It’s been several months since I last mentioned politics on this blog, but now that Barack Obama is the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee, I think it’s time to highlight some of the things I continue to appreciate about his campaign.
First is his refusal to take money from lobbyists and political action committees, a policy that the Democratic National Committee just adopted across the board:
“The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well,” said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. “Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people’s priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests.” link
Second is the number of people who’ve contributed to Obama’s campaign. It’s ordinary people - people like you and me, who donate reasonable amounts of money to make a small difference. I’ve made several donations to match first-time donors’:
Here’s what Sue T. in Los Angeles, CA had to say:
Barack is a force. I’m over 60 and didn’t think we would ever see a president as mean spirited as Nixon ever again — but then there was George W. Barack will bring a new way for us to think about the White House — and a new way for the White House to think about us. I can’t wait.
This is a direct message to me from another Obama supporter. Megan G. in San Francisco also made a donation that was matched by my last donation. It’s a simple feature to implement in a donation website, but a great way to connect people and help them feel like they’re a part of the campaign.
The graphic above read 14,000 earlier today, and now it’s over 20,000 (and may be higher still by the time you see it - it’s updated regularly).
Third, and somewhat tangentially, I like the way the Obama campaign has marketed itself. Style and design matter, and BarackObama.com is one of the best websites I’ve used (not to mention the best campaign website by far).
There are also tons of policy reasons I’m enthusiastic about the Obama campaign, as well as historic reasons. I’m looking forward to the upcoming debates between Obama and McCain.
I was wondering what you thought of his ongoning relationships with people like Jeremiah Wright and William Ayres. They seem a bet extremist to me: A racist-conspracy theorist and a terrorist.
His previous relationship with Wright is one of the reasons I have lost a lot of respect for Obama. I feel Obama betrayed his “supposed” black roots by selling out Wright. The media portrayed Wright as a conspiricist and racist and they didn’t show the depth of his critique of our nation (which is right on-God damn America for killing innocent people). I have read the full transcripts of Wright’s sermons and cannot disagree with his message. I believe it is us who are racist that recoil at a prophet condemnation from a black man and turn around and call him racist.
John McCain is a great man and I wish he had won the 2000 primary and election. However, I think Obama is our best option now. People were put off by Wright’s style more than his substance. His condemnation of America was similar to what Falwell, Robertson and their ilk do. The difference is that they don’t shout it and their beef involves a different set of sins. He is not an extremist so much as he is a man still living and fighting the battles of the 70’s and 80’s. Regarding the other guy, yes, forty years ago he was a man of evil intent. He turned himself in and lucky for him he was not convicted. Whatever his earlier sins, thankfully, he appears to have repented based on how he has lived his life since.
I fail to see what relevance “ties” to controversial figures have in this election. There have been numerous attempts to smear Obama using guilt-by-association tactics that are intended to create irrational fear in voters.
William Ayres is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Jeremiah Wright is no more radical than your average white Pentecostal preacher.
Even so, what difference does it make? Does knowing someone who’s a bit off - or even downright loony - make a candidate unqualified or untrustworthy? Do we have any evidence that these acquaintances of Obama’s have somehow impaired his judgment?
If not, then this is nothing more than fearmongering.
I totally appreciate his refusal of special interest money, too. That is so awesome. It seems that politics haven’t been the same in this country since McKinley’s 1896 election (first campaign to use corporate money and mass advertising to win).
Some choice we have. CFR member Tweedledum and CFR member Tweedledee. Does one prefer a quicker death (Obama) or a long, drawn-out agonizing one (McCain)?
The choices may not be ideal, but there is still a choice. I just can’t stand to see people vote for a color, a party or their wallet. When will people begin to see the presidency as something more than a glorified economist and people pleaser. I don’t want a president who does what I want, but what I need.