Up until this week I was a proud supporter of Fmr. Senator John Edwards. His commitment to economic justice and organized labor was paramount in that decision. This week John Edwards concluded his quest for the White House. I have decided to support one of the remaining candidates on the Democratic side. The only candidate that represents the same kind of hope in America that I found with Senator Edwards is of course Senator Barack Obama.
Barack Obama is not a “fall back†because John Edwards bowed out for me. Since he started his campaign I have always been very impressed with Obama’s ability to transcend the standard political discourse. His charisma and policy ideas were always inline with what I wanted out of a candidate, and his ability to inspire young people made his candidacy very appealing to me. As many of you know I have been working for the past two-years on one goal. Harness the power of the millennial generation into a reliable bloc of Democrats in the future. Barack Obama is the only candidate that can make this goal a reality. 
It is no secret that the millennial generation (those born roughly between 1979 and 1994) are identifying with Democratic ideals. Things like marriage equality; universal healthcare, global warming, and the war in Iraq are issues that young people are lock step with Democrats. It is also a fact that if a person votes for a party three times in a row, they become that party’s supporter for life. Barack Obama is bringing young people out in droves and they are voting Democratic. Obama is the only candidate that can solidify a generation of Democrats.
So far 2008 has seen an increase in youth turnout in the primaries. This increase has been overwhelmingly Democratic. In fact, 80% of all young voters who caucused in Iowa caucused for Democrats. In the New Hampshire open primary 61% of all young voters voted for Democrats. Even in South Carolina (a RED state) young people supported Democrats by a 62%-32% margin. It is also not a surprise that many of these young people are coming out for Senator Barack Obama. Obama’s ability to inspire the millennial generation is not only good for him it is great news for our entire party.ÂÂ
Barack Obama is a transformational figure in American politics. He offers a progressive agenda in a package of hope and renewal. He has the ability to inspire people who otherwise would be sitting this one out. He has the policy ideas to advance a progressive agenda and the personality to get these policies enacted.ÂÂ
If we want to create a sold bloc of Democrats for the next generation then we have to make sure Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee for President. The only thing at stake is our party’s future.
Clinton Remained Silent as Walmart Fought Unions
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4218509&page=1
He is exciting a lot of people. He has intelligence and charisma. We will see if that is enough to overcome is lack of political experience.
I think intelligence and leadership abilty and the ability to inspire people is enough to overcome inexperience.
I was a Kucinich supporter before I decided to be “realistic” and back Edwards. Edward’s backing out was truly shocking and sad for me. I liked him the most in the debates, since Kucinich was nowhere to be seen.
Edwards said in one of the debates what I think should be an immortal line concerning our party and Clinton:
“Senator Clinton takes campaign money from ‘Defense’ Contractors, For Goodness Sakes We’re DEMOCRATS!” -John Edwards
I also heard someone say on the radio that Clinton is the best Republican running, and Edwards being the best Democrat running. That sounds shocking, but in terms of Clinton taking corporate/PAC money and to the Europeans being a moderate conservative, Hillary really is a Republican.
I like Obama, and I agree with what was said before. We have to vote for Obama, and hope for an Obama/Edwards ticket.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is the BEST presidential candidate of all those remaining!
Her resume’ is BEST.
Her connections are BEST.
Her experiences are BEST.
Her ideas are BEST.
Her maturity is BEST.
Democrats need to THINK about not only the near future, we need to think about controlling the country for the next 16 years minimum!
That’s is why we need HILLARY NOW…….for 8 years.
Barack can carry on for the 8 years POST Hillary.
Please do not be near term thinkers. THINK long term. Elect Hillary Rodham Clinton, President of the United States of America. She will be the best President our nation has had in the past 100 years!!
If Mitt Romney is the Reep candidate I think Obama has a great chance of winning in November. His message of change is a true one and the inspiration is real. That said, if McCain is the nominee I am not sure enough Americans will make that leap of faith the Obama has the experiance needed.
McCain has so many negatives but experience is not one of them. He’s been involved in so much of our major legislation and international military actions for decades. We can’t deny that a lot of older (likely to vote) Americans feel comfortable with him. If we ignore the strengths we’ll loose in November.
I recently have decided to vote for Clinton. I think she’s proven able to deal with issues on a national and global level. I also think she has leadership around her to seat a great cabinet. BTW, I’d like to see Edwards named Secretary of Health and Human Welfare.
I still be very happy if Obama our party’s nominee. If he is the winner he needs an experienced vp, maybe someone like a Gore, Richardson or Biden.
Of course my dream ticket would be Clinton/Obama but thats not likely. But had they been able to hook up, it would have all but guanteed 16 years of Democratic leadership in the White House. Oh well all our dreams can’t come true!
Hillary will do a fantastic job getting out independent voters. The problem is they will vote against her.
Experience is always emphasized, but no one is prepared to be President so I find that a moot point. I also heard that Rupert Murdoch raised a substantial sum for her; what is that about? The area 51 in me thinks there is something afoot.
Let’s move forward and stop looking behind us. Vote for Obama!
Obama was endorsed by SEIU Health Care Workers California today. This is a big deal, see story below:
http://www.montereyherald.com/state/ci_8131513?nclick_check=1
I was a Richardson and Edwards supporter and am now supporting Obama. I do trust him to wage war as an absolute last option, not so with Clinton. Her affirmative vote on the Kyl-Lieberman resolution was the deciding moment for me.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is the “second” best presidential candidate of all those remaining!
Her resume’ was based on her husband’s success.
Her connections will manage to find Barack Obama’s number if he is nominated.
Her experiences are not that great. Whitewater, Vince, failed health care reform that was developed in secret. Not smart. And what is the deal with Wal-Mart? Not too smart on that either.
Her ideas are just as good as Obama’s, but he is more likely to implement his.
Her maturity is not so great. Billary’s temper tantrum in So. Carolina was sad and it divided up the African American community. Not smart when you need a united Democratic Party to turn out for you in November.
Obama has been my choice since day one. He crosses the partisan divide and unites a country. Hillary is polarizing. We need real change and leadership. The status quo has to shift. Barack Obama can do this. His judgement has been sound on many issues. He doesn’t lead by running out in front of the crowd and then yelling’ Follow me! The fires are lit and if we pass this opportunity for a generational shift in our countries politics well, we saw what the 2000 election brought us.The time is now. Catch the wave.
Obama is the FIRST Democrat I have ever voted for in a presidential primary. I hope he wins because if Hillary wins I will be working very hard to taker her out.
“Her experiences are not that great. Whitewater, Vince, failed health care reform that was developed in secret. Not smart. And what is the deal with Wal-Mart? Not too smart on that either”
Whitewater, of which she and her husband made a bad investment.
Vince Foster killed himself; how is that her fault?
Health Care reform had multiple and numerous “public” hearings; I attended one in Boston — you don’t have any facts to support this charge.
WalMartL ah, she was a member of the BoD of the most successful company in American history and that’s a bad thing?
Hillary has been a US Senator longer than Barack Obama; she has a successful track record of working across the aisel to pass legislation.
IN reality, there is very little separating Hillary and Barack.
Dan, the Vince Foster conspiracy theories are nuts, and those who cite them discredit themselves. Whitewater came to nothing after millions expended. And there were good reasons to hold some of the health care deliberations in private. I agree with you on those, but I hardly find six years of experience in the Senate such a wonderful resume. And it is incorrect to argue that Hillary has more experience in elected government than Obama. Those who argue that forget that when Hillary was still First Lady, Obama was already in the Illinois State House. Those who argue she has other experience going back before First Lady (US) and First Lady (AK) forget Obama’s community organizing.
Lastly, her position on WalMart’s board and the significance of that and other relationships for her credibility on labor issues does and should matter. Unions have been one of our great bulwarks of democracy and progressive policy. I won’t vote for those who countenance union busting. She’s too close with those who do it as a matter of course and on a daily basis. If you don’t believe me take The Nation as a source . Lastly, her Iraq vote might be forgivable if she felt like apologizing and if she had not compounded it with that Iran vote last summer.
I’m voting for Obama, obviously.
Peace,
j
The link didn’t work above: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=202377
thesunkenroad’s link to The Nation: yet another problem about Hillary.
Wal Mart is a horrible evil, that company put many small businesses and “mom and pop” stores out of business! I don’t want to live in a nation of Big Box stores, I want to live in a country full of small independent businesses and Real Ethical Commerce, not corporate commerce where CEO’s commit fraud and walk out with $500 million.
America needs more jobs and America has to start making things again. Hillary is a big outsourcer!
Unions play an important role in our country, and they should be respected. Hillary doesn’t like unions she is unacceptable as a nominee.
It is obvious hillary supporters have nothing intelligent to say about their candidate. What’s so good about her in the first place? They can’t rebut my previous claims about her so they ignore them.