Friday, July 13, 2007

Obama puts the 'Unite' in 'United'

Dear editor, I have a growing frustration with the situation surrounding the upcoming nomination of the Democratic representative in our race for president.

I am a registered Democrat and have always been very true to my party.

What concerns me is that poll after poll lists Hillary Clinton as the front runner for the nomination, and it baffles me that our party could be so stupid. Let me make one thing clear: My issues with Hillary aren’t really the “issues.” The problem is that Hillary is the Democratic equivalent of George W. Bush: a polarizing figure who will never be able to cross party lines, never unite our multi-opinionated country and never re-establish our standing with the rest of our world’s nations.

We have entered a time in our nation’s history in which our country has become disenfranchised with our country. When looking to choose our next president, we need a leader who can bring our nation back together. We have to be led to remember how wonderful it is to be an American. We need a leader who can lead with an open ear and an open heart. Barack Obama is the kind of passionate and inspirational person who can accomplish this. Hillary cannot.

The Democratic Party made a blunder when we nominated John Kerry three years ago. I had a great deal of respect for Kerry, like many Democrats did. The fact that he lost an election to George W., one of the worst and least popular presidents in the history of our country, is an embarrassing comment on just how unelectable he was. Kerry did not lose that election because of his politics; he lost because he was not inspiring, nor was he the exciting, unifying leader that our country was craving. Choosing to nominate Hillary Clinton would be making the same mistake again.

Barack Obama is everything we need in a president ... right now. This passionate, enthusiastic man is the kind of leader that can mend our country’s broken hearts. It is actually quite ironic how much more Barack Obama is like Bill Clinton than Hillary Clinton is. We need him and his spirit to revitalize our stale political mindset.

This country is heading down a dangerous path of alienation and disenchantment. This is our opportunity to change this course and nominate a man who represents everything it is to be American. I truly believe that Barack Obama can put the “Unite” back in United States of America.

Matthew Miller / Napa

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