2008 Republican national convention

With a brother who works for the Obama campaign as well as a family that tends to lean Democratic, I have grown up favoring Democrats. Early on in the Indiana primary, I strongly supported Barack Obama for president. I believed that he was the best and only candidate for the job. I agreed with Obama on immigration, global warming and education, and I strongly defended my beliefs up until I arrived at the Republican National Convention in September.

The convention was a life-altering experience. Not only was I able to meet and talk to people like Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, but I also was able to step outside of the bias I had adopted without really thinking about it.

For example, I had always believed that Sen. John McCain was just not the best candidate to lead this country. For a long time I believed that he was another George W. Bush and that he would only continue the war in Iraq without any hope of resolution.

Although I still don’t believe that McCain would be the best choice for president, the convention has helped me realize the senator is his own person and stands for his own issues. He’s not a copy of anybody. More importantly, the convention taught me a lot about politics and how politics work, as well as how cutthroat and grueling it can be.

I also learned that there are many sides to any issue. Hearing politicians as well as protesters sounding their opinions has really opened me up to how many different ways there are to look at issues, and that many of those perspectives contain a degree of truth.

Finally, I realized how the way you say something can make all the difference. We talked to many politicians at the convention, and I could tell that every one of them carefully chose each word because one misstep could harm his or her political career.

For a short time after the convention, I really struggled to support either party because of criticisms I had heard from both sides. I felt like both presidential candidates had faults that made me doubt their ability to handle many issues, foreign and domestic.

But eventually, I found my footing. While my experiences at the convention changed how I look at politics, it did not ultimately change whom I support for president (although the convention made me question some of Obama’s stands).

What I learned from the convention was how to judge candidates on the issues they believe in and defend, not just by the way they look or how they talk. It also taught me how to analyze candidates and look beyond the hopes and promises that fill most of their speeches.

I think it’s fair to say the Republican National Convention made me a better -- and truer -- Democrat, at least this year.

 Copyright 2008 Y-Press