Dad,

I can remember talking with my roommates about Barack Obama. They are all men of faith that I respect, and they were all impressed with him. Then I saw him on the cover of Sojourner’s magazine. Then I heard a speech from him about serving the poor and oppressed in our society. There has been much talk of the religious views of Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, but we have somehow skipped over the message of faith and commitment that radiates from the message of Barack Obama.

You have always said that faith systems have consequences, and I think that we are seeing that play out in the public square. Mike Huckabee is the public answer to the evangilical vote – and he has been a nightmare for the religious right. He actually stands for his faith. We can argue that his faith is misguided, but I think that he is a man that is deeply affected by his religious convictions, and that is more than we can say for the average American.

Barack Obama does not run on a Christian platform, and for that I commend him. He is a politician shaped by his faith commitments, not a Christian shaped by his political ambitions. For that he gets my vote. I am glad to see a candidate that I can vote for that reclaims the value system that I believe in and keeps in tact the faith system that I identify myself with.

Barack Obama is the person best qualified to be the lead servant of this country. He offers hope, and for me the hope is that we, as Christians, might reclaim the name of Jesus for love and hope rather than hate and violence.

Bryan.