Reply #59: I understand. No, in some way I was more expressing sorrow

[Tom Rinaldo]

that I have been making a case for another candidate who you are experiencing as robbing you of hope. It was meant as part of my acknowleding that Hope really is a positive force. I was trying to explain that, although I am not backing Obama as my first choice, it is not because I sneer in any way on his message of hope. The ability to uplift, to inspire, is a genuinely important element of real leadership. So if I believe that, and if I also believe that Obama is the candidate most capable of articulating our broadest hopes (and I do), obvously there must be some other basis for me to not chose him as my candidate, and in my case (but it certainly doesn't have to be yours) there is. That doesn't mean that I think Obama scores zero in any or all other criteria to chose a candidate. Obama has shown me enough that I can back him with pride if he becomes our nominee.

I agree with you on your last comments. But it never has been about himself for Wes. That is just part of how the man is wired. He will do what he believes is best for the nation whether or not he gets the respect and treatment we believe he deserves.