OK, folks. Anyone who has read my diaries recently knows I am a big Edwards fan and have had issues with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Folks also know that I repeatedly said I would support whichever candidate come out of the nominating process.
That was a little bit of a hedge because it meant I didn't have to choose. I expected my guy to stay in until the end and then I could let the delegate counts pick my general candidate for me.
But now John Edwards appears to be dropping out, shockingly for me since there are a lot of proportional states coming up, and I have to pick a candidate to vote for in New Jersey on Super Tuesday. So I am asking for partisans in the crowd to convince me: Do I back Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton? Please see below and answer my concerns and give me more positives on each.
Here's how I see their strengths and flaws.
Hillary:
Hillary has been my second choice, but it was a weak second choice borne more from concern over Obama than strong feelings for Hillary. I am definitely not one of the progressive Hillary Haters out there, and actually like her quite a bit. However, her attachment to lobbyists and the corporate powers that are corrupting our system cause me great fear. I don't see how someone with long ties to the business community and DLCers of our party can really take on health care, expanding renewable energy and protecting civil liberties from non-governmental intrusion.
I am also quite concerned about her feelings on the Iraq War, especially since she sounds to me like she will keep us there for years like Nixon did in Vietnam. She'd end it eventually, but it doesn't seem like she would end it well.
Update: bugscuffle in comments reminded me of my concerns regarding Hillary's desire to seat the delegates she "won" from Florida and Michigan. I think that's pretty awful, myself, and it really pushed me away from her. Hell, in Michigan the others weren't even on the ballot.
However, I also see her as a strong supporter of many of the rights we hold dear, including choice, environment, civil liberties and progressive taxation. Her health care plan is also the second best to Edwards' plan.
Obama:
I am very frustrated with Obama's Donny McClurkin episode because it showed flaws in judgment. It was a huge mistake to put him on the stage, but a reparable one. However, Obama's reaction simply made the situation worse, and McClurkin eventually would up with a huge platform for his insanity. I also have issues with Obama's use of right wing frames which I know supporters don't want to hear but really pissed me off in the aggregate. No one statement was bad in and of itself, but the trend was troubling.
Then there's the bipartisan theme he strikes. In another time with a different Republican party would be right that working across the aisle is a good thing to do. But just in the last month and a half we saw the Democrats give George Bush everything he wanted in a military bill only to see him veto it. Then we see the Democrats give the Republicans everything they want on FISA and telecom immunity, and the Republicans then filibustered small changes that meant nothing.
You simply can't work with these people without getting stabbed in the back. They don't care about bipartisan or about working across the aisle -- they care about winning and will demonize a soldier who lost three limbs fighting for America as a traitor. I have grave concerns about Obama and his desire to bring everyone to the table.
On the other hand, Obama's inspiration and ability to move people could be hugely positive for this country. As long as he has advisers and policies that are progressive he is the most likely to bring the country to realize how progressive it already is, and to support these programs.
I know he has a progressive heart, and he is willing to forgive just about any trespass in order to find common ground. These can be strengths in a President who is trying to be transformational if he can get the country behind him and blunt the Republican attacks. If he can't stop the Republicans from poisoning the well, though, no amount of rhetoric will win the day and he'll have to force things through a divided Congress.
OK, that's about it for now. Please convince me, without any scatological and mean-spirited stuff about the other candidates. I want to be convinced to vote for one of our two remaining candidates, not against them.
That doesn't mean you can't compare the two, but please keep it from getting to the "rhymes with witch" stage.
This is also not about any position that Edwards may get in a future administration. I hear the AG talk, and love it. But I want to base my vote on Feb. 5 on who the best candidate for my beliefs is, not what they will do for the candidate I supported.
Thanks for all your help.