Am I Supposed To Feel Bad That I Really, Really Like Obama?

[THUNDER HANDS]

I'm just curious, this connection I feel with Obama isn't like a lot of other connections I've had with other politicians.

2004 was the first year I was really involved in a campaign from pre-primary all the way up through the election. I was always a supporter of Kerry, and I thought he'd be a great president and was devastated when he didn't win, but I never had that extra...something that made me a die-hard with him. I think I appreciated and respected him greatly, but I could only get about 90% of my heart into Kerry (which is still a lot, but not everything).

But with Obama, it's different. He's sealed the deal with me. It's something instinctual.

I have this connection with him that I don't have to a lot of things in my life.

There are my sports teams I root for. My favorite movies. My favorite musicians. My fiancee. My family. My friends.

And now, my candidate.

Even if he doesn't win the nomination, I'm still going to remember this feeling I have for him. I'm still going to remember this time in my life when this guy came along and captured my imagination and made me believe in more than just the nuts and bolts of real politik.


I don't believe I should be made fun of for having these feelings. I wish everyone connected with their candidate this way. I wish every candidate had the ability to connect with their supporters this way.

I don't see anything to be ashamed of about that.

Do you?

[democrank]

1. Stop being hopeful right now!

~PEACE~

[Lucinda]

2. Nope. And I don't feel bad about really, really NOT liking him.

They are both still better than a Rep.

[littlebit]

3. I don't think you should feel bad

I think you should feel really good about it.

[Faygo Kid]

4. Like Bobby in 1968. But, that must have been a cult thing, too.

All these years of working for Dems since Gene McCarthy then Bobby back in high school in 1968, and it's not until 40 years later I find out that I only choose who to support based on cult thinking. Damn.

[madrchsod]

23. yes we lost everything when bobby was murdered

40 years of bullshit and that`s why i`m part of obama`s posse

[Fresh_Start]

5. Its your vote, do what you want

if anyone tells you otherwise, ignore them
If your instincts have served you well in the past, rely on them

You are not the President of the USA.
When Bush operated by his instincts, it was a disaster for our country and probably somewhere in the distant future himself. But you don't have the same responsibilities.

[krabigirl]

6. No, just like I don't have to be ashamed that I don't. Personal preference. :)

[Skinner]

7. There's no shame in that.

Being inspired by a candidate is a good thing.

[Bucky]

8. You're supposed to feel bad because the Mets aren't as good as the Yankees.

Also, you're a rat.

On the plus side, this is supposed to be your year.

[Fresh_Start]

11. But the Mets got Santana!!!

didn't check the money involved but, just wow

[flpoljunkie]

9. Are you one of those "hopemongers," too, Magic Rat?

[petgoat]

10. I think you should beware of the impulse to fall in love with someone you don't know.

Emotional involvement with a political celebrity is the very
essence of the cult of the personality, which can be very
dangerous to a political body.

[calico1]

12. No. Just don't try to make me feel bad because

I don't share your opinion of him.

:)

[Little Star]

13. Nope. I feel the same connection to Hillary. I agree that

neither of us should be ashamed to have that feeling of connecting. In fact I think many people feel a real connection to their candidate.

[AlCzervik]

14. he makes me feel positive, like things might actually get better and after 7 years

of feeling pretty down and just beyond cynical i welcome the change, of all the things i've lost since 2000 i miss the optimism the most and i dearly would like to get some of that back.

[onehandle]

15. No. Just don't be an asshole about it.

Don't be the digital equivalent of a screaming sports fan on the streets tipping over trash cans, burning cars, and beating up the opposing team's fans.

[Orangepeel]

16. You should enjoy it.

Ignore the cynics and the haters.

:D

[TexasObserver]

17. He really does have something special

I haven't see anyone with the ability to hold an audience like he does since 1968. I don't think we can pass up this chance to reinvigorate the party and start it anew. I think this is our chance to reclaim a dynamic majority status and redirect this country. We must stop this path we're on. I don't see anyone but Obama doing that.

[immoderate]

18. JFK was in office when I was in high school.

He championed physical fitness for the country and recommended long walks. A bunch of us decided we would walk from NYC to Washington, hoping that there would be publicity enough that we could meet him. (We didn't. But we were seriously considering it.) JFK did make fitness popular, though.

Bush is also into fitness, but only for himself.

--IMM

[Kittycat]

19. Hopemonger

You just keep on your path... There are millions of us marching right along with you :)

[Indenturedebtor]

20. No you should feel bad

You should feel like a crybaby cultist DLC'er babykilling naive moron who is actively working for the destruction of the country.

Now that that's out of the way....

GOBAMA :bounce:

[Kahuna]

21. Hey! My son is almost a dead ringer for him except my son has small ears...

One day I'll post a picture and you can judge for yourself. My son is one mighty fine dude.

[WCGreen]

22. Thank goodness someone touched you like that...

I have never felt that way about a political candidate when I was of age...

I remember well RFK and Martin Luther King, both inspired me as a budding political animal...

I would say that when I shoke hands with Carl Stokes at a church picnic in 1967, I knew I was shaking the hand of someone real special...

[JVS]

24. You're also supposed to feel bad that you aren't old enough to be wise and beautiful

like these people

[MH1]

25. I sure hope not!

I think I can safely say that my feelings about Kerry and Obama mirror yours - kind of literally, in the sense that the "extra" is there, for me, with Kerry... not there yet with Obama but he's still damn good.

Either one would make a far better president than most of the candidates we've had to pick from in the last several cycles.

[okasha]

26. Well, then.

Just ask him for a date.