Organizing for America | Articles of Support: Country First

Country First

By steph:) - Sep 10th, 2008 at 1:19 am EDT

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Normally letters or articles like these start out by saying “I was sitting at the kitchen table…”. Well I am sitting in my bed, clarification, I am sitting in my bed in a spare bedroom of my parents house because I can no longer afford to live in the two bedroom apartment that housed me and my beautiful daughter. I sit her after a day of teaching students and fielding phone calls from Sallie Mae and various credit card companies asking for payments I do not have, after a day of wondering which credit card has just enough for me to be able to pay my health insurance premiums. I sit here after a day of watching the news drag on and on about poll numbers and who has what percentage of what voters. I sit here at the end of my day pissed off. I am pissed off that this election has become about whom likes whom more. I remember elections like that I had them in high school when I ran for class president. This election isn’t, or should I say SHOULD NOT be about that. This election is about me and the hundreds of thousands of people just like me sitting at the end of their days trying to figure out how to simply make it to the next. So again I sit here PISSED OFF!

I have been an avid supporter of Barack Obama; I have worked tirelessly during the primaries and will continue to do so throughout the remainder of this election. I know where my candidate stands on issues that are important to me. I know he wants to give a tax cut to roughly 90% of working families like mine. I know he wants to give me the same health care he has had the privilege of receiving as a US Senator. I know he wants to improve our nations antiquated school systems so that my beautiful daughter will be competitive among children her age through out the world, and I know he wants to make it possible for her to attend college, just like I did, without leaving school with a mountain of debt looming over her. That is why I am supporting him. That is why I work so hard as a volunteer in the campaign office everyday.

I am pissed of because our opponents John S. McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin seem to have forgotten their own slogan of putting, “Country First”. Since her selection as VP and well before that, I have yet to hear one policy statement from the McCain campaign that addresses the issues I am dealing with on an everyday basis. I sat through four very long, and at times hateful nights of the Republican National Convention waiting to see what alternative policies they had to offer America. Instead I got zingers and one lines that were at times funny. But funny one liners and quick turns of phrase aren’t going to give me relief from these economic times caused in part by John McCain’s’ avid support of George W. Bush and his failed policies. To put it as plainly as I can, “funny ain’t going to pay my bills”.

I am pissed because for all this talk of service to country and putting country first. I saw and heard absolutely nothing to what kind of service they had to offer. What kind of relief are they planning to offer single moms like me working at times 2-3 jobs only to end up putting my health insurance and groceries on a credit card. What kind of service are they offering me when I lose my ridiculously expensive health insurance and I end up in the emergency room because my daughter has had an asthma attack. What kind of service are they offering me when I spend $180 dollars in gas a week to simply drive to all the jobs I have only to end the week scraping by. I can’t help but wonder then if somehow I am not a citizen of the “country” that John McCain is putting first.

If I am not a citizen of the “top 5% country” that John McCain speaks of, the same one where people own multiple homes with out fear of foreclosing on one of them, The same country where the economy is basically sound, and middle class means you’re at least making 5 million dollars, A country where you can use lies and deceit to turn your positions on policy completely around while making fun of those who worked with regular working class citizens at the lowest points in their lives to help them achieve a better life, I guess that is the country McCain and Palin plan to put first, but the question is where does that leave me. And more importantly where does that leave the 100’s of thousands like me.

For this election to turn into a popularity contest or congeniality contest insults the very struggle I am going through day after day. The smoke and mirrors the McCain/Palin campaign are throwing up do not fool me. I understand that they have to make this election about personality and persona, because they have no issues to run on. But using slights of hand and misdirection will not fix this economy, it will not solve the health care crisis nor will it end our addiction to foreign oil. This election Mr. McCain isn’t a game of chess with nothing but strategic moves left and right. This election sir is about me. A vital citizen of America and I am voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden because they are the only ones putting “Country First”

Stephanie A. Lindsey
Denver, Colorado

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American politics | Report to Admin

By Brian Diego Sep 10th 2008 at 1:53 am EDT (Updated Sep 10th 2008 at 1:53 am EDT)

US politics isn't pretty, and like you said it's like a High School election. My advice is just accept that and do the right thing anyways - support your candidate and focus on what you can do.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I was at a graduation speech JK Rowlings gave on her own poverty and the petty humiliations she had to endure. And I know what it's like. While I know living with your parents is not ideal, if that's what you have to do then that's what you do. Stay positive - it's definitely part of your plan of getting back on the horse again and financially sound. Appreciate your parents no matter what, and focus on being independent again. Teach your daughter that it's no use to complain about the hand you were dealt, only to play them well and win regardless.

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