How I came to my pick between Hilary & Obama (pretty long)

[BigD_95]

Not sure if anyone really cares but here it is.

First I had a hard time with this and kept going back and forth.
I'm a big fan of the Clintons and have read Hilary's books.

When she first said she was going to run I was with her and excited. Then I as Iowa neared, I starting to buy into the Obama movement. Then the debates took place and I really liked John Edwards a lot and settled that I would support him.

Well now that he is gone and all the media bashing against Hilary; I started to support her again. It just turned me the wrong way how she was being treated and Bill.

This takes me up to after Super Tuesday and how I made my choice and again its not easy because of my loyalty to the Clintons.

I decided to throw my support for Barack Obama for the following reasons:

1.) Unfair as it is the media hates Hilary. It pisses me off but its the truth. Hilary will never get a fair shake and having the mainstream media against you is a major blow. We need a Democrat in the White house and they are both great but the media can help or hurt a candidate and I believe they will favor McCain over Hilary in a big way.

2.) Obama will look like a more change candidate then Hilary against McCain. The age difference alone standing beside McCain will be huge plus for Obama. McCain is 71 and will look like 80 beside Obama. America wants a change and he looks like the biggest change candidate.

3.) Obama can match if not surpass any independent voters that McCain can get. Also I believe more Republicans will stay at home if Obama runs while Hilary will do more to unite the Republican base.

4.) Obama can run a harder line against McCain on the war then Hilary can. Its really that simple when it comes to this issue. He was right from day one and can say that over and over.

5.) While I still believe Hilary is a way better debater then Obama he has gotten better and I believe thanks to Hilary, he can now hold his own against an 72 year old McCain. Not to mention the best debater doesn't win the election ( George Bush ).

6.) This might sound like a dumb reason but my son is almost 16 and him and his friends in High School love Obama. He actually pays somewhat attention to Politics because of Obama. To me to have a candidate have new and young voters and some that cant vote care about politics and the issues of this country is a huge plus.

The really cool thing about this is that if we get Obama into the White house when he runs for reelection all the kids in high school will then be able to vote for him. My son would then be 20.


Again this was a hard choice and as you noticed I didn't really decide on the issues because both of them are pretty close on the issues. I decide on who I think has the best chance to win the White house against McCain. It is a must to get a democrat elected. I truly believe Obama is the person that almost grantees a win and for that reason I have to support him the rest of the way.

[Kermitt Gribble]

1. You have some very good points there.

The only one I really partially disagree with is #1. The media hates Hillary, so they are pushing Obama now. If he wins the nomination, they'll tear him down just like they've been doing to Hillary for the past 15 years.

I'm a Hillary supporter who is a former Edwards supporter, though I'll be happy to vote for Obama if he wins the nom.

[BigD_95]

4. the media

seems to like Obama and I realize that could change but there really seems to be almost a hate for Hilary and its really unfair. I just cant get over how slanted the media is against her.

As much as I hate it, I have to realize that its a knock against her no matter how unfair it is. We need to win the White House and the media plays a part in that.

[lisainmilo]

2. between the two a clearer choice for change

good decision!

[Blue-Jay]

3. I'm going to kick this.

Because I think we need more real conversation and less stupid screaming at each other. Lacking an insult in your subject line might make your thread sink like a stone.

[Hepburn]

5. Ditto....add another K&R to this thread! n/t

[Greyskye]

6. Good points

Your journey sounds similar to mine.

K&R

[Barack_America]

7. I fully agree with your reasoning...

There's nothing wrong with considering the general election in your primary vote. In fact, it's smart.

[Armstead]

8. I believe your objective reasons are sound

Thanks for taking the time to write it up. The fact that you see merits of both adds to the sincerity of your observaitons.

I'm less objective. I have way big problems with Hillary on many levels -- most importantly her neo-liberal corporatist approach to the world. I'm not yet sure where Obama stands on some of the issues I care about -- But I do know that he can't be any worse than Hillary would be, from my perspective.

[Oskie]

9. which one? which one? which one?

I'm still undecided. But I'm in Texas so I have about a month until the primary. My main reservation about Obama (besides that preacher cadence which turns me off) is this: can he outmanuever the ratbastards of Congress to get legislation passed, and/or undo the Bush disasters? Jimmy Carter had good ideas and strong intention but was "cut off at the knees" by the special interest Dems and Repugs (not to mention the Wall Street snakes). After reading Woodward's THE AGENDA published in '94 after BC's first term I feel that HRC has learned how to deal with the rats....and yes, possibly by becoming one herself. I DONT WANT a one-term Dem in the WH.

[TheDoorbellRang]

13. You have the same concerns I did until lately

I couldn't help but remember what the D.C. machine did to Jimmy Carter. That's one of the reasons I couldn't get behind Edwards when he was still in the race. I also wondered if Obama could be any more effective, then I read this editorial about his time in the Illinois congress: Judge Him By His Laws

FLDem5 has this editorial and more here

Hope this helps a little. :hi:

[FloridaJudy]

10. I've been thinking along similar lines

I don't feel as deeply committed to Clinton's or Obama's stands on the issues as I did to those of Kucinich or Edwards. But they're the last ones standing, and frankly we could do a lot worse, i.e. any Republican. I really have been wavering between the two. My ex sends me pro-Hillary stuff, and whatever our personal differences, I respect his political opinions. It also helps that he sends reasoned arguments why Clinton would serve us better, and not anti-Obama screeds.

But it really comes down to who I think can win, and Obama looks most likely. Outside of a dedicated cadre, the support for Clinton looks lukewarm, while Obama seems to be catching the interest of a wide variety of Americans who otherwise wouldn't be all that interested the political race. I also agree with his stand on Iraq.

I think either of these two would make a fine President, but right now I feel like Obama has the edge.

[Laurab]

11. K&R Some sound reasons and most of all..

It IS about winning the GE - my biggest fear is having another repuke as president. I have more problems with Hillary than you do, but my biggest problem is that I don't think she can win the GE - and if she does, it will be a fight everyday to get anything done.

I agree that much of the hate from the right against Hillary is unfair, but it's there, and has to be considered. I think you made a wise choice.

[Yael]

12. Thank you for sharing your thought processes with us

[oasis]

14. "I have read Hilary's books". I think not. She spells her name with a double "L".

Any long time supporter of Hillary would know that.

[BigD_95]

15. To be honest

*** I think not.***

I didn't actually read them. I listen to them on CD at work. I did buy "It takes a Village" on book and started to read it but I ended up getting the audio at the public Library and listen at work. I figured it was just easier to say I read them instead of listing to an audio CD. I have also listen too Barack Obama's CD & Jimmy Carters last one, and Al Gore's. I have the opportunity to listen to audio's while I work.

Too question my " long time supporter of Hillary" because I spelled her name wrong....well you don't know me very well. The first thing my wife said when I told her to change from a "independent" to register Democrat, so she can vote for Obama was " I thought you were a big Hillary fan?"

I had to double check Barack's name spelling when I typed this up because Im awful at spelling. Actually Im worse then that. I wont play scrabble with my wife : )

sorry if it now sounds like I lied about reading her book but I figured listening too it is pretty much the samething.

[thevoiceofreason]

16. Are you Big D as in Dallas?

Then get to the HQ and help out. Our climb in Texas is long and steep, but Dallas County is key

[BigD_95]

17. yes that is BigD as in Dallas

but thats because Im a big Cowboys fan. I live in PA which might get the final say in this process.