Brock: I'd vote for Obama
Mike Brock would throw in his lot with Democrat Barack Obama
Mike Brock - November 3, 2008
My default position would be to vote Libertarian. But I would probably vote for Obama. Not because I support the guy, but for several reasons.
Let me first preface my answer with this: The libertarian movement is not served by allying ourselves with right-wing religious conservatives, when those right-wing religious conservatives have no intention of: 1) reducing the size of government; 2) staying out of the nation's bedrooms; 3) protecting privacy rights; 4) controlling state police powers (rather, they are increasing them); 5) running balanced budgets; 6) respecting the separation of church and state.
Secondly and consummately:
- I am suspicious of the Bush administration, and any potential corruption that may have yet to be uncovered.
- I believe that an Obama win will probably just make everybody "feel" better. His policies aside, the current economic and political climate could use a shot of faux confidence.
- I think I've been enough of an uninterested party in American politics to say, that: Obama's policies aside, I don't see why my fellow libertarians and conservatives think the guy will be a disaster. This will sound condescending but -- America has just had one of the dumbest presidents in history take it through one of the most eight turbulent years in history.
- The assertion that Obama will plunge America into socialism is ridiculous. America is essentially a crony-capitalist state, with corporate/religious/union lobbying having one of the most unsavory grips on leavers of power.
- I probably would have stayed with McCain if he stayed the same McCain he was before he tossed in his hat. All he did was reduce himself to Obama's level. So all things being equal, Obama gets the the warm & fuzzy vote, if for no other reason he's a good orator and makes everyone feel good.
- The attacks on Obama suggesting that he may be a closet Muslim or may have been a Muslim in the past -- or even that he's not an American citizen, are just over-the-top. If you present me with a choice between a bunch of Christian conservative xenophobes, and a man who at least shows the capacity for sober analysis and thought, I'll likely take the latter.
Page 1 of 2