Third and Final Debate

Last night was the third presidential debate.  Supposedly, it was only about foreign policy, but both candidates managed to throw a lot of domestic policy in there (specifically things about the economy).

Overall, Barack Obama won.  He was more knowledagble about foreign policy, as he should be, because these last four years?  They've been great foreign policy years by the US.  When Obama took office, many countries professed hatred for the US, due in no small part to the lack of finesse by George W. Bush.  One cannot expect a Texas Oil Man to deal fairly with other oil-producing nations.  However, after last night's debate, we cannot expect Mitt Romney to deal with our allies or our enemies with anything other than a strong arm.  Which sounds good, to some people at least.  But not in foreign policy, not in diplomacy.  It is important to be able to negotiate, both with allies and enemies, because hatred does not maintain world peace.

Barack Obama finally had some points where he attacked Mitt Romney and his flip-flops, as well as his gaffes.  Russia is not our number 1 geopolitical foe.  Russia is one of our strongest allies and most important friends.  Barack Obama did not say anything about one gaffe that Romney made last night, when he called President Putin, Mr. Putin.  That's a deep insult.  It would be akin to calling the President, Mr. Obama.  These titles are earned and should be reflected, especially by the man who wants to hold the reigns of our foreign policy.

To me, this debate(and the others), all concentrated too much on the economy. 

It's in some rough shape.  We, the middle class, need help to maintain our hold in the middle class and to ensure that the middle class continues to be the most creative portion of the US.  This is all true.  However, Romney's plan of creating 12 million new jobs sounds nice, but wait a moment, he just said(again and again) that government doesn't create jobs...so, where are these coming from?  He hasn't said.  Ever.

But the important issues of this campaign are not in the economy.  They are social issues, such as civil rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation.  They are women's rights, such as access to free contraception and legal, safe abortions.  They are environmental rights, such as oil on government lands.  They are preparing our students for the future by ensuring that our schools have improvement, but not at the cost of our teachers.  They are foreign policy issues, such as how to peacefully deal with Iran or how to ensure that the hatred of America does not overpower our commitment to peace in the world.  These are the issues that the President and Gov. Romney differ on.  These are the issues that the next four years will decide and maintain.

I do not want to live in a nation where Gov. Romney repeals my healthcare benefits.  I do not want to live a country where Gov. Romney ensures that the GLBT community are not citizens, same as me.   I do not want to live in a nation where women are forced to allow government into our bodies, simply so that we can enact our Right to choose.
If you do, vote for Romney.  But if you want a nation where we continue to grow in the world's vision, where our armies are built soundly, where civil rights and women's rights are fought for by our President, instead of fought against.  Then please, vote for Barack Obama. 

A last little tidbit.  Last night, Barack Obama wore a breast cancer awareness bracelet.  He supports me and my mother and my sister and my cousins and my aunts and my grandmothers.  He supports women.