A Plea to My Friends in Indiana

I’m not going to attempt to politicize on the federal level: I support Obama, I tend to lean liberal, I am registered to vote in New York State, and I am not Christian. I won’t claim anything to the contrary.

But in this election, my energies are better spend in a plea to all the friends I met in Indiana, those I encountered in school, comedy and any other setting in the year I lived in the state, as well as anyone I’ve met from Indiana before or since. Please, I beg of you, vote for Joe Donnelly for Senate, and encourage everyone you know to do the same.

Even if you are a firm liberal in areas where you consider Donnelly too conservative to justify your vote. Even if you are conservative and generally vote Republican. Even if you are completely apathetic. It is in the interest of you and everyone you love to vote for Joe Donnelly.

I’m not as familiar with Congressman Donnelly as I’d like to be. His background seems admirable. reviewed his policies, and while I agree with him on some issues and strongly disagree with others, he is more than equipped for the job, representing the characteristics of the state that I fell in love with, admittedly in my very skewed slice of life in the state. I legitimately believe Joe Donnelly has his constituent’s best interests at heart.

I cannot imagine that Richard Mourdock feels the same way about the majority of his constituents. And by that, I mean that Treasurer Mourdock is a direct threat to the livelihoods and well being of at least 50% of the residents of Indiana.

Joe Donnelly has very strict views on abortion, much stricter than I think is right. But where we do not disagree is that pregnancy as a result of rape, incest, or a direct threat to the life of the mother. This is something that I cannot condone in any situation. It’s maybe the only issues I refuse to have any friends who take this stance.

Even if you consider the life of every child sacred, consider that every moment of that’s child’s life will be shaped by the violent act that created it. No miracle is worth a woman’s life. The trauma that created that child’s life, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, will be passed down into how that child is raised, and how that child will raise its own children. That child will be raised with the cynicism and lack of love that you detest in your opponents. The only reason for that kind of hatred to exist is if no other option is available..

But it’s not the best use of my time to try to argue that here, on a comedian’s personal website. The fact is, most people who are reading this with a stake in Indiana politics are in academia, music, comedy and the arts, or are friends I met in Chicago and back out east. If you know me, or share my interests enough to read this blog, odds are you already agree with me. This is one of the few times I’m not joking.

That’s why I’m urging you not to stop there. Bring this discussion up with friends, family, and anyone you know who is either on the fence or considering voting for Richard Mourdock. Adapt your arguments person by person. Try to be civil, but it’s okay to unleash a little if you have to. Whatever it takes, I urge you to not to back away, fighting your instincts if you have to, and discuss this matter with anyone thinking of voting for Mourdock (or thinking of not voting at all) to the best of your abilities.

Many of you may not be used to discussing these issues with certain people. Maybe you don’t actually know your friends or family’s point of view, and you don’t want it to affect your otherwise positive personal relationship with them. But this is a personal issue more than it is a political one. We’re talking about mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces, cousins, girlfriends, classmates, church members, secret crushes, best friends, Facebook friends.

Men, this is an issue of fundamental importance to how women structure their lives, and if you attempt to talk to women frankly about this, I suspect you will hear a different point of view that what you’re expecting. Women, don’t be afraid to talk to men about this. Many of them simply are unfamiliar with the point of view that you take for granted or consider obvious. And don’t be afraid to bring it up with the women who you’ve given up on politically. Also, don’t be afraid to bring this up with your grandparents and the elderly either, even if it makes you uncomfortable and squeamish even to think about.

I know it’s difficult, and that everything in society tells you not to let discussion of politics, religion, and sex interfere with your personal friendships. I understand that, and in most cases, I agree. Mark Twain was a smart man. But for the estimated 30,000 women in America each year become pregnant as a result of froiceble rape, this is not a political issue. For all women of child-bearig age, who have to live with the fear of being rape, and the 1 in 20 chance that a pregnancy may result from this act of violence, this is not a political issue. And for the daughters and granddaughters of the future, who are left to deal with the ramifications of the decisions we make, this is not a political issue. These issues will matter long after Obama, Romney and all of us have died.

So that is why you should vote for Joe Donnelly, and why you should actively encourage everyone you know in the state of Indiana to do the same.

I hope this helps. Now back to jokes.