The reasons I support President Obama

I wrote this in July and I reposted it on my facebook page. Feel free to use it if you think it will sway any one you know to vote for President Obama.

The Reasons I Support Barack Obama - By Steven J. Vincent

I support President Obama because he represents many of the ideals I believe in; fairness, compassion, service, (authentic) family values, patriotism, compromise and love of country not bound by slogans or political idealism. He is smart enough to realize things are not perfect in our country and we aren't number one just because we are the U. S. of A. He is realistic enough to understand that dealing with the complex issues facing this country is much more difficult than a Toby Keith song, a right (or left) wing pundit or a magnetic ribbon would lead one to believe.

I support him because he has faced constant, unrelenting, mean-spirited, dishonest criticism since before he took office and every day since. His patriotism has been questioned by every member of the right wing echo chamber especially FoxNews and Rush Limbaugh, every single day he has served. He has been called a socialist, communist, Nazi, Marxist, traitor, foreign, un-American, liar, magic negro, halfrican and worse. He has suffered innumerable lies about his ideology, religion, family and even his place of birth. No other president in the history of this country has faced such unfounded open hostility and disrespect. No other president has ever been called a liar by a member of congress during a State of the Union, no other president has had to show his birth certificate...repeatedly.

I support him because he has done many things republicans insist they do well and he has done them better; during his administration, and as a direct result of his risky order, special forces, under his command, killed Osama bin Laden the man directly responsible for the 911 attacks (the man that Bush swore, and failed miserably, to get, "Dead or alive&quot . He ended the war in Iraq and is winding down the war in Afghanistan, two of the longest running wars in American history both started by his predecessor at the cost of a trillion or more dollars and the lives of over 6000 U.S. troops. Under his administration, more Al Qaeda terrorists have been killed by drone attacks and covert U.S. operations in 3 1/2 years than the Bush administration killed in twice that time. There hasn't been another terrorist attack on American soil since he took office. He helped to end the reign of terror of a homicidal dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, in Libya and did it without losing a single American life. He has increased border security and the number of illegal aliens crossing into the United States has dropped to historic lows, in fact immigration from Mexico is actually at a negative number with more Mexicans going back home than coming into the U.S. Cyber attacks against Iran that probably set their nuclear program back several years and gained us useful actionable intelligence were implemented during his administration, probably by the CIA or some other nefarious black ops unit. But for all his foreign policy success he receives nothing but derision and backhanded compliments from his opponents. He works twice as hard, is three times as successful and receives none of the credit. Hell, if George W. Bush had done any of the things on this list they would be carving his face into Mount Rushmore, naming Airports and Highways after him and his stupid sneering mug would be on the $50 bill already.

I support him because he has fought like hell to drag America into the twenty first century. He pushed for and won a health care plan which, though not perfect, is the first of it's kind in our nation (and we are the last modern industrialized nation to provide basic healthcare coverage to it's citizens...We're Number Last!). The Affordable Health Care Act will insure 35 million more American citizens will have access to health care. He has made it possible for friends of mine to put their adult, but unemployed, children back on their policies so they don't have to worry about financial ruin over some unforeseen illness or accident. He has stopped insurance companies from denying coverage to friends of mine whose children have down syndrome simply because they define a birth defect as a "pre-existing condition." Republicans know that as more of this plan is implemented over the next 2 years, Americans will see that contrary to what they have been told, "Obamacare" will help them make sure they have affordable coverage for their families and that they can't be cut off because of an expensive illness or denied simply because they are bad for billion dollar company's bottom line. My parents and other senior citizens will save money on their life saving prescription drugs. The Tea Party claims of socialism and death panels will look more foolish in hindsight than they do to rational people now and the republican brand will be tarnished forever.

I support him because he made another risky political decision to come out in support of gay marriage. He ended the horrible "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which discriminated and terminated the patriotic service of thousands of soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen when our country desperately needed them most. He has come out in support of gay Americans like no other serving President before him and has ended federal support of the asinine Defense of Marriage Act. He has brought gay rights to the forefront of American history and his stance has already had a dramatically positive affect on the national attitude towards gay marriage, especially in the black community. This man has made it possible for some of my gay friends who have served proudly in combat for years to now serve honestly as well. Maybe someday they will be able to legally marry the person they love.

I support him because he has faced this unrelenting bitterness and undeserved hate with grace and honor, compassion and humility. His speeches still have the power to inspire and move me like no other politician in my lifetime. He renews my sense of pride in our country. I don't wince when he speaks to foreign leaders, I am instead filled with admiration and proudly say, "That's my president." He engages his opponents with tact, respect and facts. His is not a world of "with us or against us" rather a world of optimism and hope that we can work together through our differences to make this country better.

I support him because he has aged 10 years in 3 because the job he faces every day has pressures and stress that the we will never come close to comprehending.

I support him because he truly connects with people. You can see it in the crowds that gather to watch him speak and even in the faces of infants thrust into his arms. He comes from an imperfect but loving family, not unfamiliar to many, but in spite of the circumstances of his life (or maybe because of them), he went much farther than could possibly be imagined; a bi-racial child born in the sixties and raised by a single mom and his grandparents. A boy who struggled to fit in because of his racial and geographical diversity. A young man who beat the odds and attended one of the best universities this country has and became an intellectual leader under its tutelage. A man who chose service over monetary success and then beat the odds again by becoming a state, then United States Senator, then President.

But most of all I support "this man" because he is my...he is our President. I believe in what he is trying to do and I see how much unfair opposition he faces every day for it. I respect him as our president but I respect him more and honor him as a man making sacrifices only a few can imagine. I am inspired by his patience. I am impressed by his fortitude and I am humbled by his service. He gives me hope for this beaten down, broke ass, bigoted country that I love and proudly served and when people ask if we can beat the odds and make this country a better, fairer more decent place to live for all Americans, he still makes me think, "Yes we can!"