strange bedfellows

Clever, right? My buddy Travis and I came up with this idea and are gonna make tshirts like those with Che Guevara on them.

Right up until I became a believer in college, I was a pretty hardcore liberal despite (or perhaps because) of my traditional upbringing. My mom always votes Democrat (though she’ll never admit it) because of her dad’s beliefs, but the church I grew up in was do-or-die conservative. Kind of one of those situations where people can’t understand how you can all yourself a “christian” and not vote for the elephant.

I was very much in the Gore camp in 2000 even though I was too young to vote. I was irritated when Bush…not sure what you’d call it…pulled it out. But over the next year I grew to like him, especially in the wake of 9/11.

What can I say? I wanted vengeance.

Gradually, my values changed as I came to know Christ and so, too were my politcal views affected. I still vote conservative the vast majority of the time. The only regular exception would be Rick Boucher-D VA. But even though I consider myself conservative, I feel the last several administrations have driven our national identity to a standstill. While I would have never voted for John Kerry (all he really had going for him was the “I’m not Bush” card), I can’t say I’ve been pleased with the current admnistration.

And then I look at the lineup for 2008. We’ve already had 8 years of Clintons and 12 years of Bush. That’s almost my entire lifespan. I fear McCain is just more of the same. And while I still can’t believe it myself, I’m going to use my vote to stir the pot a little.

Obama worries me. Everything from his inexperience to his lack of sturdy platforms. But the man has vision. My generation hasn’t had its FDR or JFK yet, and it won’t as long as things remain like they are. No one seems to possess vision anymore. Barack Obama seems different. I don’t find that I agree with many of his liberal positons, but it’s not like any conservative is going to affect any change for the Moral Majority’s talking points any time soon. Bush certainly didn’t. That’s just the way our government works. Politics, man.

I know people will disagree with me, even people I really respect. That’s ok. I certainly wouldn’t question your intelligence if you endorse someone else…unless it’s Hillary. Just kidding. But even though I’ll freely admit I’m rolling the dice on this one, Obama has my vote.

I loathe cliches, but it’s time for a change.