The polls showed that Obama drew out thousands of new voters. The majority of young people voted for him, as did women. One CNN commentator stated that you could see Obama’s broad-based support just by looking at the crowd at his victory speech. He is articulate, intelligent, charismatic, and has good ideas for taking away corporate control of our country and returning control to the people.
The apathy among eligible voters is huge. For decades, Americans have felt like an individual could do nothing to impact how our country was run. Obama has instilled new hope into the average American. His campaign has a grassroots support that empowers individuals to go out and help make a change.
If Obama can unite voters of all ages, races and backgrounds imagine what he could do across party lines. In just two years in the Senate he has co-sponsored three major acts with his Republican senators. There was the Luger-Obama Anti-Proliferation Act to control the spread of nuclear weapons. Then there was the Coburn-Obama Transparency Act to allow even more access to public records. And finally, the Hatch-Obama Charity Bankruptcy Act that would not require charities to forfeit money from individuals who go bankrupt.
For the past seven years we have been led by a president who thrives on fear and dividing Americans. He has used “wedge issues” to keep America polarized. An example in the last election was gay marriage. This is really a non-issue in that it was not running rampant nor destroying the fabric of marriage in America. Heterosexual spousal abuse has more negative impact on marriages than gays ever will. But the issue polarizes the public and takes their attention away from the really pressing issues such as health care, restoration of the middle class, and the exporting of jobs overseas. By making people feel threatened by an issue, Bush has been able to divide and conquer.
Obama is exactly the opposite. He is uniting people of all races, ages, gender, and income brackets. He is pressing for all of us to work for the common good, not just for the benefit of the elite rich. The trickle-down theory doesn’t work. If the rich have more money it doesn’t mean that the working class will benefit. Obama wants tax breaks for working families. These are the people who need it the most.
It is wonderful to see our youth revitalized and involved in politics. The number of volunteers working for Obama is staggering. Personally, I am glad to see a candidate who is not part of the American nobility, the elite rich. Our founding fathers were very aware of the hazards of a class-based society with too much power with the wealthy few. Obama is a man who will support the working and middle class. This is the class of people that Thomas Jefferson said was the most important in maintaining our democracy.
Obama as president would be a landmark moment in the history of America. It will define America as a country that is truly by the people and for the people.
The Caucus is only four days away. We all have the opportunity to make history by supporting Barack Obama. Don’t let this opportunity slip away.
Jeff Blanck is an attorney in private practice in Reno. He can be reached at: jblanck@jeffreyblancklaw.com.
JOE.