Post Classifieds
Obama's conflicting policies leave voters confused
By Michael Canfield
On August 17, 2012
Several weeks ago, President Obama came out in favor of gay marriage, something I feel very strongly
about. I felt excited about the president, something I haven't felt in some time.
For the president to come out on the side of Americans who've faced scorn and ridicule over something
that is inherently who they are as a person was really incredible. It flew in the face of demagogues and
naysayers, and felt like something, even if it's just a small piece of freedom for someone else, was won. I
felt energized, similar to how I felt after Obama was elected in 2008, when anything seemed possible.
Fast forward a few weeks later, and news of a "kill list" and increased kinetic military operations in
Yemen comes out. While the official story broke, experts on Yemen and journalists who report on the
ground in Yemen have been talking about kill lists and what increased military action might mean in
Yemen. Most of it revolves around the theory of blowback.
While the U.S. increases drone and cruise missile strikes, the likelihood of civilian casualties in Yemen
increases. The number of civilian casualties is manipulated under the Obama administration's assertion
that anyone killed in a strike who is of military age can be considered a militant, whether they are a
member of a militant group or not.
Even with this manipulation, civilians are sure to be put in danger. According to the theory, each civilian
killed in a strike increases the likelihood that the individual's family members will join groups like al-
Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or Ansar al-Shariah, two of the militant groups operating in Yemen.
While no definitive data exists on the theory, the membership of AQAP has grown by the hundreds since
the U.S. began strikes in Yemen. The theory seems to hold some water.
Answers to the problems in Yemen are not easy to come by. No one would, or could, argue that AQAP
is not a threat to the U.S. They clearly are, and clearly want to bring harm to Americans. What can be
argued, however, is whether blowing up civilians in the hunt for suspected terrorists is worth the long-
term effects or if current policy makes for good policy.
President Obama has doubled down on some of the most controversial policies of the Bush
administration, and seems to get a pass from people who would be outraged if a Republican president
were conducting shadow wars around the globe.
This is where my confusion sets in. Do I support the charismatic leader who champions gay rights? How
do I support someone whose foreign policy record seems unconscionable to me? How do I vote in the
upcoming presidential election?
Mitt Romney isn't an option for me, so that much is certain. I want to like President Obama and support
him. He's done a lot of good things. I want to understand where he's coming from on foreign policy, but
I just can't get there. There's some time between now and the election, and I have a lot of thinking to
do. Obama's decisions from here on out could determine how I vote.
Michael Canfield can be reached by email at canfield.record@live.com.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The Record News Articles
Kids give new outlook on college
I think I speak for many college students, male or female, when I say that being a college student is hard, but balancing school with ...
Kerry's comments carry credibility issues
It appears as though John Kerry needs a vocal filter. In his first address to a foreign nation since assuming his current role as S...
Bathroom messages inspire hope in hard times
I have always struggled to understand the "bathroom stall graffiti" phase. Like most things that seem to be exciting for everyone ...
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE RECORD NEWS
- We've Moved to www.buffstaterecord.com!
- Obama divulges new higher education initiative during visit to UB
- Ailing Podolefsky steps down as president
- SUNY appoints Cohen interim president
- President Podolefsky announces leave to fight cancer
- Rappers put Pepsi in a bind
- Congrats to grads: take next step with gratitude
RECENT THE RECORD CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
- Clear the Air of Indoor Pollutants This Spring
- Stroke & Dementia in Black Men: Tips for Staying Healthy...
- Hispanics and African Americans at Higher Risk for Eye...
- African Americans at Higher Risk for Eye Disease
- Infinity Kings: Final Book In A Favorite Fantasy Series
- What You Need To Know About Keratoconus and the iLink...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Don’t Let Diabetes Shortchange Your Golden Years
- No Child is Forgotten By Marine Toys for Tots
- Sweeten Your Springtime Salads With Healthy Chilean Grapes
- Young Author Translates 4,000-Year-Old Text to Reveal...
- Keeping Cool and Energy-efficient Amid America’s “...
- Addressing Sarcopenia with a Healthy Diet
- Subway’s New Wraps Elevate Eating on the Go
- Family Teacher Conference Topics Beyond Academics
- Youth Take Down Tobacco
- BookTrib’s Bites: Four Reads to Kickoff Spring
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK
- BLUMHOUSE AND AMC THEATRES LAUNCH FIRST-EVER HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN FILM FESTIVAL
- THE GEN Z IMPERATIVE: LISTEN TO FEELINGS AND GIVE GEN Z A VOICE
