Obama crew, why do you prefer Obama to Edwards?

[annie1]

Just curious. thanks.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Obama strikes me as more genuine, and more devoted to serving the public

than Edwards, who made an awful lot of money in the trial-lawyer and hedge-fund game. Obama could have made bazillions, but he didn't.

[Radical Activist]

2. Obama has a liberal record to back up the rhetoric.

I like a lot of what Edwards is saying but I'm suspicious of any Johnny come liberal lately who suddenly moves left during the Democratic Primary.

I knew about Obama when he was in the Illinois state senate and a US Senate candidate. I even saw him campaign during his one losing campaign for US Congress. He has a strong record, he inspires people, he comes from a background of left wing movement activism. I respect someone who learned politics by knocking on doors in the housing projects on Chicago's south side. He knows how to unite the people against the establishment to win.

For years I've been wanting a nominee who can make an argument for progressive policies in a way that appeals to a majority of Americans. Obama is it. People who keep accusing Obama of being a conservative because he uses "right wing talking points" just don't get it.

Last time I supported Kucinich. This time we have a strong progressive with a shot at winning the whole thing.

[dkf]

3. Obama moves me. He gives me a vision of what can be

if we are all willing to do the hard work. He is willing to listen to all sides and come to common ground that moves us forward.

Edwards feels we have to ram things down the others guys throat and beat em to a pulp.

I just feel that this country is in trouble and if half the country has to go into combat with the other half of the country, the things we need to get done won't get done.

[Jane Austin]

4. I followed Edwards pretty closely in 2003 and 4

and wasn't really crazy about what I saw then.

His liberalism seems manufactured, to me, at least.

I sure do like what he says, but it just doesn't ring true to me.

This year at the DNC meeting, he kept hollering, "Will you stand up (for the poor)? Will you stand up for America? Will you? Will you stand up?

Finally the room started standing up until most were standing and applauding. I think he did this a couple of times.

Sure enough, all the reports I heard on the radio or read on the web said that Edwards was the only speaker who got standing ovations.

That rhetorical trick seemed quite calculating to me, and it worked like a charm.

Shame on the media for counting ovations without listening to the speeches themselves.

[Franc_Lee]

5. Obama truly gives me more bonafide hope,confidence and he's quick.... (Youngblood factor)

[quinnox]

6. interesting

I'm a Hillary supporter but this is an interesting question. I will read the responses. If you asked me, I would say Edwards is a phony and Obama is a hell of a lot more genuine.

[annie1]

7. Edwards is SO not a phony. : )...

i'm a hil supporter too. He's badass. :)

[jakem]

8. im incliuned to agree with all of the above so far-

it isnt what Edwards says, it is my lack of confidence in his meaning it.

Not to imply that he isnt truthful (i have that suspicion more of HRC), but the confidence is not there for me when he talks.

Maybe sometimes he seems too much like a lawyer?

[annie1]

10. i like his skills as a laywer. when he laid the smackdown on hil...

during the debate, only a lawyer could have come up with arguments as awesome as he does. He's got crazy skills. But i think i just don't have disdain for lawyers. (oh, not to say you do btw). :)

[jakem]

13. some lawyers have mad skills for sure-

and to the extent that it help achieve goals is great.

problem is when you don't know what is 'real' at a time when many of us are craving something 'real'

not to dis edwards btw, he is above the fold on my list of preferred candidates, but this is my issue with him- visceral, not rational-

[TeamJordan23]

9. Was against the war from the start. nm

[killbotfactory]

11. Obama didn't support the war

And he's the only serious contender who didn't, first and foremost.

I'm glad Edwards saw the light before running again, but that kind of mistake bumps candidates to the back of my list. I am cautious about his born again progressivism, but with people like Belafonte and Tim Robbins on his side it eases my concerns a bit. Still, I think supporting the Iraq war is inexcusable, and an apology is not enough for his efforts in pimping the IWR and the disastrous results it has had on our country and the Iraqi people.

Edwards also supported a bankruptcy bill that was pretty bad, back when Clinton was president, and was involved in a hedge fund. Two more red flags.

Obama has been fighting for ordinary people and organizing voters since he left college. I am certain he is on my side, even if he doesn't sound like a traditional populist. He knows the constitution like the back of his hand, he knows that organizing voters is the key to getting power to change the system, and I think he is capable of doing great things for this country and undoing the damage Bush has caused.

[annie1]

14. Gotcha. ...

i think it was big of him to apologize for that vote. But agree, can't believe we let bush in there like that. unreal. Also, at least in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with working for hedge funds and being rich. it's the american dream to be rich. i know that i work hard and would like to have money, and i think its great when people can strive, accomplish it, then turn around and say 'ya know what, f them, and still stand up for people at the same time. (if that makes sense). but yeah, i hear you.

I wish i could get behind Obama a little more. he leaves me a little cold. but i do wholeheartedly believe that edwards is for the people. almost too much. i think he would redistribute wealth in a second if he could. i think he has quite a bit of disdain for "the man". whereas i don't think obama does. Obama is so much less jaded and angry b/c he hasn't had to fight as long as the others have.

[jaysunb]

12. Freshness...

n/t

[Donna Zen]

15. Foreign policy

which now and in our future, will drive domestic policy is my #1 reason. Obama, who has his undergrad degree in foreign relations, has shown laudable and informed reasoning on his own. However, I really like the team he has attracted and/or courted. They include Dick Clarke, Iva Daalder, Susan Rice and best of all Tony Lake. It was kinda funny when the question about the Clinton people on his foreign policy team. Personally, I think that Obama's team is made up of those people who have split from the CFR old hawkish Dem thinking, and have come to understand that going forward requires a new paradigm for the country. There is a battle going on among the Dem. foreign policy wonks. I want to see the Obama team moving up.

[annie1]

19. very nice. thanks.

[Windy]

20. I agree wholeheartedly. Obama is the person we need to get out there and repair our image

he is intelligent, thoughtful and worldly and I don't mean from the time he spent living in Indonesia as a child. I base that upon his travels throughout the world and especially his time in Kenya when he became an adult.

I believe that he is sincere in his efforts to lift people up. the fact that he chose to be a community organizer as opposed to taking a position at a high powered law firm after graduating Harvard Law with honors says a lot. He chose the path of service as opposed to making money hand over fist. His prioroites are in the right place and his actions set him apart from others in the field as a leader who truly wants to make a difference.

[MadBadger]

16. More Genuine. I dont really trust Edwards

Plus sponsoring IWR.

[MadBadger]

17. delete

[BeyondGeography]

18. Here's what I just posted on another thread...it's about credibility and some other things

Edwards is worth $54 million, much of it coming from civil settlements with coporations. He puts half his money into a hedge fund, which is the ultimate high-torque money-making machine on the Street. And this is the guy we're supposed to put out there as our anti-greed symbol? If you're worth $50-plus million and you plow half your dough into a fund that seeks 20-30-40% returns, there's only one conclusion to be reached: you are one money-lovin' greedy SOB.

And Edwards is supposed to have more credibility on the matter of fighting greed than Obama, who has passed on opportunities to make money at every turn in his life in order to work for communities and protect civil rights?

Is there any common sense at all in Edwards Land? The man would be eviscerated, torn to bits in the general election for these apparent contradictions (and, notice, I haven't even mentioned the house...oops, Mark Penn moment there).

Edwards has no legislative achievements he can point to as a Senator. Obama has a long record of achievement in the Illnois state senate, both in terms of legislation and in building bipartisan consensus, and has accomplished more in less than two years in the U.S. Senate than Edwards did in six. Unless you count the co-sponsoring of IWR as an achievement. And Edwards defended the war that Obama opposed from the start until 2005.

Edwards can not win his own state in a national election (he also routinely trails in primary polls there). Why don't even Democrats there seem not to like him much? Obama is loved in his home state.

Edwards has not a fraction of the impact on our image overseas that Obama would have, and not a fraction of the inspirational impact across racial and religious lines here at home.

[Egnever]

21. As a freshly decided Obama supporter

For me it comes down to Edwards senate record. I realize he has apologized for a lot of it. But I think it shows bad judgment on his part when under pressure. I also don't like that his health care plan is mandated. As obama said on stage people aren't going without insurance because they don't want to have it. Mandating insurance feels like a huge give away to the insurance companies to me.

Of course I now support Obama for a few reasons. First his assessment of how this war would turn out was spot on. Mostly it comes down to his record of activism and his fight for ethics. His technology platform is nothing short of revolutionary and would throw the windows wide open on our government and let the sun shine in once again. Finally BLM pushed me over the edge with a report on Obama joining with John Kerry to stand up against the relaxing of the media conglomeration rules about to be decided.

As I was responding to threads today I did some digging on Obamas record in the Senate and he seems to have hit the ground ruining. He has offered up several pieces of legislation that I agree with. Yes he has missed votes and while that doesn't please me I think it is to be expected when one is a candidate for president.

I like the majority of our candidates, the only one that truly gives me pause is hillary and only because I think she is just too entwined with the large corporations to do any real good for our country. It was hard coming to the decision to support Obama as Joe was my first choice but I don't see him getting there. Maybe he will make a surge in Iowa and come out of it a winner and if that happens I will lend Joe My vote in our caucus here. Barring that though I think Obama not only has a record of true service to the people but has the ability to make americans hopeful again at a time when we really need it.

[frazzled]

22. Resumé, judgment

Community organizer, civil rights attorney, constitutinoal law professor, eight years as state senator, and foreign relations experience on FR committee in US SEnate... vs. ... litigation attorney, one-term senator with no foreign policy experience.

Speaking out clearly against an Iraq invasion vs. signing on as a co-sponsor of IWR.

Also a style issue (I realize this one is personal preference): thoughtful, nuanced arguments vs. slogans

[sandnsea]

23. trust

Edwards was as centrist as Hillary his entire time in the Senate. Then he adds Joe Trippi to his campaign and turns into the new Howard Dean. I believe he'd like to make things better for most Americans, I don't think he has a root belief in how to go about doing that. I think Obama's days actually living and organizing in low income communities gives him a taste of a reality that Edwards has never experienced. That's why Edwards mandates insurance and Obama doesn't.

[Crunchy Frog]

24. Not really a member of the Obama crew, but

I prefer somebody who had the good judgement to unequivocably oppose the Iraq invasion from the start over someone who is on record as saying he would himself have invaded Iraq.

[Joe the Revelator]

25. Something about a Trial Lawyer turns me off

With that said, I'd still happily vote for him if he got the nomination.

[Egnever]

26. Kicking a thread thats not just vapid BS

[Adelante]

27. Pragmatic idealism

We often focus on legislative experience as the be all and end all of presidential training schools -- I think Obama's ten years of legislative experience is sufficient for entering the presidency, I think twenty years in service to the nation, whether it's in Congress or in our communities, is plenty of experience. Going back to when Clark was running, I've felt there are neglected forms of qualification, such as leadership ability, executive experience, strategic thinking, organizational strengths, and a pragmatic, common ground, diplomatic approach to getting stuff accomplished. In addition, the president is head of state, but also leader of the nation; a president needs to inspire the country to meet great challenges. These attributes may be present in a legislator, as well, I know that, but lawmaking is only one kind of experience. Community service is another.

Obama has tremendous talents as a strategist, which he applied throughout his time as a community organizer and into politics. He has executive ability and some experience running a 700-member volunteer organization; it's not a state or a city, but he knows how it's done. He's been down in the streets with real people, not managing from a boardroom, but building community power from the bottom up. His background is in the Alinsky school of leftism, which means it's not just about ideals, but about power. He came out of law school with several chances at a Supreme Court clerkship and many, many more offers from high powered law firms. He could have made a fortune practicing law or being a Wall Street executive. He chose to use his gifts, his power, as a civil rights lawyer and lecturing in constitutional law. Just as I admired Clark, I admire Obama, for a willingness to live a life of service, and an understanding of how to wield power. I want somebody committed to opening up the government and the political system and shaking it the hell out. I want someone with ideals in the White House, but with wide open eyes, heart and mind.

With a foreign father and a native mother, one black and the other white, I also see that Obama represents 21st century America and the 21st century world. As a symbol, it is a powerful one that could maybe, only maybe, move us a ways along past our painful racial past. I'm white, but I see now is the time to do this, or rather I feel it. That's what inspiration is, a feeling, and while I don't make it out to be everything, it's something better there than not there is it not? I sense that Obama can take us forward as a people, not just among ourselves, but in the world.

BUT...

If I didn't think he had the grit, the tough mindedness and the guts to make the hard decisions, to be the pragmatist as well as the idealist, I wouldn't be supporting him for president.

I was never going to support John Edwards. I'm not voting in the primary for any candidate who voted Yes on the IWR. When the GE comes along, I will be there for the nominee. But I never believed in Edwards, not in 2004, not in 2008. I don't feel like arguing about it. If I have to go into it all, it will take more time than I have. So I will just say I do not believe in him. It was never a choice between one or the other candidate for me.

[zulchzulu]

28. Looking at what Edwards did as Senator vs. what he says now makes a difference to me

Edwards as Senator:

- Co-sponsor of Iraq War Resolution, which lead to the war while he was on the Senate Intelligence Committee that knew the intelligence reports were cooked

- Voted for China Most Favored Nation status, which was later called the China Free Trade act, which has lead to the current situation with trade and other issues with China

- Not being a very good Vice-Presidential candidate

- Not having enough money after the possible nomination to fend off Republicans

- Being the least experienced of all the candidates running

What he says now is interesting, but what his record shows is that he did the opposite in most cases. Yes, he apologized for his vote for the Iraq War Resolution, but in my view, that's a little too late for what was an obvious problem predicted and waiting to happen.

Obama, while not perfect, holds the best hope and is someone who I believe is a real cause for change. There's much more to it than that, but that's a start.

[Hieronymus]

29. Edwards is the true progressive ...

Obama doesn't even pretend that he'll give health care to all.