The 2000 presidential race was called one of the dirtiest campaigns to date. In that year John McCain was my choice for president, although I was brought up in a Jewish middle class home that always voted Democratic. My father (a self made man) always told me that the Democratic Party cared about the “working man”, and that the working class was the backbone of our country. However McCain was riding the “Straight Talk Express” then, and I liked what he was saying. But then, George W. Bush started to bombard McCain with the dirtiest, negative, vile and untrue ads on radio, TV and through Robo calls, and as a “real” Straight Talker McCain said…

 

 

 

So after the Bush/Rove machine got through with him and he lost the Republican nomination, I went back to my Democratic roots. I never got to vote for the man I grew to respect and admire and believed would have taken this nation in the right direction, because in those days he truly rode the Straight Talk Express.

 

But here we are after eight years of the disastrous Bush policies, two wars that have put our young men and women in peril, and that has drained our country of precious dollars that could have done more good in the US. Our economy in complete chaos; hundred of thousands out of work, millions losing their homes and the country heading into a recession.

 

Now in 2008 if the man I thought I knew was running, it would of been a tough decision but I don’t know what happened to that man! His "Straight Talk Express" bus clearly derailed.

 

Let's look into the judgment of these two men.

 

Colin Powell made an incredible case for Obama.

 

 

 

Chris Buckley author and son of famous conservative William F. Buckley had this to say...

 

 

 

McCain said “Country first” but as the Chicago Tribune wrote “McCain failed in his most important executive decision. Give him credit for choosing a female running mate--but he passed up any number of supremely qualified Republican women who could have served. Having called Obama not ready to lead, McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. His campaign has tried to stage-manage Palin's exposure to the public. But it's clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment's notice and serve as president. McCain put his campaign before his country.”

 

Pat Buchanan said on the VP pick “McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his co-pilot was the biggest gamble in presidential history.” 

 

Peggy Noonan wrote in the the Wall Street Journal on October 17, 2008, “But we have seen Mrs. Palin on the national stage for seven weeks now, and there is little sign that she has the tools, the equipment, the knowledge or the philosophical grounding one hopes for, and expects, in a holder of high office. She is a person of great ambition, but the question remains: What is the purpose of the ambition? She wants to rise, but what for? For seven weeks I’ve listened to her, trying to understand if she is Bushian or Reaganite—a spender, to speak briefly, whose political decisions seem untethered to a political philosophy, and whose foreign policy is shaped by a certain emotionalism, or a conservative whose principles are rooted in philosophy, and whose foreign policy leans more toward what might be called romantic realism, and that is speak truth, know America, be America, move diplomatically, respect public opinion, and move within an awareness and appreciation of reality.”

 

This year the candidate that DESERVED to be elected to the highest office in our country is the man who forged the most disciplined, dignified and well run campaign in US history, which from the beginning was against all odds but still prevailed. That man is Barack Obama.

 

Obama proved that a candidate can run a respectful campaign, while only reacting to the negative campaigning when necessary and winning the respect, hearts and minds of so many people on the left, right and in the middle across this great country.

 

We here at VCO congratulate him.

 

On another note, what was really sad to me during this historical election, is the fact of that this political season (to me) was even dirtier than the 2000 Presidential race.

 

Unfortunately John McCain hired some of the same George W. Bush cronies that helped destroyed his run for presidency in 2000, but this time the Bush tactics employed by McCain didn't work, even though they were more vile!

 

I can see that the American people FINALLY decided to reject the politics of division and vote for the HOPE of America's future.

 

Finally the straw that broke the camel's back for me in the 2008 election came just days before it when I was sent a email that said:

 

Pass this on to any Jewish people that you may know.

The American Jews are endangering Israel by voting for Obama.

Save Israel, do NOT vote for Obama

 

It also had a link to a very nasty website.

 

Barack is 100% for Israel and his own words disputes such vile lies.

 

 

 

But, I was so upset by this nastiness, I wrote this person back and said:

 

I don't know why you sent this to me, Obama is 100% for Israel, these are vile lies!

I don't appreciate it, and I'd like you to take me off this spam list.

 

But it really made me take a step back when I received this response:

 

Is Reverend Wight's middle name Israel?

You haven't changed Marleen.

It's people like you that got Hitler to where he got to be and did what he did.

It's the American Jews that will destroy Israel not the Arab countries.

I don't know how you got on this list but you will be taken off of it.

 

I responded:

 

That is an insidious thing to say to me. Who are you to judge MY Jewishness, and say that people like me got Hitler where he got. It seems you haven't changed either. I pray this is our last communication.

 

What is going on? How small, narrow minded and bigoted can people be? This person said "It's people like you that got Hitler to where he got to be and did what he did.", I had relatives who die in the Holocaust, and this person said it was people LIKE ME that assisted Hitler. How sick is that!!!!!!?????????

 

Is this really the direction we want our country to go in? Following ignorance, deceit, bigotry, and vile messaging.

 

Las Vegas... Nevada... the United States of America, PLEASE, at this time when so many of us have voted to change the direction of this country, let's really do just that! Let's change this divisiveness in our country and try to work together for a better America.

 

I have faith in people. Yes, there are some bad apples, but let's ignore that negativity and stress the positive that is around us, maybe some of it will rub off.

 

Let's together, put our hope, faith and support behind this highly intelligent, insightful, inspirational and incredible individual we have just elected.

 

God Bless Barack Obama and God Bless America!!!