Have a Meaningful Vote PLEASE

In an attempt to not reveal which presidential candidate I will be voting for on November 4th, I will try to be as neutral as possible with what I am about to say. I debated whether I should even write about it, but I can't help myself. So here it goes...

I was listening to the radio the other day, and the DJ was asking listeners to call in and tell who they were voting for and why. One person called in and said 'I'm voting for Obama because he's black.' Another said 'I'm voting for McCain because Palin is hot.' Since when did race or sex become a factor in elections? Both of those statements are extremely scary, and what is even more frightening is there are probably more voters out there that have this mindset. What does Obama's race have to do with what he is going to do for our country's economy? Or what does McCain's running mate's attractiveness have to do with what he is going to do for our country's health care? A respectful voter supports the candidate that stands for what he or she stands for. What if the person who is voting for Obama "because he is black" is pro-life? Or what is the person who is voting for McCain "because Palin is hot" is pro-choice?

I understand that there has never been a black man in office, nor a female VP. But with all due respect, it isn't about getting the first black man, or first female in office. Whenever the time comes for either of these to happen, it will be a great day in history for equality. However, the election should not be about getting blacks or feminists ahead. It should be about raw facts. In past elections, people did not vote for Bill Clinton because he was white, nor did they vote for Ronald Reagan because he was attractive. People voted for these men because they agreed for what they stood for and what they could do for our country. It should not be any different in this election.

This election will probably yield the highest amount of voters in our nation in a long time. And with good reason too. This election will also be extremely pivotal and dictate which direction our country will be headed towards. Don't you think as an American citizen, given the power to choose who will lead us, you can put more thought into your vote besides race and sex? Be educated about who these candidates are, and what they stand for. Be educated on whether you agree or disagree with their stance on these important issues. Be educated on what is going on with our country right now. With all this informtion, then assess who you think is the most qualified person to be the President of the United States. Rock the vote does not just mean register and vote for whoever. It means take control of your vote, and let your educated voice be heard.

So no matter who you decide to vote for, make it meaningful. People will respect your vote more if you say "I'm voting for Obama because I agree with the plan he has outlined for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan" versus "because he's black". Or if you say "I'm voting for McCain because I think he has the experience and wisdom to lead our country" versus "because Palin is hot".