Why I'm for Barack (Cutting to the Chase)

There are lots of good Democratic candidates, but when you run most of their proposals through the sausage factory, not much differentiation.

Barack offers something different in a big way, though, in a way where I'm quoted by Jose Antonio Vargas in the Washington Post

"I figure we really need a guy who knows right from wrong," Newmark told The Trail, "and who can remind the world that we're the good guys."

I'm not an American "exceptionalist"; I'm a customer service rep, and have spoken with thousands of people in the US and overseas. Everyone wants Americans to be the good guys again. We need someone who can credibly remind and lead us back into good guy-ness, in terms of of our actions and how we're perceived everywhere.

Leadership means that you need to be able to bring out the best in people.

Barack's the guy to do that.

Follow Craig Newmark on Twitter: www.twitter.com/craignewmark

Comments

[eaglecapri]

Well stated.

Obama '08

[cognate]

Craig, have you forgotten your Libertarian roots?

Or do you think Dr. Paul doesn't stand a chance?

[Thad]

Yeah, uh...that's what they said about Bush.

You're going to have to do better than touchy-feely "he knows right from wrong" moral vagaries. I don't want you to TELL me he knows right from wrong, I want HIM to SHOW me.

[RuthieM]

I like that. True. Nice. Well stated. OBAMA '08!!!

[GuiltyByStander]

When I arrived in Iowa I signed up for the Obama campaign for exactly the reasons you cite. As I listened to him at public events, and read his policy statements, I began to think of him as a US President, rather than as a candidate. A couple of weeks later, I signed up to volunteer for Joe Biden.

There is an important distinction between the campaign and the Oval Office. To survive even a single term as a good president you have to be a great politician. You have to make the right choices -- which is hard enough -- but you have to get other people to make them too.

"Hope and change" are just part of the scenery in a political campaign. Even the awful and dangerous candidates offer specific policy. That's how you know they're awful and dangerous. Some of these candidates have demonstrated that they are venal manipulators. Others are good people who have shown that they are not equipped to shift social policy at home. Some have no foreign policy experience at all. Some have worthy political ideas that most Americans are not ready to accept.

When you hear Democrats say "We have a slate of really strong candidates," reflect for a moment on what that means to active Democrats, to 28% of the country that chose Bush, and to about 44% of the country that didn't choose anyone at all. Whatever a candidate looks like during the campaign, you can bet that he or she will be seen differently at home and around the world within the first couple of months of the presidential term. Imagine what JFK would have looked like in his fourth year in Vietnam.

That's why I'm supporting Joe Biden, the candidate who has the experience, honesty and democratic vision to fix this broken country.

[ystasino]

The most forceful ambassador of the US abroad was JFK and his legacy. Who will the next generation of the world look up to in Asia, Africa and Europe?

Somehow Hillary, or Edwards, don't measure up to that task.

Isn't it time for America to lead again?

[lovethesinner]

I agree with conservative columnist Andrew Sullivan, "just the face of Obama" will go a long way to give the impression that America is changing course.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712/obama

When I look at the Republican nominees I see Richard Nixon with less brains (same thing I see when I look at their platform.)

Hillary only reminds me of the failure of Democrats to resist selling themselves out for a couple of election poll percentage points, a blue dress, and the rejection of feminism.

When I look at Obama I see the POSSIBLITY OF CHANGE, a chance to do something different. True, I have no idea exactly what that change will be, but REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE is always uncertain.

We are in the unusual position in American politics where the details of policy are less important than the person delivering them. In this case, "the medium is the message."

OBAMA isn't just an AGENT OF CHANGE, he IS the CHANGE, PERSONIFIED.

He's also the also the only one out there with the rare combination of intelligence, courage, real world life experience, political grace, and the power of CHARISMA:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charisma

HE IS THE ANTI-BUSH.

And THAT is the message that America needs to send, not just overseas, but to everyone who loves this country for what it was, and what it can become in the future.

Obama in '08

[Qbear]

" lead us back into good guy-ness"
and
" bring out the best in people"

Is this the same Barrack Obama who hired Donnie McClurkin to SPIT on me and every LGBT American?
McClurkin the "ex"gay who said, "he was at war with homosexuals" and went on the 700 club saying, "homosexuals were KILLING OUR CHILDREN with diseases."
Barrack Obama seems a unique name, so I can't imagine TWO Barrack Obamas are running for president.

[dantheman]

Obama is the anti-establishment candidate. He will unite the country and begin to mend the world. If we can keep electing canidates with his integrity, intelligence, and desire to do good, we can make the world a better place for everyone.

[LeeFromVA]

Way to go Craig! Short and sweet and to the point. You really did cut to the chase. We need Obama as our front man. We need to prove to the world that we really are the good guys. Excellent post!

[MHainds]

And that is why I am for Obama. I think he is the "anti-Bush" and that will go a long way towards restoring our diminished reputation and standing on the global stage.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Paul or Kucinich for me, I want someone in
office that'll hold people's feet to the fire
for trying to piss away the contents of the
treasury on other countries/people's problems
before dealing with those extant in the Hyunietd
Steeeetz.

They can elect/appoint Mickey Mouse for all
that I'm concerned, as LONG AS:
1)there's frank talk on the budget. I think
they could withstand a 30% across-the-board
spending cut. Spend less money but spend it
correctly.
2)the Constitution gets put first, not in
the trash
3)National security also includes not
bullshitting ourselves/other countries
on immigration anymore, help other countries
really get their shit together by building
schools etc. as well as having better policy
not only for immigration, but also for
foreign aid, energy, entitlements, defense, and public accountability for all of the above. No more with the Dick Cheney and 'my uncle's cousin's brother is with the utility company and he knows this guy over there....' stuff.


There is also the distinct possibility that
people will not so much be elected as they
will SElected....

[mamacita]

It would be nice if the public could see a little bit more about the "also ran" candidates. I'm sick of having Obama and Hilary shoved down my throat by MSM. I'd like to see what the others have to say so I can make an informed decision, rather than having that decision made for me by a talking head.

[Pdubya]

more feel good politics.

sorry, i need a record and substance.

best wishes.

[SeanGardner]

http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/11/fact_check_no_news_in_obamas_c.php