Why I Support Barack Obama: Part II

[MadBadger]

Why I support Barack Obama: Part II

I dealt with this issue way back when in December about why I support Obama. I was having my own internal struggle between Joe Biden and Barack Obama, but eventually settled in on Obama. Since then though, I have not been disappointed as Obama has continued to shine and shown himself not just as a brilliant Politician, but as a skilled thinker and phenomenal person and candidate. I remember back in the days when Edwards was still in the race, how they used to look down on Obama’s debating skills, or the way he was handling himself on the campaign trail. They would ask question like “Is he tough enough?” Or “Why isn’t he going after Hillary?” Well, Obama has shown that not only is he tough enough to stand up to Hillary, but he responds forcefully but honestly with policy reasons, instead of using fear or personal attacks. And that is something I have come to love about Obama, his honesty

That is what we saw today in his words in San Francisco. The man was telling the truth about what’s going on in rural town in Pennsylvania. How they are bitter and angry over the loss of their jobs and how they tend to vote against their economic interests anyway because they can take refuge in certain social values that they may believe in or their church. And he didn’t back down today. He didn’t back down when it came to Reverend Wright. Some say that was politically stupid, I saw it was incredibly honorable. Some say his words about teens getting pregnant during high school because of poor sex education is a punishment…I say it’s the honest truth.

I don’t get that same feeling when I look at Hillary Clinton. I see stories like Bosnia, NAFTA, or things as trivial as a State of the Union Handshake. I see her exaggerating, consistently “misspeaking,” and downright lying and it is troubling. I don’t know how to trust her, how to like her when she lies and uses RW tactics like playing on people’s fears, calling other candidates in the party elitists, or questioning Obama’s fitness to be Commander in Chief, which is something not even McCain has done. McCain himself said he thought Obama was qualified. Hillary Clinton attacked Obama’s life experience even, and for what? All it does is serve as a campaign commercial for McCain in the fall. I have tried my hardest to like Hillary Clinton. Up until mid February, I was convinced that Hillary was going to win this nomination, and I really wanted to go into the GE liking my nominee and feeling good and energized about her candidacy. I didn’t want to just go into it knowing I would vote for her and that was it. Sadly the latter is how I feel. But at least I have Obama, who in my opinion is an amazing man and candidate

You know some like to rag on his “lack of experience,” specifically foreign policy experience. And this reminds me of the Second episode ever of the West Wing that I just happen to be watching (very strange). In this episode, President Bartlett, who had only served as Governor of the small state of NH, shares with his young military doctor that he doesn’t feel comfortable around the Joint Chiefs. He feels as if they do not respect him and look down at him because of a perceived lack of experience. What does the Doctor say? “Let the Chiefs get to know you Mr. President. They’re serious men, naturally suspicious of your leadership, and that’s what comes from spending a lifetime between the devil and the deep blue sea. They’re men of character. They may not like your resume, but they’ll like you personally if you give it time. You have a once in a generation mind sir. Ultimately they’ll respect that. They’ll advise you well and go where you point. Let the chiefs get to know you sir.” Never were truer words spoken. I know it’s just a TV show, but I always said that I wanted a President like Jed Bartlett. Looks like I could have one right in front of my eyes in Barack Obama.


PS: Oddly enough, there was also a 3 AM phone call in this episode…well 3:35 AM.

[journalist3072]

1. Where are the policy positions? Your post is a bunch of fluff that really says nothing about where

Obama stands on the issues.

I have yet to come across an Obama supporter who can articulate where he stands on the issues.

[JayFredMuggs]

36. Why do you need an Obama supporter? Go to his website if you

Can't figure it out for yourself.

Don't bother us with you challenges.........where do Hillary supporters stand other than hatred of black males ?

[Evergreen Emerald]

2. double standard through the looking glass BS.

when Obama "misspeaks" he is human and everyone does it. The media is twisting and distorting what he says.

When Clinton "misspeaks" she is evil a liar. I hate her.


Double standard: the question is why? What is causing the media to attack her with a different standard than obama? What is it about America that they buy the bullshit hook line sinker?

Why are they reasonable with Obama's "misspeaks?" but vilify Clinton for hers?

Double standard. Hypocricy. Propaganda. Not democracy.

[journalist3072]

4. I wish I could recommend your post!!!! Outstanding! eom

[cliffordu]

7. Hmm...So you buy the bullshit about the snipers in Bosnia???

misspeak?

Misspeaking is when you say " I picked up the laundry" when you meant to say "I dropped off the laundry".


Telling people on multiple occasions that you ran for cover and ducked your head due to INCOMING SNIPER FIRE

is a complete an utter fabrication:

A lie.

[Evergreen Emerald]

11. there you go.

Forgiving Obama's while Distorting Clinton's. Why?


Here is part of something Skinner posted a while ago:

"I tend to think that when Senator Clinton told the Bosnia/sniper story she probably believed that it was true. In other words, she didn't lie or misspeak. She mis-remembered. If I am not mistaken, the part about someone telling her that the plane had to land in a particular way because of possible sniper fire was true. That was probably somewhat traumatic for her. Over time, telling and re-telling the story, she added minor embellishments to punch up the story a bit and eventually the line between the truth and the story started to blur. This is normal human behavior. My understanding is that we all do it to some degree. We don't realize we are doing it because, like Senator Clinton, we believe the stories we tell ourselves are true."


Reasonable response. Not vilifying. After all she is human. Just like Obama.

[cliffordu]

13. Having been under sniper fire myself, I think she got caught

lying through her teeth.

But that's just my experience.

[Evergreen Emerald]

15. Of course you were there and you know

And Obama has only the best and nicest meanings

And Clinton is evil and lies .

Whatever.

[cliffordu]

33. So: the President and the secret service send the first lady into

a live fire combat zone and we hear nothing about it in the press??

Don't you think the NEW YORK TIMES might like a story like that????


:rofl:

[Evergreen Emerald]

34. actually it was on CBS at the time it happened.

Of course if you got your head out of Obama's ass you would see reality for what it is.

[cliffordu]

35. You'll be sure to have a link for that footage, of course....

:sarcasm:

[roseBudd]

18. Running across a tarmac instead of walking is NOT something I would forget...

especially since she didn't run across a tarmac on other occasions, had she run across a tarmac in another country instead I am quite sure Team Hillary would have informed of us which country it really happened in.

[MadBadger]

8. Her misspeaking is underhanded lying.

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. there you go, repeating the distortions and talking points.

Forgiving Obama, vilifying Clinton. Is it becasue she is a woman? Why do you buy the BS?

[MadBadger]

10. Always come back to sexism.

[Evergreen Emerald]

12. I am asking.

Why do you forgive Obama and vilify Clinton?

[roseBudd]

21. Because claiming to have done something on multiple occasions that were proved via video to have

never happened doesn't apply to Obama?

:eyes: :eyes:

Forgiveness has nothing to do with it. Words have meaning and lieing to puff yourself up sucks.

[roseBudd]

20. I agree, she said it to make herself seem macho & brave & to pretend experience

she does not have.

[thevoiceofreason]

22. She misspoke about Bosnia four times, starting in December

Her discussion about Bosnia had jack shit to do with any meaty issue facng us today. She was just trying to tout her bona fides - "Hey, trust me because I've been there too."

Obama, on the other hand, was asked a question about his typically poor performance in rural areas. He chose the moment to expand the duiscussion to talk about issues facing rural America and spoke quite poorly. But he did not lie.

If she was trying to make a point about snipers and how America needs to crack down on snipers because snipers were hurting the American economy, then her statement about personal experience with snipers could be written off as an embellishment aimed at emphasizing an important issue. That is the difference.

[futureliveshere]

3. Beautifully written... K&R

My primary reason for rejecting Hillary is also that I CANNOT differentiate b/w her and the Republicans any more.

Obama I support for all the many reasons you have mentioned and that he LISTENS to his supporters and is flexible enough to accommodate dissenters and create a unified public.

[Scurrilous]

5. K & R

:thumbsup:

[donheld]

6. I wasn't going to respond to this but

two ignoreds convinced me to give it a kick :D

[JimGinPA]

14. Nice Post

K&R

[FrenchieCat]

16. Thank you for that.......

at the end it is all about character, and most of us recognize who has it and who doesn't.

I wanted to like Hillary too! But she, and only she, has convinced me that this will be impossible.

[MadBadger]

17. It is all about character. I dont really have an issue with most of her policies

I agree with most of them because I am a democrat. I also think that if you strip her of her hunger for power, you see what some people privately say about her, about how good of a person she really is. Instead we see the fake side of her that sees things as Hillary or the highway.

[Evergreen Emerald]

19. "hunger for power" wha?

This is a right wing talking point.

[MadBadger]

23. No its not. Calling somebody power hungry is not a RW talking point.

[Evergreen Emerald]

24. ummm. yes. That is the talking point the right-wing uses against her

Suggesting that her powerful, endless work for civil rights and progressive causes is a mask for her "power for hunger."

What a load of BS. She is no more power hungry than Obama is.

[MadBadger]

25. Just because the Right through everything at her, doesnt mean its a RW talking point.

[Evergreen Emerald]

26. It is a talking point used by the right-wing. It is a lie. A distortion,

untrue, made up, designed to attack her by the right wing. Hence: "right wing talking point."

[MadBadger]

27. LIke Hillary using Grover Norquist talking points?

[Evergreen Emerald]

28. What grover norquist talking point?

So, let's see if I can explain the difference:

When Obama says something stupid and everyone calls him on it, both right and left

That is different than giving fake characteristics to a person and then redefining her and then hating her because of your fake redefinition of who she is...that redifintion that you got from the right wing.

[MadBadger]

29. Hillary Clinton's Campaign has been sending around Norquist talking points

She is doing it to criticize Obama over this bittergate. She is actually citing Norquist and everything.

[Evergreen Emerald]

30. Like when Obama sent around the flyer with the right wing

talking points on Clinton's health care plan thereby thwarting any attempt to have any universal health care pass?

Double standard.

[MadBadger]

31. Thats your interpretation. It was her opinion that it was a RW talking point

It is fact when you distribute Norquist's actual words.

[Evergreen Emerald]

32. No. It was the right wing argument that lost us health care last time.