Op-Ed: Lilburn Republican 'Devastated' Post Election, But Looks to Future

Yesterday, as I stood in line to cast my ballot with other Lilburn residents, I took pride in standing beside a particularly special 20-year old, my son, who was exercising his right to vote for the very first time.

I thought about the many conversations our family has had regarding party affiliation and why I vote the way I do. My children always laugh when I tell them I once voted for Bill Clinton, but I have assured them if President Obama had kept any of his promises from the “Hope and Change” tour four years ago, I would have considered voting for him in 2012.

Alas, four years later, he has failed to produce any positive changes and America is running out of hope so I put my trust, and the fate of our great nation, into Mitt Romney. Simply put, Obama failed as President. His polices helped designate millions of Americans to a lower standard of living, and he failed to unite while his promotion of class warfare further divided a hurting nation. Mitt Romney offered real economic solutions that would encourage job growth and unite our country, not promote food stamp lines.

As the results came in, I felt devastated. I have never been so emotionally vested in an election. Devastation gave way to fear. Fearful for my middle class family and how we will deal with the impending cost of Obamacare, estimated to cost us an additional $4,000 each year. Fearful of the president’s fractured relationship with Israel and his failed foreign policies and fearful that the America my father and grandfather fought to secure is slipping away.

Today, I am choosing to turn my fear into optimism. Now that the election is finally finished, I’m optimistic that President Obama will put aside blind partisanship and work with Congress for the betterment of America. I’m hopeful that he will address our national debt, and find a way to strengthen the economy and encourage job growth. Last, I’m counting on him to boost the middle class and realize we are what makes America strong, and that he helps end the sense of entitlement I am surrounded by every day. 

This was a hard-fought, close election, and I believe Americans issued a mandate to the president. We need him to succeed, and we need him to do better. Tonight, our dinnertime discussion will be centered on what we can do as a family to succeed during the next four years and how we can help our fellow Americans succeed.

I urge my family, friends and especially our elected officials to stand on Mark 3:24 during the next four years, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand."

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