Obama's Coming to Dinner

Everyone knows I love a good dinner party. And if I could choose one guest in the whole world to come to my house for dinner, it would be Barack Obama. By chance, last week I watched "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", the 1967 film where a white woman brings her black fiance home to meet her 'liberal' (yet not so thrilled) parents. As Frank Rich pointed out in his Op-Ed piece on Sunday with the same title, we are at an astonishing chapter in American history. I am proud to be an American because America is a place where people of all colors, religions and backgrounds have the opportunity to dine, live and learn peacefully together. Thanks to the civil rights movement, now we can all vote together, and change history together. As Rich notes in his piece, an African American is on the brink of becoming the President of the United States of America! However, the fact that he's black is beside the point. I think he's the strongest leader and best choice for America and the world.



Here are some of the reasons why I AM VOTING for BARACK OBAMA tomorrow:

FOOD SECURITY/ ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
My food hero Michael Pollan wrote an intense and lengthy letter to the president-elect in the Times Magazine a couple weeks ago concerning food. As Pollan mentions, after cars, the food system uses more fossil fuel than any other sector of the economy. Both candidates support the development of alternative energy sources, but McCain plans on giving big tax cuts to oil companies, while Barack plans on giving families a $1,000 energy rebate and starting new green energy programs which will create more jobs.

RACE:
I loved Colin Powell's video endorsement of Barack Obama. Here is a smart republican man who knows both candidates very well, has years of experience in Washington, who has decided Obama is the best choice for America. America is made up of people and families who have come from all over the world. As Americans, we are African, Italian, British, Iranian, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian. As Powell said, Obama's not Muslim...but what if he was? There's nothing wrong with being Muslim in America. Why shouldn't a 7 year old Muslim American child today dream of one day being the president? As Frank Rich points out, Obama doesn’t transcend race. He isn’t post-race. He is the latest chapter in the ever-unfurling American racial saga. It is an astonishing chapter. For most Americans, it seems as if Obama first came to dinner only yesterday. Should he win the White House on Tuesday, many will cheer and more than a few will cry as history moves inexorably forward. Click here for Obama's race speech in Philadelphia earlier this year.

THE CAMPAIGNS:
I like the way Obama's campaign has been run- it stays positive and focuses on important issues without twisting the truth. McCain's ad campaign has been fueled by fear and war, full of attack ads. Just look at McCain's commercials, vs Obama's. Obama focuses on the issues and doesn't belittle himself by making up lies about his opponent.

GOV'T SPENDING/ HEALTHCARE:
According to the NY Times, McCain's big ticket spending item is the military. Obama wants to put his biggest chunk of money into developing universal healthcare. I'd rather have more money be put towards healthcare than war/weapons. As a self-employed uninsured person, McCain's $5K offer doesn't do much for me, especially since I'd have to pay taxes on it as if it were income. I'd rather be eligible for Obama's offer of access to the government health program which would be much more affordable than my current choices.

MILITARY/ DEFENSE:
Obama has plans to fully equip troops for the missions they face, and plans to pullout of Iraq in 16 months. John McCain was a strong supporter of George Bush’s Iraq war policy and has no plan to end the war.

ABORTION:
I think gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. McCain thinks Roe vs. Wade should be overturned. I am pro-choice and so is Obama- neither of us likes the idea of abortion, but we believe it's a woman's right to choose. Obama would make it a priority to expand programs that help to lower the number of unwanted pregnancies.

GAY MARRIAGE:
I support gay marriage. Neither candidate supports gay marriage, but Obama opposes a federal constitutional amendment to ban it, as well as a California effort to ban it (Prop 8) and he supports civil unions. Obama supports gay adoptions, as do I. McCain does not.

FOREIGN POLICY:
Any candidate who would joke about bombing a country as Mc Cain did when he sang Bomb Bomb Iran to the tune of the Beach Boys is not the type of person I want leading my country. Bombs mame and kill innocent people and children and destroy towns and lives. In terms of Iran, Obama says he will sit down and talk with them about the issues concerning nuclear weapons, showing that he not only has compassion, but the communication skills a leader of this country needs. Barack Obama will engage in aggressive, smart, direct diplomacy that brings our allies together to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Obama proposes a trade policy that will protect American jobs. McCain will carry on the Bush trade policies, shipping thousands of American jobs overseas and putting Wall Street interests over American workers.

FIRST LADY:
I love Michelle Obama and think she would make a wonderful first lady. Her DNC speech brought me to tears. Go Michelle!

Tomorrow as you head to the polls, I urge you to make a choice that would be good not only for yourself and other Americans, but for the world. The whole world is watching and wishing they could vote as well! Overwhelmingly, polls show that people in other countries want Obama. So make your vote count for them. The international economy is at stake and I believe Obama would lead a nation that would create positive change for people internationally. VOTE!

Go Obama!

-Erin

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What would Obama bring to a potluck? (from the San Antonio Current)
“I’ve been using this chili recipe since college and would bring it to any potluck. I can’t reveal all the secrets, but if you make it right, it’s just got the right amount of bite, the right amount of oomph in it, and it will clear your sinuses.” — Senator Barack Obama

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Obama Family Chili Recipe

1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
Several cloves of garlic, chopped
1 T olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey or beef
1/4 t ground cumin
1/4 t ground oregano
1/4 t ground turmeric
1/4 t ground basil
1 T chili powder
3 T red-wine vinegar
Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped
1 can red kidney beans

Saute onions, green pepper, and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add ground meat and brown. Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat. Add red-wine vinegar. Add tomatoes and let simmer until the tomatoes cook down. Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes.

Serve over white or brown rice. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions, and sour cream.