Dear Mr. Obama,
I watched your inauguration with coworkers in a conference room, crying with joy that someone other than a rich, white, old man would be leading the country. I booed when I saw George W and hissed when Dick Cheney was in his wheelchair. Those two men have wrought all sorts of wrong-doing to this country and the arrogance on constant display throughout their terms was nearly unbearable.
I didn’t expect you to wave a magic wand and fix the country’s troubles in the first 100 days you were in office. I knew there would be a period of adjustment and I cheered as the rest of the world did when you took your walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. I knew you had a hard row to hoe but also knew you were a Democrat in the Clinton way of thinking; bipartisan, charismatic, earnestly trying to lead the country out of eight years of darkness.
But as we’re moving toward the 2012 presidential race, I’ve grown disheartened, Barrack. Can I call you Barrack? Can I presume a false sense of intimacy? I feel like we had an understanding, Barrack. You laid out your plans for the country, asked for my trust and vote and I gave you both. I’ve watched you be a strong figure people could rally behind, people who are not rich, old, white males, but a champion of common folks.
Now 2011 is moving towards the final months, I’ve watched you capitulate to the Republicans in a way that turns my stomach. I’ve watched John Boehner and Eric Cantor take center stage. Moving your speech because it interfered with Boehner’s? Taking it in the ear during the debt ceiling talks? The Republicans were actually gleeful they’d dug in their heels and refused to negotiate. And you allowed that. I’m sure you were in a very tricky position because you wanted to keep the country moving forward. But this same conservative group who has been held the country hostage for eight years is going to be back in power if you don’t make some serious changes.
This weekend I see you’re in my home state of Michigan, telling unemployed work auto workers to push their local governments to create jobs. I’m sure someone must have told you blue collar workers typically vote Democrat so why are you giving them a reason to vote GOP? Telling people to demand their state government create jobs isn’t going to work. Instead why don’t you tell national corporations who are sitting on enormous piles of cash, to do some hiring? THAT will get the economy moving in the right direction. But who controls big corporations? That’s right Barrack, Republicans.
I watched some of the Republican debates earlier this summer and was horrified by most of the speakers. Newt can’t be trusted. Bachmann’s too polarizing. Rick Perry’s way too God-oriented to win. But I’m sad to say I was drawn in by John Huntsman. A Republican actually got my attention, Barrack. To paraphrase The American President ‘You’re so busy trying to keep your job that you’re not doing your job’.
I feel like one of those political wives who are betrayed publicly; beyond angry yet stand next to their cheating husband. I’m too mad to even look you in the eye but I’m standing there anyway, giving support when its no longer worth it. My support and trust are no longer worth anything until you need me.
I am no politician; I don’t know how D.C. works. Or I actually do understand how that snake pit works and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But this is the path you’ve chosen and I respect that. However if I can be so bold as to offer a bit of advice as a potential voter: bring the GOP to heel, Barrack. Put the presidential smackdown on them and remind the country why we voted for you in the first place.
Sincerely, A Sad Democrat
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