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Do You Have A Minute, Mr. / Mrs. President?
By: Areka
Areka@excapethematrix.com
Biden, Dodd, Huckabee and Tancredo are all foreign names. Well to me they are. Who are these people and why should we care? They are actually running against the ever popular Presidential candidates, H. Clinton and B. Obama. Go figure, right? They seem like nobodies trying to steal some limelight from these two popular minorities running for President. “Do you have a minute Mr. / Mrs. President?” is something we would all ask to these current candidates. This is the perfect opportunity to share what I found out about our budding Presidential “electees.” If you are a lay member like me in this political world, then you may have the same burning questions to ask: What do you think about this war? Do you want the soldiers to come home and our nose out of Iraq’s business? Did Saddam really have anything to do with the towers? What is your background really like? Were you middle class or did you have the silver spoon? How come we have to pay for healthcare? What are you going to do about this gas situation? The list goes on and on.
"This running candidate also wants troops home immediately."
First up we have the Democrat, Barack Obama, a Harvard grad with a Hawaiian and Kenyan background. He opposes the war and thinks that Saddam had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks and that going into the war was senseless, time consuming, and money not worth spending.
"I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."
-Barack Obama Anti-War Rally, Chicago 2002
Obama is also interested in restricting the infamous WMD’s (weapons of mass
destruction) and stopping the genocide in Darfur. He’s also very much
interested in the environment (i.e. global warming), reducing the need for
foreign oil and preventing an almost promising famine in the poorest countries.
Next up we have Hilary Clinton. This woman grew up in what was then considered an average middle class household in the 50’s with mother and father and minimal problems. She is a strong advocate for the middle class and has high hopes for them. Hilary promises to raise minimum wage, expand childcare, healthcare for all, and have college become reality and not just a dream for more Americans. Sounds nice, right? This running candidate also wants troops home immediately. She totally disagrees with Bush (as any opponent would) and has a strategic exit plan to leave Iraq.
"Our message to the president is clear. It is time to begin ending this war -- not next year, not next month -- but today.” Hilary Clinton
This all sounds cushy and makes me feel warm and cozy inside, but these
are all gifts that seem like Santa will bring us. Instead, all we get are lumps
of coal on the big day. Of course these two have all their high hopes posted on
websites and have recited their speeches numerous times in front of thousands.
But what is so hard to find out is how they really feel about abortions. Will
same sex marriage be legal in every state? What about welfare along with
healthcare? You say you’re Christian, so how does that affect your decision
making? The dirt on these and other candidates are all hidden until we get
closer to Election Day. That’s when we see the drastic commercials with the
dark music to bash one another and the airing out of dirty laundry. What’s
funny is the dirty laundry isn’t all that dirty. So what if Bill smoked? Who
hasn’t tried it in college? If they are going to bash one another, they should
get facts that matter, such as if they were known to be abusive to their wives.
Then that may mean that our potential President would care less about women’s
rights.
"Vote for the lesser of two evils.”
Back to our candidates. We have Republicans, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson. We also have Democrats, Mike Gravel, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson. Half these people are only as big as the money that is given to their campaign, and may very well be deserving of the title of President, but their campaign is so small that they fade out. How unfortunate.
So to my future voters, I say do some research; along with research watch the debates. If you missed the debates, youtube these people that are just like us and have room for error. Watch and see if you catch the loophole in their saturated promises. I, myself, am with neither party. I’m with the Black Panther Party. (I’m just joking but wouldn’t that be something?) All of us African Americans are realizing our strength in numbers and are taking over. Well, that’s something to ponder. So when the big day comes, vote wisely and, as I say, “vote for the lesser of two evils!”