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This Election Is About The Issues For Carter

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

arichardson@tampatrib.com

Published: November 2, 2008

TAMPA - Bucs defensive end Kevin Carter has spent more time comparing the foreign policies of John McCain and Barack Obama, the country's two major presidential candidates, than discussing his team's defense when speaking with reporters this season.

Carter is not only more intelligent than the average college graduate, but also he has been more outspoken about this year's presidential race than any member of his team.

Although Carter is focused on Tampa Bay's road game against Kansas City today, his focus will shift Tuesday, when he joins millions of registered voters to decide the next president of the United States. His well-researched opinions can be read below in this week's Wide Right column.

Anwar: Why have you followed this election so closely?

Kevin: I'm in a time of my life where I have an 8-year-old son, and I'm raising a child to go out into this world and function as a productive member of our society. If you're going to send a child out into the world, you have to think about the world that you are helping to create. It's very important to me now, because I don't think I've ever been more aware of things in the world than I am now at 35 years old. I've turned into my father.

Anwar: Is that a good or a bad thing?

Kevin: It's an endearing thing. I've understood for a long time what it means to be a grown-up, but now I understand on a whole other level what it means to have a child and teach them how to be a grown-up.

Anwar: What are the strengths and weaknesses of both presidential candidates?

Kevin: I think that, obviously, the experience in Washington, the political background experience, being in the military, and having lived over 70 years of life speaks volumes about McCain. Having gone to war and being able to survive to that age, I hope I live to be at least 70. The things that you know and the experiences you will have, that is invaluable. I think Barack Obama is smart, he's very qualified. I think he is refreshing - all the terms that people use loosely. But since we're talking about politics, you have to go a little deeper. My thing with Barack Obama is his ability to motivate others. He has an ability to listen and wants to affect the situation in a positive way, from what I've seen thus far. He doesn't have the political experience of John McCain, but he has a lot of experience in his own right. I think he works well with a lot of people to have gotten as far as he's gotten. Anybody who comes this far, you have to be somebody who people believe in. I think he got here largely by his own merit. Not to say McCain hasn't, but sometimes when people know you or your political experience, it's easier for you to be mentioned in those sentences than it would be for Barack Obama. I think they both have positives and downsides, but looking at more than just the pros and cons, you look at the people and what they stand for. I can love Barack Obama all day long, but not like what he stands for and he doesn't get my vote. I can love the fact that McCain is a former veteran, but not like what he stands for and he doesn't get my vote. You have to get into the issues, and that is where the personal responsibility really comes into play.

Anwar: How can an upper-class citizen like yourself support Obama, a man who wants to tax individuals who make more than $250,000 a year?

Kevin: I can see it both ways. We're talking about a certain status of life. We're talking monetary, so let's keep it that way. That's the question you're asking me. How important is my standard or quality of living to me? I can definitely see why people would be for keeping more of their money and not want to do things when they don't have faith in what it will accomplish, such as giving to make health care better, or having affordable health care for every American. There are a lot of people who don't have faith in the government and don't want to part with their tax money. There are people who go the other way and say if you're rich and wealthy, what's the real impact of a couple of percentage points more? What's the relevance to your standard of life compared to someone who makes 1/400th of what you make? I can see that as well. I can see both sides. I'm not trying to preach for one side or the other. That's why voting is so personal. My wife loves this quote by Gandhi that says, "We must be the change that we'd like to see in the world." If you want to see things improve, or the quality of things get better, you have to make some sacrifices yourself.

Anwar: What is your opinion of people who do not vote?

Kevin: I don't have anything against them, but at the same time, I wouldn't expect those people to have an opinion of why things happen the way they do, or anything that involves politics. If you're able to vote and you don't, that's your own prerogative, but basically you don't have anything to say about it.

Anwar: What do you think about each candidate as it relates to foreign affairs?

Kevin: I'd have to go back to McCain having a lot of experience with dealing with different countries. Meeting world leaders, and he would definitely be someone whose experience served him well as a president. Maybe perception-wise, I think Barack's ability to communicate serves him well when it comes to foreign affairs. His opinion and his thinking probably will not be the same as a war hero, because they have a completely different experience in life. With that possibility, you open a different way that other countries see you. We've never had a minority president. Every other country in the world may have a female prime minister. Other countries in the world have crossed over the gender and race barriers. Here, it's such a stretch. I think the message it would send to rest of the world is, "Hey, maybe the U.S. as a nation has overcome some of its challenges, prejudices and overcome the obstacles of what embodies us as the leading country of the free world." Maybe it might be a positive thing or maybe it won't. Maybe someone who is seasoned and has been dealing with different countries for a long time might be a better thing. Who knows?

Anwar: We'll know Tuesday.

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425.

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