Change. With only 50 days left until the election, that word is as common as corn and beans in this swing state. Lately both candidates make a steadfast claim as the candidate for change, but which can we really trust come Nov. 4?

John McCain just isn’t the man for true change in Washington — he’s already proven it. Our war in Iraq certainly won’t change with McCain suggesting he wouldn’t mind staying in Iraq for “maybe a hundred years.”

Our energy dependence on foreign oil won’t change with McCain opposing investments in clean energy and voting against increased fuel efficiency standards.

Our struggling economy won’t change with McCain claiming we’ve made “great progress economically” in the last seven years. And with a campaign already run by seasoned Washington lobbyists, who will be running our country with McCain in the White House?

The “change” shoe just doesn’t fit. Better save the nickname “maverick” for someone who doesn’t vote with Bush 90 percent of the time.

Our real hope for dismantling the failed policies of the last eight years is Barack Obama. He advocates ending the war in Iraq in a responsible manner, increasing diplomacy while bringing our brave troops home like they deserve.

He promotes investment in clean energy with a plan to generate five million new green jobs. And he doesn’t accept money from lobbyists, so we can be confident that his plan is for us, the American people, and not special interests in Washington.

Election day will be here before we know it. Don’t be fooled by McCain’s misleading claims and negative politics. Our only opportunity for real change lies with Obama. Are you ready?

Leslie Freehill

Senior

Agronomy