Jack Lessenberry: Talking with Obama

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/13100

Talking with Obama
by Jack Lessenberry | February 27, 2008

snip//


In person, Barack Obama is even more charismatic than on TV. He is tall, lithe, coordinated. He is thoughtful and funny at the same time. His enormous appeal seems to be built on a combination of intellectual and social intelligence. One of the people present was, I knew, a Hillary Clinton supporter. Obama clearly sensed that, bore in, tried to win her over.

I asked him a question about the nation's decaying infrastructure; would he, if necessary, support something like a new WPA, the federal program that put the unemployed to work during the Depression? Obama responded with a sophisticated plan for a program that would assist states and communities to do just that, by using a pool of matching fund money.

His program made sense, but what impressed me more was that he had clearly studied the issue, assimilated the knowledge, and was able to call it forth without seeming like a policy wonk.

Bottom line, what he seemed to be saying was that he thought he could bring about change — because he thinks we are ready to bring about change, after the years of the lies and filth and greed of the Bush administration. Would he ask us to sacrifice?

Yes, he would. We're going to pay more for energy, for gasoline and electricity, and that's probably not all. He wants to give students a $4,000 tuition credit — and would require them to do a fair amount of national or community service.

He intends to do a lot of things, but adds, "My first job is to build a working majority. And despite having an unabashedly progressive agenda, I've been able to attract independent and even some Republican votes, in a way that I'm afraid Hillary Clinton can't." He never said a negative word about his opponent, except that she is "too polarizing a figure" to bridge the great divide in our nation today.

more...

[democrank]

1. The more I read, the more respect I have for the man.

He is so refreshing.

[babylonsister]

3. Oh, my, I think so, too! I so hope he gets the opportunity to surpise

the skeptics.

[nels25]

2. Note also he always shows respect

for McCains military service, this IMHO is very smart politics.


:think:

[Lisa0825]

4. Very true.

There is a lot I don't like about McCain, but no one can dispute his sacrifice made for his country. He deserves respect for that, regardless of one's politics.