A Republican for Obama
Dear Al Gore,
I am writing this letter to you as a Republican who is concerned about the future of this country. I believe that the Republican Party has led this country in the wrong direction and needs a serious wakeup call. I got involve din politics in the late nineties, when I was 17 years old, during which time James Dobson met with Republican Senators and gave them an ultimatum. He told the Republicans that he was sick of their lip service, and that if they did not
start to push their Christian agenda, he would leave the party and take the Christians with him. At the time the Republicans stood to lose more seats than they could afford, so they caved in and the party has been held hostage since. I have tried to get involved with the party internally, to see if people’s minds could be changed, to turn the party back in the right direction, but it’s useless. The Christian right has so much power within the party that those of us who still uphold the true values of the party have been completely silenced. The consequences of this have not only been detrimental to the party, but have also been detrimental to our country, and even to the rest of the world.
We may have different ideals and basic fundamental principles. However, what kills me the most about this country is the divide. I am tired of living in a 51/49 country that is fueled by power hungry politicians and a muckraking media that serves nothing but to divide us against ourselves. Regardless of differences in ideals, I am sure that we share some of the same goals. I am sure that both of us want to see an end to the radical agenda of the Christian right. I am sure that we both would like to see unity in our government and among our people. To me, a Democratic president and congress means more than implementing the changes that this country needs to get us back on track. It means sending a message to the radical neoconservative movement that this country is made of people from many creeds and religions, and that we are all bound to the principles of our forefathers to separate church and state, and to let the people decide their own moral value system.
In my opinion, the 2004 election was a Democratic victory laid on the table, waiting for the taking. Your party chose the absolute worst candidate it could have possibly chosen. I urge you not to let your party make the same mistake again. Hillary Clinton is one of the most polarizing and hated candidates of this election. She rides on experience that she really doesn’t have. She’s made personal attacks against her opponents that are demoralizing and her actions reflect very poorly on the party in general. It is clear that the Clintons see this election as a war for power, and do not have the best intentions of this country in mind. Hillary should not get the nomination simply because it’s “her turn”. Barack Obama recently stated that he knows Hillary’s supporters will vote for him, but will his supporters necessarily vote for her over John McCain? Will they side with a Democrat, simply because they are against the Republican Party,
or will they look to a candidate that is more moderate, and more likely to bring people together?
This is a crucial time in our country’s history, and Hillary Clinton believes that leading this country is something that is owed to her. You can help your party by endorsing a candidate who is liked by both sides of the political spectrum, who is well spoken, intelligent and would make a great leader who everyone would be proud of, and who foreign leaders would respect. He is not plagued by scandal and an embarrassing past. He is not a career politician, in bed with big corporations and special interests. He is running for President as an American, not as a candidate that should be judged by gender, race or creed. If Hillary Clinton wins the nomination, your party will have made the same mistake as it did in 2004, and will hand the election over to the Republicans on a silver platter. I urge you to endorse Barack Obama for the sake of your
party and your country.
I like John McCain, I believe he will win the Republican nomination. I do believe that he is a moderate candidate that will bring people together, but I do not believe he has the moral authority, or the leadership skills it will take to take on the Christian right and their radical agenda. He would make a great President in the short term, but will do nothing to solve this country’s problems in the long term. He also does not possess the skills I think it will take to win the respect of foreign leaders and to help heal the wounds of our current President’s mistakes. I believe that I share the sentiment of many upset Republicans who are looking for change within the party. This is why I believe that there are many of us who are looking for a leader like Barack Obama, but will not vote for Hillary Clinton under any circumstances.
I’ve seen your movie, An Inconvenient Truth. I’ve seen the things you have done to help this planet and save us from threats of global climate change. You have put yourself out on a limb, often exposing yourself to ridicule in your efforts. I believe in your cause and I believe that you are doing what is right for this planet, and you have shown a backbone and resilience that has served to change people’s perspective on threats to our environment. This nation needs that same leadership from you, at a time where we need strong leaders that are willing to make waves, show a backbone and do the right thing. Your influence could save your party and put this country back in the right direction. This election is too critical for leaders like you to weasel off into the distance and not take a stand.
Do the right thing, endorse Barack Obama. As a Democrat, as an American Patriot, and as a human being.
Sincerely,
Michael Lewandowski