I cannot recall an election that has generated this much positive energy among so many people.
At last, we have the opportunity to stop the partisan politics that have been dividing Americans for so many years. The 2004 election brought out the worst in people in the community (teenagers tore down the Kerry-Edwards sign on my parents’ lawn, and neighbors in my development eyed each other suspiciously), but this year is going to be different.
Democrats finally have two viable candidates, either of whom would make an excellent president. However, I believe only one candidate, Barack Obama, can bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans and actually accomplish something in Washington.
U.S. Sen. Obama does not speak of taking on the Republicans or standing up to them. Instead, he speaks of working with Republicans, as well as independents, to form a working majority that can achieve the goals we set for our country.
The United States can move forward only with this cooperative, bipartisan spirit. Sen. Obama has a long record of co-sponsoring bills with Republicans in both the Illinois state Senate and the U.S. Senate. He has fought for and passed effective legislation in the areas of government transparency, ethics reform and health care reform. His efforts have helped people, rather than the special interests and lobbyists who seek to control Congress.
My family and I are naturalized citizens who consider the right to vote a great honor and privilege. Not everyone has the opportunity to vote in an election that affects not only Americans, but so many millions around the world. I hope every citizen in South Brunswick and in New Jersey exercises that great right and privilege on Feb. 5 to help elect the next president of the United States.
Viji Anantharaman, of Kendall Park
