The other day, I was passing by and I happened to hear this girl expostulating on the merits of Barack Obama and why, come November 2008, she will vote for Obama.
"He makes such great speeches," she said wistfully, "So inspiring and y'know, you don't really get that in American politics anymore."
Um...sorry?
Here's exactly what I don't understand. Let me make this clear-I am neither for nor against Barack Obama nor any other candidate at the moment (it's wiser, in my opinion, to let them fight to the death during the hell-that-is-known-as-the-primary-season and then pick the lesser of two evils between the candidates left standing at the end). However, it disgusts me beyond belief that that is the basis of Obama's campaign. Besides charisma, what does Obama have that makes him the rightful leader of our currently shaky country? The fact that he's half-black and that voting for him will somehow make those whites *still guilty* about wrongly enslaving blacks for so long feel better about themselves? The fact that he was one of the few that can rightfully claim that he voted against the war from the start? Once you get past that, what is there? We need more substance than style and right now, Obama's too preoccupied dazzling us with his style to spew out some real, *different* plans with potential (and that is why I am still not convinced there's much of a difference between Hill-Bill and Obama because their plans and promises for change are not much different as of right now).
"But," one might protest to the Obama fan, "he has no experience. Shouldn't his ability to lead and lead well be tested more-and in a position here failure won't result in more dire consequences?"
Apparently not. Apparently, there is an *appeal* in his freshness, his inexperience.
I have a question to pose to Obama fans. What happens if Obama is elected? What happens if Obama simply turns out to be an illusion, however handsome and well-polished? If all of his freshness and inexperienced and newness that had been such a strength while he was running turns out to be more of a failing?
This upcoming election reminds me of a huge gambling event in which there's more of a chance of losing than winning. For some odd reason, the words "Russian Roulette" persists in my mind.
Obama's the wild card-there's the chance that he could suceed spectacularly but there's also the chance he could fail miserably and lead this miserable and divided country into more of a downward spiral.
Are we willing to gamble?
Great post; no arguments.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
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Choice Picks
Rest in peace
yourfuneralguy
http://www.lowercostfuneral.com/rbrianblog
Is Mayor Richard M Daley and the Chicago Democratic Machine.
It appears he will win if the Clintons do not pull off a back room deal.
Obama has no substance.
Clintons will use every trick possible to pull off a deal.
Great post
Rest in Peace.
Correct,
I don't think that this election should be based on a new african american president or a new women for president since it has never happened before. People should put their heads into it and focus on politics, or this election could be the downfall of our country.
I have no complaints about your post. I just want to say that we are in a huge gamble right now and I do support Obama. I feel that he may bring in a new vision to this country. If he fails miserably, oh well. I mean, we went through so many years of Bush and look at how low the dollar is compared to the Euros, we're still in a war that we don't see an ending to...yada yada yada. I'm all for a Change and everyone speaks a good game during campaigning, but we won't know for sure what's going to happen until they get into office.
I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him. ~Booker T. Washington
I agree with your post and I really respect your views, but don't you think everything is a gamble? No matter who the candidate is there's always a chance that they're sugar coated with false promises. You just have to take a chance and hope you've made the best choice and that the candidate you vote for is the real deal.
~*El Kc*~
I'm so glad to know that someone else feels that way. No one can debate that Senator Obama is a talented public speaker with plenty of charisma. However, I think more than charisma is needed to be our next president.
You asked:
"I have a question to pose to Obama fans. What happens if Obama is elected? What happens if Obama simply turns out to be an illusion, however handsome and well-polished? If all of his freshness and inexperienced and newness that had been such a strength while he was running turns out to be more of a failing?"
Firstly, I don't find his "inexperience" appealing. It's a shortfall that all the other candidates and their supporters have reminded us from the beginning. However, I find his his promises for change to overshadow that. And, yes, his promises are not so different from Hillary's. However, the draw for me is that I find him more genuine and, thus, I believe that he will fulfill these things that he promises. I am sad to say that I do not see this genuineness in many other candidates this year or any other year.
As for all your other questions, all those "what if"s could be posed for any other candidate out there. Who are you and I to know whether a candidate is all they say they are or all they pretend to be?
I am just trying to go with the candidate that I feel I can believe. You may feel that a wistful idea, but that is the path I have chosen. I believe in Obama.
Who do you believe in?
I still argue that none of the candidates have ANY experience with being President.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
Click to send Hate Mail
Choice Picks
No arguments there. I mean, it is true that none of them have been President and so have no experience doing so. And with that, there is no real way of telling how any of them will react to the pressure, what real stance they will take on foreign policy, and etc., etc.
i am not racist. and i believe any form of segregation is wrong. however, many people want o vote for obama because he's black, or clinton cause she's a woman. um, does that mena they are the best choic? no! well, actually, i am not sure at this point. but all i mean is, i agree with you.
Rest in peace
yourfuneralguy
http://www.lowercostfuneral.com/rbrian
Obama is the scariest canididate of them all!!!
Rest in Peace.
Wow, I completely agree with everything you said. I've been thinking that ever since I first heard about Obama. It's crazy how people have latched onto him. Maybe it's because they're able to make him into whatever they want because he's not established like the other candidates. There's no telling but I would definitely be scared to cast my vote for him in November. Plus I simply don't trust any word that comes out of his mouth. After how he dealt with the Rev. Wright situation I really don't want 4 or 8 years of that. He basically took the negative attention he was getting at the time and threw it right back at the American people. It was pretty genius but I would rather not have to deal with that for an extended amount of time.