Get Off Your Ass And Vote!!!

This Rolling Stone interview with President Obama is really good reading. Not a lot of strawmen but some real straight forward and somewhat tough questions. Some answers were great some not as much so in my opinion but at least President Obama didn't really run from anything that was asked. But its the ending of the piece that really grabbed my attention. Im sure you will see some firebaggers in the blogosperhe use it as "just another example of hippie punching" but they couldn't be more wrong. Its President Obama speaking to people like they are adults and putting the midterm elections in perspective for the Democrats who are talking about staying home. Here is the whole thing in context. I think it should be emailed, tweeted, facebooked, and hell telegramed if necessary to every Democrat in the country.

[Signaled by his aides, the president brings the interview to a close and leaves the Oval Office. A moment later, however, he returns to the office and says that he has one more thing to add. He speaks with intensity and passion, repeatedly stabbing the air with his finger.]


One closing remark that I want to make: It is inexcusable for any Democrat or progressive right now to stand on the sidelines in this midterm election. There may be complaints about us not having gotten certain things done, not fast enough, making certain legislative compromises. But right now, we've got a choice between a Republican Party that has moved to the right of George Bush and is looking to lock in the same policies that got us into these disasters in the first place, versus an administration that, with some admitted warts, has been the most successful administration in a generation in moving progressive agendas forward.


The idea that we've got a lack of enthusiasm in the Democratic base, that people are sitting on their hands complaining, is just irresponsible.


Everybody out there has to be thinking about what's at stake in this election and if they want to move forward over the next two years or six years or 10 years on key issues like climate change, key issues like how we restore a sense of equity and optimism to middle-class families who have seen their incomes decline by five percent over the last decade. If we want the kind of country that respects civil rights and civil liberties, we'd better fight in this election. And right now, we are getting outspent eight to one by these 527s that the Roberts court says can spend with impunity without disclosing where their money's coming from. In every single one of these congressional districts, you are seeing these independent organizations outspend political parties and the candidates by, as I said, factors of four to one, five to one, eight to one, 10 to one.


We have to get folks off the sidelines. People need to shake off this lethargy, people need to buck up. Bringing about change is hard — that's what I said during the campaign. It has been hard, and we've got some lumps to show for it. But if people now want to take their ball and go home, that tells me folks weren't serious in the first place.


If you're serious, now's exactly the time that people have to step up.

I have blogged before about why I vote and nothing has changed. My ancestors fought too damn hard for me to have the right for me not to use it and honor them. Even if I thought every person running sucked I would write in a name on my ballot.

But in this election I am happy to vote because the stakes are just too damn high. People laugh and point at the Tea Baggers but if Democrats stay home guess who the hell will be running this country. And you can try to pretend that a handful of Senators won't make that big of a deal but then I will point you in the direction of President DeMint who has now granted himself de facto veto authority over any and all legislation set to come to the floor before they recess for the midterms. I will be got damned if I stay home and not do all I can to prevent any more of these jackasses from taking office.

And I don't really care if people are offended by what President Obama said. If you are willing to take your ball and go home even in the face that all he has done because of some of the things he and the Democratic Congress didn't do then you are a got damn fool and you were never serious about change to begin with. It seems impossible but moreso than Republicans or Independents having amnesia about what life was like with Bush and a Republican Congress it seems to be some liberals and progressives who have forgotten. Well I haven't and I never will. I am not going to allow the country to be dragged back in that direction because some of yall's feelings are hurt if I have anything to say about it.

Its time to grow up and get over yourselves and get back in the damn game. You can be pissed that you only got 60 or 70 percent of what you wanted and vote in hopes of getting the rest, or you can whine and bitch and moan and not vote and not only NOT get any of what you do want, but also get 100% of the shit you don't.

Your choice.