Reply #12: I supported Clinton and my view of Obama hasn't changed (but it wasn't all that bad) [View All]

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

I was a Hillary supporter who could not stand to listen to her. I never really liked her. She's intensely irritating. But I think that in politics "like" is for children.

I never said anything all that bad about Obama except that:

1) he would most likely win but was a few percent (literally... like 2-3%) less of a lock than Clinton in a general election, which was correct. (Anyone who honestly believes John McCain would have gotten 46% against Hillary in a nascent Depression forfeits all credibility on American national politics.)

and

2) That he was a little to the right of Clinton on economic issues. Which he was and is.

Since he won the first point is rendered moot.

The second point isn't of great concern to me. It was an observation, not a condemnation.

My chief problem during the primaries was the torrent of flat-out lies disgorged by the most enthusiastic Obama supporters... jaw-dropping readily falsifiable lies. And I did not appreciate the influx of campaign sock-puppets who not only spread disinformation, but accused anyone who wasn't drinking the kool-aid of racism and were central to a coordinated attack on gay DUers. Those things I shall never forgive and my life will always be poorer for having witnessed them, but I do not attribute them to Obama himself.

He will be an excellent president. And that's no surprise. I always held open the possibility he would be a better president than Clinton. But she was a somewhat better electoral bet which is the only legitimate consideration when you're playing for the fate of the world.

My admiration for Obama the man doesn't change my view that his primary campaign was a hilarious con-job encouraging the least thoughtful net-left types to draw absurd conclusions based on nothing but their innate race prejudice--literally pre-judgment; assuming a black man must be a secret leftist merely "showing out" for the man.

I am not impressed with RW racism, and not real impressed with LW racism either.

But since I never believed any of that mythology it's no skin off my nose. And politics is all about deception. I am not naive on that point. I would have, however, preferred not to be called a racist for pointing out obvious truths with no racial component.

On balance, I am considerably more sold on Obama as president than many DUers. But that is not inconsistent with my primary stance.