Nope. No way, I'm not going to vote."
I wrote half a dozen blogs on what I thought and how I felt about it, but something has been tugging at the back of my mind. I've reflected on this quite a bit, and I believe I understand that with the characterization of a candidate's words and record so often incorrect and misleading, I cannot, in good conscience, withhold my vote during such an important election with so much at stake.
When I was 15, Ronald Reagan was running for president. I would hear his name and then stupidly blurt out "He's a war monger, man!" Parroting the rhetoric I'd heard so often from his opponents. Nothing could have been further from the truth, and I know. Because four years later I was in the Marine Corps and he was my Commander In Chief. His eight years in office were some of the most peaceful years in American history.
These circumstances are what drew me to the Republican Party.
Critics of a candidate may get so caught up in what they believe is the right thing to do, that they lose sight of what is important and even what is truthful. Even I, in the assurance of my beliefs and knowledge, have turned and tumbled down that rocky path and thought it necessary to place them above our nation's needs.
I don't want to be selfish, AND I don't want to be guilty of not taking the right stance for our country just because it's a tough decision.
Knowing how what's said of a candidate is often exactly the opposite of the truth, I've decided now to vote. And I need some guidance.
Should I vote for Hillary or Barack?