After reading many, many comments about the debate on several different sites it is clear to me that people see through the filter of their beliefs. How else could you explain such differing reactions from the same debate. Some people show class and balance in how they present their viewpoints, some are crude. The latter is not limited to either candidate as there are plenty of crass responses by supporters of both Obama and McCain. I don’t see how these help anyone… though maybe they are reverse psychology comments. Secret Obama supporters post hateful comments about him to inspire reasonable Americans to defend him. Hmmm… bit of a stretch there… more likely just plain ignorance.
It is sad that the presidential campaign has gone negative on both sides; it is even sadder that this is not surprising. Both men believe that they are the right person to lead this country, but it makes one wonder when they resort to negativity to win. I have to believe that most Americans are reasonable, intelligent people who see through these campaign tactics. But then again, maybe I am wrong. The reason that the campaigns go negative is because it works.
The truth is that we will not know what either man will do until they are actually in office. Did anyone who voted for George W. Bush expect him to be the president he has turned out to be? No way! It would have been Gore by a landslide in 2000.
Where do we go from here?
We need strong leadership, but more importantly we Americans need to have faith in ourselves. We have been shaken up in the last couple of years and particularly in the last few weeks. This may be uncomfortable but not necessarily a BAD THING. There is opportunity in upheaval. People become motivated to make changes, personally and as a nation. Extremist party politics do not work, belligerence does not work, greed does not work, arrogance does not work and fear does not work. This is not who we are as individuals, so let’s not tolerate these attitudes. This is a chance for us to focus on what is important in our lives and in our country.
Let’s come together, focus on the positive, respect ourselves and respect others. I am voting for Barack Obama and praying that the next president (whether Obama or McCain) can inspire us to get past the fear that is currently gripping our great nation. All we really need to do is believe in ourselves!
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