Make your vote count

Election Day is approaching fast. We have heard from many voices that this is the most important election in history. Whatever your political persuasion, you cannot deny that this country and the world are facing serious challenges, economically and environmentally. Around the globe, people’s safety is threatened by wars, terrorism, hunger, poverty, and disease. The decision we make on November 4th is going to affect our futures as well as our children’s and grandchildren’s future. Don’t forget about them when you go into the voting booth.

The job of President of the United States is the most important and most difficult job in the entire world. As American voters, we have the privilege of deciding who will be hired to fill this awesome responsibility.. It is critical that we hire the best qualified and well rounded candidate. Strong consideration should be given to intelligence, education, and temperament as in any hiring decision. Look at each of the candidates:

John McCain graduated fifth from the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy and probably would not have been qualified to receive an appointment had it not been for his father and grandfather being Admirals. He has no advanced degree. He has a reputation for making impulsive decisions which was evident when he chose his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, with minimal due diligence. Since her selection, her appearances have been carefully choreographed with minimal access by the press. This is a reflection of John McCain’s unwillingness to be transparent with the American people. His penchant for impulsive action was also evident this week: On Monday he pronounced that the “fundamentals of the economy were sound.” By Wednesday afternoon, he was suspending his campaign and canceling his debate appearances to deal with the impending financial crisis. He went from “sound fundamentals” to ‘crisis” in 72 hours! Is this really the kind of temperament we want in the next president?

Now consider the qualifications of Barack Obama who graduated from Columbia University with a degree in political science and with a concentration in International Relations. He received a law degree from Harvard University where he was president of the Harvard Law Review. In contrast to John McCain’s shoot from the hip approach to decisions, Barack Obama has run a model campaign without changing key members of his team. He deliberately made his choice of a running mate to pick someone who has experience and has been available to the press as well as the public. More importantly, throughout the grueling primary and now general election campaigns, he has maintained his cool and positive demeanor even in the face of sometimes outlandish personal attacks. His thoughtful approach to the current financial crisis stands in stark contrast to McCain.

I believe we not only need, but that it is imperative, that we have someone in the White House who will make careful decisions on important issues after weighing all the facts. He must be able to make sound judgements and remain cool under fire. The stakes on the major challenges facing the nation and the world demand no less.

The vote we make on November 4th can not be taken lightly. Anyone who casts their vote by considering with whom they would rather have a beer or hangout, or who is the most congenial or most like us, needs to think about the consequences. If you were hiring a brain surgeon to remove a tumor or an attorney to represent you in court, you wouldn’t be looking for someone to hang out with or a hunting buddy, you would naturally want the most highly skilled professional for the job. We must approach the selection of our next president with the same seriousness as hiring a doctor or any other professional. Cast your vote for the best qualified candidate to get our country back on track. That's putting America First!