Honest Question for Clinton Supporters

[berni_mccoy]

This is a loose, informal survey (not a poll). I'm just trying to gauge what the issues are between Obama/Clinton supporters from the perspective of an Obama supporter. A little understanding in otherwords.

So, do you hate Obama, simply do not believe he should be President, or think Clinton is simply a better choice?

For example, and please do not argue with this statement, as it is my opinion, not fact: "Personally, I do not hate Clinton. However, I believe Obama to be a better choice. They both have accomplishments and experiences, but I believe Obama has run a better campaign, has stated clearly his positions, has laid out a good policy and has better leadership ability. He represents the best hope for change to heal and restore America."

That is the kind of positional statements I'm looking for from Clinton supporters here. It's also perfectly fine to simply say "I hate candidate X", but I'm hoping I don't get many of those. Obama supporters are welcome to make their statements about why they support Obama too, but I'm mostly interested in understanding the Clinton supporters positions.

I'm not going to argue with any statements, I just want to understand. Thanks in advance.

[Neshanic]

1. They both suck. But Obama sucks more.

[berni_mccoy]

4. Any reason why you feel Obama sucks more?

[Neshanic]

22. I think that he is hiding much more than we know.

Things that will be big after he gets the coronation. He alludes to his Chicago politics at times, but only in the sense of the roughnes of it. I think the details will be available after the convention after he is our nominee.

[otohara]

23. Big Bad Boogie Man Already Out of The Closet

if anything was going to derail him, it would have been Rev. Wright. I think you should stop thinking like a pundit and read his books.

[Neshanic]

28. I have the feeling there is much more. For him not to get ahead of the

Rev issue at the get go, speaks to his inability to understand what the "average" voter percieves.

[berni_mccoy]

30. Thank you for the clarification.

[democrattotheend]

39. Don't you think Clinton would have found any dirt they have on him by now?

I can't say for sure that there's nothing else in his closet, but it seems to me the Clinton team would have brought it out by now.

[lisa58]

2. I've asked the same question to the Clinton supporters I know...

...here's what they say:

My brother - thinks the IDEA of Obama is great, but that he can't win.

My stepdaughter - Obama doesn't have the experience and she is terrified that if he wins, the country will not be safe.

[otohara]

25. What Does Safe Mean To Her

I worry more about food safety, clean water and air, health care. Things that current occupant isn't watching, hasn't been watching - stuff right under our noses. In Alamosa Colorado, salmonella somehow got into their water, making hundreds sick. They've been living on bottled water for a couple weeks now. Safe means living in your house vs being thrown out because of greedy mortgage lenders. Safe means being able to drive over a bridge in MN and knowing it won't collapse.

Safe flying on domestic airlines. Isn't it amazing that all of a sudden, the airlines are jumping like beans to get their planes up to speed, only because of FAA whistle blowers. My son flies Southwest all the time and thank god for whistle blowers within the govt.

Safe isn't always about those who hate us half way across the world because of blow-back.

Sen. Obama just by being who he is will be like one big olive branch on the day he is sworn in. The world is hoping America will elect Barack Obama and that's no lie!

[lisa58]

35. I agree with you...

...she's afraid of terrorists. In context, she and her mother were in Paris on a plane waiting to take off to return home when we were attacked on 9/11. They were "stuck" in Paris another four days watching the news in Europe that they saw as anti-american.

She called us either the evening of the 11th or 12th and she was more afraid than we were and my husband worked at the Empire State Building at the time. I tried to explain to her that since all the hijackers were dead and there wasn't a sustained attack, everything would be fine, but they really like to worry and that gave them something to worry about. I think her mom needed therapy (I always thought she did) or at least should have gotten some because she really freaked out about it.

So basically, they are both "security moms" and I truly believe would vote for McCain instead of Obama if Hillary lost the primary.

[Marrah_G]

3. I like them both. I think she is the better choice right now.

[berni_mccoy]

5. Why do you think she is the better choice?

[Marrah_G]

7. Unfortunately anything indepth would turn into a flamefest.

Which is really sad. Were you and I sitting down having coffee it would be a great conversation to have. here, it will result in a piling on of ugly posts by others.

I will only say this: The two are almost identical on the issues. I feel that she is the candidate that could beat McCain and I feel that she is the candidate that could make the most positive changes when in office.

[berni_mccoy]

9. Thanks. I'm sorry it can not be discussed openly.

[Marrah_G]

11. Me too....sigh

[berni_mccoy]

33. I will continue the experiment here for now... things seem to be staying civil

If it becomes a problem, I will do as others have suggested and post in the Clinton forum.

Thanks.

[Marrah_G]

6. self-delete, wrong place

[Deep13]

8. no comment

There's nothing to gain by discussing it here.

[berni_mccoy]

10. You would gain the understanding of at least one Obama supporter.

:(

[redqueen]

12. Maybe try it in the Clinton supporters' forum...

it might not feel like an invitation for a flamefest there.

Just a suggestion... good luck.

[Deep13]

50. Maybe stay in your own goddamn yard.

We don't invade the O. forum, unless you think this whole website is now effectively the O. forum.

[Marrah_G]

15. Redqueen has a good suggestion

It's just to volatile here. Even Bigtree's positive posts get turned into something awful.

[Arkansas Granny]

13. I like them both, but I think that Senator Clinton has the best chance for beating McCain

in the states that will give the Democrats the advantage in electoral votes. Senator Obama has won more states in the primaries, but some of those states are not likely to be in the Democratic column for the GE. They are very close on most of the issues, but I believe Clinton has the edge on electability.

[berni_mccoy]

14. Thanks. That's the kind of statements I'm looking for.

[Marrah_G]

16. I agree Granny!

Thank you for putting my thoughts into words !

[Estel]

17. I agree, Granny

In addition, Senator Clinton will have more 'stroke' with congress than Senator Obama. That is going to be essential to clean up the mess created the last seven+ years.

[emilyg]

43. Agree.

[PBS Poll-435]

18. I like Obama, But I prefer Hillary

I really enjoyed the Clintons during the 1990s. Bill was an expert on nearly everything. He could say Nuclear. I wrote and actually got a letter back from Bill in 1999. I asked Hillary to sign it for me at the Dallas, TX rally she held. It was a rope line, so people had pictures, campaign signs, and other stuff for her to autograph. When she saw what I had for her to, sign she just paused, read it, and smiled.

Hillary Clinton was the '90s for me. I loved the coverage the media had when they went on vacation to Martha's Vineyard or places like that. Bill & Hillary weren't people that you wanted to have a beer with. They were people you wanted to have dinner with. They were the face of America, and for all intents & purposes, the best spokespeople we have had in a long time.

I always thought it was strange how normally reserved, church-going people would start foaming at the mouth when she was brought up. "Bitch" , "Dyke" , & "Ball-Buster" were some of the ones I heard most often at social events and what not. I loved how the women were always talking about her latest hair-do; some even copying it. I admired her courage after the Monica situation. Maybe she knew about it before, maybe she didn't. The difference was, however, that the whole freaking world didn't know that he cheated on her. A sad chapter,

Everyone, and their mother, knows (or should know by now) that Hillary is more liberal/progressive than her husband. I like Hillary's policies. I admire her for the work that she did for the workers at the 9/11 site. I can forgive the AUMF because of what happened in her state and the fact that Chuck Schumer voted the same way. I like her commitment to the environment and civil rights for all. I like that she faces challenges and deals with adversaries.

[berni_mccoy]

29. Thank you for your thoughts.

:D

[PBS Poll-435]

31. Very Welcome!

:)

[Raffi Ella]

40. Oh! What a great post .

Thanks for sharing that with us.

I wasn't into politics back when Bill was President. I often think about what an exciting time it must have been for those involved and engaged at the time; he took Papa Bush OUT after one term and then to watch a Democratic President in action...must have been very exciting. Also very disappointing with the Lewinsky scandal :( I find myself angry at him for what he's done to not only his legacy but to Hillary's as well with that. It's hard to understand how he could have risked so much for so little...

I didn't understand until recently how much it impacted Hillary. But I admire her all the more for it. The more I get to know her the more I admire her. And Bill.

[PBS Poll-435]

41. Thanks for the nice reply.

It was exciting. I didn't really know the difference between the Democrats & the Republicans in 1992. (I was only about 10 years old.)

In 1996, I knew better. It was great to see an awesome blow-out election. From Louisiana all the way north to Minnesota. Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Nevada, Florida.

We can make that map again!



ETA -

I wrote Bill the letter after the Monica scandal and the Impeachment. When Hillary saw what I wanted her to sign, she didn't just scribble her name on it. She very carefully wrote her signature.

[Raffi Ella]

46. yeah!? wow.

I'm envious that you've met her - How incredible that you not only got to do that but be able to show her the depth of your support in that way. I'm sure it was a memorable moment for her. :)

And YES!! We CAN do it again!! :party: I'm not a religious person but I do hope and pray that she will be Our Nominee.

[PBS Poll-435]

49. It was a great moment for me.

And yes... I have hope that she can pull this off.

(Am I the only one that thinks she needs to crank "Still the One" by Orleans at her next rally?)

:party: :bounce: :party:

[BzaDem]

19. I like Obama. I just think Clinton has the best chance of winning the EC.

I'm not even sure there would be a huge popular vote difference between Clinton vs. McCain and Obama vs. McCain. I just think that Clinton will narrowly win the few swing states that matter for the EC, whereas I can't see how Obama can win a huge number of Repub-leaning states to make up for the difference. Even if he wins some of them (which would be a huge accomplishment), he would really have to run the board with all Repub-leaning states to make up for losing two or three of PA, OH, FL.

[BigDDem]

20. 1. Don't hate him, very talented man

2. Think Clinton would be the better choice and better president.
3. Don't think someone who started running for president 2 years into
his first term as Senator is ready.

[Texas Hill Country]

21. Clinton is a better choice, and i think Obama will get killed in the GE.

[PBS Poll-435]

24. K & R

No ugliness yet! The kids must still be in bed. Slackers!

[dsc]

26. It is domestic issues for me

Obama is wrong, very wrong, on health care. The mandate thing is big deal. He also has bought into the very distructive meme about Social Security and crisis. I also think she will be a fierce fighter on behalf of gays. Finally, she is unwilling to give up ever.

[berni_mccoy]

32. Thank you for the honest answer.

:)

[tigereye]

27. I think Obama would make a fine president

he is smart, inspiring, and excites Democratic and Independent voters. He seems very thoughtful and has a "wonky" side which I like.

I don't hate him by any means, and I don't really understand the vitriol against either candidate that I see here in GD/P.


Actually, I would have preferred Richardson (governor of a SW state, great foreign policy and domestic experience).

[berni_mccoy]

48. Thank you for your response.

:)

[BooScout]

34. I think Clinton can kick Republican Ass....

Obama wants to make nice with Republicans. I don't. After what they have done to America I want them to pay. Anyone that thinks Obama will bring real bi-partisanship to American Politics is seriously naive.

[berni_mccoy]

37. I think she would too. Thanks for the response.

I believe both candidates would have to work with Republicans, no matter what. I share your bitterness toward the GOP.

[Raffi Ella]

36. After 8 hellish years of Bush, Hillary Clinton soothes my Democratic Soul.

I want a Fiercely Democratic Spirit in the White House to right the wrongs. I want Our voices heard, OUR agenda to be first and foremost. I think there needs to be a sharp and absolute turn against the last administration to get us back to an America that we can be proud of. I see all of that in Hillary Clinton.

I won't go into the experience aspect because it does no good here but that is also another main reason I support her.

[berni_mccoy]

42. Thank you for your thoughts.

:D

[PBS Poll-435]

45. You freaking nailed it.

I don't want to just win. I want to win and win with debate.

Crazy George & Uncle Dick and the Pervs squashed any kind of debate over the issues. Winning in the '90s meant: "This is how things are going to be and this is why....." Not: "This is how things are going to be, and Fuck You, we are in charge!"

[MyNameGoesHere]

38. I do not like the odds for Obama's success.

I guess for me it's better the ruthless politician you know, then the one you don't. HRC will get in the trench and fight like a bully to get what she wants. Obama will try to make a compromise. So here is my little challenge, go over to freepland and find just 10 established members that will vote for Obama and support him......... If you compromise or try to unify with those type they are going to smile in your face while stabbing you in the back. Hillary will stab back.

[Dinger]

44. This Is What I Do

First off, I do not hate Obama. I just think Hillary would be a better choice (for me). I like to watch each of the fine Democratic candidates make their cases, without "outside" input. Since I now frequent GDP a lot less, I find that I have a more open mind in this primary season, not just GDP, but other boards as well. Not cut on anyone here, just the way it is for me. Don't know if that answers your question, but there it is.

[berni_mccoy]

47. Thanks Dinger. I appreciate it.

:)

[calico1]

51. No I don't hate Obama.

And I do not worship Hillary. I just think she is best prepared for the job RIGHT NOW. I think Obama would be great down the line, with some more experience. I think it's too soon for him to run for this office.