Why I am Voting for Obama

I have been inspired to speak about why I am voting for Barack Obama on November 4. He is actually not liberal enough for me but I am still supporting him. I am a Southern Baptist preacher's daughter, a Christian, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend and a rape and domestic violence victim. That is why I am a liberal.



One of the most important issues to me is health care. I do not have health insurance and neither does my 13 month old daughter. I only work part time because day care expenses in VA are outrageous. I do not fully agree with either candidates plan on health care but Obama's is the best. He plans to lower health care costs, offer new affordable health insurance options and require insurance companies to cover pre-exisiting conditions. It is a step in the right direction but we need to eventually go with Hillary Clinton's universal health care plan.



Women's issues are also very important for me because I have a daughter. McCain and Palin do not care about issues concerning women. John McCain voted no for the Violence Against Women Act. That bill is very important to me because it provides money for domestic violence shelters and judicial and law enforcement programs to prevent violence towards women. Joe Biden was the author of that bill. McCain also does not care about women in the workplace. He voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which would ensure equal pay for women. He also opposes expanding the Family Medical Leave Act. Another important issue for women is abortion and family planning. Obama supports a woman's right to choose and would put pro-choice Supreme Court justices on the bench. McCain and Palin oppose abortion in all cases even when the person is raped or is a victim of incest. Palin even wanted women who have been raped to pay for their own rape kit. As a rape victim I am outraged that people still have the opinion that abortion is wrong.

As a tree hugging vegetarian the environment is very important to me. I tried to read John McCain's plan on his website and it sounded like nonsense. Sarah Palin would be the worse VP and biggest threat to animals and the environment in the history of the United States! She supports aerial hunting of wolves, she sued the Interior Department for putting polar bears on the endangered species and advocates drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. That is very scary that she would be that close to being the President. John McCain is old and has health problems. Obama's plan is easy and simple to understand. He wants to get 1 million hybrid cars on the road by 2015, create millions of green jobs to develop clean energy technology and reduce greenhouse emission by 80%.

I also have to respond to the emails and bulletins I receive on MySpace from so called Christians. I am amazed at how many bigoted and racist people there are! Apparently I am going to hell because I am voting for a Democrat. Here's some of my favorite bible verses that tell me differently.
-Love your neighbor as yourself. .[Matthew 22:39]
-So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.[Matthew 7:12.]
-If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. [Matthew 19:21]
-But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. [Luke 14:13 &14.]
-You cannot serve both God and Money. [Matthew 6:24.]
-I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite-fully use you, and persecute you; [Matthew 5:44]
This is how I live my life and I wish other Christians would too.

I hope you can better understand my reasons that I am voting for Obama. This is a very important election! Go to the polls on November 4 and vote Barack Obama. He is the change that we need!



My next blog is going to be about the mayoral race in Suffolk, VA.

I got all of my information on this blog from the Barack Obama and John McCain websites.