Why I'm Not Voting for Obama
I like Barack Obama. Since his speech about faith and politics at Sojourners Call to Renewal I have been a "supporter" of Barack's. Barack embodies a lot of things that are important to me. Things like his diverse cultural background, the way in which he's in touch with life in Africa, his honesty about his faith and even his doubts and questions, his roots as a community organizer in Chicago. His values overlap with my own more than any other major candidate I've seen in my lifetime.
I really hope that Barack is elected president.
But I won't be voting for him. I won't be voting for him because I am tempted to really believe in him. I am tempted to put hope in Barack Obama. And it's no mistake that Obama's campaign has seized on this. They constantly use the words "believe" and "hope." And if I was indignat about Bush hijacking Christian hymns for his own speeches I must deconstruct Obama's use of the words "hope" and "believe" in light of what those words mean to us as followers of Christ.
But let's be honest, we've become so cynical and polarized about politics in the US. People really do want someone/something to believe in. Obama's vision really is a fresh drink of water in the midst of the desert this country is in with all our corruption, war-mongering and trampling on our poor. Plenty of people are desperate for change. I am one of them. But that's just it - if I'm desperate for change there is but one king who can really bring about change. I'm talking about the king of kings. In all my political obsession I am so tempted to take my eyes of Christ and his project of radical change, his project of renewing creation and putting things right. I'm tempted to glance to the side and take notice of Barack Obama and maybe hope that he can change things. If I put my hope for change in Barack I'm committing idolatry. I've given up my hope in God to make things right and I've put them in Barack.
Now if I were a bit more politically detached I'd vote for him. But precisely because I am a political junkie and I am tempted to think "oh, if only Barack were president" that I cannot vote for him. For me it is a matter of spiritual discipline that I will abstain from voting in this election. My absence at the voting booth will be a tangible practice to remind me who's really in charge, who my real king is.
Now, as I've said, I'd really like to see Obama become president. But let's be honest, voting really is the laziest and smallest way to be politically active. If Barack and I are on the same page (and I hope we are) then I'll do a lot more good by working for that kind of kingdom change than I will by voting for it.
Labels: Discipleship, Politics
posted by Charlie at 11:40 AM
12 Comments:
Wow,from one political junkie to another, you've captured my sentiments exactly. I ought to be more detached and able to cast a vote with dispassionate wisdom and fortitude--especially sense I stinking live in Canada now. Brother Charlie, I appreciate the solitary.
Maybe we need to take in a 12 Step meeting.
Happy Wisconsin Primary Day,
Brian
Man, great post. I could write a ton in response because you've really gotten me thinking. As you know, we serve in very different contexts. My people are generally the types who buy into the anonymous chain emails that claim Obama is secretly a Muslim terrorist who wants to be sworn in on the Koran etc. But, at the end of your post, you still hit at the heart of something that's bothered me for a while. Namely, it is sad that politics has become something many claim to be uninterested in, a few others claim to follow, but only the handful who make a career in our political system actually "do" politics.
We all "do" politics! But when we see voting as our only active role in politics, our politics suck.
Great thoughts Charlie. I also share your sentiments, though I think mine are much more strong. I do have to admit though, as Brian Postlewait said to me last year about Sojourners, "I do secretly hope they (in this case 'he' will win." I still will not be surprised if somehow Jeb Bush gets the nomination! Many of my friends are drinking the Obama cool-aide, but I just can't say I am. I do like him, but I think that I've truly given up on this system. Wallis told us that "we are the people we've been waiting for," I'm convinced that it is only for Jesus that we must wait.
Don't tell Obama though, he lives right across the street from me!
I too identify with this tension. I agree that we have greater power with our voice than with our vote, but that does not lead me to not vote. A vote in an election does not keep us from holding the elected one accountable following the election. One of the reasons I like Obama is that he has convinced me that this "new style of politics" means he will listen when I call the white house to make my views known. If he does not then in four years I will vote for someone else or abstain. The real problem becomes when we so intertwine our theology with an ideology or character that that the theology become diluted or distorted (this is what I believe has happened to some well-meaning evangelicals who were convinced by Republicans to be one-issue voters and were then used). My proposal is to vote for Barack on the second Tuesday in Nov., celebrate on Wednesday, become a concerned citizen who will voice concerns to any president or party on Thursday. Then on Sunday return to the politic that defines our Christian voice--worship.
I truly respect your optimism, Eric, but I ask in all sincerity, you really think "he'll listen when you call?" How will you call, how will you get through? Who will you talk to? And how will your thoughts affect him more than his party, his donors and his other "influential" supporters?
He still will be getting shoulder massages from you though, won't he?
Charlie,
This is such a great post, and has elicited such good and thoughtful response (Hi Eric, Rusty and Kaz)
Have you guys seen David Fitch's post in the past couple of days? It's right down this alley. Here
I've posted several things starting , most recently, here, and then backwards (use the links above each post to move back to the previous one) from there with a couple of posts responding directly to your post here.
I fall somewhere between You and Eric. I think Obama SEEMS more likely to listen, but not at all discounting the possibility that he is only slightly left of the status quo, and will just end up SEEMING to be listening while being ultimately unable or unwilling inthe end, to make good on some of this.
What I like about Fitch's take is that he gives us Zizek's suspicion that the "Obama energy" might actually be sapping energy or focus from the church as the true locus of change.
Dale
oh yeah, mkae sure you slide further back before my basketball post and the Jon Stewart CNN video back to here and the post before that to get my first couple of reactions
Charlie, I agree and am probably also with Rusty concerning just how strong my sentiments about this stuff is. I really can't put any faith in this process anymore. I may be doing some voting in local election stuff (propositions and whatnot), but this national stage stuff is a bunch of smoke and mirrors and distracts so incredibly much from energies and desires that should be ordered toward Christ and Christ's church (thus agreeing with Dave Fitch's sentiment).
I won't be voting for any of these peeps in the national election. I really don't think my vote 'says' anything to anybody on the national level, either cynically or as some sort of 'statement'. It's kind of a really empty thing (what Fitch, following Zizek calls the 'signifier without a signifed').
I think NT Wright said it well when he mentioned how unfortunate it is that the United States is going to be glued to the television for another year (on top of all last year) for these presidential politics stuff, telling ourselves that it is so important when there really are far more important things for us Christians to be worrying about.
[Also, although I know Charlie knows this because he is the blog moderator, but the eric listed above is not the same person as Eric Lee (myself).]
Peace,
Eric
Charlie,
David Fitch just linked to you in his comments on the post that I mentioned a couple days ago
Dale
I feel like this thinking was one of the ways that got me voting 3rd party candidates in the first place (yes, I'm a Nader fan). If my political convictions are being lived out and if the King of kings truly is the one in charge I should, and really do feel free to vote my conscience but I too hope Obama wins. Thanks for the thoughts they were really refreshing (as one more political junkie)
I agree with you that Barak's adoption of religious language is in many ways reminiscent of Bush's. I am surprised more people haven't picked up on this given the all the criticism Bush has received for his misuse of religious language.
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