by Nina Erickson

Created on: November 08, 2008   Last Updated: December 02, 2008

I am an independent voter.

Generally speaking, people affiliated with political parties look at the independent voter as a sort of political trollop. I swing both ways (Democrat and Republican), I'm not loyal to anyone but my own desires, and just because I vote for someone once doesn't mean I won't vote for someone else the next election season.

In 2008, though, tramps like me decided the election, and by and large we decided on Barack Obama. I can't speak for all the other independents out there, but I can justify my own choice with the 10 reasons below.

I voted against George W. Bush as president for the third time. After the last 8 years I felt peeved enough at the GOP to send them a message to straighten up and fly right if they ever want to score with this particular trollop again.

John McCain, the one time maverick, lost my respect and any chance of getting my vote when he started kissing up to his party's right wing.

I couldn't risk letting Sarah Palin get within a mere heartbeat of the presidency. Does a candidate's choice in running mate make a big difference for some voters? You betcha!

I trust Obama's judgment over that of McCain. The fact that he saw through the false justifications for the war with Iraq and voted against it from day one won me over.

In one election, American had the chance to go from being a despised bully to the coolest nation on earth again. When we elected the black guy, the world gave us back our white hat.

I trust Obama's temperament. Oliver Wendell Holmes is quoted as have described FDR as having "a second-class intellect but a first-class temperament." Obama has that same first class temperament.

In addition to his temperament, Obama also displays a first class intellect.

Obama seems willing to work with people he disagrees with to find a common ground. I hope he can heal the polarization that has plagued our nation for so long.

I believe him when he says he will work to bring affordable health care to the American public. I trust Obama to help find a solution to the national scandal that is our health care system.

I respect Obama. Critics call him an elitist, and that's fine by me. I didn't vote for a drinking buddy or someone to hang with, I voted for a first-rate leader for the free world. If I thought "someone like me" could do the job, I'd run for office myself.

The window dressing issue of helping elect America's first black president means nothing to me. The Rev. Marin Luther had a dream that one day America would look past the color of a person's skin and would instead focus on the content of their character. I and millions of others voted for Barack Obama's character, and made King's dream has a reality.

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