I voted for the first time Tuesday and cast my vote for Governor Romney. I was an undecided voter very late in the game, balancing my strong disapproval for Romney’s religiously-driven social policies and my belief that the President has failed to do what he promised four years ago: unite the country. The election now over and the political spinning calmed, I would like to give my full support to the President of the United States.
When I woke up on Wednesday, having gone to bed knowing President Obama secured a second term, I was not surprised to finds several tweets along the lines of “Good morning, America! Welcome to socialism . . .” While my ideology does not fall in line with much of the President’s, I believe it is time to take a deep breath and give him a chance.
Had Romney won the election, I would be saying the same thing to many of my liberal friends. Neither party is in the right. Democrats are simply able to be gracious in defeat this time.
We have real political differences that must be debated, and there are issues about which we hold firm convictions that cannot be changed. I am not proposing we become apathetic. Even though I disagree with President Obama (and would have disagreed with Governor Romney), I hope with all of my heart Obama succeeds.
When a Democrat is back in office, far too many conservatives will hope he fails. (Again, the opposite would also be true.) I could not care less if the economy is thriving under a Republican or a Democrat. I simply hope America stays safe and remains a force for good in the world.
George Washington warned in his farewell address that political parties could lead the country to ruins. This is valid, but I would combine it with the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln who said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
We may not be united in all our ideology, but as Americans we must be united in our desire to see America flourish, regardless of party affiliation.
Obama won the election Tuesday night, yet I support him today. I don’t agree with everything he has done or everything he will do. I do, however, understand this country is bigger than any one man. For the next four years, the President will do his best for America; and, I wish him only the best, not for him or his party, but for the generations of Americans, present and future, who stand to benefit from his triumphs.
Written by Harry Wexner ’13
