Mitch is worth the switch
I'm a 46 year-old African- American male who has been a life long Democrat, who with just a few notable exceptions has always voted the party line all of my 20 plus years of voting eligibility. Always following the wisdom of what was said to me by friends and family to continue to align myself with a party who has my best interest at heart. Reminded constantly of the heroes of the party who were there for me in the past and will continue to be there for me in the future if I continue to vote the party line. For me this seemed logical enough, self-preservation with a splash of spirited citizenship. So, I went along with the program, except for a few departures, where I felt that voting for the person was more important than voting for the party. During the last Gubernatorial election I found myself at that crossroad again. Yet, this time I voted for the person instead of the party because the person is more important than the party, and because I feel that Mitch is worth the switch (switch of party allegiance that is).

I voted for Mitch Daniels, the former Director of the Office of Management and Budget for President George W. Bush. Before you shut down your hearing, discount me as being brain dead, or even worst as a sell out, take just a moment to hear what I have to say. I promise it will not cost you anything and you might even gain something from it (self-preservation remember?).

There are many reasons I voted for Mitch but given this forum and its restraints there are three basic reasons that "Mitch is worth the switch."

Mitch Daniels is competent, caring, and conservative.

Competent
Mitch's competency is legendary and can be attested to on a local as well as a nation level. Mitch is one of those unique individuals who posses Main Street experience with Pennsylvania Avenue credentials. Locally he served at the pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly &Co. as the senior vice president of corporate strategy and policy in 1997 before joining the President's Cabinet. During his successful tenure at Lilly, Daniels ensured that Lilly remained on the cutting edge of their industry as well as directed their ever growing vision. Mitch also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Indianapolis- based Hudson Institute before his tenure at Lilly.
Nationally Mitch served before in Washington as the right hand aide to Indiana Senator Richard Lugar and Daniels served as former President Ronald Reagan's top assistant for political and intergovernmental relations in 1985-87. Later he served as a special assistant for domestic affairs for President Regan. Both locally and nationally Mitch has proved he's competent and has the proper credentials to lead and lead well.

Caring
I served for a few years with Mitch on the board of an intercity, interracial, and interdenominational Christian school called the Oaks Academy where Mitch was a co-founder. I watched him as he poured his life's-blood into the children there to ensure the all children received a first rate education. Here is where I saw first hand his caring consistent, Christian character at work; always deferential to people no matter what their station in life. He really listens to people and can access their needs accurately. Though he has severed two U.S. Presidents but he still retains his "common touch" when dealing with people, he likes people, they will always count for more that just a vote to him, they will always count as people to him.

Conservative
Conservative values and African- American values are not polar opposites and really never have been. Respect for the family and our extended families; respect for leading a moral life that witnesses to others; respect for hard day's work and the benefits it brings to those who will stay the course. Respect and honor for an all powerful, all knowing, God and a commitment to stay in the center of His will. According to my definition of conservative values just to name a few, pound- for- pound African- American values are just as conservative as anyone else's. These values are replete in the person I know as Mitch.
But, he's a Republican many have said to me "how could this be?" as if his party affiliation nullifies his otherwise good heart and nature.
They tell me that there are racists in the Republican Party. Are there racists in the Republican Party? Does a wild bear "go" in the woods? Yes! Are there racists in the Democratic Party? Yes! It's the same bear, different party, and same activity; don't blame the party blame the bear! The problem is racism in general not the Republican specifically. We need to measure each man or woman by their merits.
After 16 years of Bayh and O'Bannon and O' Bannon and Kernan what is the net result in your everyday life? A few appointments, a few appeasements, but what are the achievements in your life? In my humble opinion the Democratic Party as of late has taken for granted the African- American vote and have never paid the dividends that our great investment in them requires. We need to diversify our investments in the political arena. Mitch Daniels is a competent, caring, conservative that you can trust, and yes he is a Republican, but Mitch is worth the switch!
Now as Governor Daniels embarks on the reconstruction of the state of Indiana government, we need to give the man the support and backing he needs to govern. The election is over my Democratic friends, now let's help the man that the people elected to do the job they elected him to fulfill. Yes, there are going to be some cuts, yes, there is going to be some belt tightening. Yes, there is going to be some pain, but that is just part of the recovery process for a state whose finances have been in a state of confusion for a very long time. Don't take offense, take action, don't get an attitude, adjust, don't become an obstructionist, become an over comer and part of the greatest comeback any state as ever seen.

In His service,
Rev. Andrew Hunt, III
Pastor, Body of Christ Community Church

5248 East 72nd St
Indianapolis, Indiana 46250
ahunt57@sbcglobal.net
317-842-6060