I am not on the Obama train. I think the man is a wonderful speaker, but I don't really see why that means he's got the chops to be president. Sure, it'd be an improvement over our current president, but still. It's not that I don't think he could be a capable president - I think just about anyone could be a capable president, if they apply themselves or have a good staff - it's that I don't feel any kneejerk HOMG OBAMA love. A lot of people I talk to who are vehemently pro-Obama cite, first and foremost, the fact that he's an amazing speaker. That's why I draw attention to that particular aspect of him.
They're also, of course, very excited at the prospect of having a black man run the country. (Are we allowed to call him biracial? Besides the fact that it brings in the word "race," being biracial has a whole other set of oppression piled on it that people don't deal with on a day to day basis. I notice most media outlets, conventional or otherwise, call him black.) I'm ambivalent. I appreciate the symbolic victory, but that's not even enough of a factor to remotely sway my vote in any way, shape, or form.
Bill and I had an interesting tangential discussion on Saturday about why he's super pro Obama and I'm moderately pro Clinton at this point. He said that he understands all the arguments against Obama, but just feels that Obama's our next president. I certainly think Obama will be the president one day, but I don't think it'll be in 2008. Especially not if he goes up against a Republican that has any sort of chance of pulling in the moderates. The same, however, could be said of Clinton.
Then there’s the fact that the United States has somehow managed to backslide and become one of the most conservative members of Western Civilization. I mean conservative as the antithesis of innovative and idealistic, not necessarily liberalism. I could be misusing terms there but, hey, that’s the risk you take when you read me. Though I don't really care if the "people" (by which I means the ones that either have money or vote... or both) of the United States are ready for a person of color and/or female (let's not even mention the G-A-Y word) as president, the fact that there are plenty of people who don't want a woman running things, or a guy with the last name like Obama in the Oval Office, gives me serious pause about whether I'd consider either of them for the candidacy.
I want a Democrat in office. (I hate that I’m forced to say things like that. The two party system sucks.) That means I want a candidate that can win. I live in a place where you’d think that the only people running for President are Clinton and Obama, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize that I live in a little bubble of liberalism amid a sea of conservatives or duped moderates.
So tell my why Obama can win. Or Edwards. Or Clinton. Or that dude that thinks Obama is clean. I’m listening.
They're also, of course, very excited at the prospect of having a black man run the country. (Are we allowed to call him biracial? Besides the fact that it brings in the word "race," being biracial has a whole other set of oppression piled on it that people don't deal with on a day to day basis. I notice most media outlets, conventional or otherwise, call him black.) I'm ambivalent. I appreciate the symbolic victory, but that's not even enough of a factor to remotely sway my vote in any way, shape, or form.
Bill and I had an interesting tangential discussion on Saturday about why he's super pro Obama and I'm moderately pro Clinton at this point. He said that he understands all the arguments against Obama, but just feels that Obama's our next president. I certainly think Obama will be the president one day, but I don't think it'll be in 2008. Especially not if he goes up against a Republican that has any sort of chance of pulling in the moderates. The same, however, could be said of Clinton.
Then there’s the fact that the United States has somehow managed to backslide and become one of the most conservative members of Western Civilization. I mean conservative as the antithesis of innovative and idealistic, not necessarily liberalism. I could be misusing terms there but, hey, that’s the risk you take when you read me. Though I don't really care if the "people" (by which I means the ones that either have money or vote... or both) of the United States are ready for a person of color and/or female (let's not even mention the G-A-Y word) as president, the fact that there are plenty of people who don't want a woman running things, or a guy with the last name like Obama in the Oval Office, gives me serious pause about whether I'd consider either of them for the candidacy.
I want a Democrat in office. (I hate that I’m forced to say things like that. The two party system sucks.) That means I want a candidate that can win. I live in a place where you’d think that the only people running for President are Clinton and Obama, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize that I live in a little bubble of liberalism amid a sea of conservatives or duped moderates.
So tell my why Obama can win. Or Edwards. Or Clinton. Or that dude that thinks Obama is clean. I’m listening.
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