Why do you like Obama? I need answers.

[Hamlette]

I'm in a very red state and a huge Obama fan. I have a bumper sticker, lawn sign and a few buttons. Occasionally people ask me why I support him and I want to say "Duh? Because he's not Bush or McCain...you stupid idiot. What's NOT to like?" But that won't work.

Give me 5 short things I can say that might persuade people. Although we're very red here, they don't like McCain (not conservative enough probably).

I usually say: he's inspiring people to get involved in our country. We have more problems than we know what to do about now, we are all going to have to pull together to solve them. He holds out the best hope for making that happen instead of dividing us.

They usually say: I don't believe one word any politician says.

What's my reply?

Suggestions?

[Captain Angry]

1. That crowd likes to hear certain things.

1: He is taking the big money out of the process. No donations from lobbyists, no lobbyists working in his campaign, etc. (shot at McCain)

2: He isn't from a rich dynasty family, he grew up poor and is now the best candidate running for President. (inside shot at Bush)

3: He actually tried to do something to help his fellow citizens after Hurricane Katrina unlike McCain and Bush who were partying together. Americans drowned in an American city. And the country didn't stop on a dime to do everything it could for its own brothers and sisters.

4: He is not actively poking other world leaders in the eye. Our military is tired, underpaid and overstretched. Unlike his competition, he is not trying to create a preemptive strike on a country that cannot project force to the USA.

Just some thoughts off the top of my head.

[Warpy]

24. You can't say he grew up poor because he didn't.

He grew up solidly upper middle class. Single mothers aren't poor if they come from wealthy families willing to help.

The best way to promote him is using the KISS* method. In other words, keep it to bumpersticker slogans describing change, a new day in DC, sweep out the dirty money, et cetera ad nauseum.



*Keep it simple, stupid.

[Captain Angry]

28. That's what I get for not doing my own research.

:-)

[cynatnite]

2. Don't use the 'anybody but bush' line...

It comes across like you're only voting for Obama because you don't like bush.

Reasons are really easy...

Stopping the war
Health care
Economy
etc...

Google is your friend. Learn exactly where Obama stands and know his record. Making your case might get them reconsidering support for McCain.

[grasswire]

3. he's more conservative than Bush....

....that might work.

[WillyToad]

4. Because he isn't a Republican

[XemaSab]

5. He talks to the American people like we're grown ups

It's not all platitudes and sound bites. :shrug:

[Indiana_Dem]

6. Ok here's why I like him--

Despite his experience, he has the best ability over any other politician I know of in this time period to be a good leader in what I think are some of the roughest economic times coming for this country. I believe he has the ability to ask us to pull (and who many would listen to) together in a manner that other high-level politicians haven't been able to accomplish. I also believe he will have the ability to be an excellent negotiator in foreign policy. I also believe he can restore our moral standing in the world.

In an economic crash or another attack, out of all of the politicians that have been running for office, I can only picture HIM on the TV set giving an address that could bring us together as a nation, could inspire us to work together, give us comfort and make us feel safer in troubled times.

That's it in a nutshell for me.

[izzie]

20. Hope it sounds like. That we can be what we think we are.

I see him as a man for the times. We just need him. He also seems to be a man with a heart and brains. Life has not made him jaded and may never make him that way. Some times people need a guy that thinks their is a pony in the room full of shit.

[Runcible Spoon]

7. He's Not McCain and he's not Clinton.

yep, that's about all I got personally.

Sigh.

[Eric J in MN]

8. I like that he's eager to meet with leaders of other countries.

Opening communication with Iran will make a war less likely if there is an incident between a US Navy ship and Iranians.

[Djinn]

11. while I agree he's certainly better equipped

for foreign diplomacy than Bush (pretty hard to be worse) I can't get too optimistic on Iran.

Given Obama has flagged his belief in pre-emptive attacks against nations that do not threaten the US, one of them being Iran, I'd be very surprised to say the least if the mullahs viewed him as trustworthy.

The US's relationship with Israel also makes any kind of normalization of relations with Iran tricky to say the least

[Vickers]

9. He's smart.

I like smart leaders.

You know, someone who knows the difference between Sunnis and Shiites.

Jesus, confusing those two is like confusing Southern Baptists and Roman Catholics!

[Hekate]

14. I like the So. Baptist/Roman Catholic analogy to the Sunnis and Shiites

In cultures that are alien to Americans, it can be easy to believe that "they all look alike" or "they're all the same." People get confused, and I don't blame them. It is really, really important that our leaders NOT be confused. Obama knows and he's smart.

Hekate

[Mojambo]

10. Because I think he can win. Big. n/t

[Leeny]

12. He brings out new voters

I think he's bringing young people, poor people, black folks, and others who might feel either apathetic or disenfranchised (and fucked over) after the last two (stolen) elections. I just think he can win. I was for Hillary until right before the CA primary, and then I saw how many people were turning out to volunteer and to just get involved. It's also a chance for people to make history. I dunno. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
:bounce: :bounce: :kick:

[ConsAreLiars]

13. Answer "Everything! What don't you like?"

Turn it back on them. Make them say what they prefer about McInsane over Obama and how NcCrazy serves their interests better than Obama.

[B Calm]

15. BINGO!

[OneDemsConscience]

16. The big ones for me

maybe some of these would resonate among your red staters...

1)Obama will restore accountable government. Unlike McCain, Obama stump speeches do not contain lies. He is held accountable for what he says and does.
2) Obama will restore sane foreign policy and curtail insane spending on defenese. He is not in the pocket of oil and defense contractors/companies.
3) Obama will restore our constitutional rights. He will end unconstitutional surveillance and torture.
4) Obama as president means more balanced budgets, and less lopsided spending. History shows that a Democratic executive does a far better job curtailing the national debt and the influence of monied interests and their lobbyists.
5) Obama as president means more funding devoted to education, health-care, and infastructure. His leadership would be a step towards sane and productive priorities.
6) Obama as president would combat the rising tide of Anti-Americanism. His leadership would increase the popularity, security, and prosperity of America and reduce the chance of new international alliances against us.

[chknltl]

17. The greatest thing about Barrack Obama

Ask anyone: What is the BIGGEST problem in Washington DC.? The answer, nine times out of ten will be LOBBYISTS! Lobbyists, or more importantly the corporations who are paying the lobbyists are directly responsible for just about every single problem America faces today! It may or may not be intentional but this is destroying American democracy from within far more effectively than any terrorists with their dirty bombs or hijacked airliners could ever dream to do!

Both candidates will be beholding to those who invested their money into their campaigns, so the question becomes: "If corporate-lobbyists are the biggest problem in DC., of the two remaining candidates, which one is MORE beholding to the very corporations who pay the lobbyists?" The answer is quite simple! Senator mCcain is going to represent those corporations, FAR FAR more than Senator Obama. Senator Obama is too new to have taken on the corporatist baggage that Senator mCcain has! Senator mCcain is a huge part of the problem in Washington DC.!

Senator Obama seeks to change all this. Unlike Senator mCcain, the bulk of Senator Obama's campaign contributions came from We The People. He specifically requested of his campaign that this be the case! He understands that We The People need to have OUR own voice in our government. This is EXACTLY what democracy is about! Pretty much the first thing he did when he knew that he had won the nomination was to call on the Democratic Party to stop taking in corporate money and seek instead to fund our party from those who the party should represent: We The People!

Which one of these two is better for America's democracy? A person who will represent the corporatists over We The People or a person who will represent We The People above all else? President bush has represented the corporatists above the needs of We The people. The corporatists have grown quite wealthy lately while We The People suffer and grow poorer and poorer under bush's Presidency.

IMO the single greatest thing one can say about Senator Obama is that he wants to represent We The People more-so than he is willing to represent the corporatists. He fully understands how this unrestricted capitalism is wrecking America. He has proven this with his campaign so far and by calling on the Democratic Party to reject those lobbyists he is willing to gamble that the party will be able to fight their way back to true democracy. We The People have a champion who will fight to restore our voice in our own government! THIS is what Barrack Obama is about. Everything else is icing on the cake. (Pretty nice icing too as you are likely seeing from other responses to your request)

If you need it, there a many books regarding the corporatist hostile takeover of our government, I recommend Thom Hartmann's "SCREWED The war Against America's Middle Class" There are many great articles online and in the DU that can explain this as well. I suspect that as a fellow DUer you are already quite aware of this hostile takeover of our government.

An important aside, America has the single-most greatest military force this world has ever seen, it has perhaps the largest nuclear arsenal as well. The rest of the world is well aware of this. Wouldn't it be better if the world respected America for who we are and what we can do FOR them as opposed to what we can do TO them? I think Barrack Obama is willing to talk to and work with the nations of our planet...mCcain would prefer that they feared our might.

Another aside: February 12, 1809 is the day of President Abraham Lincoln's birth. Who better to rededicate the Lincoln memorial on February 12, 2009 than President Obama? How memorable will that 200th anniversary speech will be? Is there another more eloquent than Barrack Obama? How special will it be to have that speech given by a half black President Of The United States!!!! It'll be one of the most joyous days in American history! Despite everthing, I think America has earned this celebration and I plan on meeting a great many of our fellow DUers there that day.

[GOPBasher]

18. "He has great ideas to solve our problems, such as the economic turmoil, the energy crisis,

the health care crisis, the financial crisis, the housing crisis, the credit crisis, the fiscal crisis (which is driving down the dollar and creating many of these other problems), the trade deficit, etc.

[FrenchieCat]

19. he'smart and insightful enough to know that it will take the American people

of all walks of life to work together to restore a Nation and a worlds' faith in us.

Barack Obama is just so much more than a John McCain, till it ain't even funny.
An Older shrivled up whiter than white scowling guy talking nonsense next to Barack Obama and then comparing their policy? I would safely say that anyone voting for McCain is just plain fucking out to lunch!

That a phenomenal once in the lifetime politician reminiscent of JFK, RFK, and MLK all rolled up into one, orating like nobody's business comes along, and somehow, the United States get all hot and bothered about the fact that he has melanin in his skin? What would that tell the world about us? We would look like shit; worse than having gifted Bush to the world.

I mean, really.

[notesdev]

21. My reasons

1) He keeps his cool under fire and doesn't strike out in vengeance, even where it's well deserved. Doesn't bully people into supporting him, or resort to fear tactics. Shows maturity the other candidates lack, despite his young age, and respect for the voters.

2) He's not a baby boomer. Baby boomers have wrecked this country and it's well past time a member of a less self-obsessed generation took charge. Not subject to typical delusions of baby boomers like the practice of borrowing forever and thinking the piper never need be paid.

3) He's not part of the established power elite, which is corrupt beyond comprehension.

Yes this is mostly about what he is not. But alternatives on hand are repulsive, so what are you going to do? Give the least flawed guy a chance to fix things, because we know the others cannot, and would not if they could.

[femmedem]

22. Speaks truth to power: goes right into Detroit to say

we're going to raise fuel efficiency standards. And right into Miami to say he's going to lift travel restrictions on Cuba.

Edit to add: see Frenchie Cat's post here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6303258

In particular, Obama's support for veterans and Katrina survivors might be of special interest to your red state friends--especially if you inform them of McCain's failures on those issues.

[Dark]

23. His healthcare plan gives us a sample of universal healthcare.

People who hadn't signed up with an insurance co. will sign up for the program, get better treatment and they'll be able to extol the advantages of universal health care.

Americans will reject anything mandator, and don't want to stick with the status quo.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

25. List some of his policies

Talking to America's enemies, withdrawal from Iraq, support for abortion, healthcare and so on.

I'm in the UK; I've never seen footage of him making a full speach so I don't give a damn about his reputed charisma; the important thing is what policies he'll introduce if he becomes president.

[Dangerman]

26. I don't like anybody...

Who is Pro-Israel all the way, like Obama. The Israelis tormented the Palestinians for so long that why did Obama supports them?

Just became the Israelis' ancestors were tormented by Hitler doesn't mean they have a free pass to dominate the entire Middle East is their will.

I guess when it comes to other issues, I may better vote of the lesser of two evils, Obama.

[stillcool]

27. We are so fucked up...

that we have to take a chance on ourselves. I think Obama's rise signifies that 'we the people' can get it together and do the unthinkable. If a portion of the 300 million people that we are, find it within ourselves to not only vote, but educate ourselves and inform others, not only of who Obama is, but who we are, we can begin to do something about our reality and our future. I don't believe for one minute that Obama alone can fix our problems. But I do believe that Obama can and does manage to bring people together. We can each be a snowflake blowing in the wind, or we can gather together to make the biggest, strongest, hardest snowball imaginable. A force to be reckoned with. Or not.

[sendero]

29. Because FINALLY...

.. we have a Dem nominee who knows how to frame the issues better than Republicans. I don't think any of our nominees, including my early favorite Edwards, is as good as he is.

He is going to rip McCain to shreds, I'm certain of it.

[annabanana]

30. Here's a link to a bunch of reasons specific - a gold mine

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6303258

[timtom]

31. He is an intelligent person who can parse a freaking idea,

let alone a sentence.

[blm]

32. Because he believes in OPEN GOVERNMENT and in a red state they might want to be mindful

of what the tyranny of CLOSED GOVERNMENT and its protection of secrecy and privilege that has only benefited those who profit mightily from it.

Open government accountable to the people is a fight worth having and a principle that both left and right should rally.

[LibDemAlways]

33. Because we can't afford 4 more years of republican

policies, which is exactly what McCain is promising.

I was an Edwards supporter. When he dropped out, I didn't support anybody but knew I would eventually vote for the Dem nominee, as I've done in every election since 1972. I would tell anyone who asks that a vote for McCain is a vote against that person's own self-interest - unless they are an oil company CEO or other corporate fatcat.

[warren pease]

34. "I don't believe one word any politician says."

And yet, it's a cinch they believed every single lie out of the Bushies mouths, starting with the one about how he won Florida and was vindicated by the supreme court and looked forward to being a compassionate conservative and a uniter, not a divider.

Lies for wars, lies for domestic repression, lies for imperialist resource grabs, lies for you, lies for me, lies for PNAC, lies for the 3,000 charred or vaporized corpses he used as virtual props for his flag waving photo ops, lies for the first responders who are now dead or dying because he told them the air was fine, lies for Colin Powell to spew at the UN, lies that finally killed US credibility for maybe a decade while this smirking sociopath goes on his merry way to some undisclosed location where life is good, drugs are free, Pickles isn't around, the single malt flows steadily, the lone star is always cold and there's an entire library of kiddie porn for him and his guests to chuckle over during those long nights hiding from Interpol and avoiding those pesky warrants from the International Criminal Court.

So... Next question?


wp


Edited to say: Sorry, but I have no idea how to talk to wingers in any but the most obscene and antagonistic terms. Nor can I imagine anything you could tell them re Obama's agenda that would make even a small dent in what passes for their consciousness. Good luck, though.

[Juche]

35. Eight reasons

1. He isn't ignoring terrorism in the middle east by focusing on the unnecessary war in Iraq. He wants to go to Afghanistan & Pakistan to actually fight the terrorists.

2. He will take peak oil, global warming and energy independence seriously and as a result we could have $600 billion a year in revenue stay in America instead of get sent overseas to buy oil each year. Assuming oil is at $110/barrel (which it may drop to) that is what we are sending overseas, alot of it to countries like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela (who I don't mind personally) or Iran. Some also goes to Mexico and Canada though. But it doesn't help our trade deficit.

3. He supports middle class tax cuts and benefits. He wants a $500-1000 payroll/FICA tax offset, a $4000/yr student tax credit and a patients bill of rights to make it easier to get and keep healthcare.

4. America has run up a trillion in debts to china under Bush and McCain's leadership will easily add another trillion if he makes Bush's wars and tax cuts permanent. Obama wants to make the US independent of Chinese bankers.

5. He believes tax cuts on corporations should go to the corporations that create jobs at home rather than overseas.

6. Unlike Bush & McCain, he supports increasing education benefits and R&R time for soldiers. Obama also took initiative to fix Walter-Reed.

7. Obama is one of the biggest supporters of sunshine laws and government accountability in the senate. McCain is in the pocket of lobbyists, has tied to the Keating 5 while Bush has run one of the most secretive, lobbyist controlled govs in US history.

8. Obama was a professor of constitutional law at Chicago. McCain & Bush are perfectly willing to dismantle the constitution to spy on, detain, torture and mislead the public.

What motivates them to be republicans? If you can figure that out you can tailor your message to fit those needs. I'm trying to give reasons that fit the GOP mold. Ie, he has a tough, competent foreign policy; he wants the US to be independent of Chinese bankers and Saudi/Iran/Venezuelian oil; he wants to cut taxes on the middle class and he doesn't want to reward coporation that have no loyalty to the US.

Republicans are generally but not totally motivated by national security, respect for the military, independence from the global community & tax cuts. Explain how Obama supports these agendas and Bush/McCain are a threat to them.

You have to know your audience and tailor your message accordingly. Saying 'he is the first black president who supports universal healthcare and will support labor unions' may not work/probably won't work on a red state republican.

[SergeyDovlatov]

36. because he supports the troops and keep funding the war?

[ThatsMyBarack]

37. He wants to bring ALL of the people of America together....

Not just favor the wealthy and leave everyone else behind! :patriot:

[TeeYiYi]

38. Borrow from Clinton's speech today:

"Obama can put our country back on the path to Peace, Prosperity, and Progress."

TYY