In India, one needs
a voter’s identification card to vote. Generally, getting
registered is easy when the government voting office comes looking
for you. But if you are not home when they come, you need to go
to a Government office to register, which is an arduous process.
And I didn’t feel like registering the other way: bribing
some official 500 rupees to get my voter identification card.
So, since becoming an adult I had never voted. After moving to
the United States and receiving my green card, I watched three U.S.
elections.
The first one, which I vaguely remember, was when
President Clinton was re-elected in 1996. I was pleased with this
one. But in 2000, I was absolutely amazed when then-Governor George
W. Bush stole the election from Vice President Al Gore. But I was
merely an observer and was convinced that in four years, the American
people would see the light and vote out the ludicrous George Bush.
So you can imagine my dismay when he won again.
Having witnessed this and being extremely dissatisfied,
I decided that I would no longer just observe, but would participate
in the country that was now my home.
I made up my mind that once I was be able to vote, I would cast
my vote with great deliberation, hoping that my vote would make
a difference.
Thus, getting my citizenship in time for the 2008 elections excited
me immensely. I am a loyal fan of CNN and all the political segments
they run 24/7. Since the primaries, I have been glued to the television,
for an analysis of a debate, results of a primary or the latest
polls.
I am also an avid Clinton supporter and fondly
remember the Clintons’ “golden years”. I believe
that Senator Clinton’s policies closely mirrored those of
her husband’s. That, coupled with her experience as a U.S.
Senator, made me a big fan of hers. Listening to her in the debates,
I was convinced she would be a good president.
Once my candidate—Hillary Clinton—lost in the Democratic
primaries, I faced a conundrum. I turned into an “undecided.”
I was never sure which party I really identified with; I am socially
liberal but fiscally conservative and America’s two-party
hegemony did not give too many options for folks like me. I did
not like the alternative, Senator Obama, because in my view, he
was poetic about change rather than having any substantive solutions.
With all these conflicting messages plaguing me and with pressure
from friends and colleagues to vote Democrat, I strongly considered
writing in Senator Clinton or even Mickey Mouse. What finally did
it for me was the advent of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and the
realization that if the Republicans were elected, I might have to
endure four years of that tragic comedy of Palin being “one
heartbeat away” from the White House.
With that threat in mind, I forced myself to an early voting location
in Mclean, Virginia and cast my valuable ballot in this swing state
for Senator Obama.
I believe that the President, as the leader of the nation, affects
our everyday life with his appointments in all areas, such as the
judiciary and cabinet positions. These individuals make policy decisions
that impact all of us.
I hope my vote along with the votes of many others
like me in other battleground swing states will help put Senator
Obama over the top in this very close election. Our government makes
decisions that impact us personally. I think everyone should be
aware of the choices we have and use this power to influence the
direction of laws and policies in this nation.
Gautam S. is from Falls Church, Virginia
and has lived in the Washington, D.C. area for the past 13 years
since moving to the United States.
The views in this column do not necessarily
express the views of ABCDlady.
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