Why should I support Obama? (speak out Obama supporters)

[skooooo]

I'm very intrigued with Obama's candidacy, and have seen him on tv here and there. Someone I talked to said Obama reminded him of Bobby Kennedy in the way he attracted people. If there are any Obama supporters out there, can you tell me what you think his greatest strengths are and why you support him?

thanks

[NormanYorkstein]

1. Sure here's one reason

Obama has charisma out the ass, he can work a room like Bill Clinton, and he's a great orator and looks good on TV. He's a natural and can probably attract people like Clinton did. Admittedly he's "green" in a sense but his record is pretty good and he's never done anything against us.

Plus he's one of the few actually stepping up to bring the troops home, so I'm happy.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Easy for me--he is bright, genuine, pragmatic, can work the bipartisan

game with ease (plays well with others!), charismatic, a natural leader, and is known in the Senate for workaday-type legislation that doesn't necessarily net the glory but is still important, or so I've read.

[Schema Thing]

3. mmm, cuz Clark's not in the race (yet)?

And Obama, in spite of his relative youth, showed good judgment about Iraq, where :ahem: ....others... showed appalling judgment.


I'm waiting till there is a yay or ney from Clark, personally, but only because he's the best man for the job ;)

[Redstone]

4. Because this country NEEDS a black President. Especially one who smokes cigs.

Redstone

[skooooo]

6. I think it's time for real change...

I would love to see an Edwards / Obama ticket or Obama / Edwards - however it works out.

[Redstone]

10. Obama / Edwards would work GREAT for me. Or even the other way. Hey, if we can't have

a black woman for a President (which is what I think we really need), I'll take the next best, and be DAMN happy with it.

Redstone

[skooooo]

13. I think there's a good chance it could happen..

wouldn't that be exciting? To get someone with some real vision who will work to help people who have been left behind. That's what I would like to see, someone to look out for the public good.

[jaysunb]

5. Because you are smart, and

you want what's best for your country.

[obamian]

7. I could talk for hours...

See these two pages:

http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Does+Barack+Obama+have+enough+experience+to+be+president%3F
http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Why+should+I+vote+for+Barack+Obama+in+2008%3F

[blondie58]

14. sounds like he is really your man, obamian

and a big welcome to DU!

[nevergiveup]

8. He is empathic

Much like Edwards he has this remarkable ability to relate to common folks. He is also very bright and is not afraid to put his nose to the ground. His early opposition to the war is also a big plus.

[Tejanocrat]

9. Caveat: I haven't made up my mind, but I am attracted to Obama's hard line stand on gun control and

capital punishment.

On gun control:

"I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manufacturer's lobby. But I also believe that when a gangbanger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels someone disrespected him, we have a problem of morality. Not only do we need to punish that man for his crime, but we need to acknowledge that there's a hole in his heart, one that government programs alone may not be able to repair."

Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.215 Oct 1, 2006

Obama supports: (1) Ban semi-automatics, (2) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms, (3) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.

Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test July 2, 1998

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm

On capital punishment:

Obama's most significant contribution has been his legislative battles against the death penalty, and against in the criminal justice system. In Illinois, it's been a series of shocking exonerations of innocent people who are on death row. He was involved very intimately in drafting and passing legislation that requires the video taping of police interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. And he also was one of the co-sponsors of this very comprehensive reform or the death penalty system in Illinois, which many people say may trigger the retreat on the death penalty in many other states."

Source: Salim Muwakkil and Amy Goodman, Democracy Now July 15, 2004

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Barack_Obama_Crime.htm

I really respect these two politically courageous liberal stands on important issues.

[NormanYorkstein]

27. I like his stand on the death penalty

While his "gun control" platform seems mostly harmless, I hope he shuts up about it, as it will only lose us votes in the West where we really to pick up independents and former Republicans.

[benEzra]

38. That's not a liberal stance...

Obama supports: (1) Ban semi-automatics, (2) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms, (3) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.

Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test July 2, 1998

That's not a liberal stance. Sarah Brady is a conservative Reagan republican and proud of it, and the (Dem) party's brief obsession with new gun bans in the '90s through '04 was the brainchild of the DLC, not party liberals.

The Conservative Roots of U.S. Gun Control

A ban on semiautomatics (self-loaders, for non-gunnies, i.e. like the handguns most police use) would ban half the guns in our family's gun safe, and would affect half or more of gun owners. That is my single biggest concern about Obama, honestly.


----------------
Dems and the Gun Issue - Now What? (written in '04, largely vindicated in '06, IMO)

[Tejanocrat]

40. I think we could debate whether it is a progressive stance or not, but it is a liberal stance as I

understand the the terms liberal and progressive.

As I recall from poly-sci, "liberal" means willing to give up the status quo to try to fix a perceived social problem. I think of Obama's willingness to make a fairly radical change in the status quo regarding gun laws as a liberal, pro-reform stance.

Now, we could debate whether an expansive reading of the second amendment is more progressive or less progressive than gun law reforms designed to reduce inner-city violence -- I can see two sides to that debate and, clearly, there are good progressives on both sides of that debate, but that seems to be another topic entirely.

[benEzra]

51. Certainly addressing the root causes of violence *IS* a liberal issue...

I think we could debate whether it is a progressive stance or not, but it is a liberal stance as I understand the the terms liberal and progressive.

As I recall from poly-sci, "liberal" means willing to give up the status quo to try to fix a perceived social problem. I think of Obama's willingness to make a fairly radical change in the status quo regarding gun laws as a liberal, pro-reform stance.

Certainly the willingness to address the root causes of violence IS a liberal position, but attacking lawful ownership of guns, particularly guns rarely used in crimes, is IMHO a reactionary position rather than a liberal one. I don't think upsetting the status quo is necessarily a sufficient condition to call something liberal, e.g. one would not call racial profiling of airline passengers a liberal position even if it altered the status quo to address a perceived social problem (such as terrorism), because racial profiling is itself not compatible with the Enlightenment roots of liberal thought. W's Surveillance Nation initiatives could also be seen as "reforms" shaking up the status quo to address social ills, but are inherently antiprogressive and therefore in my mind nonliberal. We may be merely arguing semantics here, though; I think I tend to use the term "liberal" more in line with what you would describe as progressive.

Perhaps it hinges upon what one considers "reform." I don't consider W's violations of the Fourth Amendments to be law enforcement reforms in any true sense. To me, irrational bans on the lawful ownership of guns rarely misused fall into the same category.

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_20.html

FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Table 20, Murder, by State and Type of Weapon
State - Illinois

Total murders - 448
Handguns - 339
Rifles - 4
Shotguns - 2
Unknown firearm - 5
Edged Weapons - 51
Other weapons - 37
Hands/Fists/Feet - 21

From a pragmatic standpoint, though, Sen. Obama does need to reexamine his position, I think. Considering that merely raising the price on over-10-round pistol magazines, and requiring civilian AR-15's to have fake adjustable stocks instead of real ones, cost the House and Senate in '94 and arguably the presidency in 2000. The political fallout from the far more sweeping bans that Mr. Obama has endorsed would be much worse in the long run, and for no rational benefit.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

11. I am mad at him because of his blaming the Baby Boomers.

And he's a baby boomer.

He should have been more specific about the political fights between the Democrats who served, like Kerry, and the Republican Chickenhawks, like Bush, instead of using a broad brush to blame ALL of us who were around in the 60s.

[skooooo]

12. blame them for what? nt

[obamian]

15. You should read Audacity of Hope

From NY Times:

THE time has come, Senator Barack Obama says, for the baby boomersto get over themselves.

In taking the first steps toward a presidential candidacy last week, Mr. Obama, who was born in 1961 and considers himself a member of the post-boomer generation, said Americans hungered for ''a different kind of politics,'' one that moved beyond the tired ideological battles of the 1960s.

To make his point, Mr. Obama, a Democrat from Illinois in his first term in the Senate, announced the formation of his presidential exploratory committee in a video streamed on his Web site. He is tieless and relaxed and oh so cool.

Mr. Obama calculates that Americans of all ages are sick of the feuding boomers and ready to turn to the generation that came of age after Vietnam, after the campus culture wars between freaks and straights, and after young people had given up on what überboomer Hillary Rodham Clinton (who made her own announcement on the Web yesterday) called in a 1969 commencement address a search for ''a more immediate, ecstatic and penetrating mode of living.''

In his second book, ''The Audacity of Hope,'' Mr. Obama is critical of the style and the politics of the 60s, when the psyches of most of his potential rivals for the White House were formed. He writes that the politics of that era were highly personal, burrowing into every interaction between youth and authority and among peers. The battles moved to Washington in the 1990s and endure today, he says.

''In the back and forth between Clinton and Gingrich, and in the elections of 2000 and 2004,'' he writes, ''I sometimes felt as if I were watching the psychodrama of the baby boom generation -- a tale rooted in old grudges and revenge plots hatched on a handful of college campuses long ago -- played out on the national stage.''

Mr. Obama says he recognizes that the flashpoints of the 60s -- war, racism, inequality, the relations between the sexes -- still animate American politics and society and remain largely unresolved. And he acknowledges, as a child of a white Kansan mother and black Kenyan father, that his own prominence and prospects would have been impossible without the struggles of those who marched in Selma and Washington. But he argues that America faces new challenges that require a new political paradigm.

http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F20C11F635540C728EDDA80894DF404482

[skooooo]

16. I don't know if there's need for "blame..."

...but I agree with him that the post Vietnam war generation should take up the torch if they can improve the national dialogue. (I'm part of that generation!)

[obamian]

18. I don't think blame is the best word

He dislikes the style of political dialog that began in the Baby Boomer generation, and he wants to change the tone of politics.

[omega minimo]

17. Born in '61? He's old enough to know that's a bunch of bullshit

If that really is his POV and memory of those times, that's pretty twisted.

If it's just a marketing ploy to portray himself as New and Improved! and distance himself from those times, that's pretty twisted.




Welcome to DU obamian. We'd like to know what you think (aside from two links and this quote) How would you answer the OP question? "I could talk for hours."

The #1 reply in this thread reinforces the notion that the appeal is all about superficials.

[obamian]

19. I wrote the bulk of those two links

I could copy the text if you want...

By the way Obama Supporters, you should try to incorporate your reasons for supporting him into this Obamapedia (it's a wiki made to consolidate the arguments that support Obama's candidacy for president ) page:

http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Why+should+I+vote+for+Barack+Obama+in+2008%3F

[omega minimo]

28. how odd that you still haven't said anything here

[obamian]

30. O.K. I'll write more when I've time, but for now I'll copy the stuff from Obamapedia onto DU.

Since linking to my writing is considered superficial... I'll copy my writing over here. (Note: Some of this writing is quoted from other sites. The links to the source materials are on Obamapedia.)

Important Presidential Question #1:

Does Obama have enough experience to be president?

Following George W. Bush, who only served six years as the Governor of Texas before his presidency and hasn't been that well-recieved, to put it lightly, the American people should make sure they vote for a qualified candidate. And in their never ending coverage of Obama, the American media loves to repeat the "experience question." Barack, a political unknown until his Democratic National Convention Speech in 2004, has been protrayed as "green", the implication being that if he's elected president, he would somehow not be ready to handle the task of the presidency, or at least not as well as his political opponents.

What is experience? Previous presidents have been governors, or had a longer term in the Senate or House, before taking office. All of these experiences prepare a person to operate within the system, rather than to change the system. Yet change is precisely what this nation needs. Barack has correctly pointed out that the two of the most experienced people in Washington, Donald Rumseld and Dick Cheney, have led the U.S. into the disaster of Iraq.
A focus on experience is also a way to avoid talking about qualities such as leadership, intelligence, courage, fairness, judgment, temperament and integrity—qualities that truly matter in a leader. Barack's experience has developed these qualities.
He has ten years experience in public office, more than the two other leading Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton (six-plus years as Senator from New York) and John Edwards (six years as Senator from North Carolina). Barack's first eight years spent in the Illinois senate before his two years (and counting) of service in the U.S. Senate, should not be forgotten. Far away from the Washington spotlight, he introduced, voted on and passed bills, debated with his colleagues—something that was missing in Washington, where everything is settled in the backroom—and arduously worked to satisfy his constituents. Most important of all, he learned that how to work across the aisle, and get stuff done.
"When you come in, especially as a freshman, and work on something like ethics reform, it's not necessarily a way to endear yourself to some of the veteran members of the Illinois General Assembly," said state Sen. Kirk W. Dillard, a Republican who became a friend. "And working on issues like racial profiling was contentious, but Barack had a way both intellectually and in demeanor that defused skeptics." Washington Post

Illinois State Senate

"In the Illinois State Senate, this meant working with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases." Link
"
United States Senate

He has continued this inclusive and productive style of work in the U.S. Senate: "In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars are spent. He has also been the lead voice in championing ethics reform that would root out Jack Abramoff-style corruption in Congress.

Foreign Policy

Obama's foreign policy experience includes graduating from Columbia University with a degree in political science with an emphasis on international relations. In the U.S. Senate Obama is unique among Senators in that he serves on three of the four Senate Committees dealing with foreign policy issues including the Foreign Relations; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs committees and is the Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Relations which is responsible fore U.S. relations with European countries, the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (i.e., NATO). When comparing Obama's foreign policy experience with other candidates for President you have Democrat Joseph Biden who is Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Democrat Hillary Clinton who is a member of the Armed Services Committee and John McCain who is the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee yet there is no Senator except for Barack Obama who serves on three of the four committees that deal with foreign policy.

Foreign Relations Committee

Obama service on the Foreign Relations committee has placed him in an unique position in that he is the Chair of the Subcommittee on European Relations and serves on the Subcommittees on African Affairs; East Asia and Pacific Affairs; and International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection. This cross-section of subcommittees places Obama in a unique position of having knowledge about Asian, African and European issues. The only other member of the Foreign Relations committee who is running for President is Democrat Joseph Biden who is Chairman of the full Foreign Relations Committee yet unlike Obama he does not serve on any of the other foreign policy committees and his experience is limited to foreign policy issues covered by the Foreign Relations Committee.

Obama has also traveled extensively in his capacity as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and has visited Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan in Asia; Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, and the Palestinian Territories in the Middle East; and Chad, Djibouti, Ethiophia, Kenya, and South Africa in Africa. Obama has also co-sponsored the "Lugar-Obama Act" with Republican Senator Richard Lugar who was Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations at the time. This act was a bi-partisan effort to increase U.S. security in terms of the elimination of conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. This legislation came out of Obama's trip with Senator Richard Lugar to Russia, the Ukarine and Azerbaijan.

Obama has also sponsored legislation such as the "Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act" which was signed into law by President Bush on December 22, 2006. Obama has co-sponsored immigration related bills related to his service on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee including the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act. His extensive foreign policy experience exceeds that of every other Presidential candidate including his trips abroad in the performance of his official duties as a member of committees dealing with foreign relation issues.

While some have criticized Obama's foreign travel claiming that he is the most traveled freshman Senator in doing so they often fail to mention that as a result of his extensive trips abroad is legislation such as the Lugar-Obama Act instead preferring to make the political connection between his travels abroad to his run for President yet others will recognize the experience he has gained as a result of his foreign trips and recognize that as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he is expected to travel extensively and that his travels often were with the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Among the three top freshman who have received attention along with Obama in terms of foreign travel you have Barack Obama who serves on three committees dealing with foreign policy, Republican Richard Burr who serves on the Select Committee on Intelligence and Republican Tom Coburn who serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and it must be noted that such travel was part of an official delegation and was approved and paid for by the Senate.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan. Recognizing the terrorist threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, he traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of non-proliferation efforts designed to find and secure deadly weapons around the world. And knowing the threat we face to our economy and our security from America's addiction to oil, he's working to bring auto companies, unions, farmers, businesses and politicians of both parties together to promote the greater use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards in our cars."Link

Ethics
"Obama has made ethics reform a central part of his political career. Two years into his first term in the U.S. Senate, he has had limited opportunities to leave a mark at the federal level, especially as a member of the minority party. But he has worked with Republicans on new good-government laws. He co-sponsored one, signed in September, that will create a federal spending database so Web users can track all grants, loans and awards greater than $25,000. He also pushed to limit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's authority to award open-ended, no-bid contracts in the wake of major disasters — a reaction to post-Katrina abuses. More to the point, last year Senate Democrats tapped Obama as the chief negotiator for their caucus in talks over post-Abramoff ethics reforms, though those negotiations faltered. Ethics reform was one of Obama's signature issues in Springfield, as well. Beyond the Gift Ban Act, he helped push Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's 2003 ethics reforms. The gift ban law, the first broad ethics reform in Illinois since the Watergate era, prohibited politicians from using campaign funds for personal use, barred fundraising on state property, established ethics commissions, curtailed fundraisers in Springfield during legislative sessions and mandated online reporting of campaign finances. The 2003 ethics package created independent inspectors general with subpoena powers to look into abuses by legislators, statewide officeholders and their employees. It further clamped down on the types of gifts lawmakers can receive and prohibited lobbyists and their spouses from sitting on state boards and commissions. Obama also touted publicly financed judicial campaigns, an idea that was approved by the Illinois Senate but languished in the House."Link

Read more about Obama's work in the U.S. Senate on Obsdian Wings

Life Experience

This experience in public office is just a taste of what makes Obama ready for the presidency. He has had a goulash of a life. He was born to white a woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya in Hawaii, then moved to Indonesia for five years with his step-father from ages six to ten.

After returning to Hawaii for middle and high school, he went Occidental College, a liberal arts school in L.A. After a couple years at Occidental, he transferred to Columbia University, where he majored in political science with a specialization in International Relations.

After graduating, he went to work as a community organizer in Chicago. Following three years of helping some of Chicago's poorest residents recover from a steel mill closing through job training programs, he went to Harvard Law. There, he became the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review. Instead of seeking a high paying job upon graduating from Harvard, he returned to Chicago and went back to the neighborhood communities by organizing and helping to register 150,000 voters. He then began working at a civil rights firm and went on to teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago. He did all of this before his career in politics began.

His ability to understand and earn respect from political opponents while being a genuine progressive; his success in the classroom and on the street; and his unparalleled background have helped him become the intelligent, fair, and courageous leader he is today.
Before the war in Iraq in 2002, he exclaimed: "Now let me be clear: I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power.... The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him. But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors...and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history. I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president." Link

For a short overview of his years in the Illinois State Legislature check out his wikipedia page or our building collection of transcripts from the Illinois State Senate.

Despite any charges of inexperience, Senator Obama clearly showed good judgment in assessing the Iraq situation in the fall of 2002.

http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Does+Barack+Obama+have+enough+experience+to+be+president%3F

Important Presidential Question #2 (partially answered by #1):

Why should I vote for Barack Obama?

In a 2005 post on the liberal weblog Daily Kos, Barack Obama argued that Democrats must not only try to defeat the Republicans, they must work to build trust in government: "The bottom line is that our job is harder than the conservatives' job...whenever we exaggerate or demonize, or oversimplify or overstate our case, we lose. Whenever we dumb down the political debate, we lose. A polarized electorate that is turned off of politics, and easily dismisses both parties because of the nasty, dishonest tone of the debate, works perfectly well for those who seek to chip away at the very idea of government because, in the end, a cynical electorate is a selfish electorate."

Obama's campaign for President is built on the premise that the Democrats must "disagree without being disagreeable" and unite America to solve issues of historic importance. He focuses on his ability to overcome partisan bickering, to work across the aisle, and to produce real results. The idea that someone would be able to unite America and get the government to productively work on important issues sounds idealistic. Understanding that cynicism, Obama stresses that Americans must embrace the 'audacity of hope.' Hope is an irrational belief, a faith in optimism, but hope is also a unifying emotion, one that resonates with people across the globe. By emphasizing that we should all believe in the possibility of a new type of politics, Obama has converted many people, including Republicans, to believe in the possibility of the anti-Bush, a non-ideological leader that respects those who disagree with him and works to find not the Democratic solution, not the Republican solution, but the best solution. Campaigning to replace Bush with a unifying leader, he has struck a chord across the country—as shown by polls, book sales, enormous crowds, and website groups. In this crucial juncture in history, he has the potential to improve how Americans perceive politics, leading to more trust in government and solving some very difficult problems.

All of the Democratic candidates more or less support the same issues and hold similar values. The candidate's Iraq plans, health care plans, energy plans, ethics plans, and education plans differ in details, but they all aim for the same general progressive goals: pulling out of Iraq, introducing universal health care, reducing America’s dependence on oil, battling climate change, strengthening national security, ridding Washington of corruption, and improving our schools. The specific details of the plans aren’t too significant; what matters more is the actual ability of the candidate to create the political will for change. Obama, unlike the most of the other candidates, has a history of working across the aisle and listening to opposing viewpoints, and is stressing a united America within his campaign. If he was elected, Obama would do a better job of not only passing the necessary legislation by incorporating other peoples points of view, but also persuading the American people that he is acting in their interest. An American president who is elected by saying, ‘we’re all in this together and we all have a stake in each other’ will do a better job of persuading Republican voters that America is moving in the right direction. If Obama’s nomination fails, another Democratic may be able to win the presidency, but the Republican voters would not respect— four out of ten Republicans voted for Obama in his Illinois Senate Race —the other Democratic candidate as much Obama. Because of his ability to appeal to moderate and Republican voters, an Obama election will improve the long-term image of the Democratic Party. We don't want another Bush...Ever.

http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Why+should+I+vote+for+Barack+Obama+in+2008%3F

Professor Laurence H. Tribe ’62, who employed Obama as a research assistant when the senator was still a student at Havard Law School, said that Obama had the potential to become one of the best presidents in United States history. “We are dealing with someone who has a chance of being the greatest president since Franklin Roosevelt,” Tribe said.
He briefly paused, and then he added, “Well, maybe I could drop the Franklin Roosevelt part.”

All of this being said, the answers to both questions are incomplete. If you have more specific questions about Obama, then I'll do a better job of answering them.

[omega minimo]

52. oh yeah that helps

when you're in a hole, just keep digging and digging and digging to help your candidate and the site to which you are supposedly bringing info. :puke:

"Since linking to my writing is considered superficial..........."


Good luck spreading the word via links and nothing else. Might wanna check your outreach and reread what you have heinously misintrepreted.

If it's all about Obama, how is it suddenly ALL ABOUT YOU? :evilfrown:

[Colobo]

54. Obama represents a new, fresh start for America

He is a true leader that is not only attracting attention from the public, but he's LISTENING to what America has to say to its leaders. He's a thinking man who is not parroting the same "I got all the solutions to all your problems" discourse, because he understands we are living in truly trying times, and real thought and composure is needed to take America out of the gutter it is now. America needs him NOW, not in 2016... because by then, we might not even be here if we don't make the right choice on November 08.

The hope is back. The idealism in which the greatness of America is rooted is here once again. My fellow Americans, Barack Obama is here.

[Colobo]

55. My answer is post 54

That's why I support Obama.

[bling bling]

56. What am I missing here?

I must be missing something because I don't get your tone at all towards that poster. What I'm not understanding is:

1) The poster didn't start this thread. The OP ASKED why we support Obama. Obamian happens to have a website where he spent lots of time already putting together positive information about Obama. What is wrong with linking to that? Why do you sound so skeptical just because he provided a link to something he'd spent time writing when the OP specifically asked for this type of information?

2) I think the reason Obamian said "Since linking to my writing is considered superficial" is because you used that word. You said to him: "The #1 reply in this thread reinforces the notion that the appeal is all about superficials." I would first assume that he misunderstood what you were saying and thought you were admonishing him as being superficial simply because he provided links."

3) Why do you say "might wanna check your outreach and reread what you have heinously misinterpreted." I don't understand this. What has been heinously misinterpreted?

What am I missing? I've read the exchange a couple of times now and I don't understand why you're reacting like that.

Thanks.

[loyalsister]

20. He's raising expectations

not only for those post-Vietnam "tweens" but for Gen Xers.

He wants the up and coming generation to stop listening to the boomers glorify how they turned into yuppies and rejected opposition to convention.

Not only is it complex and brilliant, it is an exteremely gutsy exploration!

[global1]

23. I Was Fortunate To Be A Young Idealist When JFK Became President......

Now there was a man that stimulated the country - especially the youth at the time. Obama reminds me a lot of JFK. He has the same aura about him. I would like to see our youth today be able to experience a candidate and hopefully a president - like we did with JFK. It was a wonderful period to grow up in - until that faithful day in Dallas.

With a pResident like we currently have - who I believe has turned off our youth - I think the youth of today need to a person like Obama that can reinvigorate them after our current 'miserable failure'.

Also as an aside - we've had 4 years of Bush 1 + 8 years of Clinton + 8 years of Bush Jr - I don't know if this country can handle another 4 or 8 years of another Clinton. Now don't get me wrong - I like the Clintons - but - to potentially have 24 to 28 years of this country run by the same two families - I don't know if that is healthy. I guess we can debate that here on DU.

We can expect a Clinton presidency to recycle personnel from the earlier Clinton administration - just like * did. Instead of ABC (anything but clinton) we'll go into an era of ABB (anything but bush) and we will see our Congress at odds with each other in partisan bickering - probably to a new level we've never seen before - and we'll continue with a 'deadlocked' Congress that will have problems accomplishing anything really, really good for this country.

With a fresh face like an Obama - not only will it give a jolt to our youth and inspire them for their future - I think it will give a jolt to the country in general. I think we'll see a number of fresh and new personnel being appointed to an Obama administration - new faces - new ideas. And I believe that there is a better chance for 'bipartisan' progress in Congress.

[athena]

33. He says a lot more in the book than that.

I read both his books, and I don't recall anything about blaming the baby-boomers. He says we need a new kind of politics, one that focuses on finding common ground rather than picking meaningless fights, but I don't recall him blaming baby-boomers specifically.

Note that there are very few actual quotes from the book in your excerpt. People should actually read the book, not base their opinion on it on some (probably biased) NYT writer's review of it.

The book has long and beautifully-written chapters on the constitution, religion, race, and family. The part I found most fascinating was his analysis of why politicians become the way they are.

[BeyondGeography]

21. He's genuinely comfortable in virtually any setting

was raised globally and thinks globally, shows respect to people on both sides of the aisle and could be a consensus builder because of it, is intellectually curious, a great listener, deeply acquainted with the legislative process...I could go on.

Also, here's something I wrote yesterday about his campaigning style and what he means by "new politics":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3206475

[obamian]

22. You should also check out this video of Obama talking about Iraq in 2002

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXzmXy226po

and the articles on this page:
http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Key+Obama+Articles

[zulchzulu]

24. The World needs to see Obama representing this country

After the last years, it is vitally important we have a new leader with the kind of background and vision Obama has to show the rest of the World that we are decent people after all...

Plus here is an idea of how Obama is rated on the many issues we face. No, he's not perfect. He's not a deity. He's just what I think is the perfect candidate at this historical time to become President...

Abortion Issues
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2006.

2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

2003  On the votes that the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council considered to be the most important in 2003, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2002  Based on information available in 2002, the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council chose to endorse Senator Obama.

2002  On the votes that the Illinois Federation for Right to Life considered to be the most important in 2002, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 50 percent of the time.

2001  On the votes that the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

1997-2000  On the votes that the Illinois Federation for Right to Life considered to be the most important in 1997-2000, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.

1997-1998  On the votes that the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.


Agriculture Issues
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Association of Wheat Growers 67 percent in 2005.


Animal Rights and Wildlife Issues
2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the The Humane Society of the United States 60 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the The Humane Society of the United States 20 percent in 2005.

In 2004 Humane USA PAC endorsed Senator Obama.


Arts and Humanities
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Trust for Historic Preservation 100 percent in 2005.


Budget, Spending and Taxes
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 6 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the FreedomWorks 6 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Americans for Tax Reform 0 percent in 2005.

2001-2002  On the votes that the National Taxpayers United of Illinois considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 10 percent of the time.

1999  On the votes that the National Taxpayers United of Illinois considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.


Business and Consumers
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association 92 percent in 2006.

2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Federation of Independent Business 12 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Association of Government Contractors 0 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 39 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee 15 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the International Sleep Products Association 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council 9 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Federation of Independent Business 17 percent in 2005.

2004  In 2004 National Beer Wholesalers Association PAC endorsed Senator Obama.

2003  On the votes that the Illinois Prosperity Project considered to be the most important in 2003, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 12 percent of the time.

2002  On the votes that the Illinois Chamber of Commerce considered to be the most important in 2002, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 39 percent of the time.

2001-2002  On the votes that the Illinois Prosperity Project considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 67 percent of the time.

2001-2002  On the votes that the Illinois National Federation of Independent Business considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 29 percent of the time.

1999-Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association 100 percent in 1999-2006.

1999-2000  On the votes that the Illinois National Federation of Independent Business considered to be the most important in 1999-2000, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 40 percent of the time.


Civil Liberties
2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 83 percent in 2005-2006.



Civil Rights
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 94 percent in 2005.


Education
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Education Association 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Association for College Admission Counseling 100 percent in 2005.


Energy Issues
2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the Campaign for America's Future 100 percent in 2005-2006 on energy legislation.



Environmental Issues
Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Land Rights Association 11 percent in 2006.

2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the Comprehensive US Sustainable Population 69 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 88 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 95 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Land Rights Association 17 percent in 2005.

2003  On the votes that the Illinois Environmental Council considered to be the most important in 2003, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

1998  On the votes that the Illinois Environmental Council considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 75 percent of the time.

1998  Based on information available in 1998, the Illinois Sierra Club chose to endorse Senator Obama.



Family and Children Issues
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Children's Defense Fund 100 percent in 2005.


Foreign Aid and Policy Issues
In 2006 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Senator Obama a rating of A+.

In 2006, The Genocide Intervention Network--Darfur Scores assigned Senator Obama a grade of A+ based on voting records, bill sponsorship and other activities related to ending the genocide in Darfur.

2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the Friends Committee on National Legislation 92 percent in 2005-2006.

In 2005 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Senator Obama a rating of A-.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Peace Action 89 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Latin America Working Group 50 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the PeacePAC 100 percent in 2005.


Gender Issues
2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 90 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 83 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Organization for Women 100 percent in 2005.

2002  Based on information available in 2002, Illinois National Organization for Women chose to endorse Senator Obama.


Government Reform
Senator Obama supported the interests of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group 86 percent in 2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Citizens Against Government Waste 13 percent in 2005.


Gun Issues
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 0 percent in 2005.

2004  Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all state legislative candidates in 2004, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Obama a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

2002  Based on voting records and a questionnaire sent out to all state legislative candidates by Illinois Citizens for Handgun Control, Senator Obama was assigned a grade of A (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

2002  Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all state legislative candidates in 2002, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Obama a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).


Health Issues
Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 80 percent in 2005.


Immigration
Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Immigration Lawyers Association 88 percent in 2006.

2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the U.S. Border Control 8 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Federation for American Immigration Reform 0 percent in 2005.

2003-Senator Obama supported the interests of the Americans for Better Immigration 14 percent in 2003-2006.


Labor
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 94 percent in 2006.

2005-Senator Obama supported the interests of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 100 percent in 2005-2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 92 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 93 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 92 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Worker 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Federation of Government Employees 100 percent in 2005.

2003  Senator Obama supported the interests of the Illinois AFL-CIO 89 percent in 2003.

2001  On the votes that the Illinois AFL-CIO considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 89 percent of the time.

1999  On the votes that the Illinois AFL-CIO considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 92 percent of the time.


Liberal
Senator Obama supported the interests of the National Committee for an Effective Congress 95 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 100 percent in 2005.


National Journal
According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2005, Senator Obama voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 83 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy's calculations, in 2005, Senator Obama voted more liberal on social policy issues than 77 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Composite Conservative Score's calculations, in 2005, Senator Obama voted more conservative on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 18 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2005, Senator Obama voted more liberal on foreign policy issues than 76 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy calculations, in 2005 Senator Obama voted more conservative on economic policy issues than 12 percent of Senators.

According to the National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2005, Senator Obama voted more conservative on foreign policy issues than 15 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2005, Senator Obama voted more liberal on economic policy issues than 87 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy's calculations, in 2005, Senator Obama voted more conservative on social policy issues than 18 percent of the Senators.


Senior and Social Security Issues
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 100 percent in 2005.


Social Issues
Senator Obama supported the interests of the Secular Coalition for America 90 percent in 2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Population Connection 100 percent in 2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Population Institute 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Mennonite Central Committee 90 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Population Connection 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy 75 percent in 2005.

2003  Senator Obama supported the interests of the Citizen Action Illinois 96 percent in 2003.

2002  Senator Obama supported the interests of the Illinois Family Institute 50 percent in 2002.

2001  In 2001 Citizen Action Illinois gave Senator Obama a rating of Excellent.

1998  Senator Obama supported the interests of the Illinois Family Institute 80 percent in 1998.

1997-1998  On the votes that the National Association of Social Workers - Illinois Chapter considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Obama voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.


Trade Issues
2005-In 2005-2006 USA Engage gave Senator Obama a rating of C.


Veterans Issues
In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Obama a grade of B+.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 80 percent in 2006.

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 92 percent in 2005.


http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BS030017

[TwilightGardener]

26. Excellent post--lots of info--thanks!

[candice]

25. He always tells his story and hasn't served much time in the Senate.

I'm wondering why he is running so soon. The story may not be enough in itself.

[athena]

34. He's running because the country needs him to run.

The country (and the world) has pressing problems right now, and he thinks he can solve them. He thinks the U.S. needs a good president NOW and that he can be that president, so he's running now. Makes a lot of sense, IMO.

BTW, if he becomes president in 2009, he will be older than both Clinton and JFK were when they took office. He's been in the IL state senate for 8 years and in 2009 will have been in the U.S. senate for 4 years. He's also worked as a community organizer and a professor of constitutional law. He was the first black person to become the president of Harvard Law Review, which is no small accomplishment. As his wife has said, it's only in politics that a person with Obama's background would be labelled inexperienced.

[thoughtcrime1984]

29. He made me really care about politics

I feel his energy and enthusiasm, like his stances for the most part, and believe that he will TRULY TRY to do the things that he says he will. I believe in and trust him, a feeling I have never really had for a politician before.

[athena]

31. I really think the guy is genuine.

Read his books; they're a pleasure to read and reveal a lot about his personality. He had a high-paying corporate job in NYC and gave it up to organize the poor African American communities in Chicago. He's a true progressive but appeals to people of all stripes. He spent part of his childhood in Indonesia and understands the world in a way other politicians can't. I really believe that he is the only person who can repair the damage Bush has done to America's image in the world. There are other reasons, but these are the ones that I consider most important.

[w4rma]

32. Obama (and Hillary) support Alan S Blinder's views that we should let all the good jobs go overseas.

…
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, for instance, speaks with Blinder to get his views on economic policy. Hillary Clinton is also a regular.
…
But the Wall Street Journal says: “Blinder says there’s an urgent need to retool America’s education system so it trains young people for jobs likely to remain in the US. A college diploma, he warns, may lose its exalted ‘silver bullet’ status.”
…
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1090261
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=274345&mesg_id=274358

[Tejanocrat]

37. Is your objection to Blinder or Obama? Blinder seems like a complete tool, but it seems like Obama

did nothing more than solicit his views. Am I missing something? Is Obama going beyond soliciting Blinder's views and actually incorporating those views into his own platform?

If we agree that Blinder is bad news, which candidates hold the views most diametrically opposite from Blinder's?

[w4rma]

39. If Obama's views aren't similar to the guy who is advising him, then what are his views?

Obama is very evasive about his views on this issue. I think I know why he and Hillary are evasive.

[Tejanocrat]

41. Good question. I don't know the answer. But I do know that Abraham Lincoln invited people who had

radically different ideas from Lincoln to be in his presidential cabinet.

Some people (like Bush*) wish to be surrounded by "yes men." Other people (like Lincoln) like to be surrounded by people who challenge their thinking.

I don't know if I'll come down in favor of Obama or Edwards Gore or or Clark or Dodd or someone else, but I can tell you this much: Obama seems more like Lincoln than Bush* to me.

[w4rma]

43. Noone seems to know where Obama stands on this issue or too many others.

I do not currently believe that Obama's views on how to fix the outsourcing and the poor wages, etc. are any different than Clinton's. Until he releases more information on his stance, I'm going to treat him as just another 'free' traitor. If he isn't then he wouldn't have a reason to hide his views because you can bet that the elites already know where he stands.

[Tejanocrat]

44. I do prefer a candidate who is explicit about positions on issues over one who is vague.

Whose positions do you find more specific than Obama's?

[w4rma]

45. Edwards. By far. He's been detailing his positions every day.

I have to scrounge for odds and ends and try to make odd connections like I did above with his advisor to get any details on Obama's and Clinton's positions.

[Tejanocrat]

53. Edwards's website is quite specific and issue oriented. Who else has been more specific than vague

besides Edwards?

[Sensitivity]

35. Obama is bright and inexperienced -- and that what people seem to want

They want a fresh breeze and a new feeling in the political air.
That may be really dumb, but dumb is what has won out over the past 2 elections.

[Adelante]

36. I like Obama

I have a few problems, but I have a few problems with any of the candidates, and would even if Wes Clark ran. Generally speaking, there are not major differences among Obama, Clinton and Edwards in their Senate voting histories. The one truly significant difference for me is Obama has no IWR vote to explain or apologize away when the hot time comes. I believe that will mean more and more as the primaries heat up, as well as in the GE.

[AtomicKitten]

42. Because he emanates hope.

He freakin' reeks of it.

[Dr Fate]

47. Yes he does. Always happy to find agreement with you from time to time. n/t

n/t

[cadmium]

59. Ha ha-- we agree. That's what I like too. I usually distrust people with

charisma but I only got genuine vibes of hope and decency when I saw him in New Hampshire last year.

[Dr Fate]

46. People dont just like Obama- they LOVE him. Plus he has no war vote/flip-flopper baggage.

People from both sides are open minded about him.

People dont "hate" him at all- he does not have a perception of corruption surrounding him like the Clintons do (unfairly or not- that IS the majority perception about the Clintons)

He is young, new, optimistic- looks great on the tube. Ladies love him. Young folks love him. Freaking WHITE MALES seem to identify with him. Of course, most Black folks will also support him.

It's a real chance to make history and give children from all walks of life a POSITIVE role model for a change.

I love Obama's run and I think he has a real chance.

[w4rma]

48. At least one piece of data you note is incorrect. I do not post this with any degree of enjoyment.

"Edwards has the lead among white males with 45 percent to Obama's 10 percent and Clinton's 10"
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6358431
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3211757&mesg_id=3211757

[Dr Fate]

49. I wont take that away from Edwards- but my general assertion is still correct.

I did not assert that white males prefer him over other candidates- but they seem to like him and identify with him on many levels...

The usual "angry white male" who doesnt trust, say Al Sharpton, doesnt seem to have the same hostility agaisnt Obama.

Hell, I think some white males really do identify with him as a successful, positive person no matter his race...

I love Edwards too, so I certainly wont take that away from him.

[w4rma]

50. Thank you. I agree with you on all accounts. (nt)

[BenDavid]

57. Here is a reason why

Obama will not be the democratic nominee....Plain and simple, obama did not support the democratic party candidate in the 2006 Conn. Senate race.He sided with Lieberman, and you in here that haterize on HRC so much for her iraq vote, need to come to terms with why you would support Obama which campaigned against Lamont the anti-war candidate....and here is one other thought:

Obama came up to campaign for Lieberman before the primary, very carefully timing his appearance to try to kill Ned Lamont’s antiwar primary challenge before it got off the ground.Then in the general election, he refused to lift a finger for Lamont. For a guy like Obama who runs around bragging about his antiwar credentials, yet who then spent most of his first year in Congress absolutely silent on the war - his behavior in the Connecticut Senate race says a lot about him as the supposed post-partisan conviction candidate.

[Vinca]

58. Obama stands out for me because he's optimistic about the future

and makes me think we can take our country back. I love Michelle Obama, too, and think she'd make an amazing representative for our country. This couple would bring Camelot back.