Much has been made of the fact that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama appeals to the youth vote. Indeed, a recent Gallup/USA Today/MTV poll of registered voters 18 to 29 years old shows Obama leading Republican candidate John McCain by 61%-32%, “the most lopsided contest within an age group in any presidential election in modern times”, according to USA Today. While McCain has a more favorable standing with older voters who prefer him 52%-39%, today we’re going to hear from one older voter who bucks that trend. Please welcome today’s guest blogger, long-time Old Greenwich resident MARGE ROBBEN.
I think I may be an elitist. I think I may be a “typical” white woman. I think I may cling to analyzing and intellectualization when I find things falling apart around me. I can’t understand why people do not think the way I think. I think I may be naïve. I think I may be a dreamer.
I am 74 years old and near the end of my days. I thought that trying to change the world was behind me. Lately, I have been thinking about taking my sisters’ advice, “Slow down, sit by the beach with a book and sip lemonade.”
I have always been interested in how people interact. My curious nature led me to college at age 36 when my fifth child was ready for kindergarten. I wanted to know all there was to know about sociology and psychology and why people behave the way they do. I wanted to know what all the smart people knew.
At night I used the TV news programs to fall asleep. During one of those evenings while watching election results I was inspired by a young man who won a Senate seat from Illinois. I followed his progress through the years, read his books and was very impressed. He had a tongue-twister of a name: Barack Obama.
Before Obama I wasn’t much interested in politics except for one brief moment when John F. Kennedy rode down Hempstead Turnpike on Long Island just before his election. It was a cold autumn day and my husband and I along with our five children and one baby carriage ran several blocks to where his motorcade was going by. There he was, standing in an open car, hair blowing in the wind, coat opened, big smile on his face waving to us all. Those were happy days.
The happy days were soon followed by very sad ones. Three great American men killed: John, Martin, and Bobby. Politics were too painful. Over and over I would ask, “Why do people kill great people?” Is it because they are different from the ordinary? Is it because they want to “change” things?
Change is Obama’s campaign platform. He wants to change and fix things that do not work. He wants change in all aspects of American life – foreign relations, education, and economics. He wants to bring our troops home. He wants to make health care available and affordable, and make the drug companies accountable.
Barack Obama to me is humble, empathic, and extremely intelligent. He has street smarts, and is hopeful, spiritual, loyal, and optimistic. He loves his family and they love him. He has a sense of humor and an infectious wide smile and he’s slow to anger.
He listens to others. He can think on his feet and sees where the problems lie. He is loyal and emotionally stable. He is wise beyond his years. He has a calm and serene temperament. He has an innate ability to know when something is right or wrong. He is a great teacher!
On Memorial Day this past May, I bumped into an old friend. When she saw me she rushed to greet me with a big warm hug. I was wearing my favorite patriotic sweater and my just purchased Obama hat. She glanced at my head and shouted for all to hear, “You are a disgrace to your country, Margie!” I felt dizzy, like I was going to fall over. The word “disgrace” hit me like a ton of bricks. The pain in my chest was incredible. I turned from her and I started to walk away and never went back.
I know she did not mean to hurt me. I think she was threatened by who Barack Obama is and his message of “change”. I believe I was the victim of her fear.
The opposing political party, like my friend, has launched their own attack against Obama. They use ridicule and distortions to attack him. They also seem to be afraid of change. McCain proposes the same platform as the President for the last eight years.
Younger Americans, like I was many years ago, do not have time to sort the truth from fiction. They are too busy. This can be a dangerous situation today because truth in America is a rare commodity. In all areas of life, lying and deceit is a national pastime.
Until November 4th, I will continue to organize non-partisan Voter Registrations as a gift from the Obama Campaign. I am out there dragging a table and two chairs to the beaches, parks, and storefronts signing up unregistered citizens.
My greatest hope is that Barack Obama wins the Presidency of the United States.
My worst nightmare is that fear will win out over change and that Barack Obama will lose the election and I will sadly be saying on the morning of November 5, 2008, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
on Oct 7th, 2008 at 10:20 am
How could a mother of 5 vote for a man that says killing unborn children is a woman’s right and then end her comments with Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. I say Father forgive her for she is lost and she has bought into the lie that God’s Word (The Bible) is not truth.
on Oct 9th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Yes – most of us – here in Old Greenwich, Ct. – know and respect ‘Marge’ – and all her family members.
I consider Marge’s husband – John – a true friend – a very ‘Good Man’ and a man of ‘Honor’ – I’m proud to call ‘John’ my friend.
Yes – ‘Marge’ – I respect your choice for president – however -I for one – think these
‘Radical Liberals’ should not control our future.
Yes – I want do everything I can to prevent ‘Radical Liberals’ from seizing control of our future.
Walk towards the ‘Light’ – ‘Marge’ – bring ‘Alan Colmes’ a-long with you! Mr Sean Hannity – Mr. Rush Limbaugh – and yes – even Mr. Bill O’Reilly – will be glad to see you come out of the ‘Darkness’!
We all love you – ‘Marge’ – and we are here to help you – ‘See The Light’!!
Warmest Regards – from your ‘Ole Buddy Morgan’
on Oct 10th, 2008 at 11:23 am
With all due respect to Mr. Saunders, I find it really hard to understand how anyone can consider a someone who voted to allow the CIA to continue torturing as McCain did “The Light”.
I was brought up believe in the USA as an example to other nations of freedom, of democracy, of doing “the right thing”. Eight years under the current Administration has besmirched that image and we need someone who will bring us back to our core values. I do not think it is “radical liberal” to want to restore our fundamental civil liberties, to protect our constitution, to say “The US does not torture” and to really mean it.
We’ve spent eight years in “The Darkness”. That’s long enough.
on Oct 10th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
So glad not to see your ‘Negative Comments’ in Greenwich Time – you really are a ‘Far-Left-Loon’ and most of us here in town know it!
Yes – Sarah Littman – There Is No La La Land!
on Oct 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Corruption creates both victims and villains – just ask Mr. Joseph F. Pisani!
on Oct 10th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I just read Marge’s letter in the High Country Press, published in Boone, NC. If the Republicans
had courted Marge Robben, instead of Ms. Palin, they might have stood a chance. Rock on, sister!
I too beliebe that Barac IS the real deal.
on Oct 11th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Well – I was born in Henderson County,
Hendersonville – North Carolina – Nancy – very pleased to read your post – now – you and sister Marge – both join hands – and walk towards the light – yes – out of the darkness – my dears!
Hee Hee Hee
on Oct 11th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
It’s become fashionable to blur right and wrong –
just ask Mr. Joseph F. Pisani!!
on Oct 11th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
If anyone is tired of reading and would like to sit back and listen to Marge’s message you can visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBEMa2GJh6U
on Oct 13th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Tired of reading – Never!!
Autumn’s subtle arrival brings wisp of sadness!
Just ask: Mr. Joseph F. Pisani!!
on Oct 16th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
“Father, Forgive them, they know not what they do” is a quote from the Bible. How in the world could use a quote from the Bible when you are referring to Barack Obama? He is an avid supporter of abortion and euthanasia. I’m not sure you are aware of this, but that is MURDER!!! You asked “Why do people kill great people?” Have you ever considered that the unborn children that are being slaughtered everyday could have been great leaders in our great country if they had only been given a chance? They ARE alive and what Obama is supporting is murder. Your described him as “spiritual” and “He has an innate ability to know when something is right or wrong.” Where I come from murder is not spiritual!
You call Obama “loyal” but when the media started to discover the absolutely horrid, unpatriotic things the reverends were saying he was very quick to get out of there. He said he had not heard the nasty things being said there in all the 20 years that he had gone to the Church. One of the reverends, Reverend Write, (one of the many reverends saying these things) there was his spiritual advisor, for goodness sake. I doubt it is even physically possible not to hear one of the many spiteful comments being said there.
You also said, “He can think on his feet and sees where the problems lie.” In last night’s debate he was stuttering and unclear when he began his answers, whereas John McCain was quite clear and to the point. That isn’t thinking on his feet. Yet another example is in his interview with Bill O’Reilly. Mr. O’Reilly kept challenging him to be short and to the point, and he couldn’t do it! He had long answers that rarely answered Mr. O’Reilly’s questions.
Ms. Robben, John McCain is not Gorge Bush! He will bring a better kind of change than Obama could. He will use the right and proper ways of doing things, because he has the experience that Obama doesn’t have (meeting with dictators, without pre-conditioning…not smart!). John McCain will actually help America instead of hurting it.
And to sarahdarerlittman John McCain does not support torture! Even Obama gave him credit on so passionately opposing it!! (Check the facts!)
I would like everyone to know that I’m 12 years old (a youth) and I do NOT support Obama! God Bless you and your families! Go John McCain!
on Oct 17th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Except when it’s done by the CIA. Check your facts. And check his vote in the Senate. He passionately opposed it, and I admired him for it, until he didn’t, and I lost my respect for him after that.