I consider myself a moderate and an Independent. I look forward to the day when I can vote for a Republican again. But it's a no-brainer for 2008. I shall vote for either (in alphabetical order) Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. My problem is, which one would be the better president? Here is my list of ten things that bother me about them--five for one and five for the other. I also add some things they can each do that will help me decide.
It Bothers Me
1)It bothers me that Barack Obama is so inexperienced. He may make several blunders as he learns the job if he becomes president. He does not seem to have surrounded himself with advisers possessing good judgment either.
2)It bothers me that Hillary Clinton voted to support the war in Iraq. Even I knew that the war was unjustified. She had a chance to show some courage and leadership then, and I suspect she knows she failed.
3)It bothers me that Senator Obama has a long-time sleazy associate like Tony Rezko , and is associated with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. He argues that his strong suit is his judgment, but it’s pretty hard to see sound judgment here.
4)It bothers me that Senator Clinton also has sleazy associates. Let’s start with her husband.
5)It bothers me that Barack Obama seems like other politicians in that he denies bad things as long as he can, and then finally ‘fesses up. It’s hard to believe that he is a person of principle when the press has to drag the truth out of him on these occasions.
6)It bothers me that Hillary Clinton has not revealed her tax returns and other aspects of her financial affairs. It makes me suspect wrong-doing on her part. Ditto her Senate "earmarks." Her "non-agreeing agreements" are the counterpart of non-denial denials, and are dishonest.
7)It bothers me that Barack Obama was in favor of public financing of the presidential campaign—until it looked like he’d be giving up a big advantage if he did so. Principles are the things that make us do the right thing when expediency pulls us toward the wrong. So many of our political problems today come from candidates needing huge amounts of money to win elected office. Campaign financing reform is too important to set aside "until next time."
8)It bothers me that Hillary Clinton thinks the Democratic primaries in Michigan and Florida were fair. The vote in Michigan was as fair as were those in the Soviet Union. Wanting these unsanctioned primaries to count looked like ignoring the rules and "trying to pull a fast one."
9)It bothers me that Barack Obama has not won the "big states." I know the polls today show he would win nearly all of them against John McCain in November, but the Republicans have been handed a huge number of attacking points. (Not that they won’t relish attacking Hillary too.)
10)It bothers me that Hillary Clinton seems willing to destroy the Democratic Party to win the nomination. If she does not win the most pledged delegates, yet persuades superdelegates to make her the nominee anyway,it will tear the party to pieces. It looks like she’s determined to win at any price...and that’s a pretty sure way to ultimately lose.
I much prefer Senator Clinton or Obama to John McCain. We have to realize what four more years of Republican control of the executive branch will do to the country and the world—-given the present version of Republicanism. So I shall support and vote for whoever wins the Democratic nomination. But as to whom I would prefer be the candidate, here’s what will make up my mind.
A) I want to be convinced that Barack Obama is the man of principle, and good judgment, he claims to be.
B) I want to see Hillary’s tax returns, etc., and a convincing reason why she didn’t release them months ago.
C) I want Barack to be more specific about his plans and proposals. I appreciate inspiring rhetoric. You can energize huge numbers of dispirited people with it. But I also appreciate the devil in the details.
D)I want Hillary to play fair and respect the rules. Yes, we admire someone who’s a "battler." But I’ve seen what an unprincipled president can do, and I’m very tired of administrations that bend, break, or ignore the rules and then give the flimsiest of rationales for doing so.
E) I want Barack to show that he is a unifier. I want him to be on the high road.
F) I want Hillary to be on the high road too, be less divisive, and work more toward a unified party.
I invite others to make up their own lists of issues with both candidates. Let’s let their campaigns know where they’ve failed so far. Studies have shown that "progressives" differ from "conservatives" in their individualism, critical thinking, even-handedness, and reliance on sound evidence. I can't think of a better time to show it.