1988 was my first chance to vote in a presidential election. That November I cast a vote for George Herbert Walker Bush. To add to that I was a delegate to the state GOP convention on behalf of Bush. Also, I should note that since 1988 I've regretted that vote.
I later learned of Ron Paul and discovered that he ran for president in 1988 and I was eligible to cast a vote for him. If I hadn't had my head so far up GOP establishment I would've been more aware of my choices. I do remember seeing Ron Paul on the Morton Downey Jr. show and he was being criticized for his opposition to the war on drugs. I knew his position made him out of the mainstream and I continued to believe that a vote cast for Bush would serve to keep our country from stepping in Dukakis.
In 1996 I discovered Harry Browne and he was the first man I was truly proud to cast a vote for. Ron Paul had just come back to congress and during the eight years that I had last seen him on TV my own political views had gravitated toward his. Since 1992 I had not cast my vote for any Republican until this year.
Three years ago when I ran into Ron Paul in the foyer of the Canon House office building I told him if he ran again, I would vote for him. I never thought he would but the offer was an attempt to correct my ill-conceived vote from 1988.
This month though afforded me the opportunity for full redemption. Above is the photo of me casting my primary vote for Ron Paul. And though I still regard Harry Browne as the man I was most proud to cast a vote for, my vote for Ron Paul is still a very special one...and one 20 years overdue.
1 comment:
It's weird to think it's 20 years later and the name in the White House isn't different than the name on your ballot back then.
Also, you voted in '88. You're old.
Post a Comment