The notion of change in American politics today is a strong one, and the three major contenders for the White House in 2009 all preach a promised doctrine of change (some more than others).
Barack Obama is larger than life for many American teens and twenty-somethings; the turnout and support he has garnered from college students is unprecedented. Why does a candidate with many policies similar to his rival's find such overwhelming support from typically politically-aware college students? The answer is George W. Bush.
Bush and Cheney have reigned over the United States for a tumultuous 7+ years. When Clinton left office, I was still too young (like most of Generation Y) to have any memory or comprehension of politics. As a result, the Washington I've grown to know is a lying and corrupt oligarchy of sorts, consisting primarily of narrow-minded politicians with even narrower objectives.
Political pundits often talk about this "post-9/11 world." Aside from the obvious heightened security measures and the sudden worldly awareness present in America, the state of a post-9/11 America has had a great impact on all the citizens of these United States. "Nine-eleven" is often thrown around in Washington as a way to take advantage of Americans. "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety" (attributed to Benjamin Franklin) is what I'm getting at here. Wiretapping, gross amounts of secret documents, the Patriot Act - and oh yeah, that trillion-dollar travesty half a world away. After all, we wouldn't want to let the terrorists win. Getting back to the point: the Washington I've seen in my lifetime is not an institution one is likely to have much faith in.
Enter Mr. Obama. Often criticized as being naive, called a dreamer, and labeled an idealist, Obama has also been said to speak and think in a manner not unlike John F. Kennedy or Dr. Martin Luther King. "Change We Can Believe In" is his slogan, and not a terribly bad one at that. This is where I find myself getting sucked in at times, and I believe many others do as well. People want change, many believe America needs change; the problem is that most people don't even know what it is they want, aside from the fact that they don't want Bush. Obama's message and strong rhetoric radiates the promise of change, and a hope and faith in our government once again - a hope and faith that many of my generation have never had. Put Obama's wholesomely clean political record and his promise of change together with the dirtiness that is D.C., and you'll find a candidate that can present precisely what Americans are looking for: a new age in American politics.
With all of that being said, there is still great gravitas and legitimacy behind the candidacy of Barack Obama. I am an avid supporter of his campaign to the top seat in Washington, and have several policy-driven reasons for this support. The optimistic "hope" for a better America certainly plays a role, but rest assured, the basis of my support for Obama consists of relevant political matters.
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You are right how Obama seems to represent change. He is: young, different race, and a democrat. Which is the kind of tangible cchange in the white house that I (and others) are looking for.
I like Obama because he is different. He represents to Americans of all color, that it is possible to acheive your dreams, and it is that hope that he is fighting to keep alive for generations to come.
Being honest, I would say that I am a social conservative, and fall into the middle on most other issues. The two Bushies and most all conservatives other than Reagan have preached conservative principles and claimed to be for the average Joe, only to dance solely for their constituency once elected.
I can take a chance on Obama though, mainly because I see where a major percentage of his campaign money comes from.......us. So although he may have a voting record that is off the chart to the left, his constituency to this point is the individuals who support him. Rather than Exxon/Mobile having him in their pocket, we the people will be the ones that most influence the direction he will take this country.
A man of strong convictions that is not scared to hear the other side and has proven that not only does he hear the other side, but he is even willing to move toward the other side if that is what needs to be done.
That's a very good point, I hadn't really taken that in to account. Where his money comes from does show a lot. I'm sure the big companies have offered him money (they'd offer any major candidate money), which means he's turned it down. Nice to see the support of a moderate conservative, hopefully that means Obama has a solid chance winning independents and moderates in the general election (should he get there). Thanks for the comment!
Matthew Ritter
Northeastern University
http://ritter88.blogspot.com/