An Open Letter to President-Elect Obama

Okay, you've won....now what? "Change we can believe in" now has to become "Change that is real!" "Yes We Can" has become "Yes We Did." But I caution you to be realistic about the mandate that you think you've received. You may have received 349 electorial votes and possibly more as a few states are still undecided, but much of your support may be soft and could easily be peeled away during the next election cycle as the Republicans crank up the "culture war." They won't make the same mistakes twice. America still remains a right of center country. The newest converts to the Democratic party are the weakest. These are folks who may have heard you did well in the debates - they didn't watch them. They don't read papers, magazines or watch the news. They're more likely to quote Rush Limbaugh or Neal Bortz than George Stephanopolus . Actually they're more likely to quote some guy who heard Rush or Neal on the radio. Most Americans don't want bigger government, they just want better government. They'll be satisfied with a competent administration as opposed to the intellectually challenged, knee-jerk, cowboy diplomacy of the last eight years. It may be a global economy, but what matters most to most people is their neighborhood, their job, their faith and their family. Don't ask for too much sacrifice and for heaven's sake stop talking about redistributing the wealth. We know that a progressive tax policy has always been about redistributing the wealth by helping the have-nots and we know that the truth about letting the Bush tax cuts expire means very little in the end, but talk to us about providing a hand up not a hand out! We believed you when you spoke about choosing "Hope" over "Fear." I think most of us want to see you succeed, because if you succeed, we succeed. We want our country's tarnished world reputation shined up a little. We want everyone to have a chance to live a better life and have equal opportunities. We know that the strength of our country is our people, and when we lift up those in need, everyone does better. You have huge challenges in front of you. Our country has huge challenges.....I think you'll find we're up to meeting those challenges if you keep your promises.

Ed Lovell