[LUconn]

Bring your non ad hominem politics here. If you're into name calling, don't post here. We can begin with this:

Ok, do you wanna know why I support Obama? I'm posting my story. I have already sent this to one member but it wasn't "good enough." I don't care though. This is my story, and I'm sticking to it:
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I Support Barack Obama: My Story
By: Michelle K. Miller
July 26, 2008

My name is Michelle Miller. I’m a 23-year-old sophomore at Liberty University. I am also a supporter of Barack Obama. I know, that’s probably confusing to some of you, seeing as how Liberty is one of the most conservative schools in the country. However, there is a story and reason behind my support of Senator Obama.

I began going to church when I was six years old, attending with my friends or going by myself. Ten years after avidly attending church, I gave my life to Christ at Rick Gage’s Go-Tell Camp, which took place at Liberty. From that time, I really began to delve into the whole church experience— continuing weekly and bi-weekly church services, reading my Bible, and basically, agreeing with everything my pastors had to say, without really researching anything on my own. I just wanted to be the good little church girl that did what was expected of her. This blind faith following continued up until 2007, when I started attending Liberty University.

Up until that point, I was very conservative in my thoughts, my ideas, my values, and for the most part, my actions. I mean, I was human and still made mistakes, but I still considered myself to be conservatives. I wanted to be surrounded by people just like that, unlike I was at my community college and in my town. Anyhow, once I got to Liberty, and a couple of months passed, I began hearing more about politics and the general election in 2008. I hadn’t given much thought to the upcoming election, to be honest. However, in the last general election, I voted for someone really conservative—Michael Peroutka from the Constitution Party.

Well, once November came around, and the countdown to one year until the election came about, more politics were discussed. I didn’t know anything about the candidates, and it was clear that a lot of students didn’t either—aside from the Ron Paul supporters. We were subjected to one candidate, Alan Keyes, at convocation one Wednesday. I didn’t have any real problem with him; I just found him boring. However, we then had to listen to Chuck Norris-endorsed Mike Huckabee speak. I think people got way too hyped up about him. Upon listening to his speech, I didn’t like what he had to say. I just felt like he made a lot of promises that I felt were hard to believe. That, and just something about his personality rubbed me the wrong way.

It was then that I barked upon my journey to research the main contending candidates for the 2008 election. For some reason, I had heard a lot about Barack Obama, and felt really inclined to research him. The more I researched the candidates and their stances on the issues, the more I began to like Senator Obama. I read more about him and listened to some of his speeches, and I decided support him for President in 2008. It wasn’t a popular decision. Aside from my fiancé (now husband,) my friend Tara was the first person I told. She completely wigged out and yelled things like, “Don’t you know he’s a Muslim who’s going to blow up the whole country if he gets his way and becomes President?!” She made other incorrect and outrageous comments like that. A few days later, she decided to end our friendship, based on my support for the Senator. Similar patterns followed. No one wanted to talk politics with me, just because they knew I supported Senator Obama. They knew it’d end in an argument, because I had my mind made up, and they weren’t going to change it. Most people who knew about my support became very hostile toward me about it. I kind of expected it, but I at least hoped there’d be some open-minded people.

I moved off campus after the fall semester, to start the Distance Learning Program at Liberty, so it was a little easier to continue my support for Obama… but not much. I still received hostile comments and messages via mediums such as Facebook and AOL Instant Messenger. I got angry a lot of times, but began to have a new outlook after a while, and decided it wasn’t worth me getting angry and that I was going to still support Obama, and that’s all that mattered. I was standing up for something I believed in.

In February, I was messaged by the State Coordinator, Abby Williams, for Students for Barack Obama, and was asked to take over as the Chapter Coordinator of the Liberty University chapter of Students for Barack Obama. I gave it some thought, and said yes. We had one meeting in the winter, and tried to hold watch parties for the primaries, but ended up pretty inactive because of the snow and ice. However, since June, things have picked back up. I have a lot of support from amazing local Organizing Fellows, Jason Perkey and Jon Merlis, as well as others who work with them. I also have wonderful helpers, Phil Wagner and Brian Diaz, who are helping me organize from their home states, and who will be helping me put thoughts into actions when school starts back up in the fall. My story and struggle has apparently inspired the media to do pieces about me, and I’m happy to share my story.

However, there are some people who are dead-set against my voicing story, my struggle, and my thoughts that apparently go against the Bible and Liberty University’s doctrine. Many have asked me why I just don’t leave Liberty, for a different school. My answer is simple: There are people who run from adversity, and there are people who face it, tackle it, and try to change it. I am the latter. I know that I am up against a lot. That’s fine. Like I have told everyone I meet who is interested in my story: If I can convert just ONE person for Obama, it’s all worth it.

People have also asked me that if since I am a Christian, and I go to a Christian school, then how come I am voting for someone liberal? Why Obama? What was the deciding issue that brought me to my support for Senator Obama?

I have those answers.

I am a big believer in equal rights for all. Not just men, not just women, not just whites, not just blacks—and certainly not just for heterosexual couples. I know that sounds weird coming from a happily married heterosexual woman. However, I have many family members and friends who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and I think that they should most certainly have the same rights as couples, as I do in my heterosexual relationship. Every Christian person I talk to refutes that by saying, “Don’t you know what the Bible says about homosexuality? It’s wrong!!” Of course I know what the Bible says about homosexuality. As stated before, I’ve been to church since I was six years old, and am well aware of what the Bible says. However, I raise you this: I don’t care if the country was supposedly founded on Christian principles. Now, in the year 2008, in this country, we are Christians, Atheists, Jews, Catholics, Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, and every religion in between. We do not all worship the same god. So, why should those in America who aren’t Christian, have to live under laws inspired by the Christian God? Though we do not all worship the same god, and we don’t all live by the Bible, we in America, do however, live under the document that says “ALL men were created equal.” That’s right, ALL. It doesn’t say “Straight, white, conservative men were created equal.” The word “all” is inclusive of everyone. Also, I think it’s wrong to want to take away the rights of one group of people. If you’re going to take away the rights of homosexuals, why not take a step back and take away the rights of blacks, or a step farther back and take away the rights of women? It’s illogical. It makes no sense. Barack Obama is willing to allow civil unions, and give those couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, which I wholeheartedly agree with.

Now, as for the rights of women, I want to speak on the right to choose abortion or not, as someone who is 75% pro-choice and 25% pro-life. Some extreme conservatives want to do away with abortion 100%. I, however, believe that the government shouldn’t have so much control over a woman’s body. I keep being told that it is a very low percentage, but there are cases of incest, rape, and medical emergencies that a woman should have the right to opt for an abortion. However, living in a county with a high rate of teen pregnancies, I do not condone the option of abortion for promiscuous teens that go having sex with anyone, then say “Oops, I got pregnant. Time for an abortion!” I’ve been asked, then, if I think pre-marital sex is wrong. I have responded that I think it’s up to the couple, and that if they are going to have sex, they need to practice birth control. Speaking of which, Barack Obama wants to make access to birth control easier. I think that Obama’s pro-choice stance with easier access to birth control is the right balance.

Healthcare is another hot issue that I used when choosing who to support. As someone who doesn’t have healthcare because it is unaffordable, I support Obama’s plan to make healthcare easily accessible (without discrimination for pre-existing illnesses,) more affordable, and simple. I especially love that he is mandating that there be mandatory coverage of children, where they can be covered on their parents’ insurance until the age of 25. I think that’s reasonable, as 25 is a good age, because most students will be done with college, and can afford healthcare on their own then.

Furthering education is becoming less and less important to high school graduates, due to the debt that post-high school institutions cause. Senator Obama wants to fix that. His plan is to create an American Opportunity Tax Credit by simplifying the process for financial aid, ensure that the first $4000 of the student’s education is completely free, and will cover two-thirds of the cost of the student’s tuition at average public colleges and university, therefore making college pretty much free for anyone who wants to attend.

One of my main issues, and the issues of many people is not having a good job. Barack Obama wants to improve that by creating programs that will help low-income Americans to climb the ladder in the workforce, increase minimum wage (which is something we are seeing now,) increase sick days, provide tax relief, help single parents, and promote responsible fatherhood. These are just few of the good ideas Senator Obama has about improving jobs and job quality.

The last main reason I chose to support Senator Obama is his plan to bring our troops home. While he wants to be careful about how it is done, he at least has a plan. His plan is to end this war, and at one or two brigades at a time, pull out, and have them all out in sixteen months. While I think that setting something that sounds like a deadline is dangerous, I believe that Senator Obama would come through on this responsibly and victoriously.

And that, my friends, is why I support Barack Obama for President. I may continue to get criticized by church and school friends, but I can honestly say that I am standing up for someone and something I believe in—I am standing up for Barack Obama, and I am standing up for change!!

[LUconn]

I guess I'll kick it off. From reading about you on facebook and your various blogs, I actually question whether you are evangelical or not. I think you're a liberal person who went to church for a short while in her life, and chose to go to Liberty because of what kind of tuition help you were able to get. And that explains your positioning just fine. But it's a little bit of a farse when articles are being written about you supposedly showing how evangelicals are ready to back Obama.

[AZjonz]

Is there really a discussion here about her post? She said she won't discuss any further. We'll only end up making straw-man arguments or end up trying to speak for her unless she tries to defend herself. Can't say I blame her if she choses not to defend her positions on this forum.

[LUconn]

Why wouldn't you if you're so confident in your positions?

[Kolzilla41]

I do give this girl respect because it is not easy standing up for something that you believe in with others around you shooting you down. I know because I came to know Christ in a non Christian home and received flak from that. However, there is nothing new about what Obama states. The liberal movement has been preaching these things for years. And all politics aside, there is only one main issue I have with this girl and that is abortion. The Bible doesn't really say much about bringing the troops home or universal health care. On a side note, low taxes are biblical. This is probably the only issue that can be biblically fought over. Let's shine a different light on it. Now, let's say profess to hate pornography but secretly look at it at home, I am a hypocrite. However, if someone finds out that I delve in that, it will change there opinion of me but not drastically hurt their life. God says before you were in the womb, I knew you. So, if I profess to be a Christian, meaning I believe in everything God has done, i.e. the Bible, then I say well, this part I don't like. That makes me a hypocrite. It's a package deal. I like all this stuff about mercy but let's leave out the part of sin or hell. You can't do that. This is why I don't understand how someone can profess to be a Christian, to have new life in Christ and yet deny a baby a chance to have theirs. Once again, I am not beating up, but when inconsistencies like this happen, this is why people don't take Christians seriously or call them hypocrites.

[Kolzilla41]

did she post that on here or did someone else? And , if you claim to be part of a group yet go against most of what they think, you deserve to be called out. This should be done in a civilized and Christ like manner but it needs to be done.

[01LUGrad]

I posted this in the other thread, but I figured it would fit better here so it wouldn't interfere with all of the name-calling.

I commend you on having the guts to speak your mind in a very hostile environment. That isn't an easy thing to do and I'm sorry that people have been idiots about it.

That being said, I disagree with several of the things you posted. I don't have to space to get into all of the details here, but for starters, all of the things Obama is promising is going to cost a ton of money. Free college to everyone? Health care paid for by the government? Where is that money coming from? Bringing the troops home from Iraq isn't going to raise the money. Raising taxes for the "rich" isn't going to do it either. He will have two options if he becomes President. He can either raise taxes on everyone, or, more than likely, he won't do any of things he has promised. That doesn't fit in well with the whole "change" thing.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. If you want to give things, you also have to take them. Something tells me that since I worked my butt of to pay for college, have a good job, have healthcare for myself and my family, and don't need a tax break to be a good father, I am going to be paying for those who get all of the things for free that I worked for.

[RagingTireFire]

• How can you be "75% pro-choice, 25% pro-life" or any other percentile mixture on that topic? That's the equivalent of saying "I'm mostly in favor of killing puppies but sometimes not." Also, a pro-choice stance combined with easier access to birth control is not balance at all. That's so far loaded to the left that the scale tipped over.
  
  Fact: government-mandated healthcare makes health care less accessible and less simple. Also, if you can't afford healthcare now, get a job that doesn't involve a paper hat. Most people with a full-time job can afford health care as part of their work benefits.
  
  Furthering education is becoming less important to high school graduates because high school graduates are getting dumber, not strictly because they can't afford it. For the record, much of the cost of public colleges and universities is already defrayed for residents of those particular states. Obama's plan would do virtually nothing.
  
  The "job" issue is just absurd. Those programs are already in place and the only ones that actually work are the ones orchestrated by private organizations. It's a proven fact that increases in the minimum-wage hurt low-income wage earners more than they help.
  
  As for the troops, I wasn't a fan of us going into Iraq either but to just say as a blanket statement "we're going to end this war" is both naive and arrogant. Wars don't just end because we say they do. Wars end when the enemy gives up, generally because he is no longer living.

The upshot of all this is, I don't think you know what you believe. This makes sense because I don't think Obama knows what he believes either. But he has a nice voice and he's a big fan of HOPE so that makes everything OK.

[AZjonz]

Why wouldn't you if you're so confident in your positions?

If this discussion had began with this thread rather than the other, then you have created a civil discussion.

Let's not forget, we are anonymous message board posters and she is not.

[Kolzilla41]

so, did she post it or did someone else?

[Hold My Own]

She posted it in the Students for obama thread

[Kolzilla41]

ok, so she really isn't going to read what we reply anyway?

[jcmanson]

ok, so she really isn't going to read what we reply anyway?

Oh, she'll read, the only question is will she respond?

[jcmanson]

If I can convert just ONE person for Obama, it’s all worth it.

Sounds like the beginning of a cult to me.

[Kolzilla41]

ok, so she really isn't going to read what we reply anyway?

Oh, she'll read, the only question is will she respond?

most definitely not. I just became friends with her on facebook. Let's just say there are things that are less than friendly to the Liberty Way. Here's the thing, don't like the rules and atmosphere, leave. Don't stay just to be against the grain. That what I think she is doing.

[jcmanson]

Most of the questions some of you are asking her, she answers in her novel about why she supports Obama. One example:

Why does she not leave LU?

Many have asked me why I just don’t leave Liberty, for a different school. My answer is simple: There are people who run from adversity, and there are people who face it, tackle it, and try to change it. I am the latter.

[ToTheLeft]

Most of the questions some of you are asking her, she answers in her novel about why she supports Obama. One example:

Why does she not leave LU?

Many have asked me why I just don’t leave Liberty, for a different school. My answer is simple: There are people who run from adversity, and there are people who face it, tackle it, and try to change it. I am the latter.

But then she runs from answering questions from "staunch conservatives" so, is she really as brave as she wants us to think?

[thepostman]

This was sent to me by her and never said it was not good enough. I simply said it was not a clear picture of how Obama is going to bring change to politics. I want to know what Obama brings to the table that is any different then anybody that has ever ran. People can support whoever they like...but I really would love to know what does Obama actually plan to do?? I have yet to hear it because when you ask a supporter this question they get upset and act as if their initial response was not good enough

I will be honest I have no idea who I am going to vote for...the two major candidates aren't doing to for me...but Obama supporters just annoy me to no end because when you question them they act as if you are just a non-accepting conservative idiot...when in fact many would argue I am not that conservative...

oh well...

[Hold My Own]

Most of the questions some of you are asking her, she answers in her novel about why she supports Obama. One example:

Why does she not leave LU?

Many have asked me why I just don’t leave Liberty, for a different school. My answer is simple: There are people who run from adversity, and there are people who face it, tackle it, and try to change it. I am the latter.

LOL she can tackle a who University that opposes her but not 20 people on a message board...yeah ok...next try



I'll take "I got turned down from the Real World on MTV so this is my next best idea to become famous for $200 Alex"

[thesportscritic]

Most of the questions some of you are asking her, she answers in her novel about why she supports Obama. One example:

Why does she not leave LU?

Many have asked me why I just don’t leave Liberty, for a different school. My answer is simple: There are people who run from adversity, and there are people who face it, tackle it, and try to change it. I am the latter.

But then she runs from answering questions from "staunch conservatives" so, is she really as brave as she wants us to think?

if she doesn't want to hang around and challenge us then she aint brave. But then she tries to change the universities mindset and cant us internet posters where we are few in number challenging her compared to LU.

[Kolzilla41]

Here's the thing, we are not doing anything deviant against the political system, i.e. not allowing different races or women the right to vote. The left preaches tolerance and respect when it comes to other peoples' opinions. Why not honor that same view with Liberty. We are entitled to our opinions. Don't make a mockery of our school and the things we believe in. We have a right and if you don't like it ,leave.

[BarackNRoll08]

I know I said I was leaving, and I just told my field organizer that I wasn't going to post anything else, because it was doing more hurt than harm.

I just want to be honest and say this:

I probably get mad and defensive because I don't have all the answers. I honestly don't know all the details of what Obama is going to do, and how. All I know is I did research the candidates, starting in November, and Obama stood out to me. I didn't like bits and pieces of what others had to say, and Obama seemed to fit what I wanted in a President.

But like I said, I don't have all the answers, and I'm sorry. What was posted on why I support Obama, is all I have. I wish I had more, but that's it for now.

There, I've made this confession, and as long as I don't continued to be steamrolled by you guys, I'll stay and talk... if you want.

If not, I'll go.

I just wanted to let you all know this.

[Kolzilla41]

I promise to be civil

[jcmanson]

Good, we’ll play nice

[ToTheLeft]

That's much better than threatening to sue us.

But what you need to realize, and what all of us are screaming like maniacs, is that you don't know what Obama stands for, and what Obama will do as President, because NO ONE knows. He has limited experience, and really just talks using generalities and words like "Hope" and "Change"... and nothing of substance. He would be a great speaker for some cause, he is well dressed, well liked, and well spoken. All that does not make him a good president tho. He does stand out, he seems unique, he seems interesting, but that doesn't make him the best candidate.