There are all the substantial reasons. The fact that he supports my family's rights. His understanding that we must fix health care system and stop global warming, and has good proposals to do so. His legislative experience that is longer and more substantial than Hillary Clinton's, and Kennedy's, and Clinton's, and Carter's, and Bush II's, and many others before they were president. His judgment in opposing the war when it was not popular to do so. On these and many other issues he has shown experience, judgment and good ideas.
But you know, there are many men and women with experience and judgment and good ideas. But there are few, oh so very few, who can inspire a nation to transform itself.
There is only so much that a president can do with experience and judgment and good ideas. But add inspiration to greater heights to that and we can all change the world.
I have never felt this way about any candidate in my nearly half century of life. Never.
Never have I seen a man or woman able to inspire an 84 year old Mormon grandmother in Utah, a single mother in public housing, a 48 year old white biotech executive, the Latina community organizer, an 80 year old Korean immigrant, the 55 year old African-American minister, and the middle-class Republican music teacher and his wife and so many others of so many stripes, never have I seen such a person able to not only inspire, but to persuade and to move to action.
These are my mother-in-law, my neighbor, me, a friend, the man I met on the street, a local leader, my close friends.
Never before in my life.
He has made me remember again why I am proud of this nation, what it means to be American. He has made this middle-aged cynic weep.
If we nominate and elect this man, we will have changed a nation and help it rise to the heights that is it's promise. If we don't, we will have missed a great opportunity. The time is now.
"In the unlikely story that is America, there is nothing false about HOPE"
Barack Obama, 2008
Comments (5)
Here Here!! Well said. He inspires me also.
Comment #122404 on February 4, 2008 1:37 PM |
Can I respectfully disagree?
Obama's campaign has been all about change, but his constant 'present' votes indicate he likes to play it politically safe. Here's another example of him playing it safe, an article written today about his snubbing of gay families:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/05/BAM5US1B5.DTL
That's not someone offering change and standing on principle, in my book.
Also, while he won South Carolina in what people call a landslide, he came in third in terms of the white vote. I don't see that as inspiring a nation. He's inspired millions, to be sure, but not a nation.
What's important to me though, is can he inspire Congress to make changes. It's Congress he has to work with. And his track record there is woefully short. In Iowa's caucus, Obama gave a speech about his nuclear legislation victory. According to the New York Times, it turned out to be a lie.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html?_r=3&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1202015282-kkJ9TI7xI/G4N1obsULtlA
I feel like I'm p*ssing on a parade here, Trey, and I don't want to. I'm glad he moves and inspires people, and I think someday he can be a great leader.
The Republican war chest is three times the size of the Democrats. Obama has been angry at things Bill Clinton has said, and has shown an unwillingness to reach out to the Clintons on several occasions. If he can't put aside disagreements with them and work together, then I don't see how he can survive an entire year of the Republicans tearing him down, and still preach about building bridges.
But I know we both hope for the best for our party, in that we are united.
Comment #123162 on February 5, 2008 11:38 AM |
Of course you can respectfully disagree.
But let me disagree with you :D
Point 1. the other candidate plays is safe, don't they all? The 'supposed' snubbing of Newsom (who I support :)as that article you link to, is a he said/he said story AND there were a rare few sitting legislators who dared support him then, including Clinton and our own CA senators. Clinton seems to me to be the one most likely to triangulate and refuse to speak up for GLBT rights or for what she believes. Obama has spoken forcefully for GLBT rights in places that are unfriendly to those, in front of conservative ministers and the black community. He has done so in very public meetings and speeches including in front of a conference of ministers and the MLK day speech. Clinton has _never_ spoken as forcefully, or at all, in support of GLBT rights in front of a hostile audience. SHe does it only when it's safe, and even then she hesitates.. DOMA is an example. THe one place the president will have a big effect on our lives. So, on the specific Obama supports the complete repeal of DOMA, Clinton only supports a repeal of half of it, the states half. The federal government would still NOT recognize marriages from states. That is a huge difference for our families. WHen it comes to our families, neither are perfect, I think Obama is better.
Point 2. The present votes is a canard and a bad play by Clinton campaign, it's not a valid criticism. He voted 4,000 times in the Illinois senate. 129 of those were "present"... less that 3 percent. "Present" votes are also an artifact of the Illinois Senate procedures and have a specific purpose. In fact, the Illinois state senators came to his defense, both sides of the aisle: http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=274863
THe NYTimes article doesn't say he lied, it triangulates the story. I'm not at all convinced.
I would be angry at the things BIll Clinton says too. They've been nasty. But what evidence is there that Obama hasn't 'worked together' or 'reached out' any more or less than that CLinton campaign or any other candidate? I don't know, the things he (Obama) has said during debates and speeches have sounded pretty reconcilatory. Not sure where you are getting this "can't put aside differences" from one camp, but not the other.
Additionally, I think Obama has shown pretty well he can rise above and argue against attacks from the REpublicans and others.. whether it's the 'hidden muslim' or other bogus attack. The REpublican "war chest" is depleted btw: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/1/142626/5239
Democrats have raised MUCH more than Republicans this season. Where is the 3x figure from?
But like you said, whoever wins, they will be the best hope for this country. I'll work for and vote for either of them.
Just think Obama is by far the better chance to not only win the election, but sweep it.
Comment #123307 on February 5, 2008 3:20 PM |
I voted for Obama for similar reasons. I confess, I'll vote for Hillary in November if that's my fate. But for this one, I'd rather go for the aspirational candidate than the pragmatic one.
Comment #123416 on February 5, 2008 6:17 PM |
You make some good points and I will stand behind either candidate as well. A lot of our desire for Hillary is due to who we think would be on her administration as well as her positions. Gen. Wesley Clark would clearly get a position and we were actually rooting for him when he ran for president 4 years back.
I don't remember where I got the info the Republican war chest is 3 times the Dems. Yes, I do. Karl Rove. Let me see if I can find the link.
Here.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/107568/page/1
War Chest was my words, what he actually said was that the RNC has 8 times the cash on hand of the DNC, not 3, I got that wrong too. Of course, he's been known to lie, so here's hoping that's a lie too.
In any case, tonight was exciting and it was so moving to see so many people, both for Hillary and for Obama so passionate about what is going on. This is truly a remarkable time.
Comment #123479 on February 5, 2008 7:54 PM |