May 10th, 2008

Dear West Virginia

I am a hard working, middle class white man and I voted for Barack Obama.

I was born in New York as the youngest of seven children. My sister went to Wheeling College in West Virginia and I remember visiting on several occasions and being impressed with the natural beauty of the State (and the stories of trolls under the bridge on campus). Perhaps that is why I felt compelled to write this letter.

I now live in Bellingham, Washington with my wife and three daughters. It’s beautiful here too. But as beautiful as West Virginia and Washington are, we’re all feeling a bit squeezed lately – in our homes, at the gas pumps, the doctor’s office and in line at the checkout.

Hilary Clinton wants to give us a holiday from the high gas prices by waiving the gas tax during the summer months. Sure, this will save us a few cents per gallon; but it is short-sighted and fails to address the core problems that cause prices to rise at the pumps. Experts agree that a gas tax holiday isn’t a good idea:

“…More than 230 economists — Democrats, Republicans, advisers to past presidents and four Nobel laureates — signed a letter today opposing proposals by Clinton and presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain to suspend the 18-cent federal gas tax for the summer driving season…” continue reading

This country needs more than political grandstanding at this time. Our problems require lasting and meaningful solutions. Unfortunately, politicians who serve Federal lobbyists are akin to CEOs who pander to shareholders; and the customer rarely benefits when these relationships exist. In government, the ‘customer’ is us. You and me. The white guy working hard to afford health care for his family and the black woman who is working a part-time job through high school so that she can afford a college tuition.

Barack Obama is different. He isn’t tied to promises that he made to Federal lobbyists because he didn’t take any money from them. He is only accountable to us; the growing number of Americans who share his desire to perfect this union by refocusing our priorities on those things that are meaningful to our lives. Luckily for us, he is one of the few politicians who believes in government accountability and transparency.

“…Americans have the right to know how their tax dollars are spent, but that information has been hidden from public view for too long. That’s why Barack Obama and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) passed a law to create a Google-like search engine to allow regular people to approximately track federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and loans online. The Chicago Sun-Times wrote, “It would enable the public to see where federal money goes and how it is spent. It’s a brilliant idea…” continue reading

Senator Obama wants us to be involved in the process of making America peaceful and prosperous again. And you know what? We need to be. No politician or senate committee is going to make the necessary changes without us guiding them as key stakeholders.

Voting in the upcoming primary in West Virginia is your opportunity to be an active participant in the process. But it’s only the beginning. We need to continually make our voices heard. We need to support the type of leadership that inspires us to improve rather than that which seeks to oppress us with fear, divisiveness and mistrust.

Senator Clinton’s recent and calculated remarks during an interview with USA Today illustrates the choice we have right now before us. We can buy into her suggestion that we are divided and allow stereotypical labels to hold us back from real change; or we can band together, behind Senator Obama, and participate in his call for change from business as usual in Washington.

“…I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on,” she said in an interview with USA TODAY. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article “that found how Sen. Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me…” continue reading

The reality is that rising inflation, high unemployment, exorbitant health insurance premiums and the consequences of our continued occupation in Iraq do not discriminate. Our problems are the same, whether we are a hard working white man or a hard working black man or a hard working latino man or a hard working woman of any race, religious affiliation and sexual preference.

Please vote in this important primary election and make it clear that we will not be distracted anymore by the divisive politics played to win the race rather than serve the people. We need to focus on the issues and we need our next president to focus on the issues. Barack Obama is the only candidate accountable only to us.

Let’s make a bold statement in West Virginia on May 13th. If you’re not registered to vote, get registered. When you go to vote, bring your friends and family with you.

Recent polls suggest that Senator Clinton has an enormous lead in the State. The odds are against us. But it can be done. We can make history together on Tuesday. But only if we work together and don’t get distracted by partisan or political attempts to divide us.

Early voting has already begun in West Virginia. For information about voting in the West Virginia primary election or to find information about voter registration in your area, click here.

It’s time to take our country back. Let’s start on Tuesday. Let’s start in West Virginia.

Best regards

Tom O’Leary
openlettertowestvirginia@yahoo.com

P.S. Independents can Vote for Obama too! Just request a Democratic ballot.