It’s been a long time in coming, but I have finally managed to finish my homework on Barack Obama. This is a man who is full of ideas. One of his challenges is that many wonder what he can really do in Washington DC as a relative outsider. That is a question that can never be fully answered about any candidate until they have taken the office they are seeking. Barring that sure answer, I like the ideas presented by Senator Obama. He is secure in his ideals, but he is not locked into a partisan mindset.
Two things from his website really excited me this week. First, his site gave the most fitting response to the events at Viginia Tech – the whole page was black with a simple statement of condolences from the senator. All the mainstream media should have been so sensitive. Second, very prominent in the issues section of his website is an invitation for anyone to submit ideas for discussion and policy consideration. I encourage everyone who has ideas about how this country should be run, whether you like Senator Obama or not, to go submit your ideas and discuss the other ideas that have been presented. Use pseudonyms if you want, but I think that any leader (of any party) who would honestly accept and use ideas generated through such a participatory process would make an effective leader for our nation.
I definitely endorse Barack Obama for President. I believe that he has the right qualities that we should be looking for in a president.
I’ve been in the Obama Camp for awhile, ever since his pre-pre-announcement (hell, ever since his 2004 address at the DNC Convention). While some folks think he lacks substance, or have doubts because he’s young, I think he’s exciting because he’s not wholly institutionalized and using the same, painful, banal rhetoric that the longer serving candidates are.
Being afraid of something unique, just seems like cheating yourself of happiness.
I agree with you. I have been watching him ever since that 2004 speech at the convention. The reason I took my time studying him was that I wanted to be sure that I was not being excited over that speech to the exclusion of seeing if he had the substance to back up that stirring rhetoric.
I like Obama’s style. I have no problem with his youth or perceived lack of experience. However, given the choices out there, I would not consider supporting his candidacy. The reason – his foundation principles. Every candidate has core principles upon which everything else they do or decide is based – whether they say it or not. Many have as their foundation simply a desire to take care of number one. I think Obama has higher standards than that – I think he really does want to do good and improve the country for all.
That said, I personally think his foundation is flawed. He believes, at the core, that he and the federal government can and should solve many of the problems facing our citizens. His website lists issues, most of which involve his way of fixing something that’s broken by using some sort of government program – whether it be increased regulation and scrutiny or direct or indirect redistribution of individuals’ resources. I believe both of these directions to be economically flawed, likely to cause unintended consequences far worse than the problems that already exist. I feel that any form of wealth redistribution is both economically and ethically wrong, sure to create unintended consequences and destined to widen the gap between rich and poor and increase, rather than eliminate, class warfare.
Again, I don’t think Obama is a bad person – quite the contrary. I simply think his ideas on how to move forward are wrong. They are based in the same flawed principles that have been working in major cities across the USA for the past 50 years, and have brought many cities to their knees economically.
What we need is someone with Obama’s vision, drive and attitude, plus a deeper understanding of economics, ethics (one who understands that taking from one person to give to another is stealing, even if you call it welfare), and the proper role of government (vs. issues where private citizens and organizations are better placed to meet the challenges).
I submit that Barack Obama is a good man who would cause more problems as president than he would solve.
For those reading my above comment that don’t know me, I think it appropriate (for the sake of fairness) to disclose that I make my living working for the Republican Party. I hope that nobody will confuse the direction of causality in my reasoning. Often I hear people say things like, “Well of course you would say that – you’re a Republican.”
Please understand, I do not believe the way I do because I’m a partisan Republican. I support the Republican Party because of the things I believe. Though I frequently disagree with some of the policies and practices of the Republican Party, I find it the vehicle most likely to promote the core principles I subscribe to.
So, for clarification, I don’t disagree with Obama because I’m a Republican and he’s a Democrat. I disagree with him because he believes in different principles of good government than I, which disagreement leads us to affiliate with opposing parties.
Jason,
I appreciate your position with regards to Obama. I share some of your reservations about some of his core principles regarding the role of government. The place that you and I differ is that I don’t believe that any of the other candidates are substantially different in that regard – despite differences in policy rhetoric – therefore I don’t feel that him holding the same functional position as every other candidate can be grounds for opposing him.
There is one other characteristic that Obama has going for him which helps to mitigate my reservations regarding those principles, it is that Obama seems very open to suggestions and ideas. This gives people the chance to present suggestions on how to keep government within the scope of what we believe they should be doing.
Thank you also for your openness concerning your connection to the Republican party. I believe that kind of openness helps improve the quality of the conversation here.
Being a resident of Illinois (since his incumbency as a senator), I absolutely do not support Barak Obama for president.
I have contacted him frequently, regarding my stance on political issues within the past 4 years. He has opposed them all–but sent very “nice” e-mails in response to my request. You actually have to re-read them to realize that he opposed the legislation.
He has taken no formal stance on any conservative battle line. In fact, from experience, he is more liberal and more wishy-washy than Hillary.
Do not vote for him.
Melissa,
Thanks for sharing.