In past years I haven’t taken an interest in politics. A bunch of old rich guys that never really seemed to get anything done didn’t really interest me. So imagine my surprise when I stopped tuning out political talk and started listening to the day-to-day occurrences in Washington and around the nation. I have Barack Obama to thank for that.

I’m voting for Barack Obama because he represents something greater than himself. He represents a legion of normally inattentive voters becoming involved in a historic election. He represents a chance for America to start over and attempt to fix the failures of the current administration.

In the relatively few years Obama has been on the political scene, he has crossed party, racial and gender lines in an effort to unite the American people to a cause greater than any realized by a politician in the last 40 years.

Obama has fought his whole life to appear before us now. After graduating from college, he worked for years helping his community before realizing the ability he has to help people throughout the nation and the world.

Of course there are many who think differently. In the last six months, I’ve heard many question his patriotism, his religious values and even his family.

Despite the never-ending, vicious rumors from more “experienced” politicians, Barack Obama has kept his cool and fought for the average American. We’ve spent the last eight years with an “experienced” administration, and America is arguably in the worst position it has been since the Great Depression. Many Americans, including myself, think it is time to try a new approach.

Barack Obama is a man unsullied by the backdoor dealings of today’s politics. He’s the first politician in my lifetime who seems honest, capable and in touch with the everyday America that other politicians only speak about in sweeping generalizations. Here is a man dedicated to helping the American people on a day-to-day basis.

Obama has proposed tax cuts for 95 percent of America. He’s argued that our soldiers need to be taken out of the unnecessary conflict in Iraq. He’s assembled an impressive team of researchers and workers that have propelled him to the national stage and also value the American worker above huge corporations.

Despite all the detractors, Obama has already acted presidential and effective. His vision of a timetable in Iraq was agreed upon by the Iraqi government and, shortly after that, the Bush administration. He’s stressed caution and reason when dealing with the situations with Russia and Pakistan, and even our own economic failures.

And perhaps most importantly, he has chosen a running mate who understands the problems we face and who is also dedicated to the American family. Joseph Biden wasn’t picked for publicity or without the proper vetting process. He is an experienced politician who can rise to any challenge the White House faces just as Obama can.

These are people who have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt how much they believe in America. We’ve come a long way in a few years, and it’s time to start over. I’ve found change that I can believe in and I urge you to do the same.

Reach Aaron Burch at diversions@chherald.com.