I have reservations about Obama. Only because the only thing we have to go on other than some good, even great ideas, is his voting record in the Senate and that record is "off the charts" to the left. This is not a deal breaker though by any means, especially with the majority of the country on both sides being so disenfranchised with Washingtons current culture.
Obama arrived at the right place at the right time. Nobody, candidate or otherwise brings near as much "otherness" than Obama. With him being so unproven though what can we put our faith in? Just because he says what we all want to hear, what leads anyone to think that he is any different from any other candidate that has ever said one thing to do another?
I think the answer to these questions can be found by really seeking the difference between those like Clinton, McCain, Bush, etc. and how they campaign compared to Obama. Besides what he is saying, what can we point to that is different? If Obama makes it to November and wins, a part of the reason for that victory lies with the man and his methodical campaign. However, the other thing that was needed is money. All 43 presidents have had the dollar to thank for their new job, more importantly they have the source of the money to thank.
The trend since I have been alive is for a candidate to say one thing to the masses of voters to get elected, then pledge allegience to whoever supplied that money to them when it comes to doing their job. The result is our country being run by the companies that fund election victories.
Although the jury is still way out when it comes to who Obama would be working for if elected, if he were elected today, he would have individual Americans to thank for the grass roots fundraising to this point. If this trend holds through November, Obama would be the first President that could honestly say that his constituents are the American people.
Just knowing that were the case would override any policy differences I may have with him and would hopefully set a precedent for future campaigning. Then we could start to reclaim our status as a true democracy.
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If I do vote, I'll vote for Obama.
Only because John Edwards will be vice. Hopefully.
If he's not then there's no point.
+mspin