I need some serious help here. Black like Obama?

[jasmine621]

First let me say. I am a Hillary supporter from day one.
I am of mixed parentage like Obama.
I have been trying very hard to like this man as much as some of the people around me. I do intend to vote for him in the GE if he gets the nomination.
But here is my problem: There is just something within me that doesn't gravitate to Obama like so many others. I almost wish it wasn't the case but it is. I just can't put my finger on it but there is something about him that makes my innards crawl when I see him campaigning. Now I watched his 2004 convention speech and I was thrilled. I went back and read his 2002 speech against the Iraq invasion and, while I agreed with most of what he said, it made me a little uneasy. So here I am now, a Clinton supporter trying to really like and accept Obama if he is the one. But for the life of me, there is something still gnawing at me about this man. I can't finger it. I don't understand it. And I can't stop it. What is it? I have so much in common with him yet I feel so really estranged from him. i really think he won't make as good as President as he does a campaigner. I feel that Hillary will make a much better President than she does a candidate.

I'd like some serious thoughts about this. Thanks.

[angie_love]

1. Not sure I understand your thread

"makes my innards crawl when I see him campaigning"

I have no idea for the life of me what you are saying. What does he say/do that makes you uneasy? You mention "black like Obama", what does that mean? You are uneasy b/c hes mixed and you are too? I'm just confused.

[blm]

2. REad the BCCI report and inform yourself - THAT should help cure you of your confidence

in Clintons.

[MadBadger]

3. Black like Obama?

Wha???

[jasmine621]

9. White and black parents. That's what I mean. nt

[Orsino]

14. I'm not sure what that should have to do with your choice...

...but there's no accounting for taste. If his oratory doesn't thrill you, that leaves only his mixed-at-best voting record and his inspiring personal history. I'm hoping that he hasn't completely forgotten what it's like to be poor in America. That's what could make him a great president, if he'll only remember.

[Bobbieo]

24. Somehow I dont think Obama ever knew what it was like to be poor in America and that may be

Jasmine's problem with him.

[Adelante]

27. Was Jasmine ever poor in America?

Do you know? :shrug:

I personally do know what it's like and have no problem supporting Obama.

[NOLALady]

37. Maybe.

Has Hillary been poor in America?

[Emit]

39. I've heard him say his mother collected food stamps and was on welfare when he was

young.

[supernova]

4. Well, I can only tell you

that from my POV, it think it's that he talks in generalities and grandiose themes.

Most americans like that and respond well to it (see Reagan)

That's not in itself a bad thing. I think it stems mostly from his not being on the national stage very long. There's no presidential experience there, so grand themes are what he has to work with. He will have to see for himself what the presidency is about, if he wins. And the american people will have to decide if that's enough to go on and vote him in.

Disclaimer: I'm a middle class white woman

Disclaimer 2: I haven't made up my mind yet.

[DemGa]

5. It's your insight -- trust it

I have the same reaction. When Obama used the "negatives" generated by the right-wing hate machine against Hillary -- that sealed it for me. You are seeing into the charlatan that is Obama.

[blogslut]

6. You don't have to like him

Nobody is asking you to like him. If you want to vote for Hillary in the primary, by all means do.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. listen to your heart

[Adelante]

8. You can't like everybody

Don't worry about it. :shrug:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. Trust your intuition

and vote for Clinton in the primary. Then vote for the Democrat, whoever it is, in the GE. And don't feel bad that you don't like him even though he is bi-racial like you are. I'm an old white female and don't like Clinton. But I'll vote for her in the GE if she is nominated.

[elizm]

11. Maybe this can help...

Maybe you should study up on his record in the Illinois Senate rather than relying on some 'gnawing something that you can't put your finger on'.

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

[angie_love]

34. self delete

[NorthernSpy]

12. what if you're a white woman and you'd rather eat glass than vote for Hillary?

Identity politics are contradictory, incomplete, and ultimately unsatisfactory for everyone.


:shrug:

[sueragingroz]

16. agreed /nt

[MediaBabe]

33. Yeah, identity politics suck

Life was easier when the choice was which white man to vote for.

[islandmkl]

13. I didn't used to like cabbage, even though it was good for me...

as my tastebuds explored and tasted new flavors, I found many things that were not only tasty and good for me, but things I enjoy eating.

[LiberalHeart]

15. My reaction to him is just like yours...

I can't stand to look at him anymore. But I *can* put my finger on why. I just won't detail it here because people either love him or they don't, and those who do would just turn my remarks into a flame war. We simply feel as we do and we can't help it. It's nothing to feel guilty about. Just go with wherever that inner voice leads you.

[madmom]

17. I'm having the same "gut" feeling, can't explain it..oh how I wish Edwards were still in!

[alteredstate]

18. Reality check.

Jasmine, you've made over 1200 posts here in 5 weeks. All of your posts are pro-Clinton or anti-Obama. I don't think you need our "thoughts" on this.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. Always trust and stick with your intuition

[bellasgrams]

20. I know what you mean about BO. I liked him at first but the more

I watched him and listened to him, the less I liked him to the point I just can't stand him now. It has nothing to do with race, it's his arrogance, his nastiness toward Hillary, his preaching or cheerleading, inexperience. No company would take an employee with just a few years of svc and put him in charge of a multi-million dollar business. His reference to Reagan being a better Pres than Clinton. I think if he feels that way he should change parties, his mentor was Lieberman. Give me some time I'm sure more things I dislike will come to mind

[QC]

22. I also liked him at first, the McClurkin fiasco turned me off.

Of course, when I tried to explain that, an especially self-righteous member of the "movement" replied:

These are not the words of a serious voter. I'm not making judgments, but I do not believe any conscientious Dem, liberal or progressive living through the last seven years would hang this decision on such a foolish thread.

That brings me to the other thing that made me so uncomfortable: the smugness of so many of his followers. There's something very Republican about it. The whole lockstep thing gives me the willies.

[CK_John]

21. He doesn't seem to have any friends, no bud's from back when, That is what bothers me. n/t

[ElsewheresDaughter]

28. I'm not saying this to flame...but he does have a 20 year friend but he is being indicted Rezko

[THUNDER HANDS]

23. i don't know what to say to someone who connects with Clinton better than Obama

next you'll probably tell me you prefer vanella to chocolate or Elvis to the Beatles.

[Neecy]

25. If you want serious thoughts...

Then post something more serious than "there is something about him that makes my innards crawl". This is either nothing more than another oh! He's black! thread or you're trying to win the record for the most number of posts in a week from a new member.

Here's a serious thought in the manner in which you consider 'serious': piss off.

[Riley133]

26. Always trust your intuition, which can't be analyzed down. nt

[woolldog]

29. If you don't like him.

You don't like him. I'm not seeing what the problem is. I feel the same way about Hillary. It's personal preference/taste. Big deal. :shrug:

[LordJFT]

30. I like how Obama gets criticized for being no substance and the reasons people have for voting

against him have no substance

[MethuenProgressive]

31. Thanks for sharing your concerns, jasmine. Here are mine:

I'm of two minds about Obama. He's new and shiney, gives great speeches, and all the cool people like him. I swear, it's be *easy* to climb onto that bandwagon and just go along to get along. But I look at his record compared to his words. I look at what he said, and when, and to who. I went back and read his books again. He's just not genuine. He's clever, but constructed. And it comes down to this: I want a President, not a Product.

[BenDavid]

32. do you have those same feelings towards jesse jackson

and al sharpton? If you do then your answer is within you for not liking them as your dislike for obama.

Do you feel good when you see John Lewis and Andrew Young? If you do then the answer as to why is within you and when you see why you like the latter two and not the first two then you have your answer and your answer will also tell you why you dislike obama.

[angie_love]

35. This is kind of a far out theory but here goes

Maybe you dislike him b/c people view him as being black even though hes mixed. And you identify more with being white than being black, and you don't like that people might view you as just "black" even though yuo're biracial? And subconsciously thats what you don't like about him? That any criticism of him, you take personally? Maybe the reason you dislike him is b/c of what you don't like about yourself and you're reflecting it on to him b/c hes biracial like you. I don't know, its a radical idea, but your thread is kind of nonsense so I figured I'd throw a nonsense response to you and maybe it'll be the one thats true.

[cooolandrew]

38. I don't feel the poster is talking race just a feeling they have.I respect their feelings but...

... but for a moment see the feelings Barack inspires in others can that be wrong for America people once again happy for their countyr.

[cooolandrew]

36. Well the reason the current congress is ineffective is a slim majority. Barack = mandate = solutions

... We have to go with cold hard facts, I feel, if Barack's stats show he will gain more seats that means more can be doen to fix America. I respect the right to vote on a feeling, as long as people have in good conscience considered what is the best result for America.