"I Didn't Vote for Obama" by kentuckyscott

[kevsand]

I don't normally post or forward viral emails, but this one was so moving that it deserves reading even if it's fake:

I Didn’t Vote For Obama
by kentuckyscott

I’m a middle-class white guy living in Jacksonville, Florida. I’ve got a wife and two kids. Because the kids had no school today, I took a vacation day from work, and took the kids downtown to vote early.

Fifty-nine minutes later, two smiling children and I proudly sported “I Voted” stickers.

But I didn’t vote for Obama.

I voted for my ancestors, who believed in the promise of this country and came with nothing as immigrants.

I voted for my parents, who taught in the public schools for decades.

I voted for Steve, an acquaintance of mine from Kentucky. (Killed by an IED two years ago in Iraq).

I voted for Shawn, another who’s been to Iraq twice, and Afghanistan once, and who’ll be going back to Afghanistan again soon -- and whose family earned eleven bucks a month too much to qualify for food stamps when the war started.

I voted for April, the only African-American girl in my high school -- it was years before it occurred to me how different her experience of our school must have been.

I voted for my college friends who are Christian, Jewish, Mormon, and yes -- Muslim.

I voted for my grandfathers, who worked hard in factories and died too young.

I voted for the plumber who worked on my house, because I want him to get a REAL tax break.

I voted for four little angels from Birmingham.

I voted for a bunch of dead white men who, although personally flawed, were willing to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, and used a time of great crisis to expand freedom rather than suspend it.

I voted for all those people and more, and I voted for all of you, too. But mostly, I voted selfishly. I voted for two little kids, one who has ballet in an hour, and one who has baseball practice at the same time. I voted for a world where they can be confident that their government will represent the best that is in this country, and that will in turn demand the best of them.

I voted for a government that will be respected in the world. I voted for an economy that will reward work above guile.

I voted for everything I believe in.

Sure, I filled in the circle next to the name Obama, but it wasn’t him I was voting for -- it was every single one of us, and those I love most of all.

Who else is there to vote for?

[FrenchieCat]

1. Wow! That is powerful.

[bigbrother05]

2. I vote for you

[Kind of Blue]

3. Very moving account. Thanks for posting. n/t

[pnorman]

4. I very rarely comment on this sort of posting.

All too many of them, although with the very best of intentions, still have a (probably unconscious) "self-promotion" aspect that generally turns me off.

But this one really MOVED me, and will linger in my heart for a long time to come! Thanks!

pnorman

[Guava Jelly]

5. I just cut and pasted this in my myspace blog

Thank you! :thumbsup:

[Mabus]

14. I did the same on my facebook page.

[TexasProgresive]

6. Here it is blogged on DAILYKOS

kentuckyscott, might be a real person- who knows.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/20/15494/397/72/636580

[kevsand]

15. Thank you for finding that.

As I said above, I thought it was so well written and so moving that I was forwarding it regardless, but it's good to know that it's from a real, identifiable person.

[Dr.Phool]

7. E-mailed to everyone I can think of.

Especially the right wingers!

[kevsand]

21. I did exactly the same thing when I first saw it.

Also posted it on a local, mostly conservative board. Not much response yet there... ;-)

[davsand]

23. Not too surprising since you publicly swore off posting there until AFTER the election.

They are probably still gasping in shock to see you back on there, Kev...


:evilgrin:



Laura

[Obamarama]

8. Well, if you really listen to Barack's message, that's exactly who he wants us to "vote for."

[cosmicone]

9. k&r

:kick:

[voteearlyvoteoften]

10. Today's the Day

I'm sign waving for a couple hours for a local candidate, then I will vote.
I have tears in my eyes even thinking about marking the ballot.
Remembering my playground fight at 6 with the Nixon kids across the street.
Remembering my very first vote the year the voting age was lowered to 18,I turned 18, and McGovern was my candidate.
Knowing I will always remember this day.
See you at the polls.

[WillyT]

11. Wow !!! - K & R !!!

That was beautiful!

:kick:

[wroberts189]

12. ummm .....so you did vote for Obama ? YES :)

I guess I am slow on opposites day.

[kevsand]

18. So is it a morning after Halloween kind of slowness,

or more like my usual "I'm 50+ and I haven't had my morning eye opener yet.." variety?

[greyghost]

13. Priceless! K&R

[Honeycombe8]

16. Excellent. Thanks! K&R. nt

[QueenOfCalifornia]

17. How wonderful

I loved this.

Thanks.

Kicked and recommended. :P

[Morning Dew]

19. I actually emailed this to some friends and relatives - I NEVER send this kind of thing to anyone.

Powerful and moving post, thanks.

[kevsand]

22. I know what you mean.

I'm normally a cul-de-sac for viral email, and I'm absolutely a black hole when it comes to chain letters. This one, though, practically leapt back out of my computer on its way to all my friends...

[ncgrits]

20. That made me cry. Real . . . big . . . tears. Man. Wow.

I just emailed that to everybody I know. And I know a lot of other criers!

Thanks so much for posting this.
--April (but not the one in your high school!)

[Ozma]

24. Yes! n/t

[Lifelong Protester]

25. Fantastic!!

I am voting for many, many folks too. All of the children in my elementary school, that they may never have to die in vain for an illegal war. For older folks, counting on medicare and social security. For my two grandsters, a grand niece and a grand nephew, who have the same racial make up as Barak. I want them to TRULY know that they can grow up to be what they want to be, when they see a man who looks like them holding the most important office in the land. It will be a crowded voting booth for many of us!

[southerncrone]

26. BEAUTIFUL!!!!

This says it all.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful sentiments.

:kick: K&R!!

[forintegrity]

27. Absolutely!

That's what this is all about! Beautifully said!

[Window]

28. Deep.

:kick:

[joop]

29. whoa. How moving. Thank you for sharing K&R nt.

[DrZeeLit]

30. Best Cry of the Day -- maybe of the campaign. THANK YOU BEYOND WORDS...

for putting into words what is beyond my thanks.

Doesn't this vote FEEL AMAZING?

I voted yesterday and today I feel so blessed.

Thank you, again.

[RNdaSilva]

31. Copied and circulated.

Thanks!

[MadMaddie]

32. That's powerful! That is what America is about!

K & R