PREFACE:
I've been a Green Party member nearly my entire adult life. Frankly, there's never been a Democratic candidate for President that I've found appealing. (In fact, it was the rise of Bill Clinton, coupled with Democrats' adoration of him, that actually made register Green in 1992.) Each time there was a Democrat that I actually liked and would consider voting for (who actually shared many of the views I have), he lost to a candidate that I considered inferior in the primaries: Brown instead of Clinton 1992, Bradley instead of Gore in 2000, and Dr. Dean instead of Kerry in 2004. Each time I've ended up either not voting, or voting for Ralph Nader. However, HOPEfully not this time...
This time, it appears that the Democratic Party may not disappoint me!
When I see Obama I see a candidate that is transcendent, that identifies with a new generation of people - my age (35) and even younger (For the first time ever, my 11 year old son actually likes a Presidential candidate - and stops whatever he's doing to listen to him speak). However, in his speech on race, (particularly his explanation of Wright's views as indicative of a generation of African Americans' frustrations stemming from growing up before the Civil Rights movements) I saw a candidate that can also understand the generation before mine much more than I can, and understands the racial divide that continues to plague this country. I see this ability for him to transcend generations - both in appeal and (especially) in an ability to understand them - much more than in H Clinton's - a politician whose time has come and gone a decade ago, and who appeals most of all to those that have fond memories of the Clinton Administration.
When I see Obama sometimes stutter or stammer during a debate question or a press conference, I see a candidate that (wow!) is actually thinking about what he says and looks to give honest answers, not just stuttering because he actually doesn't know what he's talking about (W Bush). When I see him talk of "difficult work" ahead for the American people, and refusing to bow down to political pandering such as Pennsylvania's payola system, or the gas tax "holiday," I see honesty and integrity. I see this much more of thought and honesty in Obama than in the pre-scripted debate answers and lies of "Xerox" "Sniper Fire" H Clinton.
Most important, in Barack Obama I see a candidate that has impressed me with a brilliant mind - his speech on race, for example, is easily the best, most eloquent, and thoughtful political speech I've heard in my lifetime. His books are very well written and have unusual perspective and honesty - the struggle of a person who is trying to understand himself and those unlike him - and the other one whose title says it all - The Audacity of Hope. His prescient views on the Iraq war before it started, and his comments of the problems we would have invading this country, are well known and another fine example of his intelligence and judgment. He has, without a doubt, an international and trans-generational perspective that, coupled with his superb mind helps him look at the world in a fundamentally deeper way than I (and H Clinton) have. I see a deeply analytical view of race relations in Obama - much more so than in H Clinton's pandering by sitting down on a Sunday in a black church on Martin Luther King Day, or marching at whatever symbolic or commemorative event. (Never mind such ridiculous comments such as B Clinton's claim that he was America's First Black President.) When have we seen from H Clinton an analysis on race that rivaled Obama's speech? One may reply that H Clinton is ahead on women's rights, but further examination reveals that Obama not only wants to move us past racism, (in the same way that H Clinton believes "women's rights are human rights") but he understands the complexities of race relations, and understands racism, in a deeper way than H Clinton "understands" those who disagree with her on womens rights. Also unlike H Clinton (who explicitly panders to the females), Obama does not pander to African Americans.
When I see Barack Obama I see a person that accepts when he's made a mistake, and tries to learn from it so he can do better next time. In further analysis, this actually takes some strength to admit this to oneself, and is a critical component to becoming a better person. How ironic that many (especially H Clinton) portray Obama as weak when he is strong. I see this characteristic much more in Obama than I do in H Clinton, who refuses to acknowledge and/or obfuscates her biggest error, voting for the Iraq War.
Of course, there are issues with which I strongly disagree with him about. I, for example, am an agnostic and would prefer single payer health care, and have more in agreement with Ralph Nader's platform than Obama, but I think that his greatest strengths - intellect, honesty, perspective (qualities I think Nader has) are coupled with a willingness to try to understand and come to terms and reach out to those he doesn't agree with (and THAT, I think Nader doesn't have). Reaching and talking to others that you don't agree with is another sign of strength from someone that's ridiculed for being weak. I have the feeling that where we disagree, Obama will operate in what he thinks is the best interest of all Americans, not just for political expediency. I understand that different Americans have different points of view, and we must reach out to those that we disagree with and find the common things we agree on, to be able to move this country forward. This is much different than Bill Clinton's triangulation - poll tested, calculated moves aimed at disarming Republicans' attacks for the politically expedient task of defeating Republicans. We are, after all, one common worldwide people all with mostly the same wants and needs - to make better for us and our children - and until we come to terms with that, we will continue our old divisive ways of believing might is right. I see in Obama someone who has come to terms with this in himself, in the American people, and internationally, much more than in H Clinton, and, yes, more than in Nader (who I think like H Clinton, enjoys the fight for the fight's sake).
There have been many better diaries here stating Obama's strength's, and my decision to support Obama is no surprise to my family and friends - after all, as I earlier stated it was my despise of Bill Clinton in 1992 that drove me to register Green - but at least it does lend credence to Obama's claim to appeal to independents....
Finally, I cannot believe that Democrats are actually struggling to decide between H Clinton and Obama - they actually have a chance to nominate someone that, as Richardson correctly put it, is a "once in a lifetime" candidate. I just don't understand it. The choice should be self-evident - one candidate is right on Iraq, the other one is not; one's right on admitting mistakes, one is not; one is an intellectual, one relies on sound bites and pandering; one understands that reaching and talking to those you disagree with, both domestically and abroad, is the only way this world can be improved; the other sticks to a Bushian ideology of war, and nuclear "oblieration" and ridicules the former as naive. One seeks to unite this country and all its beautiful people, while having an international perspective that the United States is one among equals; while the other touts her "fight" and blames the Iraqi people for the mess that we started (and she voted for) in Iraq. One understands that the only way to get more health care to many more people in this country is by bringing in all involved parties, and hashing out a compromise, not just by either fighting everyone who disagrees with you and getting nothing done (H Clinton circa 1993 & now) or taking their lobbyist money (H Clinton 2008). One is for reforming NAFTA, the other panders & lies about it now but lobbied for her husband, bragged out it overseas, and is on the cover of Fortune. One is fundamentally leaps and bounds ahead of the other by nearly every quantifiable measure...and yet Democrats try and tear him down, and destroy him. One tries to unify, the other uses the politics of hate, and fear, and division. I guess maybe that's why I support Obama, but I'm not a Democrat....Good luck Obama, I admire who you are and what you're trying to do. For the reasons above, I urge my Green Party members to support you. Good luck...