A dear old college friend called me today, upset. He told me that most of the people he loved was supporting Obama, and he was concerned.
"I don't know this guy. I don't know who he is," he said.
"Well," I replied, "he went to Harvard and then, with a Harvard law degree that could have gotten him a job just about anywhere, he chose to work as an advocate for inner city people, not big corporations, like Hillary did. That shows a lot about his character and values."
"I don't give a shit about his character, my friend replied. "I want to know that this guy will be tough, that he can kick ass and get things done-- be a tough negotiator."
I thought for a few moments, then asked him, "Who is the most successful, most powerful democrat in the last 30 years?"
"Bill Clinton," he answered, correctly.
"Okay," I replied, "then who has taken on Bill Clinton and beaten him at his own game, through his own and his management team's strategies and leadership? Who has raised more money, won more delegates, more of the popular vote and pulled more positive media coverage than the most powerful and successful Democrat in the last generation?"
"Now," he replied, "you're saying something that makes some sense to me."
The fact is, Hillary Clinton came into this primary season with a strong advantage, but also the liability of high negatives. Obama was a relative unknown.
To me, he also brings something else essential to the table. We are entering what will absolutely be the worst economic times in at least two generations. We need someone who is smart and tough enough to win at the political games-- which Obama has proven he could do with the most successful Democrat in recent decades-- but we also need someone who reaches and lifts up people's spirits and hearts, because in the tough times we will surely face, that will be a necessary part of being the leader America needs.
Obama routinely falls back to his rejection of the Iraq war. I'm glad he does. I knew at the time when Hillary was voting to give Bush war powers that she was wrong, that the war was wrong. Millions of people knew it was wrong. I want someone there, at three in the morning, who has a history of processing the information and making the right decision, in spite of the pressure and politics. Just going to a lot of countries, being in the same building as where a lot of big deals and decisions went down does not give one experience.
Hillary is a good, strong person. But she is too much like the Republican she will be running against-- as a leader of the DLC she is too conservative, too corporate friendly, too pro-globalism, with her history of supporting NAFTA. I am sad that our sisters on the left, who so passionately support Hillary will probably not reach their goal. I am sad that there have been times when Hillary supporters have become so angry about the way Obama supporters have operated.
I don't want to fight with Hillary supporters. I don't want to bash Hillary. I don't think I've done that here. Let's keep the dialogue focused on the reasons why we SHOULD be voting for candidates.
Obama was not my first choice. I wanted a more left leaning candidate who dropped out. He's far more centrist than I'd have liked. But of the remaining candidates, there's no dougt in my mind that he is the best candidate the Democrats have to choose from.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
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A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
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