Bucks
Confession Is Good For The Soul Obama Win
Dear Friends,
Good morning. Confession is good for the Soul, my late Mother once told me. Many of my lifelong friends were appalled that I would abandon the Republican Party last week and vote for Barrack Obama. I voted for Patrick Murphy as well.
Why?
For me, former New Jersey Governor Christie Todd Whitman summed it up perfectly several years earlier in her best seller, “It’s My Party Too.” It’s a primer for those Republicans, like me, whom President George W. Bush shut out of the GOP. Former Secretary of State Collin Powell echoed Whitman’s unhappiness when he gave his reasons for supporting Obama several weeks before the election.
Today, the national Republican Party does not resemble the party that Barry Goldwater led in 1964. Goldwater was a Republican who believed in small governments, balanced budgets, the separation of church and state, and tolerance. He even supported gays in the military.
Thanks to eight years of George W. Bush, supported by Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, we Americans are experiencing the largest federal government ever. And it’s coupled with staggering deficits. Led by the religious right on the social front, the GOP opposes federally funded embryonic stem cell research, opposes a woman’s right to choose, and opposes homosexuals.
There were several reasons why I voted for Barrack Obama. First, I wanted to rid the Republican Party of the religious right’s influence. A huge loss on Election Day was the only way the GOP would stop cold and rethink it’s strategy. If it doesn’t, it will become an irrelevant party of southerner’s, for the most part, way out of the mainstream.
Second, I didn’t want to give John McCain the power to nominate federal justices with views similar to Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. With the exception of two terms as a Bucks County Commissioner, I’ve spent my career in journalism. The executive and legislative branches of government are not fond of journalists. “Shoot the messenger” is the old saying. You don’t have to look far to discover that federal, state, and local governments gladly restrict the public’s right to know if the judiciary doesn’t stand in the way.
I’m a First Amendment fellow. It reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” The court stands between politicians who would deny the public’s access to the decision making process.
I hope that Obama’s victory will begin to heal the racial divide. It has plagued America since our European forbearers brought slaves to these shores 400 years ago. Because of the Obama victory, young African Americans can see that color is no barrier to the highest office in the land.
Whether Obama’s leadership will teach them how to succeed is the million-dollar question of course. Will Obama be able to reinforce his grandparents’ ethics on black children…work diligently and graduate from high school; refrain from producing illegitimate children; and become superior role models for their younger siblings? Obama’s margin of victory was small…four million votes out of 98 million cast. But on the Electoral College scorecard, it was a landslide…338 votes to 141.
I voted for Patrick Murphy although I was very impressed with Tom Manion. If Manion were not opposed to a woman’s choice, my decision would have been far more difficult. As long as Murphy remains fiscally conservative and socially moderate, he’ll have a successful future. That’s the reason why former congressman Jim Greenwood was so popular. Still, I’d like to know Manion better. I didn’t realize that he’s a fellow Hill School alum.
Incumbent Bucks County Republican state legislators were remarkably resilient and weathered the Democratic onslaught. Republicans Bernie O’Neill, Marguerite Quinn, Katharine Watson, and Scott Petri won…although Pete Stainthrorpe lost narrowly to Steve Santarsiero (D).
State Representative Paul Clymer is a good example. He serves the 145th District where Mighty Betsy and I live. Clymer has been in the Pennsylvania Assembly for 28 years. An archconservative, Clymer is best known for his stance against gambling and choice.
But those in his district probably
mirror his views. Most important to him…and his fellow Republican
legislators…Bucks County voters know how to and enjoy splitting their ballots.
That’s why Clymer beat Tom Peterson, 14,661 to
In 1945, I was ten years old and remember vividly the semiannual trips to visit Uncle John Meredith who was a surgeon in Richmond, VA. Segregation was in full view and it was hideous. I’ll never forget the signs designating areas for whites and “colored.”
Let us pray that November 4th has closed the chapter on America’s national disgrace.
Yes, I have tremendous hope for our country. I believe that Obama will be able to temper the Democratic leadership in the congress. I think that he understands that his reelection in 2012 will depend upon an economic recovery and our leadership standing in the world.
Confession is good for the soul.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith