Woodstock Early Bird knows that the majority of people in our little hamlet already know who they would like to lead the U.S. for the next four years.
We doubt very much whether our endorsement of the current President makes one iota of difference to anyone. Most of you have probably seen our bumper sticker: “I Ride Inside: Dogs Against Romney”.
We could go into a long list of reasons we’ll stay the course with President Obama but suffice it to say that we are no worse off than four years ago and that sometimes “no news is good news”.
We like to keep her steady and fear that much like a sailboat with the skittish skipper reacting to changing winds pulling the tiller too hard to port or starboard, Candidate Mitt Romney might end up throwing us overboard.
While some may say we are “becalmed” under President Obama, Woodstock Early Bird, would rather wait for a better wind and set sail when the next easy breeze is up.
Nope, we didn’t like the President sending in more troops to Afghanistan and yup, we have to admit we questioned whether bailing out the auto industry was the way to go. But, we see that troops are being drawn down and that several U.S. car companies are doing better. We also appreciate that — so far — Church and State are not following us into the medical examination room to tell our well-trained doctors how to treat us.
In matters purely personal rather than political, we think the President has a natural empathy lacking in Mr. Romney. Although it was an isolated statement to private campaign contributors, we still think the “heart and soul” of Romney is contained in his words revealing contempt for the 47% of the United States — which would include quite a few Woodstockers who get up early and go to bed late to make ends meet. Not to mention Romney’s treatment of his poor Irish Setter (that one really sticks in our craw..) And about Romney’s visit to Vermont — it had nothing to do with pizza boxes — you already know how Woodstock Early Bird feels about the candidate’s rudeness in not even saying hello to Woodstockers or acknowledging our presence.
In matters of far greater importance, in particular those of financial security, equal pay for women and reproductive rights, we want a President who continues to work for financial opportunity, equality and a President who continues to respect existing hard-fought laws of the land. On many fronts, Mr. Romney would apparently like to take us all back in time. We would like to move forward.
We note that Woodstock’s weekly newspaper , The Vermont Standard, is also endorsing Barack Obama for President today. We appreciate this from a generally conservative, pro-business Republican publisher who is nonetheless of the breed of no nonsense, common sense Vermonter who we have always had the utmost respect. This is someone (and his Board) who does not “toe” the party line but who goes with the best candidate — Republican, Independent or Democrat. What a breath of fresh air that is!
In this particular election, Woodstock Early Bird prefers middle-of-the-road, even boring, even less-than-stellar President Barack Obama to Republican candidate Mitt Romney who is clearly being pulled far to the extremes by politicians and religious leaders who wish to steer his course. And that, to Woodstock Early Bird, is the problem: President Obama, for better and not much worse, is setting and sailing his own steady course. With Romney at the helm, following the whims of others, we might end up waay too far to leeward and on the rocks.
All of this said, we’d now like to have a little fun. We share with you a Halloween-specific “campaign ad” from Joss Whedon, a film director, who seems to have some additional thoughts for you to consider before you enter the voting booth and consider the possibility of a Romney presidency:
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 