Why I am voting for Barack Obama

I am a middle aged woman with a career in law, a mother, and a wife. I am voting for Barack Obama for President.

Here’s why: We need a president who understands the boundaries of the US Constitution and respects the Rule of Law. Obama taught Constitutional Law at one of the most prestigious law schools in the country, University of Chicago, and has already shown the courage needed to stand by the Rule of Law, even in times of uncertainty. Steadfast belief in the Constitution is essential to democracy. According to Jane Mayer, in her book The Dark Side, immediately after September 11, 2001, the current administration improvised policies that ignored the restraints of the Constitution and international treaties. Decision making was concentrated into the hands of a few—Vice President Dick Cheney, his counsel David Addington, Donald Rumsfeld, Jay Bybee, and John Yoo--marginalizing those career professionals within the Departments of State, Defense, and Justice who questioned the legitimacy of their decisions and decision making processes.

We need a president who can restore our faith in the competency of government. Obama has surrounded himself with the best and the brightest of three generations of advisors. We need to rebuild our federal government so that it serves the interests of the people who work hard and pay their taxes. Cronyism and profiteering have marked this administration, whether it’s in New Orleans or Baghdad. Bush’s appointments have been ideological rather than based on knowledge and skill. Too many people have gotten rich off no-bid contracts; there has been no accountability, only scandal and profits for a few.

We need a president guided by a strong moral compass who can reclaim America's place as a beacon of opportunity and fairness. I can only hope that once in office he has the strength to maintain integrity; no one knows for sure what impact such power might have on any individual. To maintain a democracy here we need an engaged and informed electorate. Obama has inspired a new generation of young people to see themselves as part of the American community. We cannot win the hearts and minds of disillusioned men and women who have no hope, without living by example, making the United States once again the nation where people live "with liberty and justice for all."