What Makes Obama Different?

[redstate_democrat]

What makes Obama different than other politicians? I talk to a lot of people and they always say:

1. He's Inspiring
2. "You can tell he isn't bullshiting"
3. "He wants to change Washington and get the special interests out of there"
4. Anybody but Clinton
5. He doesn't pander (see #2)
6. He is not strictly politically motivated and seems to have principles


Now, saying all of this, Obama is different than MOST politicians. There are real live people out here in the world who believe this guy and what he stands for. They have given their last dime to this man because they believe what he says. If he turns out to be just another pol, think of how heartbroken they will be. They may become disillusioned again. Yeah, they'll still vote for him, but it just won't be the same.

What is the QUICKEST way for Obama to show he is JUST ANOTHER POL?

Putting Hillary Clinton on the ticket. That decision will undue everything he has built to set himself apart from the pack. He cannot do it. I warn against it. Most of you on here are politically savvy people and will understand why he had to do it (to win), but a lot of new people and older people who haven't voted in years because of disillusionment with the status quo and the Establishment, will look at him differently, shake their heads, and walk away. That is all I'm gonna say about it. It will be the biggest mistake.

[nebula]

1. You nailed it.

[Growler]

2. K&R

[Oceansaway]

3. 3.

3. "He wants to change Washington and get the special interests out of there"


thats what i like about Obama !!!

[Cha]

4. Exactly..thanks..I can not believe all the

Obama supporters who do not get this.

[muryan]

5. One of his strong messages has also been unity

I'm not a fan of Hillary being the VP, but I'm not so quick to discount her or her supporters. I don't envy the decision

[redstate_democrat]

8. Yes, unity is what he is about, but does Hillary represent that?

[muryan]

10. Not entirely

Honestly I love the idea of Edwards being on the ticket, but he's already 86'd the idea. Not to mention the polls I've shown have Obama/Edwards destroying any ticket the republicans will field. But alas, who else can it be?

[redstate_democrat]

13. No doubt he has a tough decision to make. But we will get to see what the man is made of, won't we?

I personally think Jim Webb is a great option, but he has problems with women, apparently. So that isn't good.

Clarke was to divisive in the primary and he hasn't won any political office.

Richardson is despised by Hillary's supporters.

Sebelius is a woman that Hillary's supporters don't want b/c she isn't Hillary. I would love to see her on the ticket, but she isn't well known.

I don't know about Edwards. He wasn't that big a help to Kerry and he seems like he wants to stay in the spotlight and has a problem playing the background. He is a frontline man.

I'm excited to see who it will be. This will really be his first BIG decision so far. We'll get to see how he decides things. Will he go with what is politically expedient or what is right?

[muryan]

22. While the two aren't mutually exclusive

Its hard to think of anyone that fits into that mold. I think the problem in 2004 is that Edwards hadn't totally honed his populist message yet, and it was drowned out by Rove turning Kerry into some elitist that would only touch a poor person with rubber gloves. I love Sebelius too, but living with a manic (correct word unfortunately) Hillary supporter, she would consider it treasonous to add another woman to the ticket thats not Hillary. I don't see the logic behind the stance, but I know shes not the only one who feels that way.

The big decision is whether you want to try and bring most of Hillarys supporters on board, or whether try and pull as many independents/dissatisfied republicans as possible.

[redstate_democrat]

33. I believe that for Obama to have gotten this far, as a young freshman senator

relatively unknown to most people, it has to mean people really, really want CHANGE. Hillary came to this with everything, a brand name, a former president for a husband, and $$$. The majority of people rejected her despite that for an unknown. This unknown got here because of who he projects himself to be...this inspiring, change agent who will stand for what is right and not compromise core principles for a vote. The politically expedient thing to do would be to just focus on the Hillary votes he can get by just adding Hillary. The principled thing to do would be for him to just GO to Hillary's supporters and earn their votes based on his own merits and principles. If he is a change agent and a unifying person as he claims, he should be able to do it. He has to determine if he wants to stick to his word and who he is, or whether he compromises that for what is easy and expedient.

[sandnsea]

14. He ran because she's divisive

He said it repeatedly. Not to mention wanting to change the nibble around the edges policies of the 90's. If he picks her as VP, he invalidates the reasons he ran. He instantly becomes just another say anything pandering politician. He loses all the Dems who are desperate to change the Party, he loses all the new voters looking for real change, and he loses the Independents and Republicans hoping to put the Clinton/Bush partisanship behind us. If he chooses her, he better hope women vote for her in hoards because that's the only way he'd win.

[redstate_democrat]

21. You and I are obviously on the same page and have been talking to the same people.

He invalidates the reason why he ran now. Remember he talks about the "Fierce Urgency of Now" and why he ran after only being in the senate for 4 years? Yeah, that'll look like a bunch of BS if he puts her on the ticket.

[Cha]

19. Obama will think of a way for

Unity without compromising his ticket.

[redstate_democrat]

7. Exactly.

Obama and Hillary Clinton don't have drastically different policies, therefore, it boils down to the individual. Obama's character and principled stance is what is drawing millions of people to a man who was relatively unknown five years ago. It is his inspiring nature and the belief that he is "different" than other politicians. If he turns out to be just another politician, then what? Why would he disprove the one thing that has gotten him this far? It will make him appear to be full of it. The Rethugs will laugh and say, "see, told ya. He's just like every other politician." We shouldn't be motivated by what Rethugs think, but our own folks would look sideways at him. There are many, many other politicians who would fit into Obama's message quite well. Hillary cannot.

[Cha]

29. And, I, for one, would be

traumatized. I'm so sick of hilary clinton and her lies..I just want her to be held accountable..not given some prize 'cause so she'll concede.

No matter what she does she won't change..she'll just be laying in wait until her next chance to do more harm.

[sandnsea]

6. Yep

I'd rather Hillary run then he run with her.

[redstate_democrat]

9. Yep. He has to remain consistent. He can't start messing up now.

[Swamp Rat]

11. His jumbo ears?

:D

[Skittles]

12. OMG

he doesn't PANDER? HE IS A POLITICIAN! ALL POLITICIANS PANDER!! PLEASE stop with this idolization BULLSHIT.

[redstate_democrat]

16. In what way does he pander?

He has said some things that weren't exactly politically safe. What makes you believe his ideas are ideas he doesn't wholeheartedly believe in?

[Skittles]

20. oh lord

you are a LOST CAUSE

[redstate_democrat]

26. I guess I and millions of people are then.

Which proves my point. Many people believe in him for these (irrational, in your opinion) reasons. If he does back on that, he becomes just another senator from Illinois running to become president.

[Skittles]

31. ALL. POLITICIANS. PANDER.

do you not understand this? ALL OF THEM DO.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/05/13/political_pandering_on_the_trail/

[berni_mccoy]

30. Not true. Why don't you use the dictionary and look up the definition. You might learn something.

Hillary. Definitely a panderer.

[2rth2pwr]

15. Quickest way? Toss his church and congregation overboard.

What? He did that?

[redstate_democrat]

25. He left his church for the well being of his church. He didn't denounce his church

and he could have. He specifically said he didn't want his church held to the same rigors of a presidential campaign. He did it for them and had no problem putting it in those terms. He didn't say, damn that church to Hell. He said he loved the people there and didn't want them to suffer because of him.

[IndianaJones]

17. he doesn't pander....bwaahaha. nt.

[msongs]

18. he's a washington insider? he votes to fund the war? that's different? he's ok , not different nt

[Gore1FL]

23. Leadership and vision

[Skip Intro]

24. Pharmaceutical-like marketing?

He's the new luminescent butterfly making sure you're all tucked in and off to a sweet dream nirvana.

Sleep now. Sleep.

[Hippo_Tron]

27. Umm I'm an Obama supporter, but this is ridiculous

Obama is a politician. By definition they put politics ahead of everything else.

Also Obama does bullshit sometimes. The difference between him and other politicians is that I have a better sense of when he's bullshitting. And yes that's a good thing.

[berni_mccoy]

35. Do tell. When have you detected Obama 'bullshitting' you?

[Hippo_Tron]

40. Reversing his position on decriminalizing marijuana

[berni_mccoy]

43. He favors decriminalizing it. When did he say otherwise?

[MojoMojoMojo]

28. "Forgive them for they not not what they do."Reminds me of Nader supporters

in 2000 who helped elect Bush.

The ignorance in this thread is sad.Ask Alice Palmer.

[qijackie]

32. But he is just another pol.

[redstate_democrat]

39. If he is "just another pol" why did he beat Hillary?

Again, I say, you people know politics in and out. Most people don't. Why do you think less than half of the voting age population in this country votes in elections? It aint because they aren't aware of elections, how to register, and how to get to the polls. It's because they don't trust politicians, have become disillusioned, and are sick of politics.

You guys need to listen more carefully to Barack. This is what he has been talking about the entire 15 months he has been running. This is why he has gotten SO MANY NEW people to the polls. This is why he is able to register hundreds of thousands of new people. They believe something is DIFFERENT about this guy. That, in and of itself, makes him NOT just "another pol".

[WA98296]

34. He is financed by the PEOPLE!

[MojoMojoMojo]

37. He has more big busness donations than Hillary.Hes a corporate whore

[MojoMojoMojo]

36. Ask his Chicago constituents who lived for 3 months WITH NO HEAT.

"6. He is not strictly politically motivated and seems to have principles "

[PurityOfEssence]

38. He gets away with it...

...so far

[EC]

41. Don't you have any faith that

Obama will be able to influence Hillary to change, instead of assuming she'll influence him? Don't you trust his judgement?

[redstate_democrat]

42. I trust his judgment but he has been talking about how Hillary is not what we as a country needs

He can influence her in other ways. I didn't say she would influence him, but that he would demonstrate that he is no different by caving and putting her on for reasons that have nothing to do with what his vision for the future is. Obviously, he does not believe she has the vision. I see no reason to put her on the ticket other than for her votes. Is that an acceptable reason on why he should change his ENTIRE tune? He would have to spend months explaining why Hillary is so great now that he has the nomination. He needs to maintain and be consistent, especially since he is going up against "the maverick-straight talker". They will be two different ends of the spectrum. We can't afford any ambiguity. We need a clean separation from the Rethugs.

[Solon]

44. The only thing he has going for him is that he isn't Clinton...

other than that, just another watered down centrist politician. Where's the inspiration again? :shrug: