You guys don't have to get on the bus

[BL611]

I know a lot of people on DU don't like Obama, and at the end of the day thats quite fine. Every great American leader and fighter for social justice had more than their fair share of "progressive" detractors. People who didn't agree with that the individual (or their strategy) on every issue, and "just didn't see it." The bottom line is that there is NOBODY else in American politics who can engage young people and disillusioned independents the way that Obama has, not Kucinich,or Edwards, or Nader. The bottom line is that there is NOBODY else in American politics who can diffuse this nations greatest poison-race, the way Obama can. So if you want to sit on the sidelines and bitch, thats fine, its a free country, your entitled to your opinion. The rest of this country will move forward while you get left behind.

[IndianaJones]

1. Obama is a moderate. That is his appeal. nt.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. As opposed to Clinton, who's an extreme leftist.

:spray:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. What?!? You don't believe that about Hillary Rodham Trotsky Clinton?

Say it ain't so!

[IndianaJones]

6. No...I'm a moderate and support her. I also recognize that Obama is to the right of me. nt.

[redqueen]

Oooh you consider Obama to the right of Clinton?

Please explain your reasoning there, if you would be so kind?

[IndianaJones]

8. I said Obama is to the right of me. I consider both he and Clinton to be in the center.

where is up for debate. I feel that Clintons right of me on the spectrum as well. Not necessarily a negative.

[redqueen]

11. Oh I see...

thanks.

[cboy4]

4. Oh boy.

:eyes:

[redqueen]

5. "sit on the sidelines and bitch"?

:wtf:

Whatever... more nonsense.

[bpeale]

7. god, my ignore list is getting long! off to ignore with you.

this noise from obama people is getting tiresome

[KennedyGuy]

9. yap..yap..yap..

like an annoying little terrior...

[OneGrassRoot]

10. FYI, I like Obama...

and I see why others like him. Especially the youth, which is a beautiful thing. I simply have a different first choice.

Just because he isn't my first choice doesn't mean I'm against him.

We're not gonna do the "either you're with us or you're against us" thing, are we?

I'd hate to think we're truly pitting ourselves against one another rather than the GOP.

[BL611]

12. That perfectly fine

There are many here, who are willing to completely dismiss Obama because they don't like some vote, or one of his surrogates, or whatever. And again at the end of the day it doesn't really bother me its too be expected its nothing new, I'm just saying the world will go on without their support of him.

[cboy4]

15. Actually, you did frame your post in a very George W Bush-like

"You're either with us or against us" way.

It just sounded very elitist and nasty.

[BL611]

17. What I said was

A. There are people on DU who do not like Obama

B. Obama has a unique appeal that can change our politics

C. If you don't want to acknowledge that, its your prerogative, but you're the one whose missing out.


It wasn't about being with us or against us, it was for those who had already defined themselves as being irrevocably against Obama.

[flamin lib]

13. Weeeellllll, everybody has some clay in their feet.

I like Obama. I like Edwards. Worst case scenario I'll support Clinton. Kuchinich is my fav, but bless his heart; short, big ears, vegan and a wife with jewelry in her tongue--no way.

Having said that . . .

A strategy that depends heavily on young voters is a risky one at best. While it's true that Iowa turned out a record number of young voters Iowa isn't the rest of the country. Iowa is unique in the % of people who turn out to caucus, the % who vote in elections and the seriousness with which they take politics.

The average person under 50 is too busy raising kids, working for a living and trying to figure out how to do it on their current income. That's not a slam on the post boomers, it's just a matter of fact. Trust me, if you're mid-thirties and have kids you get all your news from Sponge Bob Sqarepants.

Obama will have just a tough a time as any of the others. Putting a stake in the ground and tying yourself to it probably isn't the wisest thing. Better to put your efforts into promoting your candidate than in insulting your fellow Democrats.

[BL611]

14. I'm not tying myself to anyone

I would vote for Hillary or Edwards if they got the nomination. I'm saying that their is something unique and special about Obama's appeal that should at the very least be exciting to other Democrats even if he's not their first choice.

[flamin lib]

21. Sorry if I misinterpreted the OP. Just seemed a bit strident is all.

Strident isn't a good word but I'm too lazy to hit the thesaurus.

We all enjoy it when the Rs eat their own. I've just seen a bit of that happening here.

Too much "My guy or your a right wing nut" kind of stuff. Too much "can't possibly win because (fill in the blank).

Again, sorry for the misunderstanding.

[peacebird]

16. good grief! Do you mind if I wait to see how the nomination plays out?

Obama is not my number one, IF he gets the nod I will however support him.

People like YOU however, will not make it easy. Accusing me of sitting on the sidelines and bitching just because I am supporting MY candidate through the primaries, and not YOURS? :eyes:

[BL611]

18. No

Thats not at all what I said. The message was prefaced by those who do not like Obama, not those whose first choice was not Obama. You (and so other responders) read into the post something that was in no way expressed in the post.

[laureloak]

19. Bull. Only families can diffuse the race issues.

[Kucinich4America]

20. Your "bus" doesn't even have a fucking full tank of gas yet.

So don't start throwing everybody under the damn thing like the Hillbots do.

[flamin lib]

23. That was just too damn good! If ya' chunk a rock it might as well

be a funny one.

Good image though, ain't noboby made that last turn onto the freeway yet!

[BL611]

26. I didn't throw everybody

Once again the post was prefaced with "people who do not like Obama." whether or not that includes you is for you to figure out. I really don't understand people's need to take every post as a personal attack on them, without reading the post carefully and seeing who i was intended for...

[calico1]

22. Yeah, I get it.

We have the right to our opinions as long as we realize that you right and we are wrong.

Okay.....whatever..

:eyes:

[Triana]

24. So. Is "engaging young people and disillusioned independents"...

...going to loosen or remove the corporate strangehold on our government?

I doubt it.

You mention social justice. Just HOW and WHERE do you think that'll come from when our government policies, laws, and legislation is written by large corporations and their lobbyists instead of by the representatives of the people?

?

[BL611]

25. Its the only thing that can

The stranglehold is caused by apathy not a lack of anger on the part of partisans. We've had plenty of that. We need a united engaged populace to fight the special interests, not an enraged minority of the population.

[Triana]

27. I don't think people who are sick of corporate control are an "enraged minority"

What an interesting characterization. Pfft!

NOR do I think being nicey-nice to the lobbyists and corporates is going to work either. We've been there. Done that. Doesn't work. THAT is where the apathy resides - in trying to 'work with' those people instead of fighting them.

[ronnykmarshall]

28. Now who can argue with THAT?

Why I have changed my mind, I'm voting for Obama.

It was your WARM, CHARMING post that has led me to see the light.

God bless you.

:sarcasm: