Big Bird is the winner, no, wait, Big Bird is the loser

By Joe Olvera ©, 2012

ANALYSIS

                  Big Bird is the winner! No, wait, that’s not right. Big Bird is the loser. Well, which is it? Actually, there’s some confusion because both guys running for President have honored the Big, Yellow, Bird by intoning his name and thrusting him into the presidential campaign. On the one hand, Mitt Romney, to balance the budget and cut the deficit, will eliminate funding for the Public Broadcasting System which, for the most part, provides programming free of commercials because the government funds it and presents such programs as, you guessed it – Sesame Street. But, one wonders if defunding the PSB would have a positive impact on the deficit. Governor Romney seems to think so. If he is elected  President only time will tell.

The race for the nominee for President by the Republican Party got off to a surprising start because, for the first time in history, a black man, Herman Cain, was a serious contender for the  nomination by the GOP. His 9-9-9 plan resonated with a surprised public and he was a serious contender against such well-known political power-houses as Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, and even a woman, Michele Bachmann – and, of course, the eventual nominee Mitt Romney. Herman Cain, an early favorite, dropped out of the race because of sexual shenanigans. Multiple complaints were filed against him by women whom he had accosted.

So the electorate was left with a clear choice for President – Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama. Now, the election is down to the wire with both candidates claiming to have the lead in battleground states and in the polls. To be fair, both men have fought the good fight. Romney has made some good gains and Obama continues to make strides with Hispanics, blacks, and women. Romney, however, isn’t conceding anything. Although some polls by the Pew Hispanic  Center has the President leading Romney among Hispanics by a score of 69 to 31, Romney is fighting hard to capture the minds and hearts of a voting bloc that used to be virtually invisible. Romney gained support following his first debate with the President. He came out strong and decisive, erasing his image as someone who flip-flops on the issues. Instead, he came on as someone who is very clear on the many problems that beset the nation and on ways to fix such problems as the economy, immigration, foreign affairs, and others.

Thus, the choice for the American public is quite clear, because policies by both contenders differ as night differs from day, as up differs from down, as right differs from left – well, you get the picture. For example, going back to immigration reform, President Obama has made it possible for young, undocumented immigrants to remain in the country and to obtain work permits if they graduated from high school or are enrolled in college or in the military and they are between the ages of16 to 30. Romney, however, doesn’t agree. He has promised to eliminate Obama’s plan if he is elected President. He wants, if he is elected, to work towards true immigration reform.

Another issue on which the two men disagree is gay marriage. Obama has said that he supports marriage between two men or two women because he believes that people should be able to live together and to love each other no matter their sex. Romney, on the other hand, supports the Defense of Marriage Act, which contends that marriage should be only between a man and a woman. Of course, not every Democrat agrees with Obama, just as not every Republican agrees with Romney. It will be up to the electorate to decide which man has the better interests of the American public at heart. The GOP says it’s their man, Mitt. The Democrats say it’s their man, Barack. Both men exhibit qualities that inspire their base. Four years of President Obama, however, although he hasn’t met all his goals, did provide some interesting changes. Romney, on the other hand, says his experience as an extremely  successful businessman makes him the man to fix the economy, something for which the American public thirsts – that and better paying jobs. To some, Obama has failed in that regard. But, as the President says, there is a difference between being President and wanting to be President.

This presidential race has provided some interesting twists and turns, however, with both candidates stumping on reality and on historical fact. So, which man are you going to vote for? The man who says he will eliminate Sesame Street and, his favorite, Big Bird, to fix the deficit and balance the budget? Or the man who has already delivered on many of the promises he made four years ago and who will save Big Bird? The choice, of course, is entirely up to you, the voter. One thing is for sure however. Both men are sincere in their heart of hearts. Each thinks he can do more for Americans than the other guy. Isn’t it amazing that, even if the race for the Presidency has been contentious, that we, the people, get to choose? That’s America for you and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Whoever wins the election, we know the transition will be smooth and without rancor. So, we can honestly say: God Bless America! Two last words – GO VOTE!!!!!!!