by Jason Fischer
I stayed up late to hear our newly elected president, Barack Obama, address the crowd that had gathered in Chicago’s Grant Park. I had mixed feelings about the landslide victory that I had watched unfold on Fox News for the several hours preceding his speech. On the one hand, I was frustrated to see my government slide further down the path towards a welfare state, all too willing to prop up those who are unwilling to do their share. On the other, I was oddly pleased to see an election that was not contentiously close, breeding polarization and animosity toward the successful candidate (i.e., year 2000 all over again). Even though I was part of the 46% of voters who chose John McCain, I still had a guarded awe and significant amount of respect for the united majority. I found myself believing, just for a moment, that such unity might come back to the country as a whole.
My internal division widened significantly as I listened, earlier in the evening, to the crowd in Arizona boo at McCain when he congratulated Obama for his win. I mentally scolded those conservatives for refusing to face the reality that their derision is futile and only hurts our chances for accord. I was doubly ashamed when the crowd in Chicago cheered for John McCain, when Barack Obama congratulated him for a well-fought campaign. My desire for a unified nation peaked when President Elect Obama promised, in his speech, to be a uniting force for this country. He promised to listen to those who disagree with him, especially when they disagreed. I have little trouble saying that I support him, if he can be taken at his word. I am more than a little wary, because he doesn’t have a real track record of bringing people together over their differences. From what I’ve seen, President Elect Obama’s community organizing experience has been entirely in bringing liberals together. He’s going to have to do more. He’s going to have to do better.
For the moment, as I have little choice in the matter, I am satisfied with giving Obama the benefit of the doubt. Don’t make me sorry, Mr. President Elect. I’m counting on you to recognize that, while a majority of the nation may have voted for you, you cannot summarily ignore the constituency that did not. You have a duty to us, too. You have a duty to all Americans, liberal or conservative, black or white, rich or poor. Please stay true to tonight’s message.
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The sad thing about the Republican Party is that when you take away the hate, the bigots, the anti-constitutionalists, the fear-mongers, you’re left with a very small group.
What Republicans like you need to do is kick the “base” out of the Republican Party and start anew. There are great merits to conservative philosophy. Unfortunately, the “culture war” has subsumed the civil debate on differing principles of governance.
I think there is a large (untapped) conservative base that leans toward more libertarian ideals, doesn’t care for religion and is not bigotted. I meet them daily (a lot of ‘em). I just think that group is underrepresented and they deeply resent what recent coservatives have done to a party that was supposed to *partially* represent them. They are perhaps a hybrid group that identifies a bit more with (old school) conservative politics because their own politics are more fiscally based, rather than more socially based.
And I disagree with you a bit, Jason, on the statement “those unwilling to do their share.” I see a lot of unfairness in the current system wholly unrelated to work ethic.
Yeah, this is the fun getting-to-know-each-other part of the relationship. Later, he’ll probably break our hearts.
Without any actual data, I am going to assume that “those unwilling to do their share” refers to the Wall Street bankers who are in process of sucking down $700B in bail-out money.
Yes, I’m tired of govt supporting these leeches with my tax money. I’m not sure how to stop them, because much of govt seems rather unresponsive to citizen concerns.