my political opinion

my political opinion

Note from Suz: First, a disclaimer. If you are reading this, it's because you clicked on the link to this page.

See, I've always been put off by people and websites that have partisan banners on their home pages. Our great country has become so divided and that kind of home page side-taking, IMO, feels even more divisive.

I have tried, in the past, to keep partisan politics off of my website and off the one Boardhost message board that I pay to keep ad-free. (Please note: I don't consider my support of civil rights issues to be partisan politics, although some try to make it seem as if it is. We'll have to agree to disagree.)

But the time has come, I feel, to speak up, to speak out. Hence this webpage and these words that you are reading. And again, if you are reading this, it's because you clicked on the link and came here by choice. If, somehow, you got here by a misdirected link or URL, please leave now via back button -- or forever hold your peace. I have not and will not send my opinions, below, to my 8000+ e-mail newsletter list, because I don't believe in shoving my political opinions down my readers' throats. (I am happy, however, to share them with those who are interested and/or curious.) Unlike everything else on my website, you do not have my permission to copy and forward this page to friends, or to post it on other blogs or message boards.

You do, however, have my permission and blessing to forward or post the exact URL to this page, or to create a live link with the exact URL -- which is www.SuzanneBrockmann.com/mypoliticalopinion.htm

Disclaimer complete.

Please read on my curious and open-minded friends, because I want to tell you why I've been spending my hard-earned spring vacation going door-to-door in Rhode Island, canvassing and campaigning for Barack Obama.

I want Barack Obama to be the President of the UNITED States.

I'm desperately tired of living in the Divided States of America.

I'm tired of Americans being governed by fear. I'm tired of leaders who frighten and try to divide us.

Over the past seven years, I've crisscrossed the U.S. by mini-van, on book tours, and I've met a huge number of readers in both red states and blue. And time and time again, I've seen that our similarities far outweigh our differences. We all hope and dream and love. We all believe in the American Dream and want opportunities and prosperity for our children.

Throughout my somewhat colorful life, I've also seen the wonderful diversity that IS America -- the diversity that makes our country great. And I'm perplexed by those who actively want to suppress ideas and opinions -- by spinning stereotypes and perpetuating the myth that we are so vastly different.

For example, liberal is not a dirty word, despite the negative spin it's been given over the past decade. Our country was founded by liberals. Women and African Americans have the vote thanks to liberals.

You know, (and you must know if you've been reading my books) that I, like many writers, am a card-carrying liberal. (And damn proud of it.) I'm also an idealist and a romantic -- I believe in truth and honor and honesty and equality and freedom and hope and peace and love and happily-ever-afters. (Same as most of my conservative friends!) I proudly live in the one state in America -- Massachusetts -- in which all citizens have the right to marry the person they love -- and I'm proud of the fact that I helped to make that happen. I believe in equal rights for ALL people. And I believe that all people should have a voice -- and a welcoming place to express their opinions -- here in America.

I'm a proud American patriot. And I'm offended and very tired of political leaders and the right-wing spin-doctors who insist that I'm not.

Barack Obama is the first presidential candidate -- ever -- who gives me hope that America can mend its divide and come together again as the great country we once were, the great country we can once again become.

And please note that this is my opinion. For me, the past seven years have not been great. I've lost the right to habeus corpus. The Bush administration thinks its okay to listen in on my phone conversations and read my emails. I am not as free as I was before 2000. Plus, bin Laden remains at large, and thousands of my fellow Americans have died in Iraq, tens of thousands more have been injured and countless others are not receiving the mental health care services they desperately need.

But let's get to the meat of the matter, here in the heart of Primary Season.

Obama vs. Clinton.

I know I have many readers in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island, and I'm writing this on the eve of your primaries, to urge all of you to vote for Barack Obama tomorrow, March 4, 2008. (Hey, PA readers, your primary is coming up in April!)

For too long, we've had leaders who either purposely divide us, or leaders who divide us just by their presence. And let's be honest about it, Hillary Clinton falls into that second category.

It's so important for America to bring change to the White House next November, and IMO Clinton divides, while Obama heals and brings hope.

The vitriol and ire that Clinton evokes from some people (too many people, I fear) is unfortunate. I, for one, would love to see a female President. I hope to see this in my lifetime. (But I'm equally excited by the idea of a Black President. Go, Obama!) I believe that Hillary Clinton is very intelligent and well-suited for the job -- except for the fact that she inspires hatred in so many people.

You know, I'm one of the millions of Americans who has a similar ire-filled reaction to George W. Bush. Now, I'm not telling you this to incite the rage of those who still feel he's doing a good job. (Although I'm sure I'll get hate-splattered email for expression my opinion, which is PART OF THE PROBLEM! When, oh when, did America become a place where dissent and differing opinions are not just discouraged but are labeled unpatriotic?!? It's my opinion, people, and it's my duty as a patriotic American to speak out.) When Bush was re-elected in 2004, my despair was so powerful I stopped writing. I mourned for months -- and I still haven't fully recovered. And whether I'm "right" or "wrong" about Bush's failed leadership is not the point.

My point is that I FEEL THIS WAY. Outraged. Angry. Impotent. It's not a fun way to spend eight long years.

And I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

The way I feel about George W. Bush and his administration is the same way other Americans feel about Hillary Clinton. (I know this -- I've met and talked to many of them.)

Too often, in the world, the party in power disenfranchises the opposition party. This was done over the past seven years. And it's time to stop.

I have spent too many years feeling as if my voice and my opinions were ignored by the Bush administration. I want a leader who is willing to listen to other ideas and opinions, who is willing to become educated about issues and to change his or her mind, who welcomes compromise and negotiation, who celebrates the diverse mix of ideas, cultures and opinions which is the very thing that makes America great.

And I believe that Barack Obama is that leader.

I am inspired by the way he asks Americans to help. I believe that one of the reasons he's so popular is because he tell us that we can help. And after seven years of feeling helpless, hopeless and afraid, we want to act, to do, to help. Under Obama's leadership, he will ask us to participate in running our country, in fighting the Global War on Terror, in fixing the economy, in developing green jobs and finding alternative energy sources and ending our dependence on oil. Under his leadership, blue and red America will come together and WORK TOGETHER, side by side, for the changes that we so desperately need.

You know, my son Jason is 22 years old. After he turned 18, on his first election day, we took him to vote and made him wear a spangled red, white and blue top hat -- to celebrate the event. (He wore it into the voting booth, to the delight of the local League of Women Voters!) Despite his willingness to participate (and wear the hat), he's stayed far away from politics.

Until early January 2008. Just a few months ago, Jason was visiting us for Christmas and, as political junkies, we were watching the returns from the Iowa Caucuses. Jace was doing a jigsaw puzzle across the room when Obama took the stage for his now-famous "Yes We Can" victory speech.

As we watched, live, Jason stopped what he was doing and came to listen. He was intrigued not just by Obama's charisma, but by his message of unity and hope. Yes we can.

Since that day, Jason's caught fire. He campaigned for Obama on Super Tuesday in New York City. He stood, in the rain, holding an Obama sign and handing out stickers and buttons.

Barack Obama speaks to him and the young people of America -- the same way Obama speaks to so many disenfranchised Americans in both red states and blue.

My brother-in-law, John, is a lawyer at a big firm in New York City. Many of the older men that he works with are hard-core Republicans. John's a staunch Obama supporter, and over the past few months, he's had many conversations with his colleagues. They would, he reports, consider voting for Obama, but they would never, ever vote for Clinton.

Barack Obama is America's future -- a future where we are united instead of divided.

Let's take control of our country, embrace this wonderful message of hope, and bring about real, positive change.

It's time for us ALL to feel as if our opinions are welcome, that our differing ideas are respected and considered.

It's time to become the United States of America again.

Thank you for listening.

I urge you to find out more about Barack Obama -- and to experience his passion and ideas for change. Visit www.barackobama.com or my.barackobama.com.

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