Election Day

I don’t usually enter the political fray on my blog – I’m not a pundit, nor do I ever pretend to be. I
write about my inner life or parenting or a health crisis or even my dog’s illness, but I’ve never written about politics. With the presidential election just over a week away though, I feel the need to make my voice heard. And, even though I’m fairly certain I won’t sway anyone and I may very well alienate some of my readers, if there’s even the slightest chance that I might make just one person think twice before casting a vote, I’ve done my job as a writer, pundit or not.

In this election, everyone seems to be focused on Barack Obama’s failure to ignite the economy. But, he has done as much as anyone else would have accomplished in our crappy times with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and the middle class getting lost somewhere. Mitt Romney hasn’t really specified how he will improve the economy – only making mathematically impossible promises. But honestly, I don’t really care about the economy – I don’t think anyone can fix it quickly. It took eight years (and George Bush) to destroy it – it will likely take that long, or longer, to bring it back up.

I care about the fact that, promises of fixing the economy aside, Mitt Romney is just not good for women; the gay rights movement; animals; gun control; Planned Parenthood; Big Bird – all things
I hold in very high esteem. I feel like all of the progress that we have made as a country towards equality for everyone will slowly (or maybe even quickly) go down the drain. I love that I can tell my kids that it doesn’t matter whom you love, just that you love someone and the President of our country backs me up on that. I love that Vice President Biden sent a wedding card to the founder
of Long Island LGBT Services Network, David Kilmnick, when he married his longtime partner.

I love that my son – after learning that in the Jewish religion a child follows the religion of the mother – thought to ask me if there are two moms or two dads of different religions, which religion does the child follow? Ten years ago – even five years ago – that question would not even cross the mind of a seven year old. But, thanks in part to President Obama and Vice President Biden, we live in a world where a gay teenager can think, “I don’t have to hide” – or, at least we’re getting much closer to that world. I saw an interview with Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family and he teared up when he spoke about how much it means to have President Obama support gay marriage – to say that everyone deserves the right to be happy. Mitt Romney has stated that he believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman. That it’s a privilege for gay couples to be able to visit
each other in the hospital, not a right. Paul Ryan has said the same. It is a dangerous path we are on, if these two men seize the right to tell us whom we may love; whom we may officially spend the rest of our lives with.

It is an equally dangerous path we be will skidding down if these two men tell women what we can and can’t do with our bodies. If they reverse years of free choice, because of their religious ideology, I really think I will move to Canada. Paul Ryan was nothing short of frightening during the vice presidential debate when he declared that he can’t condone a woman’s right to choose, because of his religion. There is a reason for the separation of church and state. We need to fight to keep it that
way.

Of course Mr. Ryan stated that abortions should be allowed in the cases of rape or incest – but, do we really want Republicans deciding what constitutes rape? Not after Todd Akins (R-MO)
astoundingly asinine comments about how during “legitimate rape” a woman’s body shuts down and therefore she can’t get pregnant. What in the world is legitimate rape? If a husband rapes his wife is that not legitimate, because he’s her husband and it’s his right to take his wife whenever he wants? Probably, according to Mr. Akin. What about a college girl who has been drinking and
takes a walk with a boy she thinks is nice, but who refuses to take “no” for an answer? Is that not legitimate rape, because she was drinking, so she had it coming to her? I’m fairly certain the terrifying answer to that question would be a resounding, “YES!” That saddens and infuriates me.

The outlook for a woman’s right to choose should Republicans gain control got even shakier with Richard Mourdock, Indiana's Tea Party Senate candidate, recently stating that pregnancies that stem from rape, however horrible, are "something that God intended to happen." So, Republicans – which is it, a woman’s body shuts down and she can’t get pregnant, therefore abortion in the case of rape should be illegal (unless of course it’s “legitimate” rape – as defined by old men) or is it God’s will and “a divine gift” when a woman who is raped gets pregnant and therefore abortion in the case of rape should be illegal? Oh wait, it doesn’t matter – either way abortion in the case of rape should be illegal in both Mourdock and Akin’s views, regardless of the circumstances. Mitt Romney and most other Republicans have distanced themselves from these comments, of course – but, this is just a preview of what might happen if Romney appoints those pro-life Supreme Court justices he’s promised.

Along with a woman’s right to choose, Planned Parenthood and employee covered birth control benefits will likely go out the window if the Romney / Ryan ticket succeeds, as well. And equal pay for equal work? It will a far off dream again. Forget for a moment the infamous, “Binders full of women,” comment and just pay attention to the misogynistic overtones this election year is just rife with. I for one feel like a second class citizen in the eyes of Republicans this year – worse than ever. You may not like President Obama, but I believe him when he says that he wants to make sure his daughters have the same rights as men when they grow up.

As proof, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Act, which allows a woman to fight for equal pay for equal work – in fact it was the first piece of legislation he signed as president on January 29, 2009. Paul Ryan voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Mitt Romney has refused to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would “close loopholes in existing pay equity law and would give additional funding to programs that help women close the gender pay gap.” Again, forget the “Binders full of women” comment and focus solely on Romney and Ryan’s records. They speak for themselves.

I could go on and on about why I think Barack Obama is the better choice for president – Romney is in bed with the NRA and will very likely loosen gun laws; he wants to give Big Bird the boot and ax PBS; he’s not even nice to dogs – having left his dog in a carrier on his car roof for a twelve hour ride and is listed on not one, but national animal cruelty registries – InHumane.org and pet-abuse.com. But, I’m probably not going to change any minds – if you’re a Romney supporter, my views likely won’t make a difference. But, if you’re on the fence – maybe, just maybe I’ve said enough to make you think twice before casting your vote for the future.