WHY I VOTED RED
My Vote. My Convictions. My Country.
By Mike Cunningham | Mike's Observations
I have lived 82 years on this earth. I've watched presidents come and go, political parties change, wars fought, businesses built, fortunes lost, and promises broken.
I've seen America at her finest, and I've seen moments when I wondered what happened to the country I grew up loving.
I served my country as a United States Marine. I spent decades working in the oilfields, building businesses, raising a family, paying taxes, and learning some hard lessons about life.
And after all those years, I still believe in the principles that made this nation worth defending.
That's why I voted Red.
Not because I believe every Republican is right.
Not because I believe every Democrat is wrong.
And certainly not because I think any political party deserves my unquestioning loyalty.
I voted according to my convictions.
I BELIEVE FREEDOM COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITY
I grew up in an America where freedom meant something.
You were free to pursue your dreams, but nobody promised to do the work for you.
You were free to succeed, and sometimes you failed. When you did, you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off, and tried again.
I've lived that life. I've experienced success, financial hardship, and the painful experience of starting over.
Those experiences shaped what I believe government should—and should not—do.
I believe government has important responsibilities, but I don't believe Washington should make every decision for the American people.
I BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION
When I took my oath as a Marine, it wasn't to a president, a political party, or a particular administration.
It was to the Constitution of the United States.
That oath still means something to me.
I believe in freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, due process, and the constitutional limits placed on government power.
And those principles matter regardless of which political party occupies the White House.
The Constitution is not Republican property. It is not Democratic property. It belongs to the American people.
I BELIEVE AMERICA MUST REMAIN STRONG
I served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I remember what it felt like when the world stood frighteningly close to nuclear war.
That experience left me with a lifelong appreciation for military readiness and national security.
I believe America needs a strong military, secure borders, and a foreign policy that takes both strength and diplomacy seriously.
I also believe the men and women who serve this country deserve more than applause on Veterans Day. They deserve meaningful support when their service is finished.
I BELIEVE WORK SHOULD BE REWARDED
I spent 36 years in the oilfields. I've worked hard, taken risks, and signed the front of paychecks as well as the back.
I've seen firsthand what it takes to keep a business alive.
When politicians talk about businesses, taxes, regulations, and energy policy, I don't hear abstract economic theories.
I think about workers, families, payrolls, fuel costs, and the responsibility of keeping a company operating.
I believe government policy should encourage enterprise, responsible energy development, opportunity, and financial accountability.
And I believe the people making those policies ought to understand how their decisions affect ordinary Americans.
I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR MY FAITH
I'm a Christian, and my faith is central to my life.
I believe our rights are not gifts from politicians. I believe they are rooted in principles greater than government itself.
That doesn't mean everyone must share my religious beliefs.
The First Amendment protects the freedom to worship—and the freedom not to worship.
But I will never accept the idea that I should be embarrassed to speak openly about my faith.
I am a Christian, an American, and a Marine. None of those identities requires an apology.
I DON'T EXPECT PERFECTION FROM REPUBLICANS
Let me make something perfectly clear.
Republicans make mistakes. Republican politicians break promises. Some put personal ambition ahead of public service.
When that happens, they deserve to be held accountable.
I don't worship political parties, and I don't believe any president is above criticism.
My loyalty is to God, my family, my country, and the Constitution—not to a party headquarters in Washington.
SO WHY DID I VOTE RED?
Because when I considered the choices before me, Republican positions on constitutional government, national defense, energy, economic opportunity, and individual responsibility more closely reflected my own convictions.
Other Americans examine those same issues and reach different conclusions. That is their right, just as it is mine to disagree.
But after eight decades of living, working, serving, and watching this country change, I know what I believe.
I don't need permission to believe it.
I don't need approval to express it.
And I don't intend to pretend otherwise just to avoid offending someone.
I voted Red because my convictions haven't changed simply because the political winds have.
You can disagree with my vote. You can challenge my reasoning. You can tell me where you think I'm wrong.
That's America.
But don't mistake my willingness to listen for uncertainty about what I believe.
At 82 years old, I've earned my opinions through experience, sacrifice, mistakes, and lessons learned the hard way.
And I intend to keep speaking my mind for as long as the Good Lord gives me breath.
Semper Fi!
Mike Cunningham
United States Marine Corps Veteran
Mike's Observations — Eight Decades of Faith, Service & Adventure
mikesobservations.com
