The Cost Of Hope.

I know I'm not the only one disappointed by Obama's recent decisions (supporting the telecommunications bill, forgoing public funding).  In fact, it's probably easier for me to deal with what some see as his sudden change in direction: I wasn't one of his ardent supporters during his primary campaigns.  I voted for Clinton and remained a Clinton supporter throughout the entire primary, not because I didn't recognize her downfalls, bad decisions, and political game playings, but because nothing about Obama counteracted her positive points enough to pull me to his side.  People tried to convince me, but unfortunately his speeches and message did nothing to inspire me nor give me enough hope.

But after he won I did remain hopeful that he would turn into that next great president that so many believe he could be.  And I certainly never thought that those hopes would be squashed so quickly.  I don't know how anybody could not turn into a "politician" within the U.S. political sphere, but I thought he was stronger; I thought he would hold out longer, at least through the presidential election, before acquiescing to political spin and bad decisions made in the name of image.

The worst is that now I know in November I'll be going into my ballot box to cast my vote between "two evils"... again.  Although I supported Clinton, I was excited about both candidates.  Come November I was planning on voting for Obama with pride.  Will I still vote for him?  Pending some drastic change, yes.  But unless he explains his recent decisions in a way that reinstates my belief in him then I won't do so with any sort of pride.  I will vote for him only because he's not McCain.