Though most had assumed the Democratic race would have been long over by now, Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are locked in a tight race for their party’s presidential nomination. On March 4th, the Texas primary will play a crucial role in determining who comes out on top. Sen. Barack Obama should be that winner.
Though there are other candidates who have held national elected office longer than Sen. Obama, the Dick Cheneys and Donald Rumsfelds on the world have taught us that experience matters less than good judgment. And good judgment is what Sen. Obama has shown, particularly in the realm of foreign policy, which is above and beyond one of the most important areas the next president must deal with.
It is well known that Sen. Obama opposed the war in Iraq publicly in October 2002, when it was unpopular to do so and when many Democrats in Congress (including Sen. Clinton) chose to stand with President Bush instead of their principles. Though Barack Obama was only a state senator in Illinois at the time, he still made a politically unpopular move for someone running a campaign for U.S. Senate. Additionally, Sen. Obama showed thoughtfulness in his opposition, citing specifically how the war in Iraq would lead to a long and difficult occupation that would drain needed resources from Afghanistan.
It is this thoughtfulness we see now in his plans to redeploy troops from Iraq that include a practical 16-month timetable, and in regards to talking to Iran and Syria. Sen. Obama proposes using the full force of the presidency to not only re-establish true diplomatic efforts to sway these regimes to stabilizing the region, but to take it to new levels of engagement - as opposed to just leaving it to aides and swooping in at the last second once the hard work has already been done (which is the current administration’s attitude). This stands in clear contrast to both Sens. Clinton and John McCain (and contrast is what is needed most of all against the Republicans). Sen. Obama also wants to renew and bolster the Lugar-Nunn initiative to stop nuclear proliferation, ramp up efforts against AIDS and global warming, and hold those responsible for genocide accountable for their actions. Lastly, Sen. Obama's background can only help the U.S. rebuild its shattered relations with the world, especially the Middle East.
Beyond his foreign policy views though, I support Sen. Obama because I believe he can not only heal the rift that divides America from the rest of the world but the rifts which divide America itself. After 8 years of George W. Bush - one of the most divisive presidents in history - it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to truly have a "uniter" in the White House. Fairly or unfairly, other candidates have too much partisan baggage to accomplish this. Sen. Obama has worked with Republicans both in Illinois and in Washington. His message of change against the establishment, rooting out the corporate lobbyists and special interests, and giving us greater transparency in government speaks to those of all political stripes.
I don't think there is anyone among us who does not believe America has dark days ahead. We are mired in war and debt. Worse, our country's spirit is broken. Few have faith in government anymore, or believe we are a force for good in the world any longer. I do not pretend to believe that anyone can come along and easily fix these problems. No, it will be hard, likely unrewarding, work for whoever tries. But if we are to make it through, we need someone to give us hope again. Hope that America can once more fulfill its promise. Barack Obama gives us that hope. Maybe that's what we need most of all from our next president.
From the Obama campaign: Texas has a unique primary/caucus system, so you should first vote and then caucus to get even more delegates for Obama. You can vote early until Friday, February 29th, until 7 p.m. Find the 'Early Vote' location nearest you at Texas.BarackObama.com. You can also vote on March 4th from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and return to your polling location at 7 p.m. on March 4th to caucus. Note that your caucus location may be different from your early vote location. Again, you can find it all at Texas.BarackObama.com.
Update: (Nat-Wu here) You can also look up Texas voting information on the website of the Texas Secretary of State.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
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3 comments:
Man, this campaig is all over the place, really is like a sporting event
For anyone who's still undecided, some of these views might be worth reading:
http://acropolisreview.com/2008/02/endorsements-of-barack-obama.html
I don't believe Obama, here are my reasons:
1. He stated he has been against the war in Iraq since the start. He didn't publically go on record of that until things were already bad. He wasn't present to have a voting record when it came up.
2. He is taking money from PACs and lobbiest by allowing them to do his individual fund raising in lieu of taking a lump sum in their name. Its a snow job.
3. His health care plan is to expensive and all three groups are saying so. Healthcare should be like social security everyone has it. Not pick and choose - anyone in the medical field will tell you this will shrink the pool to high risk users and rollercoaster cost.
4. I ardently disagree with throwing the very time tested and well proven idea of limiting access to the President by rouge regimes without conditions. This makes no sense. It still works once you get Bush out of the Whitehouse - because no one wants to meet with him.
5. If the man doesn't know who his chief policy advisor is meeting - and has to backpeddle as much as he did in his conference explaining the NAFTA gaff then how is he going to be a good organizer?
6. His ideas on NAFTA are wrong. It has been a good policy for the country overall - but lets not throw the baby out with the bath water. Ohio has always been hit with jobs loss first in this country since Ford because there skilled workers are the lowest percent to the population in the country. If you want to fix Ohio, educate them to do more than aswer a phone call or pull a lever on an assembly line. Jobs left Ohio and moved to California in the late
80's because they have no or very limited technical employee pools. Fix that - you fix Ohio.
7. Good Judgement is not the only quality a candidate needs. George Bush had very good judgement making ability that led him to the Whitehouse right up until he made the bad one. You need seasoned experience.
We need change, in the absence of real leadership - people will take fake leadership that looks and sounds good but does not add up on paper. I would vote for Obama if it was 8 - 12 years from now when he has a little longer tooth and a few more scars that tells me this guy will fight - as it is - he is wet behind the ears and wearing his Sunday best. I want a scrappy fighter who will stand up to Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.
I voted for Hillary
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