Here we are again.. approaching probably the most horrid months of television viewing ever in history. The months before a presidential election. So before it all starts, I want to personally address anyone that thinks they can be the next president of this great country (or what's left of it).
I, Michelle Schumacher, just a regular citizen - home schooling mom of 2, mom of a special needs child, wife of an over the road truck driver, full time college student - hereby, on this fifth day of September, 2011 duly challenge YOU (all those running for any office), to run a clean campaign.
What?!?! Really, how dare I ask? What is a clean campaign? Well, glad you asked - I'll be glad to fill you in.
I challenge YOU to tell me what YOU intend to do for our country. I challenge YOU to tell me what you've already done for your constituents. I challenge YOU to tell me why YOU deserve my vote. YOU have to earn it this year. Voting is a priveledge, not a right. So make my trip across town exciting.
I don't want to hear your ad's smearning your opponents. I don't care if they wrote a bad check in college. I don't care if they've had indescretions. Hey - who hasn't? I don't care if they said a bad word. If they are abusive, it will come out - but I don't want YOU to be the one paying millions upon millions of dollars creating a campaign around that!
I want YOU to spend MY money for good! Yes I said MY money. If we didn't pay taxes, you wouldn't have a salary. So I feel that I have a say on how you spend it! I don't want to dread turning on the televsion for 8 long months seeing your nasty words against your opponents. I won't vote for you if you do! Spend your time doing good for us. Show us that you will be a good president/congress person/senate person/state rep. Prove it to me.
If you choose to smear your running mates, I want you to PERSONALLY contact me and tell my why you chose to do that. Tell me why I should vote for you because you're being nasty and hurtful. Why would I want a person like that leading my future and the future of my children? Do you want your children/grand-children seeing that kind of message on the television or YouTube? Trust me, it WILL be there.
If you are challenged to a stand-off, do the right thing.
If you are a Christian - proclaim it! Don't be ashamed! Maybe He has a great plan for you to turn around this country. If you deny Him, then... hey, you made that bed!
Don't give in to pressures from the lobbyists - don't support something you truly don't believe in - no matter how much they give to your campaign. Follow your heart not your wallet.
I also challenge you to think about where you came from. Consider the little man, the backbone of this great nation. Why do you want to keep taking from us? Tell me that in your campaign speeches! Tell me why prices keep coming up and benefits and pay rates keep going down. Why the corporate monsters keep growning and growing? Why gas keeps going up? Why people keeps losing their homes and going hungry in the richest nation on the planet? Why those that make the laws keep getting richer?
If you can come to me and truthfully answer these questions - then we'll talk about you getting my vote.
Tell me, do YOU have the guts to step up and be a real candidate? Or are you going to be a chicken butt and hide behind slamming your opponents?
I look forward to hearing from YOU!
