My Argument For Barack Obama

This campaign started off rather benign. The Democratic candidates did not turn negative until recently. I believe, though I may be mistaken, that the negativity entered the race when Hillary started to slip in the polls and Obama started gaining. I don't remember exactly when that was, I believe some time in August or July.

Some people have argued that Obama is the candidate that Republicans want to win. Some people think that there is a vast conspiracy throughout the Republican party to lend support for Obama because he is somehow the most easily defeated candidate on the Democratic side.

Some people have argued that Obama is being propelled by a biased media. These voices are arguing that the media is treating Clinton unfairly as well. What is the motivation you ask? Well, these same people who believe in the Republican Conspiracy Theory also believe that the Media is in cahoots with the Republicans. I know, I know, how could people actually buy this crap? Well, considering the way the Republican Party has conducted itself over the past 35 years I can see where these theories come from. I do not believe that this vast conspiracy, even if it exists, is going to work for the Republicans, however.

Barack Obama's appeal to America transcends partisan politics. His appeal is not based solely on likability and speaking in platitudes. His appeal is based first and foremost on character followed by policy. You see over the past 7 years President Bush has caused the people of our country to lose faith in it. America wants to make sure that they do not elect a liar whose policies only benefit himself and his friends. Obama is so popular because he is the exact opposite of these two things. Obama is honest, and interested in policies that are good for the people of America, not just a group of campaign donors.

THE PAST SEVEN YEARS UNDER BUSH

Bush oversaw the most deadly single event in US History. He then took that event and twisted it into a game of revenge because, "he tried to kill my Dad." (Bush II referring to Sadam's alleged attempt on Bush I's life). President Bush took one of our most respected heroes and ruined his credibility. He put Colin Powell on the world stage for everyone to see holding up a vile of air.

An embarrassing moment for every American, regardless of the political party you support. At the moment in time when America COULD NOT AFFORD to take it's eye off the ball, not only did many of us take our eye off the ball, we were watching a completely different game. As Al-Queda successfully relocated to Pakistan and Osama seemingly disappeared, though stories of his maiming made us feel better, we had our attention focused on one of our greatest national security successes of the 90's, Iraq.

While it may be true that most intelligence communities believed Sadam had WMDs, it doesn't change the fact that we were fighting a much more important battle in Afghanistan that still has not been won. When it came out that the evidence was lacking, if not fabricated, we as a country began to see this president for what he really is: a liar. Bush destroyed the box that not only held Sadam in check, but also all the religious radicals as well.

Since all of that has come out America has been looking for a way to forget its great error and make things right, not just for Americans, but for the entire World. Our country is the ONLY Superpower on the block. We have wasted soon to be 8 years on a political point of view that is combative and unworkable for many throughout the world. The arrogance of our Leader has been imputed to all of us.

It used to be that when I traveled abroad people greeted me with respect and a bit of envy that I carried the passport that I did. People also envied our green money that was always a good place to keep your wealth if you were from a less stable economy. So what does all of this have to do with Barack Obama?

OBAMA: GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE

Barack Obama has been able to capture much of the American public eye because he is everything that Bush is not. He is honest, sincere, intelligent and thoughtful, he is the politics of 'We' rather than the politics of 'Me'.

Barack Obama speaks in platitudes, not because he doesn't have a plan, but because he has a VISION of America. He believes in the stories that are often told about America in foreign households, the streets of gold and all that. He believes that by overcoming partisan politics we can get more done. With someone who has the leadership ability to join both sides of the aisle in the name of America we can end the war, create a better health care system, make the lives of less well off people better and much more.

I have read many articles about Obama's willingness to work with Republicans, not because he believes in their issues, but because he knows that Democrats and Republicans often AGREE on principles, they only disagree on who to get there. I personally agree with most of what Obama has done, even the law that requires making the morning after pill available in hospitals that provide treatment for sexual assault victims. Many Republicans would disagree with this position and many other positions of Barack Obama, but you know what, if the people of this country can take America back with Barack Obama, he will reciprocate by giving it back to the People.

Obama worked on ethics reform in Illinois and in the Senate. Illinois could quite possibly be the most corrupt state in the Union. Just go out and see how many Illinois Governors have been indicted or investigated over the past 30 years for an idea about ethical problems in Illinois politics. The fact that as a first time State Senator he wanted to and was successful in getting some ethics legislation passed is quite impressive.

THE CAMPAIGN THE PEOPLE BEGGED FOR

Obama didn't come from the Political Machine of Chicago, he took on the machine. His first unsuccessful bid for Congress was running against an entrenched machine man, Bobby Rush. That didn't deter him. This man persevered in the Illinois State Senate, made a name for himself, and thrust himself onto the national stage with his bid for the Senate.

People like Barack Obama, not just because he speaks about the way things ought to be, they like him because he has accomplished a great many things in his 10 years as a politician. Obama is frustrated with how slowly the Senate moves, and so is America. We need a President who can tackle serious issues. One who is willing to back off the Universal Health Care bandwagon in order to get more people covered by insurance than we currently have in a way that doesn't make people criminals. One who is willing to talk to leaders of countries we are at odds with in order to find common goals and achieve those goals together. One who is willing to be part of the global debate about the environment and not ditch out on the world. One who is willing to look past the R or D following the names of politicians in order to progress this country.

People believe in Obama because they want to believe in him, they need to believe in him. After 8 years of Dumb and Dumber we are owed a President who can unite this country in the name of Change rather than divide us in the name of the Party. The American People are BEGGING for change, change in the way we do health care, change in the way we do foreign relations, change in the way we do economic prosperity.

There are people who have said we will never see a Black President. I believe we can see a Black President, and I'm not talking about Bill. Barack Obama has sparked something in the people of this country that cannot be put out. What started as embers in 2004 has grown into a full fire and will continue to grow all the way to the White House.

Obama isn't the candidate who had the 10 year plan for winning the Presidency. Obama was not planning a run for president until the people demanded it. It was as if the people forced him into the race because he is so motivating. Meanwhile Camp Clinton was planning for a landslide victory in '08, foregoing a run in '04 believing Bush would be reelected.

Obama doesn't strike me as someone who has been planning to do this his whole life, the way I think Hillary has. I think that Obama has always wanted to make a difference and he already has. He has changed racial profiling laws and created ethics reform. He has strengthened key anti-proliferation measures and created websites for citizens to check up on their government. He has refused PAC money and isn't interested in special interests. He has taught some of our best lawyers about Constitutional Law.

Once he thought that he could actually have a successful bid for President he took that chance and didn't wait his turn like a good little first term Senator should. He didn't wait his turn because the people were screaming that this WAS his turn. This IS AMERICA's turn to have a President of the People, By the People and For the People.

VOTE OBAMA

Make no mistake, I will be voting Democrat regardless of the nominee. Barack Obama may be the Republican's choice to run, but I think he is getting Republicans to vote for him because they are disgusted with their party's President. My own personal take on tactical voting is that it doesn't work, I tried it myself in 2000 by voting for a beatable McCain rather than W. I hope the Republicans are trying to get the man the nomination.

I just think that a man who has stood up for what he believes in all his life without being corrupted by lobbyists is what America is looking for and Obama best embodies that type of candidate.

Maybe Professor Cass R. Sunstein said it best on the Faculty Blog for the Univestity of Chicago Law School:

"He was, and is, widely admired by students and faculty alike -- and entirely across political divisions. How well I remember past elections in which faculty members, who disagreed on a great deal, agreed that Obama would be a magnificent addition to the United States Congress. I think their agreement resulted from Obama's character (he's a genuinely wonderful guy), his evident ability and sheer excellence (for example, he's a terrific teacher, and we tried to convince him to join the faculty full-time on several occasions), and his independence and unpredictability (he toes no party line; he knows how markets work, and how government can make things worse)." - October 11, 2006

Vote for Barack Obama twice, once in the Primary once in the General. I have already voted for him in past elections and look forward to voting for him again.

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	Bill Clinton Targets Media Coverage of Obama	CNN	Tue Jan 8	67
	Obama Campaign's Post-New Hampshire Memo	TIME	Wed Jan 9	7
	What Makes Obama Run?	Chicago Reader	Thu Jan 10	1
	In Harlem, a Tough Choice Between Clinton and Obama	The New York Times	Thu Jan 10	0
	Words and Obama	OpEdNews.Com Progressive	Tue Jan 8	0