I cringe when I hear the response from millennials when the media ask them why they will not vote for Secretary Hillary Clinton for president.  Why?  Because, they opine:

Hillary Clinton is a liar.  My question?  And Donald Trump is not a liar?

Hillary Clinton cannot be trusted.  My question?  And Donald Trump Can be trusted?

Hillary Clinton should be put in jail for allegedly lying about her emails.  My question?  And Donald Trump should not be put in jail for any of the things that he has allegedly done that are in violation of the law?

Hillary Clinton is out of touch with the issues that concern millennials and will not do anything to address our concerns.  My question?  And Donald Trump is in touch with the issues that concern millenials and will do those things that are necessary to address millenials’ concerns?

Give me a break; please!  All politicians tend to stretch the truth and many of them even lie at times but Donald Trump takes this to a completely new level.  Donald Trump has lied time-and-time again, repeatedly proven that he will say whatever he needs to say to any audience that he is addressing at the time and then, immediately after leaving them, deny that he said what he just said even though it is on the record (e.g., regarding Secretary Clinton’s statement that he did not pay taxes in certain years; “that makes me smart” and regarding his meeting with the president of Mexico when the press asked him what the Mexican president said about Mexico paying for the wall that he said he will build if he is elected president; “[the subject regarding the wall] did not come up” ).  Those were lies.

Before you get angry with me and refuse to read the rest of this article I implore you, please hear me out.  There is no doubt that you have legitimate concerns and have much to offer the winning candidate, whomever that might be, that is worth consideration as he or she works to make sure that all Americans receive a fair chance to achieve their dreams and works to make America even better than it already is.  I am not trying to discourage you from voting for the candidate that is more likely to work to address your concerns, is best qualified to lead our country, keep us safe and effectively deal with matters – foreign and domestic – based on reasonable rationale.  But please, allow me to remind you that as guardian of the free world, the leader of America must be steady, always maintain a cool head and not be quick to anger or easily provoked.  Does this description fit Donald Trump?

This person will have access to America’s nuclear codes and potentially will have only a matter of minutes to decide whether or not to retaliate to a threat that could be a false alarm.  Rather than discourage you from voting for your candidate of choice, I am instead encouraging you to make sure that you get as many facts as possible regarding each candidate and base your vote on those facts rather than on sound bites.  This is important!  Check the records.  Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have records.

Hillary Clinton’s record mostly involves politics and Donald Trump’s mostly involves business.  But each candidate’s record tells a story and these stories tell you who each candidate is.  And that record includes what each candidate has said and done during the 2016 primaries and this general election cycle.  Always remember, Mr. Trump is the Republican nominee; the Republican standard bearer!

Have you looked at what Republicans did to encourage the Supreme Court to gut the voting rights act and what has happened as a result of the gutting of this act?  Have you looked at what Republicans around the country in state legislatures are doing to block people, including young people like you, around the United States from voting?  If you have not, you should do it now.

Have you heard what Republicans in state legislatures around the country are publicly saying about why voter ID laws were put into place in their states (they were not put into place to prevent voter fraud but instead to prevent as many as possible of those who might vote for Hillary Clinton from voting)?  You need to know who each candidate is before you cast your ballot and that is why you need to gather as much information about each of them as possible.

No matter how you might feel about Secretary Clinton based on the sound bites that you have heard, her record tells you the real story.  And no matter how you might feel about Donald Trump based on sound bites that you have heard, his record tells you the real story.  This is a watershed election that could completely change the face of America and drastically impact her destiny.  Your choice should not be based on the popularity of either candidate or on your desire to be a part of the popular thing to do.  Your vote should never be based on these things.  But especially in this election, an historical election that might well be a tectonic one for America; how the world views us and whether or not they will continue to respect and accept America’s position as a world leader, all of us must base our selection of a candidate on solid information and nothing less.

There are about 36 days left until Election Day and even fewer left to become a registered voter in Colorado.  In some states it might already be too late.  So find out what the last date to register to vote is in your state.  Then, get registered, get informed, and get it right.  Also remember that a vote for anyone other than Hillary Clinton is a vote for Donald Trump.  And finally, whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent; always remember, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line