Well, here they go again. You remember what the Republicans told you in the last couple of elections? They told you that the world is such a scary and dangerous place, only they could be trusted to keep you safe. They told you that the other guy was “elitist” and “out of touch”, while their guy was a good ol’ boy who you’d like to have a beer with.
Well, you know that old phrase “If I only knew then what I know now?” Well, we’ve let the Republicans run things for the last eight years, and now you know.
Did they keep you safe? Nope. They lied to you about Iraq to get us into this stupid war, and then bungled it so badly that it’s still going on. 4000 Americans dead. 2 trillion dollars wasted. And do you think there are fewer angry young men in the world that hate America enough that they’d be willing to blow themselves up to hurt us? Not by a long shot. All we’ve done is piss more of them off.
And how about that “your kinda guy” business? You know what Bush called his pals at one of those “private fundraisers?” “The Haves and the Have Mores.” All this time that he’s been trying to seem just like you, that’s who he’s really been working for. And the Have Mores are doing great. They have more, alright. In fact, they’ve NEVER had more. While the Have Mores and their boys were in charge, they knew the government wouldn’t do a damn thing to stop them from giving people home loans that they couldn’t afford. They told you that global warming was a hoax, so their buddies at the oil companies wouldn’t lose a dime of profit. And they didn’t make healthcare any more affordable, so their golfing partners at the drug companies and the insurance companies would never miss their tee time.
Now here they go again. They’re trying to tell you that Obama, the only candidate who realized that going into Iraq would be a disaster, is the guy you can’t trust to keep you safe. They’re trying to convince you he’s too different from you to care about you. Well, he is a little different than most people. He so damned smart, that even though he was raised by a single mom without much money, he made it all the way to Harvard and got the highest awards they give out. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to have a smart president for a change. And you know what he did after he got all that fancy education? He went to work for the Have Lesses. People who’d lost their jobs. People who were poor. And he’s worked hard for them ever since. That’s a difference I can respect.
So, when the Republicans try to tell you that Obama’s too elitist, or too unpatriotic, or too scary or whatever, you know what they’re trying to pull. They’re pointing over your shoulder and telling you, “Look! There’s a twelve point buck!” while they steal your wallet, just like they did last time. Well, this time, you don’t have to fall for that crap. Because you’ve been around for the last 8 years. And now you know.
Why do I feel that Obama would be a better choice than Clinton, despite the fact that they have similar positions on many issues?Because I want to see real progress in addressing the pressing concerns that face this nation. We can't afford another 4 years of partisan grid-lock and domination by special interests. Here's why I think Obama can get it done in a way that Hillary cannot:1) Obama understands that the only times meaningful changes have happened in this country are when the American public demands it. His ability to inspire and organize the grass roots in his campaign demonstrates a unique commitment to tapping into the collective might of the American people.
2) Obama also understands, like no other candidate still in the race, that another enormous obstacle to progress is the overwhelming influence of lobbyists and special interests in Washington. For that reason, he's done his fund-raising in a way that makes him beholden to no one but the American people.
3) Obama doesn't inspire the kind of partisanship and division that Hillary does. I don’t know if it’s the legacy of the battles of the Clinton years, or her personal style, but rightly or wrongly, the level of rancor Hillary inspires in Republicans is virtually unmatched. This is a tough place to start when 41 Republican senators can block anything the Democrats put forward.4) Obama shows a sincere willingness to work with those same Republicans and hammer out something that might actually get passed. I don't know if he'll be able to pull it off, but it's been a cornerstone of his campaign from the start, and I'd like to give him a shot.5) Obama displays a basic decency and integrity that I think Clinton lacks. I am troubled by her willingness to do what’s expedient, even if it means distorting the truth, embracing unsavory tactics perfected by Karl Rove, or throwing former supporters under the bus. These are not the qualities I want in a leader. 6) To paraphrase Andrew Sullivan, I think an Obama presidency will lead to a historic re-branding of America’s image. I think we will be safer “from day one” when the world sees that we Americans can elect a thoughtful man with a multi-racial and international heritage when we believe he is the best candidate.
