I am excited about voting for Barack Obama tomorrow on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. I have admired Barack since he gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Here are my reasons for voting for this dynamic candidate.Climate
- Investment in clean and efficient domestic technologies
- Help developing countries preserve biodiversity
- Participate in global efforts to enforce emission reductions
- Implement market-based cap and trade mechanisms or systems to reduce carbon emissions
On Criminal Justice Reform
- Reducing recidivism
- Community programs to avoid juvenile delinquency
- Recognizing the right to own firearms
- Closing the gun show loophole
- Background checks
- Banning assault weapons
- Protecting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities
- Options for home care instead of institutions
On Discrimination
- Ending discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability
On Domestic Violence
- Ending violence against women
- Creating a special advisor to the president
- Increasing funding to domestic and sexual assault prevention programs
- Strengthening sexual assault and domestic violence laws
- Providing job security to survivors
- Building foreign policies that are sensitive to issues of aggression against women around the world
On Human Sexulaity
- Ending discrimination in all forms (including sexual orientation)
- Repealing "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" military policies and implementing policies for men and women to serve openly
On Immigration
- Comprehensive immigration reform that allows undocumented immigrants to apply for citizenship;
- Penalizing businesses for hiring undocumented immigrants;
- Increasing number of visas for families and workers
On A Living Wage
- Increasing minimum wage and indexing it to inflation
On Marriage
- Inclusion of all families
- Opposing the Defense of Marriage Act
On Middle East Peace
- Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons
- Implementing tougher sanctions and high-level diplomacy
- Working with the international community to enforce unilateral and multilateral sanctions
- Ending the war in Iraq responsibly
- Launching a comprehensive regional and international plan
- Ending any permanent base agreements in Iraq
Actively securing peace for Israelis and Palestinians - Establishing a Palestinian state and a Jewish state, with Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
On Taxation
- Providing tax cuts to the middle class
- Increase tax on families making over $250,000 to support programs, including healthcare
- Eliminating corporate tax loopholes and tax havens
On Torture
- Rejects the use of torture
On Healthcare
- Access to affordable comprehensive, health care for all
- Sharing the costs for care
- Decisions being made by patients and healthcare provider
On Worker's Rights
- Labor organizations and collective bargaining
- Opposing Right-to-Work laws in states
On Friday night, October 31, my husband and were fortunate to attend Obama Rally in Highland, Indiana. The event was exciting and charged with energy. Additionally, the weather was wonderful for this outdoor event. The crowd was energized by the music, the Indiana Democratic candidates, and presidential nominee.
Hoosiers waiting patiently in line to see the next president of the United States. We are all waiting to see Indiana counted as a blue state in the 2008 election. However, the candidate himself observed that Indiana is red, white and blue, and indeed we are.
Barack Obama in Highland, Indiana on October 31st, 2008
