Barack Obama is getting some good early press for a Presidential run.

[Target_For_Exterm]

I don't know anything about him.

What does everyone think about Barack Obama as a Presidential candidate, and why?

What are his key issues that he likes to talk about?

[TahitiNut]

1. I'm leery of media-created 'candidacies'.

I'm seeing too much of the media hyping candidates for reasons of 'good stories' rather than good leadership. While the one doesn't necessarily preclude the other, I see a ton of self-interest in the corporate media. They literally create "name recognition" - the predominant attribute of candidacy hype at this point. Hell, even Paris Hilton would get some double-digit support merely due to the name recognition.

[Clark2008]

8. Agreed.

I tend to vote for the person the media DOESN'T talk about because that person also tends to be intelligent, thoughtful, and, most importantly, not beholden to the very corporations who control who the media talks about.

[niceypoo]

13. Everything is politicized these days

Even peoples middle names. Barak's middle name, Hussein, which means, "good," in arabic will be the republicans main shallow attack on him. And they wonder why they lost.

[bryant69]

2. Hes's young and he doesn't have a lot of experience

Also he's not that liberal compared to some others Fiengold and Kucinich.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[asjr]

12. No doubt that he is a very

intelligent and capable fellow, but he needs more seasoning. 2008 is simply not his year. He needs more experience in the Senate and to learn more about foreign affairs. I need to base my choice of nominee on experience. He can be first out of the barn in 2012. An attactive and likeable person.

[demnan]

3. He gave a brilliant keynote speech in 04 at the convention

and has been in the Senate for 2 years. His opponent was a joke, Alan Keyes a black nutjob conservative from Maryland, who moved to Illinois to run against him so we really haven't seen him challenged in a campaign. I'm not sure of his Senate record, but you could go on Thomas.loc.gov and find out about it there. The one thing he might have against him is lack of experience, but he definately has a great future in the party and as a Senator from a powerful state, he could go far even if he stays in the Senate.

[EdwardM]

6. Putting Alan Keyes in the Race is the worst thing the Illinois Republican party has ever done.

I live in Illinois so I remember this greatly. Jack Ryan got caught taken his wife, Star Trek's 7 of 9, to a sex club. OH NO WE CAN'T HAVE THAT! So they booted him out of the race and put in that nutjob Keyes who brought the numbers down for the Republicans even lower. The Republicans should have just thrown the race and kept Ryan in, because there wasn't a man on the face of the planet who could beat Obama. Ryans scandle would eventually get out of the papers, and the Republicans could show they don't care what you do in your bedroom. Ryan would have probably got 40 percent of the vote. Instead, they had to be moral morons and put Keyes in the race and show Illinois that the Republicans are the nutjob party. They probably lost the Senate for the next 20 years because of that decision. Now that I think about it, the same person who called for Ryan to be removed from the race, Dennis Hastert, was the same guy who protected Mark Foley. Maybe the Republicans want to be the pro child rape anti sex with hot women party.Way to go Republicans, Keep up the good work!

[Bucky]

10. In all that rant, you raise a good point.

In Obama's only national election, he was essentially unopposed. In a sense, people are talking about nominating a guy who's still untested in a large, important election.

I like the guy, but I'd like to see him earn a few more chops. Right now he looks like good Veep.

[tridim]

4. Getting good press.. About a year too early IMO

It's like WalMart putting up their christmas decorations in September.

[annabanana]

5. #1, I don't care about 2008

#2. I do not like having my candidates "crowned" by the media.

Every time one of the 24/7 stations so much as mentions 2008.. off it goes!
One week in real time is like 6 months of political time, so any talk of '08 is pointless time-filling distraction.... of no more use than the latest showy murder/suicide, missing blond or latest xmas "must-have".

[Bucky]

7. He supports all the right issues, but I haven't seen him *lead* on all that much.

The president-as-spokesmodel arrangement hasn't been working too well for the last six years. I have no idea why anyone would want to try it out on the Democrats. I suspect Obama is just this year's flavor. If he runs next year, I fully expect his bubble to pop somewhere around Michigan, if not New Hampshire.

[cwydro]

9. Yes, I'd be interested to hear everyone's opinions too.

[goclark]

11. The Media is reporting on him because he is exciting!

I have seen him in person and he is like electricity!

In addition, the crowd goes absolutely wild when they see his face, the way he walks, the way he dresses, they hear his vision for America and they LOVE him!

I saw him while standing with a huge crowd of students at USC. I listened to what they were saying about him as they waited for him to appear.

When he walked out of the door of Doheny Library,the CROWD made him a STAR! He was not trying to BE a STAR, in fact he walks like an ordinary man. He talks the language of an ordinary INTELLIGENT man, wise way beyond his years.

The students and the Seniors :) were screaming his name and shouting "Obama '08." The excitement in the air was just like the night that I saw JFK at East Los Angeles Jr. College.

That night and for the entire time he was in office, JFK was a rich, Catholic ROCK STAR adored by America.

At first I was shocked by the response of the students because USC is a relatively conservative school, composed of the sons and daughters of rich, mainly Conservative, parents.

Sure they are reporting on him.

The choice is McCain, Rudy G., Hillary, Kerry,Obama, Edwards etc.

All the others are tired old faces ~I can say that because I am OLD, I know tired when I see it. :)

I have seen Edwards in person as well. He has the same kind of electricity!

I've also seen Bill Clinton and he could light up the Christmas Tree on the WH lawn!

[stevietheman]

14. Obama is going to be an early burnout if the media works...

the way it normally does.

And I hate to admit it my feeling on this, but he has Manchurian Candidate written all over him, and I suspect I feel that way because of the way he gives "perfect" speeches seemingly designed to make everyone feel good, while the press is trumpeting him like mad.

I really don't like what's going on here, and I would like it to stop.

[goclark]

15. He is not afraid.

His book has real insight into his character.

[BlueManDude]

16. He'll be hosting a CNN talk show in 5 years.

Seems to be more of a show horse than a work horse.