I voted this morning, despite strong misgivings about both major-party presidential candidates. I voted because good people have given their lives to grant me this right.
Hard as it may be to believe, I still didn’t know who I was going to vote for when I woke up this morning. As has been the case in all four presidential elections in which I’ve voted, I am once again fed up with the candidates’ behavior – in particular, their dishonesty.
Throughout the campaign, both candidates have spoken in obvious half-truths. In some cases, “half” is being generous. Why? I can only think of three possible explanations:
- They think we’re too stupid to know we’re not being told the truth.
- They think we’re too lazy to test the truthfulness of their statements.
- They think we’re too stupid to discern the truth if we were to test their statements.
Whatever the case, this behavior demonstrates a lack of respect for the people the candidates hope to lead. Respect begets respect. No wonder we find it so easy to criticize our leaders.
I really don’t understand how so many people can tolerate being treated this way. Regardless of how enthusiastically a person may agree with a candidate’s policies and beliefs, how can he or she get behind a person so willing to use dishonesty to achieve his goals?
The end does not justify the means. A president should understand that.
Denny Yunk 
I must say I agree with you.
Thanks, Joel. That was a hard post to write, but harder not to write. The nice thing about my commute to work is that it affords me an hour of mental editing time before I put fingers to keyboard!
I can’t say that I agree Denny. There are always distortions but frankly the campaigns were going alright until Rove and the neocons took over McCain’s operation. My personal view is that Obama generally tried to hold to the high road; generally, but there were slips along the way. I was on the fence with you until McCain’s campaign turned nasty, especially when they turned Palin loose with a basket full of b.s. to spread.It seems to me that often times the outside groups that get involved without having to divulge their backing add to what we think the candidates are saying themselves.Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for chiming in, Pat. I know what you’re saying. It’s like the PT Boat Veterans ads back in ’04 (or was it ’00?). Still, I think it’s up to the candidate to squelch that stuff.Sarah Palin came out looking like a person not afraid to speak her own mind, but you’re right – she turned into a party-line parrot.What I really want is a president who doesn’t tell people what they want to hear, but rather, what they need to hear. We’ve been a nation of ostriches too long, and it’s starting to catch up with us.
Wow, two aviary metaphors in my comment above. That’s gotta be a record.
If you could’ve worked a pelican in there somewhere you most likely would’ve achieve legendary status.At least for a while.
If you listened to Obama’s acceptance speech tonight, I think he did a good job stating the enormity of the job ahead not only for him and what will be his new administration, but for the country as a whole. Bravo.
Amen, Denny. I had the same sentiment as I was handed my ballot. Even as I stood in the box, I had a feeling of huge compromise in my beliefs.