President Obama was reelected, but no one can call the outcome of this election a mandate. Tonight we might be a country united in terms of how we face the rest of the world; but we are far from united within our own borders.
Tonight we are a country divided by those who have jobs and those who do not have jobs. We are a country divided by those who have health insurance and those who can not afford insurance even though they work every day. This is a country divided by those who pay the bulk of income taxes and those they believe do not pay their fair share. Our homeland is divided by those who value a woman's right - by law - to control her reproductive desires and those who want to change the law. This nation is divided in our foreign policy where some believe our president is "weak" and apologizes for the causes of our country and its allies. We sit here tonight divided over immigrants illegally coming into this beautiful land searching for a better way of life. We have a divided nation when it comes to energy; the foreign oil we import, the oil we drill and don't drill, the profits made by oil companies, the prices we pay, and the dent this commodity puts on everybody's budget. We are a country divided over the union of marriage where some couples take for granted the opportunity to marry while others stand on the sidelines waiting and wanting their unions recognized. We are a nation divided over the color of human skin almost 50 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
We are a country divided is so many - too many - ways. Yet, we pull together and are united when we must unite. We were united when those airplanes plowed into those New York towers. We were united when another of those planes plunged into the Pentagon, and another plane filled with heros plummeted into a Pennsylvania field. As Americans we united together to see men and women go off to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. We see Americans unite when our fellow citizens face national disasters. We stand together - united - to clean-up, feed, and hold the hands of those who suffer. We are Americans and we unite as volunteers for non-profit agencies and to raise money to fight disease. As parents and non-parents we unite to repair schools so that our kids are educated and will be able to contribute locally and compete globally.
What does this contrast of division and union tell us? It tells us we come together to beat our enemies, protect our families and loved one, and insure the future of our great republic.
Tomorrow morning - Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - with President Obama in the White House, democrats leading the U.S. Senate and republicans controlling the U.S. House of Representatives, Americans MUST UNITE and demand our elected officials work together. As citizens who pay the salaries of the president and the congress we MUST ENCOURAGE AND DEMAND the bickering end, party politics are set aside and the stalemates are brought to a screeching halt.
Americans spoke at the election polls today and Americans must speak tomorrow and every day to have our elected officials understand NOW IS THE TIME, this downward spiral of the United States and its citizens is over.
It is the responsibility of each citizens to tell - and yell if necessary - our leaders that we care about the present and future of this great country and that they - elected officials - had better take notice and care about the things about which we care.
Today is a turning point. Our president is getting a second chance to impact this great country. He can be a lame duck president who bickers with the Congress, or he can be a presidential leader who leaves a true legacy where he brings a divided nation together ... together as the GREAT United States of America.
.. I'm a news junkie - that's what I think!
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