Why I Am Voting for Barack Obama

I became aware of Barack Obama after watching his incredibly eloquent and rousing speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. I immediately wanted to know who this man was, and why was I just now hearing his name? I purchased and read his book, Dreams from My Father…it was just as eloquent and equally impressive. In it, Barack is refreshingly honest and forthcoming about both his strengths and his weaknesses, his childhood and how he grew up, his parentage, his travels, and his work. I was immediately intrigued.

Barack was elected to the State Senate in 1996 and worked on the south-side of Chicago. Even though he has a law degree from Harvard, was elected as the Harvard Law Review’s first black president in its 104 year history, and graduated magna cum laude, he didn’t take his skills to a high priced law firm…he put his skills to work for the people. Barack represented those who often are forgotten. His record is impressive: Barack sponsored law enhancing tax credits for low income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for child care. He was also part of the Democrat/Republican team that drafted successful legislation on ethics and health care reform. Barack led the passage of laws requiring that police record the race of the people that they stopped in order to reduce racial profiling and he received the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police because he worked with police on the death penalty reform.

His record in the Senate is a long and reads very well. I will not list all of his Senate accomplishments here (you can read those for yourself; they are on the ‘net)…but I will tell you this: do not be misled by the media. If you are interested in truly knowing what Barack Obama stands for, listen to him. Read his books, visit his Web site, listen to people talk about him. Barack Obama is a man who stands for something we have been missing in this country for a long time: he stands for a radical change in leadership, a change from “the way things are” to “the way things can be.” Barack offers a new way of thinking, a new way of looking at the world, a new way of looking at America, a new way of politics. We do not have to accept the same politicians blowing the same smoke up our asses, saying one thing and meaning another. Sure, Barack has had some missteps in his campaigns, he has misspoken on some occasions, but not to the point where he looks dumb and uninformed; but to the point where you know someone in his camp made a boo-boo and you know they got their asses chewed out.

Never mind what people say about Barack not having enough experience. He has as much experience as every other candidate running for president right now. Not one of these candidates has been president before. So the real question is: what makes a good president? I say that good values and morals, a dedication to family and country, a passion for what is right and to people, a true sense of self and confidence, and a belief in the fact that you are the right person to take the country into a new and better place makes you qualified. Makes you more than qualified.

I can tell you I have never felt this enthusiastic about an election before. Never before have I been eager to place my vote. Because the naysayers keep saying, “Oh it’s not time,” and “Wait until 2012, 2016,” and “America is not ready for a Black President,” I get even more excited because I have faith that even if Barack does not win this election, it won’t be because he didn’t run away from a challenge. That is admirable. Even with all the negative things being said and most of the focus being laid on Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack is still fighting. Still strong, with his family by his side, still pushing ahead. That is what I want in a President…that is why Barack has my vote.

It’s all love, baby… 

© 2007. Marva Allen-Fowler. All Rights Reserved.