“There is no way in hell I would try and get people to vote for Obama, as I actually give a damn about all the innocent men, women, and children he is threatening to murder in the Middle East. I will not be complicit in their deaths.”
Similar arguments are made on behalf of Ralph Nader who opposed the war before it began and for the last four years worked with Democracy Rising to help end the war. Nader has spoken at anti-war rallies and written extensively in opposition to the war.
Voters for Peace is a non-partisan organization that not advocate for any candidate. From the emails I receive from our members some peace voters are like Jodda – they see the Democratic Party leadership and Obama as continuing the current direction of U.S. foreign policy and will not support them deciding instead to vote for a third party of independent candidate who stands against militarism. These voters see that voting for what you want – an end to militarism – is more likely to get what you want. The history of the U.S. is replete with examples of voters whose issues were “off the table” forcing a paradigm shift by voting outside the two parties. Examples include abolition of slavery, voting rights for women, ending child labor, the forty hour work week, health care for the poor and elderly – all these issues were off the table until voters organized outside the two parties of the era.
Others are shocked to hear about Obama’s positions. They do not want to believe that his “ending” the war does not mean withdrawing all troops and mercenaries from Iraq. They do not want to know that Biden as Chairman of Foreign Relations aided Bush in misleading the country about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq by holding manipulated hearings. When these voters hear these and other facts they waiver, no longer sure for whom to vote.
Others take the Hayden position that Obama is the best peace voters can hope for, despite his flaws, and once he is elected he is more likely to be a president who can be influenced by public opinion.
But, the election is close that Obama needs the peace vote – all of it. Can he get it? Does he deserve it?
At this point it is up to the peace movement to demand Obama earn their votes and get on the side of the super majority that wants the Iraq war and occupation ended – really ended. Obama has the Iraqi government, the Iraqi people and the American people all in support of this position. Certainly he is a capable enough pol to side with the majority.
If Obama is unable to capture the vote of the vast majority of voters opposed to the war he has little chance of winning this election.
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