How many people can honestly say they think for themselves?  When viewing the various areas of the lives of many Americans, it would seem to indicate that many people do not.

There exists a segment of Americans who raptly listen to crooked politicians who clearly do not have their best interests at heart.  These Americans sadly lack the ability to stand firm in their thinking and discern who would be the best person to fill leadership positions.  When it’s time to vote, many voters let others make the decision for them.

When it comes to the 2008 presidential election season, many Americans allow celebrities to tell them who they should support. Oprah Winfrey touts Barak Obama for president before adoring fans who, like lemmings, shout Obama’s name and follow up with a vote for him at the polls.  Chuck Norris has endorsed Mike Huckabee for president, but will I rush to fall in line behind him and vote Huckabee?  No thank you, I have a mind of my own.

Conservative Republicans were livid a few years back when John McCain caved and compromised with Democrats, allowing only a few of Bush’s judicial nominees (instead of allowing a full vote on all of them) a vote after what seemed like an endless filibuster mounted by Democrats.  And let’s not forget, McCain supported President Bush’s weak “amnesty” immigration bill.  Remember, conservatives and concerned Americans against illegal immigration, shut down Congress switchboards in protest of the "amnesty" bill. 

John McCain took his place as one of the more notable RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) in the Senate who conservatives were railing against, but now it seems that he’s in clear position to possibly take the lead for the Republican nomination.  Very surprising indeed.

In the black community, politicians are free to play the race issue.  The Clinton/Obama tug of war has caused the most talk about race during a campaign season that I’ve ever seen.  Former President Bill Clinton seems to think that race and gender will play a key role in what candidate a voter supports.

He believes it “is understandable" if someone would vote based on gender and race “because people are proud when someone who they identify with emerges for the first time.”

As we come fresh off the Martin Luther King holiday, how can we support the type of viewpoint Bill Clinton holds in regards to race and gender when Dr. King talked of judging a person by his/her character and not his/her skin color (or gender)?

Why do blacks (I’m not African-American. I was born in America, I’m solidly American) and women continue to let politicians exploit them in their search for power?  Can we not use our own heads and shun such divisiveness? For anyone to suggest that blacks will automatically vote along the lines of color or that females will automatically vote for the female candidate in a presidential race is absurd.

What happens when people vote simply because of a person’s skin color or gender and dismiss character altogether? They risk not recognizing the underlying flaws that may otherwise prevent a candidate from progressing in a presidential race.  As a result, the same contentious and perverse people running for office end up getting further and possibly winning the race, and nothing ever changes.

Let me be clear, as a black woman, I will identify with a candidate regardless of race who will stand up for conservative values that are important to me. I will back a candidate who honors our nation’s Christian heritage and who will not work to unravel those honored Christian traditions that are rooted in this nation.

Also, I will not vote for top-tier candidates because they are touted most by the media, have the most money, or have earned celebrity endorsements. We cannot be that shallow when it comes to picking our next president. 

Another popular and annoying tactic I’ve seen mostly of Democrats running for office: seeking out votes in the churches (mainly black churches).  The media is proud to flaunt Democrat candidates who seek votes from the pulpit before black congregations on Sunday.  Sundays are strictly for the Lord Jesus Christ.  The focus should be on Him.  It’s HIS day.  It’s NOT a day for a candidate to rally votes from the pulpit!

At times, candidates run after a certain segment of the population because they think they will secure awesome numbers at the polls from that certain group of people.  They tailor their speech to reflect who they are speaking to.  Enticing rhetoric is thrown out to get the crowd revved up. That is another slap in the face. And the rhetoric is completely hollow, folks. It means nothing.

Voting requires that we as a nation, act responsibly. We must cut through the slick talk from politicians and allow our vote to represent who we believe is the candidate closest to our moral standards and our stand on other important issues. Therefore, a thorough review of all of the candidates’ background is in order.  

The American voter should not let presidential candidates with high status and charm influence how they view the world and vote.  We forget we are individuals with a mind of our own who are capable of making important and rational decisions.   

Presidential candidates need to remember...the office of the presidency should not be sought as a quest for power or an opportunity for a certain party to take back the White House.  It isn’t a chance for an individual to "make history.”  It is a position of service to the people of this great nation.  

America will be on the way to healing when those citizens who have been swayed by slick politicians and political “talking heads” learn to think for themselves.  Vote wisely America. Take time to review a candidate’s past and decide whether they deserve to hold the most important office in the nation.

When voters start thinking and acting this way, we will then see a more positive result of the awesome power the American people have at the polls.

canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1592