"What I Admire About Barack Obama"

[babylonsister]

http://www.theseminal.com/2008/07/29/what-i-admire-about-barack-obama/

What I Admire About Barack Obama
by Chris Edelson

snip//

* He rose from humble beginnings to graduate from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the first African-American president of the law review. This is a real "up by your bootstraps" American success story.

* Obama didn't just casually oppose the war in Iraq, as Cohen dismissively suggests–he stuck by this position consistently, made it a centerpiece of his campaign and held his ground even when others smeared him as a traitor waving the white flag.

* Speaking of which, I admire Obama for not stooping to the level of those who have slurred him as a terrorist or suggested he is a traitor willing to lose a war in order to lose an election. Obama has stayed on the high road, despite enduring an onslaught of attacks, including some that target his wife. He responds to smear tactics by exposing them for the lies they are, but he does not resort to his own mud-slinging.

* I admire Obama for his commitment to equal rights for all Americans, including gay Americans. This is hardly an uncontroversial position. In contrast, McCain opposes legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and recently said that he doesn't "believe" in gay adoption. McCain's stance is less than admirable.

* I admire Obama for his wise decision to marry Michelle. She is an intelligent, accomplished, beautiful woman.

* I admire Obama because he refuses to play the politics of fear. This is no small feat post 9/11 America. McCain and the Republicans try to win elections by playing on our fears. Obama speaks to our hopes–our desire to end a misbegotten war in Iraq, our desire to rejoin the community of nations, our desire to end the failed policy of tax cuts for the wealthy, and everyone else fends for themself.

* I admire Obama because he is absolutely unflappable. Show me a time when he lost his temper or lost his cool. Contrast that with John McCain, whose temper has scared the hell out of people even in his own party.

* And yes, I admire Obama for his speech in 2004, for his speech when he became the nominee, for his speech in race relations, for all of his speeches. Cohen* may dismiss this as just words. So was the Declaration of Independence, so was Tom Paine's Common Sense. Obama's words have inspired millions. That too is something worthy of admiration.

*Written in response to Cohen's article here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802464.html

[flamingdem]

1. Obama: the Unflapper!

I think this is what will save him and help him with the debates.

>>>I admire Obama because he is absolutely unflappable. Show me a time when he lost his temper or lost his cool. Contrast that with John McCain, whose temper has scared the hell out of people even in his own party.

[flor de jasmim]

2. Not only is he unflappable, but he comes back stronger, more eloquent...