Both the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates claim they will bring change. But whom can we trust?

Palin and McCain have been trying to re-ignite the “culture wars” turning well-meaning Republicans and Democrats, rural and city dwellers, coastal and Midwest Americans against each other.

McCain has been using Bush political strategist Karl Rove’s playbook and is playing the hate and fear card. One tactic is to accuse Obama and liberal Democrats of being un-American and supporting or even being terrorists. Substitute “terrorists” for “communists” and you get the McCarthy witch hunts. General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State under Bush, apparently has had enough of it and has endorsed Obama, as have so many other Republicans.

Perhaps most frightening is the expansion of the RNC’s tactics of vote suppression and manipulation of the last two presidential elections. The Help America Vote Act is actually being used to unfairly remove certain potential Democratic voters (typically older, younger and minority voters) in some battleground states. The right to vote is our constitutionally protected right to determine our leaders and the future of our democracy in a peaceful manner. So who is “destroying the fabric of democracy” as McCain blustered?

This is Orwell’s 1984 newspeak.

We believe Obama and Biden will work to end the occupation of Iraq and promote a sustainable energy policy. Unfortunately, critical issues facing our nation and our world are still framed in the two-party rhetoric that has gotten us into this mess. We were angry and discouraged when they supported the Wall Street bailout. But it’s clear that Obama’s economic plan is designed to help the shrinking middle-class, low-income people and small businesses, while McCain’s further spreads the wealth to the rich and large corporations.

Obama has shown himself to be a level-headed man of intelligence, strength, heart and integrity and we think our country would be very fortunate to have his refreshing approach in the White House. The alternative of four more years of trashing the Constitution under radical right wing rule is not what we need.

Please join us in voting for Obama and Biden. And then let’s work to reform our electoral process to better reflect the will of the people and to meet the needs of a democratic nation. Standing up for our democracy is what makes us true Americans.

Donna and John Leveridge-Campbell

Bandon