It Seems I Should Be For John Edwards -- So Why Am I For Obama?
I'm what they call a "left conservative." That means someone who remembers when progressives were united around a vision of global economic justice, someone who cautioned against the displacement of that vision during the rise of an otherwise completely righteous identity politics in the '70s.
In a nutshell, it means someone who realizes that, while it is a sign of progress when Richard Parsons and Carly Fiorina can become CEOs of major corporations--it is not fundamental progress, it does not change the nature of institutions.
Apart from good ole' Dennis, hapless as he is, John Edwards is the candidate who comes closest to reviving that old vision. And yet, somehow, I just can't be for the guy. I'm a bit embarrassed about my reasons, they are so superficial--his naked ambition, his smoothness and, yes, his hair: it adds up to a package I just don't trust. His commitment is palpable, but it feels like a lawyer's commitment, a professional commitment, a determination to win whatever case he has.
But with Obama? Well, it is passing strange. With the exception of Iraq, his positions are as centrist and vague as his rhetoric. His ties to big money are established. But he's got something else--no, he is something else.
Bill Clinton said it best, actually--while he was slicing and dicing Barack on the Charlie Rose show. Just a Symbol of Change, he opined, not an Agent of Change. Like Hillary (say what?).
As an old-fashioned leftie I should be skeptical of a mere symbol, shouldn't I? Well, it depends. Obama is a very special symbol. He transcends the culture wars and identity politics simply in virtue of who he is. Andrew Sullivan gets it right in a recent piece called--Goodbye To All That. Exactly. Enough with us boomers and our ancient grievances.
Sullivan also emphasizes the impact of an Obama presidency on a world that now fears and despises us. Just the fact of it. Just the face. Just the name. At a stroke, America secures a new beginning--in its own eyes as well. Nothing else could do it so decisively. So what if he's inexperienced? He's smart. He's a quick study. He'll listen to Dick Holbrooke and Joe Biden and he'll make those sensible, centrist decisions. He's no radical, he's shown that, Lord knows--he'll be as deliberate and pragmatic in office as he's been in the campaign.
It's not the policy, stupid, it's the symbolism. Obama actually embodies what he represents. That means he doesn't just represent change. He is change.
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This election leaves me in a muddle. I don't even consider the Republicans, as their policy directions are not much different than GWB. We are one Supreme Court judge away from overturning Roe vs Wade, a move dumber than prohibition and we know how that turned out.
However, I cannot get enthused about any of the top tier of Dem candidates. The most experienced are at the bottom.
Of the top tier, at this juncture, I favor Edwards. He has had some foreign policy experience in congress, though not as much as I would like. He is battle tested in the courtroom, where he has been successful.
I think he is very bright, a quick study and might be more electable than either Hillary or Obama.
Hillary has too much baggage and is intensely disliked by many Independents, who determine elections. Obama is too untested anywhere other than his easy election against Alan Keyes. We do not need another total novice in the WH during these difficult times. If it comes to Obama and Hillary here in Florida, I will vote for Hillary. In the general, I will definitely be voting Dem. We have seen government when it was controlled by the GOP in both the WH and the Congress, not a pretty sight.
Actually, it sounds as if you should be for Kucinich. He was the brave one who stood up to the banks and electrical companies. It beats me to figure out what Obama has done other than give good speeches and be a bit full of himself.
The nation voted for the guy they'd rather have a beer with the last two times, and look where that got us. Get over Edwards' hair. For you to state that style is more important than substance is downright irresponsible, wrong, and dangerous. Voting for the best branded candidate is hardly a harbinger of change; I STRONGLY recommend that you read Reza Aslan's article from the Dec. 30 Wash. Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR2007122801899.htm l
As an agent of Change, Obama has aleady had a positive effect and change on the political landscape as evidenced by the "nicer tone" of the campaign commericals and political discourse prevalent today, which heretofore had been dirty and ugly. This is due to Obama's stance not too take the low road. To stay positive and above the frey, preferring to take the high road, to focuss on the issues and his message of change. -- And then they followed.
We all know experience matters -- but what matters most is Judgment, Wisdom, Honesty and Integrity. We have to remember and weigh its seriousness, that in the most important policy decision of our times, the Iraq War, which has helped to escalate the present situation, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards got it Wrong. Barack Obama got it Right.
Obama a man of Judgment; a man of Positive Change.
I agree. While Edwards says all the right things, there are too many things about his record that contradict his message. For instance:
He speaks out against the war now, but it's been revealed that he tried to discourage John Kerry from giving a major speech against it in 2004.
He says he's pro-worker, but supported North Carolina's anti-union Right to Work law when he ran for the Senate.
He calls himself the guy who'll fight corp. America, but he's recently been dealing in hedge funds.
He says he's for Israel, but he hired David Bonior as his campaign manager -- the leading opponent of Israel while he was in Congress.
There are just too many things abot Edwards that don't add up.
I agree with your post. In fact, not only is Obama the best of this bunch, but of the ten Presidential elctions I've voted in, I think he's the best candidate I've seen yet.
i'm reminded of the late bill hicks:
"I think the puppet on the right shares my beliefs."
"I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking."
"Hey, wait a minute, there's one guy holding out both puppets!"
John Edwards is the one; he continues to LEAD on policy matters and not merely respond, as the Dem "front runners" do repeatedly to Edwards (and other's) proposals and policies! John Edwards has done so consistently and continues to be out front in setting forth REAL policy that benefits not only American workers and the "middle class", but our "trading partners" workers as well. He articulates his positions CLEARLY and thoroughly, and doesn't just recite a fork-tongued, fence-straddling mumble of deceit and BS from his "focus group" or poll! He is clearly NOT in thrall to corporate interests or the war machine! He has shown and continues to show TRUE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP and honesty! John Edwards is showing the ways for the Middle-Class, progressives and all Americans to win in '08, and is not just another corporate whore to the greedy rich among us! Would the other "Dems" and "Republicans", who take so much money in campaign contributions from the rich and powerful have a tenth as much integrity and leadership qualities as John Edwards! And that means for the so-called "front-runners" who weasel and pander so effectively and consistently!
From trade policy to the environment, from education to health care, from reigning in the greed and abuses of corporations (especially by the depraved Pharmaceutical Company's, who CREATE "conditions" and Diseases" in order to sell their junk drugs to our children and seniors for obscene profits!) to restoring America's honor around the world, John Edwards (along with some other "unelectable" candidates) is leading the way. We need a person of true vision and integrity to restore our NATIONHOOD and honor, and NOT just another corporate shill whore! I believe John Edwards is such a person; He is the Real Deal and deserves our respect and support! It would be great to have a real Human Being for First Lady in the WH also!
Here is the link to an Edwards Oct 29, 2007 speech. Powerful words from Candidate Edwards.
http://johnedwards.com/news/speeches/20071029-moral-test/
Amen, exaclty what Ive been saying. There is no "master of all" who knows all and sees all. I just want someone to tell the difference between good advice and bad advice. Im sure someone like Obama could pick everyones brain and make a good decision. Can we say the same about Hillary? Im not bashing her, just answer the question..
I'm an Edwards supporter, but I'm open to valid criticism of this candidate. I looked for something substantial in your blog, but I have to agree—you should be embarrassed by the weak reasoning you present for choosing a different candidate.
I have no argument with Obama; he would be my second choice. Falling for the media's haircut hype, faulting Edwards for being a lawyer—in case you didn't put this together, most politicians are lawyers because they need to know the law if they're going to serve as LAWMAKERS—and the ridiculous resentment toward his house, as if the homes of the other candidates are any different. All this reminds me of the arguments people gave for supporting George W.—they'd love to have a beer with him.
Support Obama. No problem with that. But don't parrot the nonsense Edwards smears. You may as well say you support Obama because you like his haircut.
Once upon a time, I was going along in life without a care in the world, thinking that Lawyers were bad just like everyone else did.
Then something happened. A large company did something to me that they should not have done.
I was defenseless against them. Reluctantly, I talked to a Lawyer about my case. I found out that he had helped others like me and I called them. He took on this multinational corporation and won for me.
Of course, he took some of the money as payment for his services. He had to hire others who were experts in their field because he admitted that he was not an expert in every field. His job was to represent me against this giant. That is the free market system, but the settlement I got was more than I could have gotten by myself.
I am ready to hire another Lawyer to help me now. John Edwards has the experience in the right field to take on the job at hand. He can hire others who are experts to help him in areas where he is not. Experts like Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, and Bill Richardson come to mind.
These big corporations have been able to write their own rules for long enough. Lets hire a Lawyer to help us.
Well, first of all you are assuming that Obama could win a general election. That is a very dangerous and naiive assumption (see rest of comments). So you are willing to stake the fate of the world on your assumption that Americans are "over" racism. Do you realize you've fallen for the right wing's frame story about Edwards? Do you know that the $400 was compensation for the waiting time when Edwards ran late--because of his respect for working people?? Have you ever seen him live? You'd never call him slick if you have. Check out your assumptions first--you have a power as a poster here that most of us don't.
obama is the perfect man to break the presidency color line. we have to get that done without hysteria or even violence. in a more polarized atmosphere, obama would have no chance. we have to break this color line before there is a polarizing event or movement.
Why you support Obama? Beats the hell out of me.
I have to take issue with some of the things you've written in your piece. Your reason for voting for Obama represents only one aspect of this amazing man. And, I fear, you are guilty of spreading untruths about the very man you say you're voting for.
Yes, Obama embodies change but for you to say he is lacking experience to pass on the unsubstantiated opinions of other journalists and it shows you have not done your homework except to perhaps read other papers or journalists who form your opinions for you. Obama is not a centrist unless you believe that centrists can be conservative, liberal, libertarian and everything else. Obama is clearly a liberal. Clearly.
The legisltation that Mr. Obama has churned out in his 3 years in Congress is a third more than Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Edwards have done in their 7 and 6 years there, respectively.
It is necessary to point out to you that Mr. Obama was not only against the war but has had the foresight to foretell the events that have come to pass. That takes a special kind of wisdom.
Because he is "clean and scrubbed" you may dismiss him as a lightweight (which, by the way, is how your endorsement made him sound). But the truth is, this man has great substance.
Lastly, I agree with you regarding Mr. Edwards. Further, I can't understand why anyone would vote for him. He has campaigned on promises that are not based on anything he's shown us in the past. Indeed, what he's shown us, when he had the power, is that he is every bit as selfishly ambitious as Mrs. Clinton. To me, apologies are worthless unless you can show me you mean it. I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to elect you just so I can maybe forgive you IF you show me you really mean it.
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