Why I will vote for Barack Obama
Zahid Zamir
The United States Constitution stipulates that a presidential election is to be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in every four year. So, Come November 4, 2008 the Americans of all races, religious denominations, eighteen years and older will go to the polling booth to elect the 44th president of the Unites States of America. Senator Barack Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee, and Senator John McCain is the Republican presidential nominee. The political parties (or independent candidates) in each state submit to the chief election official a list of electors pledged to their candidate for president and equal in number to the state's electoral vote. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the number of its U.S. senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. representatives. Following election day, on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, these electors assemble in their state capitals, cast their ballots, and officially select the next president. As a rule, whichever presidential ticket gets the most popular votes in a state wins all of that state's electors (except in Maine and Nebraska). The president-elect and vice president-elect take the oath of office and are inaugurated on January 20th.
The American presidential election between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will decide how the USA will relate to the rest of the world for the next decade. The presidential election will also determine whose vision on the economy, energy policy and the role of government will prevail during the next decade.
As Jeffrey Sachs, a professor of Economics and Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University wrote "In recent Years the United States has been more a source of global instability than a source of global problem-solving. Examples include the war in Iraq, launched by the US on false premises, Obstructionism on efforts to curb climate change, meager development assistance, and the violation of international treaties such as Geneva Conventions. While many factors contributed to America's destabilizing actions, a powerful one is anti-intellectualism." George Bush has been the President of the United States for the past eight years. McCain, though also a Republican like Bush, has been trying to convince voters that he will bring change to the White House. Barack Obama, in contrast, has based his entire campaign on a message of change. Unlike McCain, Barack Obama opposes virtually all of the Bush administration's policies on the war in Iraq, the economy and energy. Obama secured the nomination of the Democratic Party in a tough primary election campaign against the original front-runner, Hillary Clinton. John McCain also had to overcome steep odds against Republican primary contenders. With both Barack Obama and John McCain seasoned during the primary battles, they have started a very tough U.S. presidential election campaign in 2008.
I am registered as an independent voter (neither democrat nor republican). The reason that I have registered as an independent is simply because, for me it is not the party that entices me to vote for their candidate. It is the positions which the candidates who are running for the public offices hold on different issues. Understanding of different issues that are of paramount importance to the people on the main street and the people on the Wall Street and how those issues will be tackled in a way that bring maximum satisfaction to all. As an American of Bangladeshi Origin, I not only look at the positions of the candidates on different domestic issues but foreign issues as well.
It goes without saying that the belligerent foreign policy of the Bush Doctrine has tarnished the image of the United States of America in the international community.
Obama's Campaign for President is built on the premise that it is now time to unite America to solve issues of historic importance. He focuses on his ability to overcome partisan bickering, to work across the aisle, and to produce real results. By emphasizing that we all should believe in the possibility of a new type of politics, Obama has converted many people, including Republicans. Even a die hard McCain Supporter, Kirk Dillard told the Wall Street Journal that "Obama is unique in his ability to deal with extremely complex issues, to reach across the aisle and to deal with diverse people." Campaigning to replace Bush with a unifying leader, Obama has struck a chord across the country-as shown by polls, book sales, enormous crowds, and website groups.
Obama's Iraq plans, health care plans, energy plans, economic plans, ethics plans and education plans are far more superior to that of John McCain's.
Ending the Iraq War, giving priority to real diplomacy as opposed to the cow boy diplomacy of Bush-Cheney doctrine that John McCain holds so dearly in solving problems world wide, introducing universal health care, reducing America's dependency on foreign oil, battling climate change, strengthening national security, ridding Washington of corruption, and improving the education systems are some of the important issues that the Obama campaign laid out in front of the American people.
Barack Obama will bring positive change to America, at a defining moment in its history. His bio reflects wisdom and experience that is essential for transforming the United States. As an Illinois State Senator, Obama developed a reputation for getting things done, as well as delivering an inspiring speech. In his compelling bio and memoirs of his youth, "Dreams From My Father," Senator Obama demonstrated a keen awareness of how to cross the racial and polarizing divides that still define America. From the hometown of his birth, Honolulu to his adopted hometown of Chicago, Obama has been a keen observer of the American experience. He has the insights to transform America, and the gift of speech and pen to inspire the nation.
Senator Obama delivered the keynote address and speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, for the first time demonstrating what a President Barack Obama can accomplish for the American people. He can restore America's confidence in the future. Obama has the potential to provide the United States with the leadership excellence it so urgently needs.
No longer will America be trapped in an ill-conceived war in Iraq, a war that he opposed from the very beginning. Barack Obama has proven that he has the judgment and skill to steer the nation on a new course towards broad, sunlit uplands.
As Time magazine in its September 1st issue writes "Obama's enormous and enthusiastic audiences are evidence that many people are intrigued. "Yes We can " turns out to be a powerful trademark at a time when 3 out of 4 Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. " Barack Obama reflects the widespread feeling among younger Americans that time is marching forward but politics is not.
Millions of People in America and billions of people world wide are witnessing the most severe financial catastrophe in their life time and people are really worried about their future. In a time of distress, Obama projected comfort and confidence. Although anti-black bigotry still exists in America, the most recent polls show that Obama has ten points lead over McCain. However, we can not simply ignore the "Bradley effect" in this coming election. The Bradley Effect is a phenomenon characterized by the tendency of non-white political candidates to perform better in opinion polls than they do in actual elections when they are running against white candidates.
Most specifically, the Bradley Effect often strikes black politicians, although it can just as easily affect Hispanics and other minorities. This interesting phenomenon has been a topic of intense study by pollsters, political analysts, and others, and there are several theories used to explain the Bradley Effect, which is sometimes also known as the Wilder Effect. The concept is named for Tom Bradley, an African-American man who ran for the office of Governor of California in 1982. In polls leading up to the election, Bradley had a clear lead, and numerous media outlets boldly projected that he would win the election.
On election night, however, he lost to the Republican candidate, much to the puzzlement of the Democratic party and many Californians. The same thing happened in Virginia in 1989 in another gubernatorial race, and numerous other instances of the Bradley Effect have been documented at various points in American history. In fact Obama's Charisma and oratory skills are far more advanced than other African-American candidates of the past. Obama has the ability to connect to the people when he speaks. As a daily star columnist rightly said "Barack Obama is inspirational and transformational and brimming with idealistic fervor. It is this idealism that has touched a chord in with the American psyche."
Another reason why the "Bradley effect" may not work this time is because as economy falters race starts receding. Economic anxiety can easily overtake the Bradley effect. Obama's steadiness has trumped his skin color; he is being judged on the content of his character. Obama embodies a new America, more diverse, more tolerant and more open to the world. As America's financial systems buckles, the economy is tottering, the white male and female blue color workers who supported Senator John McCain in the beginning, now have started to understand more about Senator Barack Obama and are leaning towards him.
They feel that Obama is the only person who can rescue them from this financial fiasco. As election date is getting closer and closer, Obama is becoming more for the working man and John McCain has started sinking in the polls because of his "out of touch" economic policy. Now is the time for those of us who will go to the poll on November 4, 2008 to elect the 44th President of the United States of America to ask ourselves as the Economist in its October 4th -10th issue puts "Will we choose the old hero who favors tax cuts for the business and the rich and backed George Bush's Wars? Or the young man who promises health care for all, a swift exit from Iraq and more money for the average worker?" My choice is obvious- the latter.
(Zahid Zamir teaches at York College, City University of New York and is a Research fellow of IERF" E-mail: zzamir@ york.cuny.edu)
ba The United States Constitution stipulates that a presidential election is to be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in every four year. So, Come November 4, 2008 the Americans of all races, religious denominations, eighteen years and older will go to the polling booth to elect the 44th president of the Unites States of America. Senator Barack Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee, and Senator John McCain is the Republican presidential nominee. The political parties (or independent candidates) in each state submit to the chief election official a list of electors pledged to their candidate for president and equal in number to the state's electoral vote. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the number of its U.S. senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. representatives. Following election day, on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, these electors assemble in their state capitals, cast their ballots, and officially select the next president. As a rule, whichever presidential ticket gets the most popular votes in a state wins all of that state's electors (except in Maine and Nebraska). The president-elect and vice president-elect take the oath of office and are inaugurated on January 20th.
The American presidential election between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will decide how the USA will relate to the rest of the world for the next decade. The presidential election will also determine whose vision on the economy, energy policy and the role of government will prevail during the next decade.
As Jeffrey Sachs, a professor of Economics and Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University wrote "In recent Years the United States has been more a source of global instability than a source of global problem-solving. Examples include the war in Iraq, launched by the US on false premises, Obstructionism on efforts to curb climate change, meager development assistance, and the violation of international treaties such as Geneva Conventions. While many factors contributed to America's destabilizing actions, a powerful one is anti-intellectualis
I am registered as an independent voter (neither democrat nor republican). The reason that I have registered as an independent is simply because, for me it is not the party that entices me to vote for their candidate. It is the positions which the candidates who are running for the public offices hold on different issues. Understanding of different issues that are of paramount importance to the people on the main street and the people on the Wall Street and how those issues will be tackled in a way that bring maximum satisfaction to all. As an American of Bangladeshi Origin, I not only look at the positions of the candidates on different domestic issues but foreign issues as well.
It goes without saying that the belligerent foreign policy of the Bush Doctrine has tarnished the image of the United States of America in the international community.
Obama's Campaign for President is built on the premise that it is now time to unite America to solve issues of historic importance. He focuses on his ability to overcome partisan bickering, to work across the aisle, and to produce real results. By emphasizing that we all should believe in the possibility of a new type of politics, Obama has converted many people, including Republicans. Even a die hard McCain Supporter, Kirk Dillard told the Wall Street Journal that "Obama is unique in his ability to deal with extremely complex issues, to reach across the aisle and to deal with diverse people." Campaigning to replace Bush with a unifying leader, Obama has struck a chord across the country-as shown by polls, book sales, enormous crowds, and website groups.
Obama's Iraq plans, health care plans, energy plans, economic plans, ethics plans and education plans are far more superior to that of John McCain's.
Ending the Iraq War, giving priority to real diplomacy as opposed to the cow boy diplomacy of Bush-Cheney doctrine that John McCain holds so dearly in solving problems world wide, introducing universal health care, reducing America's dependency on foreign oil, battling climate change, strengthening national security, ridding Washington of corruption, and improving the education systems are some of the important issues that the Obama campaign laid out in front of the American people.
Barack Obama will bring positive change to America, at a defining moment in its history. His bio reflects wisdom and experience that is essential for transforming the United States. As an Illinois State Senator, Obama developed a reputation for getting things done, as well as delivering an inspiring speech. In his compelling bio and memoirs of his youth, "Dreams From My Father," Senator Obama demonstrated a keen awareness of how to cross the racial and polarizing divides that still define America. From the hometown of his birth, Honolulu to his adopted hometown of Chicago, Obama has been a keen observer of the American experience. He has the insights to transform America, and the gift of speech and pen to inspire the nation.
Senator Obama delivered the keynote address and speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, for the first time demonstrating what a President Barack Obama can accomplish for the American people. He can restore America's confidence in the future. Obama has the potential to provide the United States with the leadership excellence it so urgently needs.
No longer will America be trapped in an ill-conceived war in Iraq, a war that he opposed from the very beginning. Barack Obama has proven that he has the judgment and skill to steer the nation on a new course towards broad, sunlit uplands.
As Time magazine in its September 1st issue writes "Obama's enormous and enthusiastic audiences are evidence that many people are intrigued. "Yes We can " turns out to be a powerful trademark at a time when 3 out of 4 Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. " Barack Obama reflects the widespread feeling among younger Americans that time is marching forward but politics is not.
Millions of People in America and billions of people world wide are witnessing the most severe financial catastrophe in their life time and people are really worried about their future. In a time of distress, Obama projected comfort and confidence. Although anti-black bigotry still exists in America, the most recent polls show that Obama has ten points lead over McCain. However, we can not simply ignore the "Bradley effect" in this coming election. The Bradley Effect is a phenomenon characterized by the tendency of non-white political candidates to perform better in opinion polls than they do in actual elections when they are running against white candidates.
Most specifically, the Bradley Effect often strikes black politicians, although it can just as easily affect Hispanics and other minorities. This interesting phenomenon has been a topic of intense study by pollsters, political analysts, and others, and there are several theories used to explain the Bradley Effect, which is sometimes also known as the Wilder Effect. The concept is named for Tom Bradley, an African-American man who ran for the office of Governor of California in 1982. In polls leading up to the election, Bradley had a clear lead, and numerous media outlets boldly projected that he would win the election.
On election night, however, he lost to the Republican candidate, much to the puzzlement of the Democratic party and many Californians. The same thing happened in Virginia in 1989 in another gubernatorial race, and numerous other instances of the Bradley Effect have been documented at various points in American history. In fact Obama's Charisma and oratory skills are far more advanced than other African-American candidates of the past. Obama has the ability to connect to the people when he speaks. As a daily star columnist rightly said "Barack Obama is inspirational and transformational and brimming with idealistic fervor. It is this idealism that has touched a chord in with the American psyche."
Another reason why the "Bradley effect" may not work this time is because as economy falters race starts receding. Economic anxiety can easily overtake the Bradley effect. Obama's steadiness has trumped his skin color; he is being judged on the content of his character. Obama embodies a new America, more diverse, more tolerant and more open to the world. As America's financial systems buckles, the economy is tottering, the white male and female blue color workers who supported Senator John McCain in the beginning, now have started to understand more about Senator Barack Obama and are leaning towards him.
They feel that Obama is the only person who can rescue them from this financial fiasco. As election date is getting closer and closer, Obama is becoming more for the working man and John McCain has started sinking in the polls because of his "out of touch" economic policy. Now is the time for those of us who will go to the poll on November 4, 2008 to elect the 44th President of the United States of America to ask ourselves as the Economist in its October 4th -10th issue puts "Will we choose the old hero who favors tax cuts for the business and the rich and backed George Bush's Wars? Or the young man who promises health care for all, a swift exit from Iraq and more money for the average worker?" My choice is obvious- the latter.
(Zahid Zamir teaches at York College, City University of New York and is a Research fellow of IERF" E-mail: zzamir@ york.cuny.edu)
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