Barack Obama showed why he was editor of the Harvard Law Review and why he has an impressive legislative record. The man not only knows his words but he knows when and how to use them. He also knows, as is sometimes said, "how to act" and he has shown the best judgment on the most important issues of our time. Hillary, of "change you can Xerox," does not, has not, did not and, therefore, presumably will not.
Hillary Clinton opened on a bad note, complaining that she always gets asked the first question. The anchors later revealed that this was only true for 6 out of 10 questions. Hillary actually jumped in to answer the question about Medvedev when the anchor left it up for grabs. This would indicate that she wanted to answer first...
I fully expected Hillary to not let the Farrakhan issue go. There was, after all, no wrongdoing on Obama's part--he has always denounced Farrakhan for his anti-Semitism. Why make a point of it? Nonetheless, after having seen her harp on Obama's use of a passage from a Deval Patrick speech, I was not surprised when Hillary tried to capitalize on a weak “point,” if you can even call it that. Hillary has shown that she will grasp at anything, even at hot air, to strike out at Obama. This is clearly an ineffective strategy.
I think it should be clear to everyone that Hillary is too often petty and focuses on the small stuff while Obama is much better able to see the big picture--to keep his eye on the prize--and to work toward that vision. This is why Obama is a uniter and Hillary is a divider.
Frankly, and although he is not perfect, Obama looked and spoke like a President at the Texas and Ohio debates. It will be a relief to have someone as intelligent and sincere as him in office. This country (and this world) desperately needs someone who is forward-looking to put us back on the path of progress. Over time, and despite the few areas in which I disagree with him, I have come to believe that Barack Obama is that man.
It's not so surprising. After years of living in a country that is hated by so many around the world, many of us see in Obama an opportunity to reshape America and its politics. What is frustrating is the level of division within the Democratic party. I am an Obama supporter but I hear many people who support either candidate say that they would vote for McCain over the other Democrat. I have to say that I see this coming a lot more from the Clinton side but I will admit that I have heard Obama supporters issue similar ultimatums. Progressives will need to unite behind whoever wins these primaries since that candidate will still be vastly preferable to McCain. An election campaign is, after all, a study in contrasts. In any contest, you must choose the best candidate and not necessarily the perfect candidate. Obama is, quite simply, the best. He has an impressive legislative record and has shown the best judgment on the most important issues of our time.
For many of us, the war in Iraq has been the defining issue of our lives as young Americans. The war has played a huge role in creating an economy that has been hard on young people seeking jobs and trying to build their futures. Iraq is not our Vietnam, but it is close enough to be a generational bond--an issue around which we can unite. I saw this in college as so many students who would never have considered themselves activists came out to protest against George Bush's second term and to rally in support of John Kerry. When Kerry lost, many of us were, quite literally, devastated and depressed.
If Obama were not in the race, this election would likely have featured the same apathy from young voters that has characterized previous elections. Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul have certainly given us cause for hope. Unfortunately, our political system marginalizes those who do not appeal to a broad audience. Obama, being the most electable and yet still managing to maintain a fairly progressive agenda, has given us real cause for hope rooted not just in words but in a strong eleven year record of public service.
In 20th debate, two Dems square off in Cleveland
Barack Obama showed why he was editor of the Harvard Law Review and why he has an impressive legislative record. The man not only knows his words but he knows when and how to use them. He also knows, as is sometimes said, "how to act" and he has shown the best judgment on the most important issues of our time. Hillary, of "change you can Xerox," does not, has not, did not and, therefore, presumably will not.
Hillary Clinton opened on a bad note, complaining that she always gets asked the first question. The anchors later revealed that this was only true for 6 out of 10 questions. Hillary actually jumped in to answer the question about Medvedev when the anchor left it up for grabs. This would indicate that she wanted to answer first...
I fully expected Hillary to not let the Farrakhan issue go. There was, after all, no wrongdoing on Obama's part--he has always denounced Farrakhan for his anti-Semitism. Why make a point of it? Nonetheless, after having seen her harp on Obama's use of a passage from a Deval Patrick speech, I was not surprised when Hillary tried to capitalize on a weak “point,” if you can even call it that. Hillary has shown that she will grasp at anything, even at hot air, to strike out at Obama. This is clearly an ineffective strategy.
I think it should be clear to everyone that Hillary is too often petty and focuses on the small stuff while Obama is much better able to see the big picture--to keep his eye on the prize--and to work toward that vision. This is why Obama is a uniter and Hillary is a divider.
Frankly, and although he is not perfect, Obama looked and spoke like a President at the Texas and Ohio debates. It will be a relief to have someone as intelligent and sincere as him in office. This country (and this world) desperately needs someone who is forward-looking to put us back on the path of progress. Over time, and despite the few areas in which I disagree with him, I have come to believe that Barack Obama is that man.
February 27, 2008 at 5:47 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Obama allure attractive to young people
It's not so surprising. After years of living in a country that is hated by so many around the world, many of us see in Obama an opportunity to reshape America and its politics. What is frustrating is the level of division within the Democratic party. I am an Obama supporter but I hear many people who support either candidate say that they would vote for McCain over the other Democrat. I have to say that I see this coming a lot more from the Clinton side but I will admit that I have heard Obama supporters issue similar ultimatums. Progressives will need to unite behind whoever wins these primaries since that candidate will still be vastly preferable to McCain. An election campaign is, after all, a study in contrasts. In any contest, you must choose the best candidate and not necessarily the perfect candidate. Obama is, quite simply, the best. He has an impressive legislative record and has shown the best judgment on the most important issues of our time.
For many of us, the war in Iraq has been the defining issue of our lives as young Americans. The war has played a huge role in creating an economy that has been hard on young people seeking jobs and trying to build their futures. Iraq is not our Vietnam, but it is close enough to be a generational bond--an issue around which we can unite. I saw this in college as so many students who would never have considered themselves activists came out to protest against George Bush's second term and to rally in support of John Kerry. When Kerry lost, many of us were, quite literally, devastated and depressed.
If Obama were not in the race, this election would likely have featured the same apathy from young voters that has characterized previous elections. Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul have certainly given us cause for hope. Unfortunately, our political system marginalizes those who do not appeal to a broad audience. Obama, being the most electable and yet still managing to maintain a fairly progressive agenda, has given us real cause for hope rooted not just in words but in a strong eleven year record of public service.
February 27, 2008 at 5:44 a.m. permalink suggest removal