Open Letter to the Candidates

To Senators John McCain and Barack Obama:

I do not write this as a Republican or as a Democrat, but as an American. I do not write this as a man or a woman, but as a person. It does not matter whether I have a high school diploma, a college degree, or a PhD. It does not matter if I make $20,000 a year or $20 million. What matters is that I am a voter, and I have a message to you, our esteemed presidential candidates.

During the Democratic National Convention last week, John Kerry gave a speech that I found particularly interesting. He said, “…Let’s compare Senator McCain to candidate McCain.” In this comparison, Kerry lists several issues on which Senator McCain (dare I say it?) “flip-flopped”. Mr. Kerry goes on to say, “Talk about being for it before you’re against it.” At least Mr. Kerry had the grace to acknowledge that he too has changed his mind in the past. However, what I would like to see, just once, is a politician who can tell the truth: every politician will change his or her stance on at least one major issue in a national election.

I want to hear this truth so badly that I have written your speech for you. I challenge you to deliver it. I challenge you to earn, if not the votes, then at least the respect of the American people.

The American people hunger for truth, honesty, and integrity in a political arena that is rife with lies, slander, and manipulation. It is time for this hunger to be slaked; it is time for an honest, open dialogue.

One of the biggest hurdles to such a dialogue is the never-ending political maneuvering that inevitably results in terms such as the infamous “flip-flopper.” It has now become common practice to label an opponent as indecisive if he or she has ever altered an opinion. But now, it’s time to be real, and it’s time to be honest.

I have changed my mind more than once. I am willing to bet that each of you has as well. The fact of the matter is that my past policy decisions were made as a representative of a single state. Until now, my constituency has consisted of a subset of the general American public. Throughout my service to my state, I have made a concentrated effort to protect the best interests of the people who put me in office.

In order to represent my country instead of my state, I have had to alter some of my policy goals. This does not mean that I am indecisive. This means that I am pragmatic enough to set aside some of my personal opinions and my past decisions in order to best serve my country. This means that I am responsible enough to alter my decisions to meet the needs of my country. This means that I recognize my own fallibility, and that I correct my errors.

I stand before you as a candidate for President, and I offer this promise: If elected President, I will continue to protect the best interests of the people who put me office—you, the American public.

I am disappointed in you, candidates. I expected better from the two of you. I expected the maverick, the man who reaches across the aisle, the man who does not kneel before the G.O.P., the proponent of clean campaigning, and a victim of Karl Rove’s tactics to be strong enough, wise enough, mature enough, and self-assured enough to be above negative campaigning. I expected the Washington outsider, the face of change, the bright and shining beacon of political hope, the Kennedy-esque newcomer to be idealistic enough, honest enough, and committed enough to be above the worn tactics of past politics.

Instead, I am watching history repeat itself. Turning on a cable news network is like stepping into a time machine that forces me back to 2000 and 2004. When did Presidential campaigns become television reruns?

This country needs a change, but neither of you will deliver it. Instead, no matter who wins or loses, I fear that America will be treated to four more years of the same tired rhetoric. You have both lost my vote. To earn it back, all I ask is that you step away from your red, white, and blue platform, take off the microphone, turn off the teleprompter, and be honest.

Sincerely,

A Frustrated Voter