Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Voting for Family and Country

Flint Expatriate Stephen Rodrick writes about everything that can go into casting a single ballot in a presidential election.

"I bit my lip all fall. I watched the markets fall and McCain's botched response remove the last doubt that he was going to lose, perhaps badly. I avoided political conversations for the most part, but found myself at a friend's house on the Upper West Side watching the last debate with a group of Ivy Leaguers and policy wonks. The derision of McCain began early. After the 17th joke about his strange facial expressions, I left, telling my host that I didn't have a problem with folks not supporting him, but the vilification of a man who spent longer in a prison camp than Obama spent in the Senate wasn't how I wanted to spend my evening.

"After that, I became more open about my McCain empathy. I argued how he had a proven record of working across the aisle and despises Bush and why his administration would be nothing like Bush's, particularly with heavy Democratic majorities in both houses. But I knew it was window dressing. I would not be voting for McCain if he were not a Navy pilot, if he had not suffered, as my mom put it, like my family suffered."




3 comments:

  1. I supported Obama and have very strong reasons for doing so, but - even if I don't agree with him or Republican policies - there is no doubt about his hard work over the years and no doubt that his admin would have been very different than what we have now. I can only imagine the connection you would feel based on your family's experience. As for his running mate .... well, let's not go there!!!! Looking forward to your next thoroughly entertaining contribution to Gordie's blog (that REO Speedwagon reference was so on the money!!!)

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  2. I did vote for McCain when he was running against Bush. That was the McCain I admired. But then Bush Roved him and McCain learned that he had to play the game too.

    I wish he hadn't learned that, but maybe that's the only way to get on the Republican ticket. As it was, the straight talk no longer made sense anymore.

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  3. I voted for Barack. I didn't celebrate. John McCain deserved better then to be a punchline. When they bury him at Arlington, after he lies in state, maybe his service to America will again be properly recognized.

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Thanks for commenting. I moderate comments, so it may take a while for your comment to appear. You might enjoy my book about Flint called "Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City," a Michigan Notable Book for 2014 and a finalist for the 33rd Annual Northern California Book Award for Creative NonFiction. Filmmaker Michael Moore described Teardown as "a brilliant chronicle of the Mad Maxization of a once-great American city." More information about Teardown is available at www.teardownbook.com.