I voted today

I cast my vote for Barack Obama in California’s primary this morning.

Here’s a major reason why I did:

“When I am this party’s nominee, my opponent will not be able to say
that I voted for the war in Iraq; or that I gave George Bush the
benefit of the doubt on Iran; or that I supported Bush-Cheney policies
of not talking to leaders that we don’t like. And he will not be able
to say that I wavered on something as fundamental as whether or not it
is ok for America to torture — because it is never ok… I will end the
war in Iraq… I will close Guantanamo. I will restore habeas corpus. I
will finish the fight against Al Qaeda. And I will lead the world to
combat the common threats of the 21st century: nuclear weapons and
terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. And I will
send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that
says, "You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is
now.”

Patrick Nielsen Hayden, (via John Scalzi,) put my feelings into words, so I’m going to borrow them, rather than struggle to come up with my own:

I’m for Obama knowing perfectly well that, as Bill
Clinton suggested, it’s a “roll of the dice”. A roll of the dice for
Democrats, for progressives, for those of us who’ve fought so hard
against the right-wing frames that Obama sometimes (sometimes craftily,
sometimes naively) deploys. Because I think a Hillary Clinton candidacy
will be another game of inches, yielding—at best—another four or eight
years of knifework in the dark. Because I think an Obama candidacy
might actually shake up the whole gameboard, energize good people,
create room and space for real change.

Because he seems to know
something extraordinarily important, something so frequently missing
from progressive politics in this country, in this time: how to hearten people. Because when I watch him speak, I see fearful people becoming brave.

We’ve been afraid for too long, and it’s cost us dearly. Karl Rove and George Bush and Dick Cheney will have many disastrous legacies, but one of the most despicable and enduring will be how they used fear to deeply and deliberately divide our country.

It’s going to be a huge challenge for our next president to heal this nation, and end the Culture of Fear that’s been created by the Bush Administration. I believe that Barack Obama is the best candidate to do that, and I was proud to vote for him today.

It felt so good to cast a vote that I was proud of, in support of
someone, instead of resigning myself to voting for the lesser of two
evils.

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129 thoughts on “I voted today”

  1. Congrats on voting!
    I’m a long-time reader, but this is my first time commenting. So I’d like to just take the time to say I enjoy reading your blog and that watching Star Trek: The Next Generation brings back happy memories of quality time with my dad (he was very busy at that time, so this is one of the few rituals we had together). Also, along with Beverly Hills 90210, ST: TNG was one of the few programs in Japan that was in English. So, being the geek I am, my dad and I watched your show…and then the samurai soap operas (completely in Japanese and completely incomprehensible to my dad and me) every Sunday morning. But that’s another story.
    The reason I finally decided to comment is: since you’re into creative commons license stuff, I thought you’d like to see that Nature is using a creative commons licensed photo for its cover. Additionally, Nelson (the guy who took the photo), is a friend of mine who is probably best known for being one of the two students to sue Diebold. He’s also a co-founder of FreeCulture.org. And now, it turns out, Nature likes his photos as well!
    Anyway, cheers!

  2. I also cast my vote for Obama today, out here in Illinois. If Hillary carries the nomination, then I will cast my vote for her, but it will not be with the same enthusiasm. This is the first time since I’ve been old enough to vote that I have truly been inspired by a candidate, that I have felt like voting was something more than, “well, he seems marginally better than the other guy.” I have reasons beyond that for backing Obama, of course, and I know that an intangible like hope may not be enough to win a presidency or lead a country. Still, it’s a nice feeling to have.

  5. I, too, cast my vote for Obama today, and was proud to do it.
    I think he is the only candidate in the current field who will have the cojones to do what absolutely needs to be done within days of taking office: namely, stand up in front of the United Nations General Assembly and apologize to the world for the atrocities committed by the United States over the past 8 years. And then he will take the top-notch team I’m convinced he will surround himself with and proceed to start the long, arduous process of fixing this godawful mess.

  8. Aus in the US here, If I could vote I too would be for OBAMA, even if t was for just ONE reason, all the Hillary/Bill hate from the Republicans guarantees that they will turn out in greater numbers to vote AGAINST her, and not FOR whoever their nominee will be (especially if it is Mccain).
    IN Office I think Hillary would be fine since Bill could help her out in the background (ignoring him being an A** on the campaign trail–JJ won in SC, PLEASE!!)
    I kind of like Mccain as a person but as a president all he would seem to be is GB+, that plus with the final turnovers in the Supreme court coming up next RvW would go down in flames, as well as probably all the internet kids lies laws getting passed.
    I will however say that even IF we get him OR Romney at least they will not be out to change the constitution TO FOLLOW GODS LAWS as Huckebee wants

  9. As a cancer survivor who cannot get health insurance, I’m just hoping for a democratic candidate that will favor a change in our health care system. Both Clinton and Obama seem to be leaning toward a mandate type system like in MA. Not exactly a great idea, making people buy insurance that is relatively useless with high deductibles. Sounds like extra profits for insurance companies. Obama seems like he cares a little more about people like me. We just need to convince him a single payer system is the way to go.

  11. And there you go. I also voted the same way for the same reasons. It’s going to be an interesting year to say the least.
    Peace to all

  12. ToddCommish, my assumption that you listen to too much rightwing radio was based on your swift dismissal of something substantive (ie, Wil’s election decision, which he illustrated with an eloquent Obama quote) as something relatively mindless (eg, “Wil, Voting based on a one-paragraph political sound-bite is fine”)–something at which I believe the rightwing radio pundits excel. I was suggesting that your tactic was perhaps something you learned from them (mea culpa, as you apparently came up with that one on your own). If that makes me a “judgmental liberal” who thinks you’re a “right-wing wacko”, then you are the one baselessly forming an opinion from a few words. And by the way, I used to listen to Air America, but once they got rid of Sam Seder’s daily show, I really didn’t see the point. So what hackneyed phrase sums me up? Have at it.

  13. I was happy to cast my vote for Hillary yesterday and why not? After 8 years of peace and prosperity (the best peacetime economy in US history) under Bill Clinton, I would’ve been happy to vote for him again in 2000—but the 80th Congress (Republicans dominated both chambers) saw fit to limit our Presidents to just two terms, ’cause they were tired of losing to FDR and Truman. Well, I still want that 3rd Clinton term and a return to peace and prosperity, so I voted for Hillary Clinton. She’s been there, laid the groundwork and can hit the ground running come January 2009. The next president will have 2 years to act before the next Congressional Election potentially shifts power once again in DC. I feel the younger, less experienced Obama would waste valuable time learning the ropes at the White House in those 2 years and squander his opportunity. Hillary’s already been there and knows the drill. Time for change will short and Clinton was the White House knowledge and experience in DC politics to get it done.

  14. I voted for Obama last month, in NVs caucusses. Most of my little town did, even though Clinton won the state.
    My highschool history teacher husband is seeing much more political involvement from his students than ever before. This election is so tight, and so internet involved, that it’s going to serve as a model for years to come with these kids. That’s a great thing, no matter who wins. Apathy is it’s own war.

  15. You were able to just walk in and cast your vote? I live in Colorado and I wanted to cast my vote, but I found out we have a caucus. Apparently in the caucus you do some kind of a straw poll and the process can take hours. I was at work all day and I would have had to give up my time spent with my two little boys to participate. Family time had to come first. I wish we had a primary so I could have participated. Guess I’ll have to wait for the election in November…

  16. I’ve often wondered why we still have a caucus system in this day and age. It doesn’t seem to make sense. People are so rushed in their daily lives, and to have a caucus, especially on a week night, is absurd. How do you caucus state folks feel about it?

  17. I’ve been reading everyone’s comments here, and I have to say I’m happy to be counted alongside many of you as an Obama supporter. Wil – your words ring very true that I didn’t have to resign myself to voting for someone that marginally represented my views. Like you, I don’t agree with everything he says, but to paraphrase John McCain, “If we all agreed on everything, that’d be pretty boring.”
    I only wish Florida didn’t get their delegates taken away, but at least the vote here showed the overall standing he has in the state.

  18. Wil, you and I NEVER see eye to eye on anything political. That’s an interesting item, seeing as I am onboard with just about everything else you’ve ever written. I am a die-hard, strict-construction Constitutionalist, limited Government, fiscal conservative. I’d be a Ron Paul supporter if her could ever outline HOW he intends to accomplish all his lofty goals. While I am not terribly impressed with “W”, I certainly don’t think he is the Devil Incarnate that you set him up to be.
    And so it is important to note that I can see myself voting (and happily) for Barack Obama in November. He seems to be more “In touch” with the issues of the American People than any other candidate. In short, he gets it. He has a plan. That plan is available to see for all. I respect that and (should McCain win the R nom) will support him in Nov.
    FWIW, I still think invading Iraq was the right move. I just think we should have gone whole hog and annexed the place as a territory of the United States. None of this namby-pamby “regime change” crap. Non-decisiveness is best left to non-war arenas.

  19. Thanks, Wil, for combatting the myth that Barack never gets specific. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/
    Unfortunately it’s a stubborn myth: I heard an exit interview soundbite this morning on NPR in which someone repeated it.
    Barack’s speeches are in broad strokes, as they need to be unless he buys an hour on the Hallmark channel. There’s a bit more detail in the debates, and much more at his website…of course that leaves out people with no Internet access.
    Anyway, Barack has my vote next Tuesday 2/12 (the Potomac Primary, I think it’s been called).

  20. I support Obama because he inspires me to hope that we really can accomplish the changes we so desperately need.
    There are a lot of reasons I don’t support Hillary. Not the least of which is that there is nothing that can galvanize the conservatives against something like adding the word “Clinton” into the topic. I think Obama is not only the better candidate, but also the more electable candidate.
    I’m also disturbed to hear some people interviewed by the media saying that they like Hillary because they think she’ll do a good job because her husband was president before her and he did well. It sounds too much like taking her on his merits instead of her own. And reminds me of everyone I knew comforting themselves that “W” would do a good job as president because he had good advisors behind him, like Cheney. And she’s good buddies with Newt Gingrich. That alone sends up red flags for me.
    That said, if she gets the nomination, I’ll vote for her.

  21. Wil, my heart is breaking over this. Clinton is winning, McCain is winning, and I don’t believe Clinton will ever be able to defeat McCain. I’m trying to be positive, but I just get this sinking feeling that our “long national nightmare” won’t be over next year, even if Clinton wins. Do you really think Barack still has a chance? I ask this sincerely. Because I, for one, am losing hope, looking at the numbers.

  22. Being first lady does NOT give you the same type of experience in the white house as being president. THAT DOESNT MAKE SENSE AT ALL. The idea is absurd..
    She understands how much time is taken away. NOT how to do the job. If she was so keen on whats going on I don’t think Bill would have been able to pull some of his stunts.

  24. I think Obama is great, but what I would prefer is a Clinton-Obama ticket. I think she’s got important experience and connections, and he’s got charisma and idealism. If he was Vice President for 4 years, I’d be glad to vote for him next time. Unfortunately, I don’t think things are going to change that much…Ron Paul isn’t going to abolish the IRS, and Obama isn’t going to beat Al Qaeda with hope alone.

  25. Matthew, Obama most definitely still has a chance. This thing is not over and it doesn’t look like it will be over soon. Some of us in late primary states may still have a say in this thing yet from the looks of it. Remember in 2004 this was over on Super Tuesday. Kerry had momentum and everyone fell in line. That’s not happening this time and I’m so glad about that. People are thinking for themselves this time and not letting the media tell us who to vote for. Keep your chin up because this isn’t over yet. I don’t believe all of the super delegates have pledged support yet, so some of them could still go either way. Both candidates still have a ways to go before one of them hits the magic number. Don’t lose hope, because at this point, hope is all we have that this country can change. You guys have me rethinking Obama in a good way. And if McCain is the nominee, that could somewhat help us because of ultra conservative wing that despises him and they are telling their people to stay home in November if he is the nominee. If Obama could swing the independents and moderates, we have an excellent chance of winning this thing.

  28. Let’s face it, the Democrats are screwed for this next presidential election. They have a Black man(Obama), and a woman(Clinton) running as their potential candidates. America isn’t ready for either of them, and the reason why is because there’s too many redneck racist bigots in the U.S.
    It’s too bad as well because I like what Obama is saying. I like his views on health care, and ending the war(if possible.) He comes off as a Nationalist, one who puts his country before all else, and I like that kind of talk. If I was living in the States, and not in Canada, I would vote for him.
    One last thing for all of you Yankee Doodle Dandys. If Obama does get elected as president by some chance, and you did vote for him, don’t complain about your taxes going up to cover all his election platform promises. Universal health care isn’t cheap!
    Go Donkeys Go!

  29. That little internet quiz was kind of entertainging as I sit here at work on the net.
    I scored:
    Obama- 61
    Hillary- 54
    Romney- 40
    And only time will show what America is ready for!

  30. I only regret that Bill Richardson didn’t make it this far! He was my congressman, back when I lived in Santa Fe.
    Bill did something I have never seen any other representative or senator do -he sent out a questionnaire quarterly (a long one, 10 pages of small type) asking us all sorts of questions about appropriations and other issues. He would then tally the results and voted accordingly.
    You could just walk in to his office and talk to him when he was in town, and he held town hall meetings several times a year in high school gyms in each of the towns that made up his district.
    I have never felt that any other politician was as connected to the people he represented as Bill was. Sure, he’s a diplomat with a great record, and he has great credentials -but it’s his genuine decency as a human being that always impressed me.

  31. I voted for Obama last week in Florida – just wish we would have counted. Still, I got my little sticker! Woo-Hoo!
    Good luck with your sinus surgery, Wil.

  32. The political clubs at my high school hosted a mock primary yesterday–Obama took the Democratic vote. If Obama’s the Democratic candidate, I think the youth of America will rally behind him. The man projects such an image of hope. This country needs change, and Obama’s something radically different than what we’ve had before. The younger demographic votes are important in this country, and Obama’s charismatic enough to get it. (The sad thing is that a lot of young people don’t care as much about a candidate’s platform. Elections are pretty much popularity contests in this country.)

  34. Funny, but Liz is right about most things. Young people DON’T care about platforms. Elections ARE popularity contests. Which is why Obama leads for the younger voters.
    If they actually had jobs and were paying more taxes to support some of these programs, they might think otherwise.

  35. @beelkay: the problem with a Clinton-Obama ticket is that Hillary’s baggage is a unified GOP opposition. Too much history, too much bad blood. Any Clinton victory would – in two years – revitalize the ultra-conservative talk-radio driven GOP of the past 15 years. If Obama accepts a VP spot, he would officially be labeled a “Clinton democrat” and inherit that same blind-eyed hatred that Clinton generates among the GOP powers. Obama’s hand in four or eight years would be stronger if he remains a powerful Senate voice, particularly if he’s willing to stand up to a democratic President with weaker ideas than his own. I think either of them can win a general election. I hope Obama wins now. I think he’d get more accomplished, and would be far more likely to see a second term. As charismatic as he is, it’s hard not to imagine him being able to repair a lot of the damage W has done to our international reputation. Reading about his negotiation style, I think we might even be able to pull away from the hardcore partisan bulls#!t political gamesmanship that was spawned around the original Clinton presidency, if only because there’s not enough republicans out there who genuinely hate him.

  36. @1BigBank: We, as the people of the USA, get to decide what the country is or is not ready for. If Obama or Hillary gets out the vote more effectively than those who have such racist or sexist political views do, we win and they have to become ready pronto. We are only defeated before we begin if we allow ourselves to buy into the “not ready” line and refuse to vote our conscience based on their bigotry.
    We may have a long way to go yet for true equality and a level playing field, but we’ve come long way from where we were.
    If we had waited for the country to have been “ready” for the US to accept civil rights such as women’s suffrage or African Americans being allowed to integrate with whites, these things would never have happened. They happened because those who were right mobilized their political power to get the right things done, and because of visionary leaders who defied conventional wisdom about what the masses could accept.

  37. I was also proud yesterday Wil. I took time off from being a Precinct Coordinator, supervising 14 polls for the county to cast a vote for McCain who will protect you from the extremists who have vowed to kill you and me. You may not like it, but someone has to protect you from those wishing to do you harm. It may not be great, but without intelligence, sooner or later someone is going to walk into Paseo Pasadena or the Great Mall of America and show us what they have been showing London, Madrid, Israel, Baghdad and too many other places to mention in this short post. However I do appreciate you going out and doing what you so passionately feel is right. With your passion, how about volunteering to be a poll worker in June and November so that the polls will be manned and that either your man or woman or my man can become the next president? Bill Mann

  38. BillMann,
    I understand your reasoning and intentions. However, I completely disagree with your deployment of said intentions. As a veteran Army Special Forces soldier with an Honorable Discharge I can confidently say that I served to protect both Wil AND you. Furthermore I’ll say I voted for Obama to help protect our service members from combating and defending in a Civil war. The Destabilization of Iraq has FURTHER exacerbated global terrorism.. and does not at this point in time further the protection of ANY American Citizen. In fact.. if you look at the number of American casualties in the Iraq war you can see exactly how many Citizens of the US our current Republican administration has sent to their death. That’s 3,949 soldiers to name an approximate number.
    It is easy to stand on a podium and announce the ways our actions protect the naive. It is harder to actually sacrifice to insure those protections. Volunteering at the polls is nice, but I’m sure everyone’s community needs help more drastically than at the polling booths.

  39. Wil, I’m so glad to read what you have posted here, not only because I’m a Barack Obama supporter, but because I am thrilled by how engaged people seem to be with this whole process.
    Record turnouts in primaries? That’s phenomenal! If people wake up and start paying attention, our next president isn’t going to be able to lie, pander, wage war, and endanger our personal liberties the way this one has.
    As for Obama, I’ve decided that it’s time to vote wholeheartedly. America can live up to whatever challenge is put in front of her. We now need someone daring enough to challenge us to get back on the right track. I think he can do this… and I’m not sure anyone with as much political baggage as Clinton can.
    What I’d really like to see is an Obama-Edwards ticket. Edwards has reinvigorated the “old” liberal agenda items of poverty, equality of opportunity, etc., and he also has a fire in his belly that I think could be a galvanizing force when paired with the optimism Obama brings. Plus Edwards has a lot of blue-collar appeal that could shift even more voters toward Obama. It would be exciting to see!

  40. oregonchick:
    I was predicting that ticket and I hope it’s true! Obama Edwards!
    What’s interesting, scary, and entertaining is the possibility of Hillary Bill tickets. I doubt this would happen but its entertaining reading about theories surrounding it.

  41. I agree with you on this one, Wil. It was nice for my husband and I to be able to vote our conscience, rather than just voting against someone we were horrified by. I’m actually engaged and enthusiastic for once. I’m grateful to Barack Obama for giving me the opportunity to feel this much confidence in a candidate.

  42. I’m one of the many outside the U.S.A. watching this with interest, and I would have to say that the main thing that encourages me here is simply the fact that so many people care about the outcome. Voter apathy is a huge problem in too many countries these days.

  43. Way to go Wil! Thank you for being honest and unafraid to share your opinions as always! I to will be filling in the circle next to Obama’s name when the Primary for the Lone Star State is held . I have never felt more passionate about casting my vote for a candidate as Barack Obama has made me feel. He is the person who I think can pull our country out of the pool of shit that the Bush administration has buried the nation under for the past 7 , nearly 8 years. I look forward to the coming days, perhaps an Obama Edwards ticket? Crosses fingers and drops Dark Side of the Moon hat!

  44. I can’t vote for Obama. He seems to avoid the tough issues when he gives answers,says he is going to make change but really doesn’t say how, and his blind support for Israel bothers me. I liked Richardson and Edwards, and I will write Edwards name in when it is our turn to vote in May.
    http://www.pafundi.com
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 4411

  45. I am indecisive as to who I am going to vote for in the upcoming election, so I have held off on voting in the primary for NY. While I’d rather see Obama in office than Hilary, I cannot say that I’d want him for sure. He does seem very indecisive in his responses to questions. I had this issue with John Kerry in the last presedential election. Kerry would answer a question, and Bush would come back and sort of tell us why what Kerry wanted to do wasn’t possible, and then suddenly Kerry would change his answer.
    I still remain indecisive. Hmph.

  46. I voted for Mr. Obama as well. I’ve read his book, and his views and thoughts are inspiring. I don’t agree with him on a few issues, but no candidate is perfect; Barak is pretty damned close.
    I don’t particularly care for Hillary, but seeing as our Democratic front-runners are a black man and a woman, change is gonna come, like it or not.

  47. “why put people in charge of government who are convinced it’s never going to work?”
    Because those people could limit government and the harm it does to society.
    “That’s like hiring a chef to cook for you who hates food.”
    No, that’s like hiring a chef who hates bad food and whose only option is to shut down the bad parts of the kitchen.

  48. JHP – Could there even be a Hillary – Bill ticket? Bill already served his 2 terms as president – he’s maxed out. Since, as VP, there is a possibility of becoming president, I wonder if that would be unconstitutional. Does anyone know?

  49. Beckmank that’s a good question. Here is a good article on the subject:
    By strict constitutional interpretation it is possible it seems.

  50. Beckmank – Bill can not hold any postion that could take over as president – once you serve two terms that’s it – which I think is a good thing.
    I have been reading Harry Potter lately I think Dumbledore says it best “It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.” (last book chapter 35)
    I really think that is problem – only the people who want power runs.

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