Why my fourth choice was Hillary - an Obama-supporters-friendly explanation

[usrbs]

Clark => Gore => Edwards => Hillary

Trying to start the day on a positive note, I'm compiling pieces from comments I've made into their own post.

1. Talented and smart, like your candidate:

* In Wellesley College, she was chosen by her classmates to be the first-ever student commencement speaker.
* When she was just 30, President Carter appointed her to the board of the United States Legal Services Corporation, a federal nonprofit program that funds legal assistance for the poor.
* Hillary was twice named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America.

2. Her choices show her to be a true Democrat at heart, again, like your candidate. Hillary has consistently worked for the poor, and women and children.

* Following graduation, she became a staff attorney for the Children's Defense Fund.
* She ran a legal aid clinic for the poor when she first got to Arkansas and handled cases of foster care and child abuse.
* there's a lot more, check her record.

3. Like your candidate, Hillary is far from pristine, both in regard to eyebrow-raising connections, but especially in regard to some of her more controversial votes. And if you're going to compare the volume, please remember that she has been in the public arena much longer than Obama so of course there's much more dirt. And I think that Bill is more involved than she is in the sleaze, and I don't conflate the two. In fact, I much prefer Hillary to her husband, Anyway, life is compromise and I'm not getting my perfect candidate. But I believe, based on the trajectory of her career and my personal impression, that she's a decent person at heart, so I trust she'll fall mostly on the moral side of things when / if in office.

4. Likable traits in both: I admire her tenacity, her work ethic, her ambition (like Obama), her toughness, her humor. I like it that Obama is a very quick study, and he has a sense of humor that's sort of biting and blunt that to me is reminiscent of the Israeli humor I grew up with.

5. Experience, etc.:
* Hillary has always been an involved and interested partner to her husband and has taken on various tasks both in Arkansas and in Washington. I count that as extremely relevant experience, just as I'd count Al Gore's experience as VP.
* She has been an effective Senator, winning the support of conservative-leaning areas in her state and she got re-elected with 67% of the vote. While a Senator, she was instrumental in bringing funds and aid to the city and the first responders after 911.
* In the debates, Hillary was decisive, articulate, and answered most questions bim bam bum, right out the park. (Except for the IWR, I have to admit).
* although I prefer Hillary to Bill, I do find it reassuring that in such challenging times - the economy, Iraq, and a possible new terrorist attack; that in emergencies she'll be able to get advice from the best. Before dissing that, think - wouldn't you have liked Bush to have conferred with his father?

[ihelpu2see]

1. You really should consider Nadar. A much more sane choice than Hillary.

Anti-War, Pro true Universal Health Care, and fairness in sentencing for non-violent drug convictions..

[usrbs]

3. If Nader was one of my Democratic Primary choices I may have considered him

Instead, he runs on the outside, so as to do the most damage possible to the Democrats, while mendaciously claiming there's no difference between the 2 parties.

[democrattotheend]

5. This diarist made a well-reasoned case, and you throw punches

Both sides do this and it's what's wrong with this forum and this party right now. We are so obsessed with our candidate preferences that we lose sight of the big picture.

[DGoldman1212]

2. As an Obama supporter...

I think you did a fantastic job by clearly pointing out why you support Senator Clinton. Because of these points and more, I will gladly cast my vote for Hillary if she wins the nomination over Obama.

[usrbs]

4. And I'll vote for Obama if he's the nominee

[mohc]

6. Here's a K&R from an Obama supporter

Like you I have come to support my current candidate only after others have dropped out. My path was shorter Gore (sort of) => Edwards => Obama. As Gore never really got into the race, my support for him was fairly theoretical, and really I was just waiting for progressive voice to enter the race. I eventually landed behind Edwards in 2004, and he was my true initial choice this time around. After seeing what happened in Iowa and more importantly New Hampshire, I began to realize I might have to be making a new choice soon and began to weigh Obama and Clinton. Neither candidate is particularly close to me on issues, but they are both far enough left for me to be comfortable with them. My decision came down to the fact that Obama is trying to expand the party and take it in a new direction, while I see Clinton as more "fighting the last war". I believe either one would be excellent Presidents and would happily vote for either in the general election.

[usrbs]

7. Thanks.

I really was hoping for either Clark or Gore, and was bitterly disappointed that neither was in. I like Edwards current stances, but had doubts about him being tough enough, and was concerned about the differences from his previous stances so my support for him was softer.

I do like the fact that Obama is inspiring so many, but I can't get past his thin resume, and I've heard many of the same speeches before from Deval Patrick. The downside of extreme adoration is extreme disappointment when the chosen turns out to be, after all, human. That doesn't apply to many Obama supporters, but I do see that it applies to not a few.

But he certainly can count on my vote if he wins the primaries.