On Chris Matthews' show this week,Texas State Senator Kirk Watson, an Obama supporter, got his ass handed to him when asked by Matthews to list Obama's legislative achievements. He could not name not even one and embarrassed not only himself, but I believe many other Obama supporters who have decided to vote for him, however without any justification behind it. They've gone off charisma, charm, the speeches on HOPE, and the fact that he could truly be our first Black president. What is wrong with you, America? Why are we being spoon-fed our facts without doing the research ourselves? It's an unfortunate society we live in when we can't get off our butts and investigate ourselves! It is unfortunate that we are being so naive as to take everything at face-value!
So they say, the only thing Obama hasn't got going for him is the fact that many believe he has no past experience. Well, I've got some news for you:
- Senator Obama's fight for universal children's health care in Illinois.
- His success bringing Republicans and Democrats together (a huge selling point!) on bills such as the one in Illinois requiring police interrogations and confessions to be videotaped.
- His leadership on ethics reform in Washington (the bill that lobbyists and special interests are complaining about right now has his name on it).
- Various bills concerning the response to Hurricane Katrina, including an amendment putting strict limits on the use of no-bid contracts after disasters, requiring planning for the evacuation of people with special needs and senior citizens, creating a National Emergency Family Locator System, etc.
And there's more if you click http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2008/02/obama-actually.html or if you actually took the time to google, "Obama Legislative Accomplishments". The junior senator's accomplishments are just as worthy as Clinton's. And this whole experience crap? What! You mean the experience it took to have a frat boy who did the whole schtick to impress daddy as president? Oh, not a good example, you say? How about the experience it took MLK Jr. to lead? Oh wait, he didn't have any. He was just a pastor in lil' 'ol Montgomery, Alabama. Hmm, well how about Che Guevara? Oh you're right, he was just some guy on a roadtrip who all of a sudden decided to help the impoverished. And what about you? Are you waiting for someone to bring change? Are you only regarding the speeches, the media, and what your friends say to help make your decision? How are you any less than Che, than JFK, than Susan B. Anthony? How are you any different when you take the time to stand and bring about the change yourself. Sure it may not happen today, it may not happen in a year's time but there are things you can do now to make a difference in yourself, your neighborhood, and this country.
Care about the environment? Take time to clean rivers and lakes, or recycle some of that so-called garbage. Care about more funding for the arts? Volunteer your time at the local theatre and give your presence to the school play, choir specials, or in mon amie Cat's case, the local fashion show. Stop going to First Friday to be seen and look cute and buy something whether it be a handmade bracelet at one of the booths or giant mural to put up in your living room. And do you want to better this country as a whole? Well, RESEARCH, BOBDAMMIT!! Research, come to your own conclusions, and vote wisely!! It's nobody else's fault except your own when you don't even try.
I never saw myself as a political person so this post feels quite odd but I'm tired of America suckering themselves. Yeah, there's part of it that's about this presidential election and what will become of this country, but it's also about us. We continue to point fingers, yet lift a finger to do something about it. We give up, we become lazy, and Time Magazine has an article about how we're the Apathetic Generation. Are you going to let them talk to you like that? Start asking questions, start searching for answers. Bring about that change we keep on hearing about by doing it your own damn self!
p.s. If you haven't noticed, I'm on Obama's side. You know, because I actually researched him. Otherwise, I'd still be confused. Why, you ask? Because I am a Woman and I'm Black. Guess if I didn't know any better I'd be torn between the lady running or the black guy runnin'.
