Most people would not take me for a Republican. It’s the frizzy hair. I scanned the Republican National Convention on TV, and there were no curly mops like mine.  That is not to infer some genetic or racial difference, only that the Republicans, in general, choose more conservative hairstyles. I am frequently mistaken for a vegetarian, and I chant “Om” during yoga. Of course, those are just outward signs, easily misconstrued. In fact, superficially, my husband might look at home at the convention – the short hair, suits, ties and glasses. A Rolex watch from graduation. We’ve reached a certain age and have attained a certain economic status that might push us toward the party that wishes to conserve what they have in life, but we have never voted for a Republican presidential candidate, and so far, support Democratic causes.

We come from very different backgrounds, my husband and I, but are surprisingly in agreement on many political issues – not that we always vote the same way. We might be labeled liberals, in the sense that we support such things as gay marriage, pro-choice legislation, affirmative action, first amendment rights. Neither of us were in favor of sustaining the war in Iraq, and both of us feel that the second President Bush has not been a strong leader for these times. I am perhaps the more extreme, favoring universal health coverage and in fact, believing there will not be true gender equity in the workplace until quality childcare is supported by government measures. In my heart of hearts, I think the day will come when the government pays reparations to those families who were harmed by slavery or forced relocations. The invisible guiding hand of capitalism needs a second hand for social policies. Don’t we have two hands for a reason?

Yet, to see us at home with the family, someone might think, “These people are so straight, they’re square.” To begin with, we pray before dinner, every night. We rarely drink; we don’t do drugs; we barely swear. We honor our marriage vows, and pay our bills on time. We try not to incur debt, and to invest wisely, preferring real estate as our investment of choice. My husband is treasurer of his church, and I thank God that I have never had to consider abortion.  Pay taxes, no cheating. Careful drivers, law abiding types. We are so personally conservative, you might think we were….

Here’s the kicker.  I’m supporting Obama, but I really kind of like McCain. Not that I agree with all his ideas or world view. But, unlike our current president, the man has some perspective.  In his convention speech, he said that his imprisonment and suffering was a blessing in his life. The experience humbled him and made him realize the necessity of having a cause in life greater than personal success.  Funny thing, I spoke similar words about my own youthful difficulties in a lay sermon at church, borrowing from St. Paul’s scripture, “I have reveled in adversity”.  I’m sure that Obama has a flexible mind and the benefit of multiple perspectives. He’s known struggle and loss, but he’s been pretty darn successful, a lesson in overcoming odds. The experience he lacks is failure, personal and political, for which there is no substitute. Obama gets my vote for president, but McCain gets my vote as a real grown-up, imperfections and all. 

It’s so easy to despair of politics, but somehow I’m able to sleep OK at night, thinking that one of these men or the other will be leading the country. If Obama fails to win, he’ll be the better candidate for next time.  If McCain wins, I believe he has enough strength of character to make his own decisions. What’s happened to me?  I seem to have traveled so far left I’m meeting myself coming the other way.