Some of Us Favor Obama for Reasons That Have Nothing to Do with Clinton.

[Mike03]

This is just nothing more than my opinion, obviously, so take it for what it is worth. It is a good question that has been asked for weeks around here.

My speculative answer is this:

Some of us are so demoralized and beaten down after the past eight years that we need something more than merely an intelligent, competent human being to be our president. We need some inspiration. We need to believe that there's some point to even going on with our lives, because we are so ashamed of what our country has done over the past five years (five, because of the Iraq war).

Clinton is competent. She is ready. Without question, she is intelligent, trustworthy, and a good speaker. However...

Speaking for myself, I want a leader who will make me believe that the United States can be sane, great, and a positive force for good in this world again. Obama makes me feel like maybe there is some future for me, my brothers and sisters, my niece, and every person in this country who lives in poverty, doesn't eat a healthy meal or two a day, or can't get medical health because of where he or she lives.

When I think of Obama in office, suddenly I can imagine being alive ten years from now, maybe fifteen years or twenty years from now. I can imagine that my country can be healthier, more grateful, and more generous.

The problem is that I just stopped believing in any future over the past few years. I trust Clinton, but she doesn't make me hope for very much. Obama makes me feel alive again. Yes, he may be an illusion, but I need an illusion.

So be it.

[XtraProudDem]

1. Me too

I agree. I love Hillary, but it's just Obama's time.

No starry eyes, no Kool-Aid drinking. I just prefer him. It seems like I've been waiting for a candidate like that forever. Now that he's here, he gets my vote.

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. And why is it Obama's time and not Hillary's time? I don't support either. Just curious.

:shrug: Just because you prefer him? :wow:

[NanceGreggs]

2. My feelings, too.

Beautifully put.

[Nitrogenica]

3. It's no illusion Mike, because it is up to us. We are not illusion.

If counting on the American people to do what is right for a change is an illusion, then I am wrong.

I don't think that it is, because the other side of the aisle has completely lost all sense of reality.

From Global Warming to the War on Terror to NSA spying to the Justice Department EVERY SINGLE POLICY benefits the lucky few among us who live comfortably wealthy already. It's policy that creates easy money for some, less money for those of us who have worked our whole lives only to be living paycheck to paycheck.

There are millions of us who would lose it all if we couldn't work due to illness. A few short months of unemployment and I would be financially devastated at 45 years old. This with a salary that was quite enough money only a few years ago.

How many of us knew this would happen?

How many of us felt powerless to do anything about it?

Well now is the time for the Middle Class of America to wake up and take back Washington.
We have a man who will help us do just that.

[JFN1]

4. Exactly

My support for Obama grew over time, and has had virtually NOTHING to do with the other candidates. I wanted Gore, but when it became clear he wasn't interested, I looked at and listened to all of the candidates. I liked Edwards' message, but the man himself seemed, somehow, thin to me. Kucinich and Gravel, both have excellent messages, but seem to lack in capacity, where it comes to leading in the realm of ideas. Hillary was my first choice, but as her campaign has progressed, her message has become more shrill, and ultimately, more self-centered.

Obama has consistently campaigned outside of himself (I don't know if that makes sense to anyone but me), and has given of himself in ways I lack the ability to express in words; but yet I sense, nonetheless. I just don't get the same sense of dedication and service from Hillary, that I get from Obama.

Maybe it comes down to this: In recent weeks, Hillary has seemed to be DEMANDING my vote from a position of entitlement, while Obama has continued to merely ask.

[citygal]

5. That's a good way to put it...

It does feel like Hillary is demanding votes, not merely asking.

I have always supported Obama, even before he announced his run last year. I had no negative feelings toward Hillary until she started dragging this nomination out and potentially harming the Democrats opportunity to take back the white house in November.

[Laelth]

6. Let me make this very clear ... COAT TAILS, baby.

Obama gives us a chance to win big down ballot.

-Laelth

[niceypoo]

7. I have been BEGGING Obama supporters to convince me to vote for him based on POLICY...

...for months now, and not a single one has even tried, they just degenerate into default 'Hillary,' stance.

Still waiting (Hope, Unity, slogans...etc, have zero to do with policy, BTW).

[SeattleGirl]

8. Have you read his campaign website?

I'm not being snarky; it's an honest question.

When Edwards dropped out, I had to choose between Clinton and Obama. I went to each of their websites, and read all their positions on various issues. I liked Obama's a bit more than I did Clinton's.

If you haven't done that, I recommend that you do, not in an effort to change your mind, but to satisfy your curiosity.

[niceypoo]

23. People shouldnt have to run to his website to know his positions...

...And I have read stuff at his website, and it is the same boilerplate stuff you see at all the dem candidates websites.

Obama is failing miserabally to define himself by his policy positons, instead he is defining himself as 'not Hillary.'

Expecting the country to go to his website and read endless PDF files just doesnt work. This is why Obama supporters only talk about Hillary, because Obama gives them no ammunition to work with.

Everyone knew Edwards positions because that is what he talked about, ad nauseum. That is what Democrats used to do.

If anyone needs to run to Obama's website and educate themselves, it is his supporters, who only talk about Hillary, which is driving her supporters away from Obama. They should be trying to attract Hillary supporters by discussing policy, not repelling them with endless negative yammering.

[JFN1]

10. Watch his speech

And don't listen to it as a political supporter - listen to it as an American. His policies will come from the very things he expressed in this speech, for only a person of deep character would have dared it.

Policies are important, it is true; but character counts, just as much.

And now allow me to turn it around on you - as her supporter, can you convince me of Hillary's character as a qualifier for the White House?

[Juche]

16. Have you read his policies?

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/

There isn't much difference between Obama & Hillary on the issues. Both want the EFCA, end the war, fight terror more intelligently, voter protection, open up the media, higher min. wage, investments in infrastructure & renewable energy, etc.

On the housing crisis & healthcare there are some differences, but they are minor compared to someone like McCain.

[niceypoo]

27. Why can't Obamas supporters articulate his policy positions?

And why does everything have to be in the context of, 'Hillary?'

[Juche]

29. What are you talking about

I am saying if you are going to make a decision based on policy differences between Hillary & Obama you will split hairs.

Virtually every agenda he supports (EFCA, higher min. wage, ending the Iraq war, rebuilding our reputation, improving science, improving infrastructure, meaningful renenwable energy) are nearly identical with Hillaries. If you are voting solely on the issues, there is little difference between them except on a few issues.

[cottonseed]

Hillary herself started this race by pointing out that all...

the candidates were basically the same. This was during a debate with Edwards, Obama, and herself. When she was leading by 30 points she opened the race to include personality. That door she opened allowed Obama to walk right through and run away with it.

So, if you like Hillary's policy, and you believe her when she says that herself, Edwards, and Obama are virtually identical on policy, than I think that's all the convincing you really need.

[niceypoo]

25. This is a perfect example....

'Hillary, Hillary, Hillary, Hillary, and more Hillary!!'

[cottonseed]

30. I think I get it.

I thought you were some crazy Hillary supporter. I just noticed your avatar and apologize for my initial overly simplistic answer. Let me try again:

Obama has more progressivism in his little finger than Edwards ever had.

[JuniperLea]

28. She was wrong about Edwards...

But spot on about her and Obama.

[JuniperLea]

26. Me too...

I'm not getting the whole "inspiration" deal... quite frankly, it's starting to scare the hell out of me.

Hillary and Obama are two peas in a pod when it comes to policy... I've read their websites side by side... I don't care for either of them.

It's pretty astounding to see the infighting here! It reminds me of that old Star Trek episode where there are two feuding races that are both half black and half white. It's very hard to understand why they are warring one another because to the casual observer, they are identical... until you get to the end of the episode when one of them, played by Frank Gorshin as I recall, says... are you blind??? He's black on the left side and I'm black on the right!!!

[PetraPooh]

9. Hats off to all that share your POV, I cannot say I'm there yet. Soon maybe.

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. I can say I will never be there.

[JFN1]

15. So...what? You're a Hillary/McCain supporter, then?

If not Hillary, then not Obama? And if Obama, then...what? McCain? Is that what you are saying? Please specify, so I don't get the wrong idea.

[PetraPooh]

18. You may have misunderstood me. I am so anti-Hillary, that I cannot

claim to be pro-Obama strictly on his merits and not a combination of his merits and her disgraces.

[SaveAmerica]

13. You know, I've been going down the progressive vine as my candidates were picked off one by one.

If you can think back to the beginning when our Democratic candidate group stood on that stage in all its diverse glory, we were so proud and felt that any one of them would be so much better than what we have now. I was looking for someone who could repair the mistakes Bush has made in the past 8 years, someone who could begin the healing process in this country. After I heard Obama speak the other night, I felt that not only could he be that someone, but maybe he could (if given enough time) could start a deeper healing.

[K Gardner]

14. I feel the same. "When I think of Obama in office, I can imagine

being alive 10-20 years from now." Strange to see someone else say what I feel. That kind of optimism and newfound breath is hard to describe.

[Guava Jelly]

17. It is ok to dream

.

[hisownpetard]

19. Al Pacino for President!!!

Oops, I mean...OBAMA!!! Yes, that's it - OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT.
Really.

[Guava Jelly]

21. Say hello to my little friend

[hisownpetard]

20. Mike- great post! Listening to Obama, I feel like I'm getting a new lease on life,

because life lived without a scintilla of hope - which we've experienced for 7 excruciating years now - is not
life at all.

It's deadening to the spirit, which is in turn deadening to a person's sense of determination and will.

The very essence of the man seems to be steeped in fairness - a virtue almost unheard of in politics.

I simply cannot wait to see the turn this country will take, once he is (please, please, please) in the Oval Office.

[nancyr]

22. Agreed.

I have been depresssed since Bush stole the first election, and when the same thing happened again in '04, I basically gave up hope for things ever improving. I am basically tired of the Clintons, and never felt that she had some inherent right to be elected. I am sick of the same old rotten divide and conquer smear politics, and Obama is like a breath of fresh air. He can speak his opinion and make his point without insulting someone else at the same time. After 7 years of watching a smirking illiterate buffoon playing president, the sight of an eloquent and intelligent person like Obama is frankly a relief. I feel the country is in such grave peril that we have no choice other than to totally shake things up. Business as usual just isn't going to cut it. All I know is that he inspires me, and at this point in my life I am sort of amazed that I can still feel a spark of optimism.

[Bensthename]

24. Obama is like an old wise man. He knows exactly what to say

He doesnt always calculate what is the best thing to say or position to take. He speaks from the heart and works from the heart. And when he does, it is outstanding. He has my vote no matter what.

[Solon]

31. I don't get this "inspiration" crap, especially when talking about a politician...

I just don't get it. Obama, just like Hillary, will speak one way, do something else that's different, and generally piss on the left wing while raking in the dough from corporate sponsors. Where's the inspiration?