Obama: Because I Remember (Candidates' Positives, Part II)

by Woman of Mass Discussion |   "Face it, Mom, this country is always going to be at war because that is what we're about," my son informed me at his ripe old age of 17. 

A chill went down my spine, not because I was worried that he may be right. He's not, but more on that in  a moment. The chill was the realization that at that moment in time, my first born was in what is called his formative years. His views, opinions and preferences are in the process of being set for life.

And at that same moment in time the dominant political, and to a large extent social, influences in our country were characterized by the poisonous ethos of neo-conservative politics that mandates American political & economic world hegemony via war. The culture (or politics) of fear was taking root in my son.

That chill remained as I realized that everything I remember learning about America during my formative years - that we were the strongest, most loved and respected country on earth - was in the process of being erased from American's collective memory.

That was three years ago.

That was before a senator from Illinois, recognizing America was and should be better than that, decided to run for president.

I am not some starry-eyed co-ed enamored with the articulate, poised and attractive Senator Barack Obama. I am not given to gullible acceptance of political rhetoric. Over the decades I've heard the promises from our political leaders, saying one thing when meaning the opposite. Likewise I've witnessed those who truly attempted to fulfill their promises only to be hamstrung by entrenched partisanship.

But now, for the first time in many, many years I actually feel things could be different. I am admittedly (dare I use the word?) hopeful.

His words do inspire. His campaign has been professional, efficient and successful. He has been a consistent and gifted debater. And I have yet to see him sweat, get flustered or lose his cool under intense and relentless media scrutiny or from the demands of a grueling campaign schedule.

Of course the first hurdle any candidate faces is getting elected. My opinion is Obama has a better chance than Senator Hillary Clinton.

I know Clinton is everything we need in a good president and effective leader. But she has a target on her back. It was placed there years ago by people whose only goal is to take her down and humiliate her in the process. I still don't understand it; I have yet to hear a single viable, rational argument for hating Hillary Clinton the way they do.

What I do understand is that this country does not need a political bloodbath leading into the November elections. We also cannot take another four or eight years of nonsensical HillaryHate groups (here, here and here) whose sole purpose for existing is to slander, denounce, obstruct and destroy a woman who has spent her life in public service. Even with her best intentions for America it is my opinion that she will be prevented from much legislative success because of people who hate her for being her.

Yes, I think Obama can get elected by a decisive majority. He appeals not just to Democrats but to moderate Republicans  (and here) who recognize the need for change. Groups of Obama supporters have coalesced and proudly announced their allegiance as Republicans for Obama. 

I feel Obama will be able to achieve much of what he sets out to do because he will inherit  a new congress. Dozens of GOP lawmakers have resigned or are not running for re-election. The 111th Congress will be void of a majority of entrenched, old school partisans. While this bodes well for any new president I feel that because he's already appealed to some Republicans he will encounter far less partisan-driven obstructionism than Clinton will. 

Clinton & Obama's policies are close enough that my progressive sensibilities would be satisfied with either of them.  And, I honestly feel twinges of feminist guilt for not voting for The First Woman Who Really Could Be President.

But Obama takes it one step further for me. Like with millions of other young voters, Obama has inspired and energized my son -- whose fatalism of three years ago has been replaced with the optimism, hope and good ol' American pride that I remember.

Other BN-Politics Posts:

* Hillary Clinton (Candidates' Positives, Part I)

* Florida Dems Elect Delegates for Convention

* Iranian President Visits Iraq

* Mukasey Blocks Contempt Probe re: White House Staff

Comments

[Natasha Rio]

Senator Clinton's campaign has consistently brought out a trumped up charge on every election eve. Now it's the kitchen sink--innuendo, fear, and stories made out of events that have been denied by all participants. Apparently sleeping with the President (and how we have avoided going there!) constitutes "foreign policy experience." Give me a break!

[Natasha Rio]

Senator Clinton's campaign has consistently brought out a trumped up charge on every election eve. Now it's the kitchen sink--innuendo, fear, and stories made out of events that have been denied by all participants. Apparently sleeping with the President (and how we have avoided going there!) constitutes "foreign policy experience." Give me a break!

[Sam]

I find it interesting that the list of Clinton's positives is predicated on her many, many accomplishments and what they indicate for the future. It's a very impressive list, but alas, there's no "emotion" behind it so it probably won't sell.

The article about Obama's positives is mostly about what (we hope but have no way of knowing) he will do IF elected, and the fact that he doesn't have the "Clinton attack machine" second-guessing his every move. I had hoped that the Democrats would move beyond the emotional idiocy that we decried when George Bush was running against Al Gore ('the fun, unflappable, regular guy you want to have a beer with' versus 'the uncool policy wonk') but I guess when both candidates are in the same party, history will repeat itself.

[WMD]

So, some don’t like the touchy-feely (emotional idiocy?!) reasons why I go for Obama. They prefer a more empirical examination of Obama’s resume.
Fair enough.
Prior to entering politics:
• 1983 graduated Columbia Univ., political science specializing in international relations.
• Member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1988.
• Worked at Business International Corp (as a research associate in its general international business information division) and NY Public Interest Research Group.
• Became a community organizer in Chicago with church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods.
• Earned his law degree from Harvard Law School (1991) magna cum laude and was the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.
• Private practice as a civil rights attorney representing community organizers, discrimination claims and voting rights cases and taught constitutional law.

While in the Illinois senate:
• Chief co-sponsor of that state’s Earned Income Tax Credit that provided more than $100 million in tax relief to working families.
• Introduced STOP FRAUD Act to increase penalties for mortgage fraud; provide more protections for low-income homeowners before the sub-prime crisis began.
• Sponsored legislation to combat predatory payday loans.
• Had a 91% voting record with organized labor.
• Helped create the Early Learning Council (for early childhood education) and promoted increased subsidies for childcare.
• Sponsored and passed legislation that expanded health care coverage for 70,000 children and 84,000 adults (2003).
• Led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.

While in US Senate:
• Introduced the Patriot Employer Act 2007 to provide tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of fulltime workers in America relative to outside the US; maintain their corporate HQ in America; pay decent wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; support employees who serve in the military.
• Worked w/ Olympia Snow (R-WA) on legislation to lower the Child Tax Credit’s income limit so more than 600,000 families can benefit.
• Champion of the organized labor movement: 94% rating by SEIU; 96% rating by AFL-CIO.
• Has fought against trade agreements that lack environmental and labor standards (i.e. Central American Free Trade Agreement).
• Working to increase maximum Pell Grant award to $5,100.
• As a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee helped pass improvements in the Higher Education Act.
• Introduced legislation to create Teacher Residency Programs; increase federal support for summer learning opportunities.
• Co-sponsored Healthy Kids Act of 2007 and State Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007.
• Repeatedly voted against Republican amendments aimed to privatize Social Security or cut benefits.
• Voted to force companies to properly fund their pension plans.
• Supported numerous efforts to strengthen Medicare including voting for legislation to all Medicare to negotiate for cheaper Rx prices and extend enrollment period for low-income beneficiaries.
• After a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.
• 2005 co-sponsored Secure American and Orderly Immigration Act
• Coburn-Obama Transparency Act (provides for website USAspending.gov (managed by Office of Management & Budget).
• 2006 primary sponsor of Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act
• Worked w/ Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) on the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
• Working with Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sponsoring S.453 to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections.
• Introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 (to cap troop levels, begin phased redeployment and to remove all combat brigades from Iraq before April 2008).
• Co-sponsored an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges.
• Sponsored the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran’s oil & gas industry.
• Sponsored an amendment to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries (then vetoed by President Bush).