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guest viewpoint - Fired-up and ready to go
by Gary Hooser
On Tuesday, Hawai‘i residents will have the opportunity to select the Democratic candidate who could very well become the next president of the United States of America.
In caucuses held throughout the state, Democrats will gather to cast their votes. Because of the closeness of the race, Hawai‘i voters could play a decisive role in the final outcome.
My vote will be going to Barack Obama.
While Hilary Clinton is certainly qualified and would make a good president, America needs more than good.
Both candidates are U.S. senators and both possess the experience and qualifications needed to lead our country, but the reality is that we need much more than that. We need good judgment, we need hope and we need inspiration. Sen. Barack Obama delivers all three by the bucket-load.
Obama is a thoughtful man of character and integrity whose judgment calls have consistently stood up to scrutiny.
His stance against the war in Iraq came early. In 2002 he voiced strong concerns about the direction the Bush/Cheney doctrine was taking our country and accurately predicted the disaster that has arisen as a result of our policies in Iraq and elsewhere. His strong, no-nonsense position of following known terrorists wherever that might lead is balanced with his willingness to enter into diplomatic efforts and dialogue with all world leaders, both friends and enemies.
Obama, by his very presence in the race for the presidency, proves that the hope of the American dream is still alive and very real.
A self described “skinny kid with a funny name,” he is living proof that you do not have to be a “good ol’ boy” to succeed, you do not need to be a member of the power elite and maybe, just maybe, the “fix is not in” and the playing field is indeed one that each of us can play on equally, without fear or prejudice.
The candidacy of Obama has inspired our nation unlike any other, certainly in my lifetime. A young bank teller recently told me that though previously she had been oblivious to the workings of government and politics, she felt compelled get involved “now that Barack Obama was running for president.” Another young person told me of a 20-year-old college student who sometimes went to sleep “listening to podcasts of Barack Obama’s speeches.” My own mother, a 70-something evangelical Christian and resident of the great state of Georgia, is positively ecstatic over the possibility of Obama becoming the next president of the United States.
Obama has the potential to bring our country together, to heal the divisiveness and to once again put us on the path to greatness.
Our country desperately needs what Obama brings to the table. We need his balanced and thoughtful judgment, we need the hope, the determination to find solutions and the focus. But perhaps most of all, we need the inspiration. Americans, young and old, need to be revitalized and reinvigorated so that all of us once again believe in our system of government and believe once again that we can make a difference — that we can and we will make the world a better place.
This Tuesday I urge each and every member of our community to show up and vote for the Democratic candidate whom you feel will make the best president.
All that is required is that you will be eligible to vote in the November elections.
You can register to vote and register to become a Democrat at the Caucus location itself.
• Gary Hooser is Senate Majority Leader, representing the 7th Senatorial District, covering Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. He is a resident of Wailua.
• For more information visit http://www.hawaiidemocrats.org or http://www.hawaiiforobama.org or http://www.hillaryclinton.com/hq/Hawaii/
In caucuses held throughout the state, Democrats will gather to cast their votes. Because of the closeness of the race, Hawai‘i voters could play a decisive role in the final outcome.
My vote will be going to Barack Obama.
While Hilary Clinton is certainly qualified and would make a good president, America needs more than good.
Both candidates are U.S. senators and both possess the experience and qualifications needed to lead our country, but the reality is that we need much more than that. We need good judgment, we need hope and we need inspiration. Sen. Barack Obama delivers all three by the bucket-load.
Obama is a thoughtful man of character and integrity whose judgment calls have consistently stood up to scrutiny.
His stance against the war in Iraq came early. In 2002 he voiced strong concerns about the direction the Bush/Cheney doctrine was taking our country and accurately predicted the disaster that has arisen as a result of our policies in Iraq and elsewhere. His strong, no-nonsense position of following known terrorists wherever that might lead is balanced with his willingness to enter into diplomatic efforts and dialogue with all world leaders, both friends and enemies.
Obama, by his very presence in the race for the presidency, proves that the hope of the American dream is still alive and very real.
A self described “skinny kid with a funny name,” he is living proof that you do not have to be a “good ol’ boy” to succeed, you do not need to be a member of the power elite and maybe, just maybe, the “fix is not in” and the playing field is indeed one that each of us can play on equally, without fear or prejudice.
The candidacy of Obama has inspired our nation unlike any other, certainly in my lifetime. A young bank teller recently told me that though previously she had been oblivious to the workings of government and politics, she felt compelled get involved “now that Barack Obama was running for president.” Another young person told me of a 20-year-old college student who sometimes went to sleep “listening to podcasts of Barack Obama’s speeches.” My own mother, a 70-something evangelical Christian and resident of the great state of Georgia, is positively ecstatic over the possibility of Obama becoming the next president of the United States.
Obama has the potential to bring our country together, to heal the divisiveness and to once again put us on the path to greatness.
Our country desperately needs what Obama brings to the table. We need his balanced and thoughtful judgment, we need the hope, the determination to find solutions and the focus. But perhaps most of all, we need the inspiration. Americans, young and old, need to be revitalized and reinvigorated so that all of us once again believe in our system of government and believe once again that we can make a difference — that we can and we will make the world a better place.
This Tuesday I urge each and every member of our community to show up and vote for the Democratic candidate whom you feel will make the best president.
All that is required is that you will be eligible to vote in the November elections.
You can register to vote and register to become a Democrat at the Caucus location itself.
• Gary Hooser is Senate Majority Leader, representing the 7th Senatorial District, covering Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. He is a resident of Wailua.
• For more information visit http://www.hawaiidemocrats.org or http://www.hawaiiforobama.org or http://www.hillaryclinton.com/hq/Hawaii/
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| Letters for Monday, February 18, 2008 |
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