You may remember our political stance as solidly anti-Hillary during the Presidential Primary season. With Hillary finally out of the race and the General Election solidly underway, we've decided to take a second look at the candidates running for the highest office in the land. We carefully watched both Presidential conventions and have decided to make a mid-election course correction. We can no longer be characterized as voting anti-Hillary, we are solidly pro-Obama. John McCain and the Republicans have little new to offer us, despite John McCain's attempt to run against the incumbant Republican party as the Republican nominee (notice the irony). The Republican convention seemed to focus on character attacks and did little to address our concerns with the direction this country is currently traveling. The Palin pick initially intrigued us and we think her life story is compelling. We also like a lot of what she stands for. However, we feel that the pick is ultimately a political gimmick by the McCain campaign. The pick undercuts their "Country First" and experience messaging that has been running all summer long. Gov. Palin was not seeking the national stage and was unprepared to be thrust onto it. The McCain campaign has tried to maintain their original messaging by talking about how little the vice president actually does so it isn't fair to talk about whether she is ready to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency while at the same time talking about the historic nature of the campaign (all of which rings false). It is hardly shattering the "highest glass ceiling" to elect the first female Vice President, when the McCain campaign is degrading the office of vice president, saying Palin's only role will be to "attend funerals and inquire after the health of the president." We also feel that Palin's political stances are too close to President Bush's to add much to John McCain's maverick image. If anything, the Palin pick confirmed our political leanings.The Democratic Convention, on the other hand, was filled with solutions to the current problems our nation is facing. We found it uplifting and inspiring. This past week of economic upheavals has only confirmed to us that Barack Obama is the right man to lead our country at this time in history.
