Obama Has Much Yet to Prove, amid the poetry and promise ...

[Tellurian]

So why worry? Despite Obama's successes so far,

it's hard to argue with Bill Clinton that it's a "roll of the dice" to vote for a freshman senator less than four years removed from the Illinois legislature. Obama still has much to prove. The potential for setbacks and mistakes is high.

REZKO: Obama's relationship with indicted businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko threatens his image as an antidote to the poisons of Washington. Rezko, accused of scheming to pressure companies seeking state business for kickbacks and campaign contributions, poured thousands of dollars into the campaigns of Obama and others. Rezko also helped Obama increase the size of his yard in a transaction that the Illinois senator now calls a "boneheaded" mistake.

RECORD: Scrutiny of Obama's record will increase with each step he takes toward the Democratic nomination. The New York Times recently poked holes in Obama's explanation of his role in legislation that ultimately benefited a nuclear energy company whose executives and employees have donated more than $200,000 to his campaigns.

RACE: Obama makes history with every victory as the first black candidate with a serious shot at the White House. But the question persists: Can a black man win it all? Obama drew support from four in 10 whites across 16 states _ more than he had captured in earlier primary states. He and Clinton tied among white men while Clinton led among white women. Clinton won six in 10 Hispanic voters, a crucial group that helped her win in California and Arizona.

TEMPERAMENT: Unlike his rival, Obama has never experienced a tough campaign _ and it shows at times. Remember when he said in New Hampshire that Clinton was "likable enough"? It grated on female voters. He needs to avoid looking rude, crabby or cocky. His friends would tell you that's not always easy for him.

EXPERIENCE: The unusually self-aware Obama acknowledged last summer that it was "a stretch" for voters to consider him for the presidency. He needs to avoid a miscue that underscores his inexperience. About one-fifth of the Democratic voters Tuesday said they favored a candidate with seasoning, and Clinton won nearly all their votes. The good news for Obama: A majority of Democratic voters want change, and 70 percent of those voters backed the Illinois senator.


"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time," Obama told supporters Tuesday night. "We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

...more cult-speak from Obama. I have no idea what this parodoxical line means; "We are the change that we seek."

That is a killer line, the kind the sends chills down voters' spines. But it was another line, much earlier in the address, that reflected a more pragmatic side of Obama. The side that wonders and worries about what the his-and-her Clinton candidacy has in store for him.

Indeed, there will setbacks and mistakes, Obama told the adoring crowd, and "that is why we need all the help we can get."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004167029_apondeadlinesupertuesday06.html

[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. K&R

[IndieLeft]

2. I like Obama. I trust him.

He inspires me, and I believe in his message.

That's all I need.

That, and the fact that he spoke out agaist the Iraq war, did not vote for the bankruptcy bill...

[Tellurian]

3. Can you tell us , why that IS?

[AX10]

4. K & R! Obama supporters better realize that he has not been.

vetted and that the GOP will look into his closet only once he gets the nomination.

[A_Titanic_Mess]

11. Ticking Time Bomb???

AX10, I agree with you completely. If Obama gets the nomination, the GOP will have a field day, and I don't think Obama will be ready for that. He clearly became flustered a few times during the debates when pressed about certain things. He is very eloquent and inspiring, I will agree with most on that, but I am just not feeling the substance behind the words. I have a feeling that Obama's involvement with his church is going to come back to haunt him. Many view his church as a black-separatist church. Now whether that view is right or wrong, I don't know, but I think this is an issue that has been bubbling below the surface for the past few weeks, and turn to a full boil soon. I can only imagine what the GOP will do with that information.

[BenDavid]

5. MSNBC should be registered as an Obama 527..Mika Brezinski

spends every morning talking about how great Obama is with no mention that her father works on Obama's campaign. Chris Matthews is a one man hate machine when it comes to Hillary. I like Obama, but the
press has given him a free ride. If he wins the nomination and goes up against St. McCain, it will all come to an end."

When people vote in private they select Hillary.
When surrounded by their peers, they vote for Obama.

[AX10]

6. MSNBC has gotten to be worse than Fox with the Clinton hating.

Olbermann is a proven hack. I don't watch that SOB anymore.
Abrams is the last journalist over there.

As you said Ben:
"When people vote in private they select Hillary.
When surrounded by their peers, they vote for Obama."

[DemGa]

7. "We are the ones we've been waiting for"

"We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

This is some strange cult of personality talk...Freakish stuff!! And I am not trying to incite; It's just that the skin literally crawls up my back as I read his words.

[Cant trust em]

8. Obama might be a little bit of a gamble, but Hillary has a record of letting me down

Hillary voted for the IWR and ultimately took the political cover. Obama might have voted with her, but we'll never know. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Is there anything on this subject that hasn't been covered ad nauseum on DU in the last few weeks? I feel like I've made this post over and over again, yet I still take the bait.

[RiverStone]

9. Don't you see, many people don't want more of Hillary's...

Kind of experience.

Working in education, I talk with many young people - and what they say is Hillary's experience turns them off.

Too much time on The Hill, working with a do-nothing Congress, certainly deeply entrenched within the party elite...Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton on and on etc. Hillary for Secretary of State or even as Senate Majority leader - maybe. People like that she is a fighter - but want a new person in the fight for the future of the presidency.

Young voters (and many old ones too) could not care if Hil's resume was 100 years long - if change trumps experience - change wins.

And young voters like that Obama is more of an unknown - the 'known' has not done a damn thing to break the hand hold the pukes have on our government.

People are voting with their hearts - and some things are beyond measure - and I call that idealism -but in a very good way - it is involving many, many in the process and in turn, people are taking back our government.

And I find that very hopeful!

GoBama!

[Yuugal]

10. Great post

Thats why I'm supporting Obama: Hillary's experience just means more of the same Pelosi/Reid type of enabling which makes me puke. Sure, Obama might turn out to be a huge sellout, but he has an awful lot of selling out to do if he is ever going to catch up with the Clintons.

I couldn't have Kooch, they drove Edwards away, and now I'll settle for Obama because at least he hasn't spent a lifetime licking Al From's fingers.