Red Sweater Endorses Barack Obama
February 4th, 2008I know this is probably not the best idea for a business blog. I hesitate to express my political beliefs in general, because while I do have strong beliefs of a “liberal” persuasion, I also think that those political beliefs are best kept apart from my business persona. As Red Sweater Software, my job is to make your Mac rock your world. That’s true whether you’re a liberal, conservative, libertarian, or all of the above. I honestly don’t care, and I value and admire my customers from all political persuasions. But that’s software, and that’s business.
As an individual, I have ambitions to make the United States a proud country whose public policy reflects the Americans I know. An overwhelmingly kind and non-violent type of American, who wants to join hands with the rest of the world, instead of raising hands against them.
So many of us, from all political parties, feel this way. We go on about our daily lives, but we are pained by the ways in which our government positions itself as an adversary to the rest of the world. Here’s the deal, world: WE LOVE YOU. We can’t stand what’s going on with our public policy, and we can’t wait for it to change.
Many people like to blame “conservatives” for this negative world impression, but the truth is that many of the so-called conservatives are just as ambitious as I am about building a world-wide family. We’re all in this together, to steal a line from “Brazil.” Let’s not think about whether a conservative or a liberal will fix our problems, let’s think about which person represents the hopeful ambitions of our country.
I personally think that Barack Obama represents our best hope for jumpstarting a change in our relationship with the world. I believe Hillary Clinton is a good person, whose intellect and ambitions are in the best interests of America. But I don’t think she can effect the type of change I need and expect. At this point in our country’s incredibly short yet powerful history, I believe we need to elect a President whose leadership and vision give us a head start in the eyes of the world. A President who causes the world to sit up and acknowledge: “America cares about us.”
I’m ready for the United States of America to take a new leader. A leader who will represent everything hopeful about our unique, positive attitude toward the world. If you’re American, and you’ve got something hopeful to say to the world, I strongly encourage you to consider voting for Barack Obama. If you’re not American, and you’ve got some faith left in us, I strongly encourage you to sit tight and see how much better we can be, when we try.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for steeping out and being honest about where you’re coming from. I think there’s a place for political positions from businesses – especially indie developers. If the big unions can come out for a candidate, why not a business?
Good on ya.
–Steve
P.S. I’m a Republican considering backing Obama. Go figure.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I’m glad you wrote this, even though your blog is more about your software business and less about personal beliefs. I think one of the refreshing things about Mac indie developers is that there is a personal connection between the one-man shop and its customers. There’s a real person behind the business, and posts like this underscore that.
Having said that, as hopeful as Obama’s stump speech is, I don’t think he has really been tested in this election or in his recent political career. In a way, this speaks to how thoughtful and united these primaries have been around the issues and on electing a Democrat in November, but we have to remember that as soon as a Republican candidate goes negative on Obama, the positive press and good public opinion will start to erode.
I support Hillary because of her experience, her plan for universal healthcare, and because I think she’ll be a strong fighter in November. My daughters would grow up under a woman presidency, and that inspiration alone would be huge for this country.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
If you (Manton) think it will be good for the country to have a woman for president because of all the daughters who will grow up under a woman president, imagine how good it could be for the country if millions of black children could grow up under a black president.
I think the racial divide in this country is a much more serious issue than the gender divide. (Not denying the importance of the latter, though.)
Plus Hillary just plain annoys me.
February 4th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
It’s your blog and it’s your company but I’d prefer to you to say that Daniel supports Obama rather than saying Red Sweater does, unless the business is going to donate money or do something else to help Obama, of course.
I’m not going to discuss politics beyond saying that I’ll vote for the person who I believe will best represent my views; I’m not going to vote for someone based on the colour of their skin or the chromosomes they have.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
In reply to DDA, if Red Sweater had many employees, I think your point would be very valid. However, unless I am mistaken, Daniel is Red Sweater and Red Sweater is Daniel.
That said, I appreciate your candor and honesty, Daniel. Just as you say you won’t hold anyone’s political leanings against them in purchasing and using your software, I couldn’t see shunning such fantastic products over a political endorsement I may not agree with (hypothetically speaking).
I also agree that many of us are hoping for the same type of United States — one that joins hands with other countries to make this world a better place to live in.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I personally support Obama because of his plans of applying common sense to the administration and because of his relatively gentlemanlike ways. The only contender there is Huckabee (who seems like a decent guy), but his intolerant personal views sounds like the best the 16th century had to offer.
As for Obama vs Clinton, Clinton is famously in favor of the nanny state (ban video games! and so on), whereas Obama sees technology as a tool. Politicians have been seeing the bad sides of it, conveniently running away scared in order to connect with the voters and sometimes shield their own ignorance. And really – why *not* use the technology to improve the quality of the government?
I support Obama for what’s coming out of his mouth, totally regardless of his pigment density. (What I like about Obama getting a chance, and I suspect I’m not alone, is that he’s not shot down for being black *despite* having a sound idea. That’s different from saying “let’s vote for the guy with the most pigments”.)
And I have to say that I believe what Huckabee said: “Everything in this country isn’t left-right, liberal-conservative, democrat-republican. I think the country’s looking for somebody who’s vertical, who’s thinking ‘let’s take America up and not down’, and people will forgive you for being left or right if you go up.”
February 4th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I like the freshness of Obama, my problem he has never really managed anything as far as I know. I don’t like most a what Edwards stood for politically, but at least I respected him for running a successful business. Even if the business was something I hate.
The comment I’ve used at work is “Has he even managed a lemonade stand?” I have the same problem with Hilary, her only advantage is she has at least been around politics and business as someone to watched other people manage things even if she does not have any direct experience herself. I just loath the idea of listening to her talk in her yelling yet monotone voice for the next 4 years.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Gee, Daniel, maybe you should create a little badge that says: “Red Sweater recommends Obama”, just like how HP “recommends Windows Vista”. Or how about this one: “Red Sweater runs better on Obama.” Or perhaps you should donate 1000 MarsEdit licenses to the Obama campaign so they can all blog about life on the campaign trail.
Or better, yet, perhaps you live too close to the wrong Springfield! Time to move to Springfield, Illinois, not Springfield, Massachusetts!
Oh, I know! There just aren’t enough Mac vs. PC flame wars these days, so you need to resort to the tried-and-true topic that will get everyone’s blood boiling! Politics!
Was this sarcastic enough?
Seriously, though.
Obama: Very articulate and seems to be running a fairly positive campaign. His biggest downside is that he doesn’t “have enough experience.” Then again, President Bush didn’t have any D.C. experience when he became president, if I recall correctly.
Clinton: It certainly would make remembering the last couple of presidents very easy. Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton. And think of the political jokes we could have! Now Bill can play as President this time…
Huckabee: I just wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face while saying “President Huckabee”. It just sounds too much like a joke name, like ‘Sillius Soddus’ or ‘Biggus Dickus’. :)
February 4th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
If you think the president is responsible for managing the economy, you are mistaken… A president is a head of state – a leader, not a manager.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
@Ed: Obama actually has more experience in political office than Hilary. Obama has 10 years, Hilary 7.
Here’s why I like Obama. Beyond what I believe, beyond the issues, at the end of the day I’d rather vote for a president that chooses to represent this country as a whole instead of choosing a candidate who will simply further my agenda. I think more than any other candidate, Obama is the man who can and will pull this country back together and unite everyone.
Also, Hilary lies. I’m not such a fan of lying presidents.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I don’t think your political persuasion(s) have a place in your blog. If I wanted to read about politics, I would go somewhere else, with more credibility. Stick to software, Daniel. For now, I’ll delete my bookmark to your blog.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Daniel,
i salute you for publishing this on your blog. I do not believe (like bbum), that you should generally separate business and politics. Politics are influencing business, so why should you keep silent ;-)
As a European, i am happy to hear you feel similar as many of us (when it comes to the picture of the US in the world etc.). I too believe it it high time for a radical change in US leadership. Away with all these Halliburtonblackwaterlobbyistdrivenreborns. The change i picture, will be good for the whole planet, not just the US, so the more important this election is. The change i picture will also achieve more to solve your problem with terrorism (do you still have one anyways?) through the change alone, than bush was ever capable to even think about.
Welcome change. Welcome Obama. And welcome back USA.
PS: hopefully the bible belt will eventually act genuinely christian and vote accordingly and not only pretend to be.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Anibru: If his political persuasion doesn’t have a place in his weblog, where does it have a place?
February 5th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
In reply to Robert Smelser, I agree that Daniel is the owner (and only employee) of Red Sweater but I don’t still don’t think the company is doing the endorsing; his post is about how *he* feels.
I voted today in the Massachusetts primary and I didn’t vote for Obama or Hillary.
February 8th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Thank you for quoting Brazil. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one in love with that great film :)
February 11th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
The Skinny on Hillary
Dear brothers in arms,
We put a piece of truth about the Clintons on http://www.matrix-evolutions.com that would make a difference in the race if people could hear it. It begins:
[Editor removed the gigantic excerpt from their web site. I don’t think it was particularly in context here. I’ll leave this final comment and close comments now.]
February 27th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Hillary has “existed” for 35 years, but in terms of legislation passed, she’s no better than Barack. If she was elected, it would be more of the same, only this time with a Democratic label. BradBrown.com endorses Barack, and he encourages his 3 regular readers to do so as well.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I post this when the entry is practically in cold storage and it is way past most people’s primaries.
Bush the Second promised a different administration too, gentler than his daddy’s. And yet, not learning from this, people tout Obama because he has a similar “feel”, albeit with a Democratic label.
Whereas Clinton the Second can draw on much experience of truly having been there, from a president who presided over great prosperity. I know who I trust to do the hard job.