My Path to Obama

[Midwest_Doc]

I was an early Clinton supporter - a strong Clinton supporter. I believed that she knew the system well enough to actually make some progressive changes in Washington. I was impressed with her health care initiative and the people she chose as advisers (Ira Magaziner, for example). Obama was good, but Clinton was better. My dream ticket was Clinton - Obama, with Obama ascending to the Oval Office in 8 years.

But all of that has changed. First there was the gratuitous lying (Bosnia), and then the Wright non-issue (yes, I believe that the Rev Wright issue is product of the Clinton campaign). Now there is this thinly-disguised appeal to the vilest segment of society by overt race-baiting. Is 'non-electable" a code word for "black"?

I still believe Clinton is smart and capable - but we can do better, and should do better.

I hope that she is not on the ticket. She will only serve to balance the hope of Obama with the cynicism of Clinton.

Hilary, take a deep breath and realize that its over!

[BlooInBloo]

1. Welcome!

[tpsbmam]

2. While those of us who support Obama for a variety of reasons are put down....

those who do that need to realize many things.

1. Many of us didn't start out supporting Obama. Many supported other candidates who dropped out (were voted out) along the way. We found our way to Obama when we were left with 2 choices -- we chose. So did Clinton supporters and I, for one, have never dumped on them for making a different choice than I did -- that's life and that's politics.

2. Many of us gave both candidates a chance. I readily admit that HRC was about my last choice when we had a full field. Once it was down to 2 candidates, though, I didn't decide right away -- I had qualms with both candidates (and still have some of those with both). I wanted to see how the campaigns preceded. I knew the voting records and histories of both -- I wanted to see who they were as they entered into a 1:1 battle. Obama earned my respect and support and Clinton lost my respect and any support she might have garnered by the way she conducted herself and her campaign. All that you mentioned in your second paragraph and more was what turned me away from her candidacy.

3. While I don't subscribe to the notion that the election was Hillary's to lose, I do believe that against Obama, she had many advantages early on and she blew it by her conduct and the way she conducted her campaign. No, she clearly didn't blow it for those who continued to support her (and continue now to do so), but she did for enough Americans that she has lost the election. (Yes, I'm well aware that she'll take at least a couple of more primaries by large margins -- doesn't matter, she's lost). But there were enough who chose Obama based on issues, etc and enough that she turned off with her campaigning that she's lost.

I'm with you. I OFTEN disagree with Hillary and the likelihood of her ever being my first choice was slim to none, but I think she's a smart capable woman. I increasingly don't think, however, she'd make a good president. I've wavered on her being VP but in truth, the thought of her assuming the presidency does not make me happy at all.