By TJ Edouard

I should start this off by saying I am an African-American. My great-great grandparents were freed slaves in North Carolina. I am very proud of my family’s heritage and our advancement as black American citizens from poverty to prosperity. I am equally proud of Americans for supporting black President-elect Barack Obama. I am proud of black Americans for going out and voting. That is probably where my racial pride ends and my racial frustration begins.

I did not vote for Obama. If I could vote again, I still would not vote for Barack Obama. I would not vote for him in a house. I would not vote for him with a mouse. I did not vote for him not only because I am a Republican. If I could have voted in 2004, it would not have been for President Bush. I did not vote for him because he is way too idealistic, his policies and campaign promises are lacking in substance. He does not have enough experience. His voting history is extremely liberal-not that there is anything wrong with being liberal; I just completely disagree with his ideals. For example, in the debate held here at the University, he circled around his motives to deny protection to infants born during “partial birth” abortions. As a conservative (and Calvinist Christian), I would say that those who do not preserve this most fragile life should be thrown in jail for murder. Doctor AND mother. But that is just my opinion-I am entitled to it, as unwelcoming as it may be to some.

However, I was enraged by the amount of other African-Americans who voted for Obama simply because he is black. And these-from my observations-represented the majority of African-Americans. Even Howard Stern did a segment on his show when he asked blacks in Harlem why they were voting for Obama-and he made complete fools of them. Sadly, he might as well come to the University. When “Barack Obama President-Elect” appeared on the TV screen, the first three comments I heard were “We are painting the White House black!,” “I’ll never have to pay back my student loans!” (which I heard about six to eight times Tuesday night) and “Oh my God! A black president!” Yes, they even included blasphemy in their ignorant statements. Of course, racist McCain supporters don’t get off easily either. Nevertheless, I am not white and from Arkansas… if I were I might be writing a very different article right now.

I’m not saying that all the African-Americans who voted for the Obama ticket were on a race-based agenda. My fellow student, junior Jaren Crump, a liberal and Democrat, and I, have had very informative conversations on the issues, and I must say I was temporarily persuaded. I know that he is intelligent and he knows exactly what he was talking about. I understand that since Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal, blacks have floated to the Democratic Party.

I also accept race can be a reason why one would vote for a candidate. But it is unacceptable when that is the only reason. This is no better than the Bradley effect in the 1982 California governor race. The fact that the candidate is African-American should not be the reason record numbers of a certain minority group votes. Ann Coulter once said we should reinstate the poll tax and literacy tests to keep people from voting. I say we should have a pop-quiz in every poll booth. You don’t know how many seats are in the Senate? Sorry, you don’t get to vote this round. Try again in four years! It may not be a constitutional idea, but I am sure it will benefit us tremendously.

Would I have written this viewpoint if Obama lost the presidential race and McCain was the President-elect? Yes. Why? Because it needed to be said. I’m sure some Americans have felt this way but were afraid of the PC-Police. When it comes down to it, we are all fellow Americans. Barack Obama is my President. As a bitter Republican, I project the country will fall apart on itself and Democrats will curse the day they were born.

As a Christian, I am looking for the healing of homes and families. As an American, I am sure Obama will do a good job and I am proud of my country.

TJ Edouard is a junior liberal arts student. You may e-mail him at [email protected].