— by G. Leta, Hillary Supporter
All American voters have both the right and the duty to participate in the political process of their country by casting votes for the candidate of their choice instead of dancing to the political passion of one candidate or the other. As voters, we should know voting is the will of the people and we should refrain from voting based on narrow self-interest or for redressing grudges. Voters go to campaign events not to watch realty shows or to hear empty promises. Each voter must stand with a candidate who has a realistic program for action to make a difference.
Currently, it is appalling to see that people at election events, in most cases, clapping hands in support of candidates who use vulgar language, flip-flopping, self over evaluation, insulting and degrading the other candidates to promote self-rightedness. Yes, in some cases, participants in the political gatherings wooed those candidates who use vulgar language and bent on character assassination of opponents. We should not forget that it is our chance that our voices are heard and we should vote carefully after vetting each candidate. Before voting, we should consider the main issues that affect America most and the ability of each candidate to attune to those issues both at home and abroad. Voters should consider such factors as experience, honesty, morality, compassion, competence and leadership ability of the candidates to make a choice. False promise or unattainable promise should not sway us from the vital issues that America is now facing both at home and abroad. Both men and women, both the young and the elderly should help America to vote for a candidate with a vision larger than oneself and the ability to identify issue of national importance and provide timely solutions in the interest of the American people. Spontaneous response in order to satisfy whatever anger we harbor does not contribute to electing a visionary and transformational president. All voters must ask themselves how can we help America to function well in order to bring about social transformation and economic progress in this 21st century.
Recently, we see the American political landscape shaking and moving to an uncertain destination like a car having several passengers with no driver behind the steering wheel. Presidential candidates having different political agendas are pushing it from behind in different directions. Both political parties, Republican and Democratic, are labeled as “establishments” and yet outsiders like Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and many others are trying to be on the power saddle by appealing to people’s psychic, anger and fears that all American problems will be solved if they win the presidency. I believe any candidate for who seek nomination by Democratic Party must show acceptance of the core democratic party principles and values.Bernie Sanders is an Independent and is not a democrat. He might have been caucusing with democrat’s senators but that alone is not enough to seek nomination by the Democratic Party.
Without taking into account how the American democracy would work in reality to ensure check and balance, some candidates claim that they have magic solutions for ‘making America great again’. For example, Donald Trump everyday preaches that jobs will come back from China, Mexico, Japan and Vietnam to guaranty the America people with job security and everybody will win if he becomes president. He doesn’t tell us how he can attain these goals.
Building a wall to prevent aliens from coming in and charging Mexico to pay the cost of the wall is a fantasy. Advocating for deportation of immigrants, who may be illegally here, without due process of the law, is not the American value we know. Any candidate for the presidency of the United States must commit himself/herself to honoring the Constitution. Any candidate who mixes politics with religion should be rejected. America can’t claim to be the world leader by excluding 1.6 billion Muslims. We know that Donald Trump’s wealth is more than $10 billion but the American presidency is not for sale at the highest bidder. This wealth will not also trickle down to the American people. Mr. Trump confidently assures that Americans will be bored with success after success. He himself failed the first test. He lost the support of the Iowan people. He admires Presiden Putin who annexed party of Ukran and currently bombing women and children in Syria. He failed to recognize the geopolitical alliance with other friendly countries. If he continues favoring President Putin, how can he work with the European Union if he is elected president of the United States? America won the Cold War with the fall of Berlin Wall in the early 1990s. Then, America built democratic bridge to connect with Eastern Europe and Russia. In the 21st century, Donald Trump wants to build a big wall that separates America from Mexico. We can secure the boarder to prevent illegal immigrants without necessarily building a wall. Perhaps, Donald Trump my think isolationism would work for American. This won’t happen in this 21st century world interconnectedness.
On the other hand, candidate Bernie Sanders masks his idea for socialist revolution behind political revolution. For now, it appears that he has mobilized some youths by promising political revolution with the aim of providing free public college and university education and free medical care to all Americans without having a clue how to finance it. Making fiery political speech and giving false expectations in the hope of achieving temporary political goal is madness.
The political passion of the 1960th and that of the 1970th would not serve shaping the political environment of the 21st century. No matter what, some candidates shamelessly claim that they have solutions for every problem in this country without mentioning how to achieve their political objectives. It is not possible to make income redistribution to make everybody equal because people differ in education, experience and ingenuity. Some candidates think that they can insult others all the way to the White House and take the presidency. Voters should question the character of each candidate for the presidency. A candidate who is impulsive, erratic and claiming selfrightenedness should not be supported. Any promise a candidate makes must be supported by concrete action plans and the sources of fund, how and when it can be achieved.
When a candidate says that there should be free public and university education and free healthcare for all, he should keep in mind that as of December 15, 2015, the U.S. is $18.8 trillion in debt. What would it cost the U.S to provide free public college and University education and free healthcare as a matter of legal right? Some candidates advocate for high tax on corporations, on Wall Street business and on investors without considering the globalization of trade and industry. They forgot that America is competing with other countries to achieve a healthy and sustainable economic growth. Of course, paying reasonable tax is legal. What is not feasible and untrue is that the United States president can’t do everything alone. He/she needs the support of Congress and the American people. As people, we have the right and the obligation to participate in the government proper functioning. It is not without reason that the late President John F. Kennedy once said, “ Ask not what your county can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.” Voters can help American progress and prosperity by electing the right person for the right job. We can’t continue supporting the republican “no” party. When President Obama said, “Yes, we can!” the Speaker of the House said, “No We can’t!” We cannot expect results from a “no” party. It is up to the voters to make the right decision.
Some candidates advocate for carpet-bombing in the Middle East, taking oil wells, without concern for the civilian population, women, children, the elderly, the sick and those who are trying to escape from havoc of war. America with her allies held the Nazis accountable for human genocide during World War II. Hence, the candidates should refrain from suggesting any action that may result in Human suffering and genocide. Any candidate for the presidency should not depart from the high ideals of American democracy, strong economy and the maintenance of security both at home and abroad.
Each and every voter has a great responsibility in carefully vetting before getting in an election both to vote because each vote is a part of the instrument that lead the candidate to power.
In the 20th century we have witnessed a number of wars that were largely caused by irresponsible leaders. As an example, we can cite Germany. To all Germans, Hitler promised to restore German honor by abrogating the Treaty of Versailles and by promising everything to make Germany great again. What was the basic reason for supporting Hitler? The Nazis got peoples’ support by capitalizing on many hopes, fears and needs of the German people. The end result was disastrous for Germany. We should vote for a candidate that understands both domestic and global issues, who has cool mind, dedicated to uphold the constitution, uphold the American vital interest over and above party politics, ready and able to ensure American security at home and abroad
Any voter, the young, the elderly, whether female or male, should uphold the American interest over and above party politics. Then, as voters, we must be able to identify which candidate is a transformational leader to tackle the root cause of social ills, ensure security, provide equal opportunity for all, work for continued prosperity and economic growth for us all.
Some candidates want to repackage ideas and political goals that have been advanced by others and try to sell it to minorities as newly invented issues. A case in point is candidate Bernie Sanders. All his years in Senate, he did not express opinion about the disproportionate incarceration of African Americans and Latinos, did not speak about their income inequality or the lack of economic opportunity. Now, he comes with these empty promises to woo votes from the minority communities of African American and Latinos.
Hillary Clinton introduced the universal healthcare system in the early 1990s, but it could not succeed because of Republican obstruction in Congress. We all know that for years Hillary Clinton has been expressing concern for the lack of equal economic opportunity for African Americans, Latinos, and their disproportionate incarceration and continuously advocated for change in the criminal justice system. She passionately believed and still believes that the disadvantaged minority community needs full support to redress the issues until justice is done and equality is achieved. She supports free public college education and determined to make public universities education affordable by introducing a policy that help students and parents in alleviating the burden of tuition fees. Her record is testimony to the fact that she has been fighting for human rights, women’s rights, gays’ rights, and equal opportunity and justice for all. She takes American interest and issues close at heart and do everything in her power to see America succeed both at home and abroad. She has pledged that she will give chance to diplomacy for dealing with international conflicts by involving American alliances and use military force as a last resolve.
Why Hillary Clinton is the best-qualified person to be president? She is better prepared, well experienced, she does what she says and she never promises what she can’t deliver.
Should a high bar be held for Hillary or should the criteria for presidency be the same for female and male? There shouldn’t be different criteria for a woman to be president of the United States. We are ready to support Hillary Clinton for the presidency not because she is a woman but she is the most qualified person. Gender should not be considered as an issue but electing a woman as president of the United States has a big historical significance here at home and abroad. The United States presidency is no longer a monopoly for males and we should not wait for another century to see a woman elected as president of the United States.
In the 20th century there were 20 women who became head of state, in the capacity of presidents or prime ministers. To mention a few, Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, Indira Gandhi of India, Golda Meir of Israel, Benzir Bhutto of Pakistan Corizon Aquino of Phillipens etc. These women were successful leaders in their respective countries. There is no reason why we should not hire the most quailed woman to serve us as president of the United State. Let’s not be distracted from seeing reality that could lead us to success. Following unrealistic rhetoric political passion will serve as a bridge to nowhere. In the eventful American history so many things have happened, good and bad. In some cases we faced a sad reality. To mention a few, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Marines lost their lives in Lebanon, American Embassies attacked in Kenya and Tanzania, Terrorists attacked N.Y., Pentagon in Washington D.C and a passenger plain was brought down in Pennsylvania. The Secretary of Department of State was not held responsible for each attack that occurred in different years. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton was allegedly held responsible for the attack on American consular in Bengazi and subjected to different congressional committees questioning. The last committee subjected her to 11 hours grueling questions but she was not at fault for what has happened in Bengazi. Why Hillary Clinton was held responsible and subjected to investigation while her predecessors were not? Is it because she is a woman? History will remember this unwarranted different treatment at the Congressional hearing. No matter what, Hillary will always remember those four hero Americans who lost their lives in Bengazi. Hillary Clinton has been tested, ready to take responsibility and she is determined to better serve the American people if she is elected as President of the United States. She is a person to be trusted with American ideals and resolve to keep the country safe and prosperous.
Hillary Clinton is a fighter for us! She is determined to make a difference in America by fighting for equality and justice for all. Let’s stand with Hillary Clinton! We elect her not only she is a woman but for her quality of leadership, experience, and commitment to public service to make America strong in this 21st Century.
Forward With Hillary Clinton!