Obama is the great uniter

I'm originally from a rather Republican-friendly area of the country: rural Louisiana.  I have been shocked by how many people that I know that still live in the area that would consider or are planning on voting for Obama this year.  I'll detail a story or two below the fold...

I'm a strong supporter of Obama for many reasons, but the one that is starting to become extremely clear to me is that he has the potential to unite this country in a way that hasn't been seen in a long time.  My friends and relatives, all registered Republicans, are really impressed with the man, even if they disagree with his politics somewhat.

My aunt is a classic example.  She is a registered Repub that owns her own business with 20+ employees in New Orleans.  Out of the blue tonight she starting talking about politics.  The first thing I thought was "oh crap, politics in the family, this is going to be a disaster."  There was some Hillary talk, and she was like "why does it have to be that woman who could be president."  Oh yikes.  I didn't think this was going to go well.  Then she asked some of us who we were planning on voting for.  After some hedging by other family members in the room, I just flat out stated that I was voting for Obama.  And she replied, "I am too."  I couldn't have been more shocked.  I asked why, and I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was his whole idea of bringing the country back together and that we are all in it together.  In addition, she mentioned that the country seriously needs to think about its interventionalist politics and that the economy is in the toilet.  I was simply floored.  I know she hasn't voted for a Dem in my lifetime, and yet, there is a vote ready to be cast for Obama.  She also thinks McCain is too old ("I wouldn't trust him to drive a car, much less run the country..") but would "never vote for that woman."  eek.

Another relative has also told me that he is interested in hearing more about Obama.  He thinks that McCain is too old, but would never vote for Hillary.  There is some sort of irrational fear of her that can't be underestimated and she will never get people on her side.  I can't see her winning many southern male votes, and any chance of a southern state victory would be gone without that constituency.  Friends from the area have told me the same thing, and something about Hillary is spoiled to a lot of people.

I think the choice for president is very clear.  If the Democrats want to win, and bring the country together, Obama is the right person for the job. No one else will bring together Repubs, Indys and Dems to form an exceptionally strong coalition.  The only way to get the young voters, the new voters and a lot of crossover voters to the polls is to nominate Obama. I strongly encourage anyone who hasn't talked to more moderate or conservative people to do so.  I think the answers you will find could be very enlightening, and are a big part of why I believe that Obama is best chance for the Democrats to win back the White House.  

•  tip jar...

  Thanks for reading my story.

  by esherard8 on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:16:21 PM PDT

•  Who would have ever thought

  we could have a president that represents ALL of America and not just blue or red America. The Clinton's sure as hell didn't. Anyone know why she hasn't just dropped out yet?

  by psilocynic on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:19:21 PM PDT

•  talked about.

  i got my hair cut today. the barber is a mccain guy, the other guy getting his hair cut was a huckabee guy. they dismissed obama (he wants change, but WHAT change?) but they talked about him and didn't really say anything negative besides the sort of neutral notion that he's hasn't given specifics. and they were very interested in the superdelegate process which meant they were paying attention to the democratic race (gop has no superdelegates).

  they never said one thing about hillary. absolutely not even on the radar of discussion.

  now obviously those two guys aren't going to vote for obama, but they're creating an environment where voting for obama is something that is (gasp) thinkable for people with southern accents, and people won't be outside the loop if they go for barack. he's being discussed in a lot of very very red places without a sneer. that's pretty amazing.

  by Addison on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:20:25 PM PDT

•  Re;ublicans know nothing about Obama

  The media is kissing his ass right now so everyone thinks he's just grand.

  Wait till the RNC gets their hands on his record.  They will do to him what they did to Dukakis (who had a 17 point lead after his convention but trailed by 8 points a month later.)

  I can't believe how many people are being fooled by this meme.  The media wants Clinton out because she is the one who can win, and they don't want the Democrats to win.  They know that we will raise the taxes on their million dollar salaries.

  I almost hope that he does get the nomination so you all learn not to be so naive again.  Almost.

  by markusd on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:23:44 PM PDT

  •  I agree

    Obama won't even have to be swift boated.  He wouldn't take a stand in the IL senate, & he associated himself with a bunch of corrupt people.  No one has really called him on this in the primary season, the media is more interested in falling in love with him so he is still relatively un-vetted.  Guess what, the Republicans and the Swift Boaters won't care, they WILL attack.  They don't care about offending African Americans or liberal Democrats because that vote is already gone.  They will attack Obama on any number of things and change his image in the overall electorate, which is what matters in a general election.  They want the people in the middle who may like Obama as a concept but could be easily swayed.

    I am not at all happy saying this because I want more than anything for a Democrat to win the White House this year.  We deserve it after 8 years of hell, but we only deserve it if we can convince the American Public as a whole to elect our candidate.

    by letsbepragmatic on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:33:23 PM PDT

    •  Our candidate will likely be Hillary

      I don't think Obama can win any of the big primaries that remain, and if he does not then the superdelegates will not put him over the top.  Ohio and Pennsylvania are as critical as any swing state can possibly be, if he doesn't have broad appeal there, he is a sure loser in the election.  Superdelegates do understand how this works, even if most folks on this site do not.

      Hillary is going to be the nominee and then get elected President.  

      And Chris Matthews will need to be put on suicide watch!

      by markusd on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:39:47 PM PDT

  •  Y'know, there's a reason 'media' is a plural noun

    It's to point out the foolishness of sentences like "media wants Clinton out because she is the one who can win".

    The Media aren't monolothic, and while they have some major institional problems (read:  they often suck, and will continue to often suck), they aren't engaging an a vast conspiracy against your preferred candidate to suit their nefarious designs for greater wealth and power.

    If you are really concerned about Obama getting a free ride, write well-reasoned, non-hyperbolic diaries pointing out specific weaknesses you think remain insufficiently adressed.  Conversely, write impassioned diaries explaining, in detail, hoe Clinton is being unfairly pilloried.  But this sort of mindless, factless 'working the refs' is beneath you, and beneath this community.

    by Warren Terra on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:38:05 PM PDT

    •  they are monolithic

      This has been written about - they are just like it was in High School, if you hang out with the unpopular kid nobody will talk to you.  Hillary is the unpopular kid right now and the game is to get rid of her at all costs.  They are all down with Obama and are just praying for Hillary to lose.  Choose not to believe it, but it is obvious, and many of the reporters have themselves written about it and observed it.

      by markusd on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:42:27 PM PDT

      •  Groupthink, sure; bias, ok; conspiracy, no.

        Look, the treatment given to Gore was absolutely insane (as was the treatment given to Dubya, in the opposite direction).  Similarly, though in very different ways (the swiftboaters were a real innovation unlike anything seen in 2000), the treatment given to Kerry was egregious.

        But the thing is, it was motivated by factors other than a conspiracy to determine which political theory would win or which policy vision would be enacted.  High school social politics is a good metaphor. Is Obama getting treated better than Clinton?  Yes, probably, and it's not fair.  But it isn't a grand plot to make Democrats lose in November.  Because, among other things, the media writ large cannot arrange and carry out grand conspiracies.

        I'm perfectly prepared to believe that a biased media is rooting for Clinton to lose and/or for Obama to win - but not because it's part of a strategy to arrange a Dem loss in the general. If anything, your argument would seem to suggest that the Dems need their own 'popular kid' to contest the election in the fall.

        by Warren Terra on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:55:14 PM PDT

  •  poor example..

    Dukakis?  Does anyone remember a single speech that he ever made?  In fact, I bet most only think about those tank pictures and that ad against him.  In any event, that's a poor example.  People want to be moved.  Word stir emotions.  Obama has all those gifts.  Bush ran as the great uniter and lost the popular vote.  I just can't see that happening to him.  Call me naive, but this is history in the making.  Some may think the GOP has the answers, but it has nothing for this type of candidate.  You can't just seem saying liberal over and over.  It doesn't work when the economy is in the tank and we keep fighting endless wars.  This is the best chance to take the country back, and Obama can bring us all together. Unless there is a radical change, Hillary just doesn't have that capability.

    by esherard8 on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:46:38 PM PDT

    •  This comment is

      just silly: "and Obama can bring us all together"

      And it's a silly comment that is all too frequently posted on this site.  I just don't understand how people reach the conclusion that BO will bring us "all together".  So what if he worked with repubs to get legislation passed?  The legislators have to work together; they don't really have a choice.  What are these representatives going to do if not work together?  Just not show up for work?  

      by dfarrah on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 11:39:46 PM PDT

    •  "liberal" won't be the only thing they use

      They are very, very good at this and there is PLENTY of ammunition, starting with his close association with Pastor Jeremiah Wright.  Do a little research on that fellow and let me know if you don't think that will be a fruitful line of attack for the Republicans, especially with Jewish voters.  

      And yes, I am afraid I do think you are naive.  Sorry to be blunt.  

      by markusd on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 07:59:59 AM PDT

•  You can't unite a country until

  you have been elected.  Right now, Obama is one of two candidates for the nomination and he hasn't united a single thing yet.  We already had a candidate (gag!) who sold himself as a "uniter, not a divider" and we all know how well that worked out.

  by Radiowalla on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:36:14 PM PDT

•  Really...

  After nearly 8 years of the last "uniter," the thought of a candidate running on the Democratic ticket using that same moniker really creeps me out.  It's enough to make you smack your skull and rattle your bones.

  by Free Spirit on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:38:08 PM PDT

  •  Bush called himself a uniter, but didn't

    actually unite anyone. Even as he campaigned he did so by trying to split people up. Rove used wedges as a means to drive people out to vote, instead of things to vote for that give us common purpose.

    That is the difference between Bush and Obama. Bush claimed to be a uniter in some 1984esque doublethink kinda way. Obama hasn't used wedge issues or divisive tactics.

    by MingPicket on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 08:55:48 PM PDT

    •  I don't care.

      I can't imagine any Democrat wanting to call themselves the same thing Bush called himself.

      ::shudder::

      by Free Spirit on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 09:08:34 PM PDT

      •  If we shy away from every word Bush has tainted

        we wouldn't have very many words left to use.

        by MingPicket on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 07:17:38 AM PDT

•  He Hasn't "United" the Democratic Party

  But magically he can unite a bitterly divided Country??

  by The Baculum King on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 09:24:41 PM PDT

  •  It is possible that

    the American people will unite (60% of them anyway) to elect him. However once in the Oval Office, i don't see how he can unite us while trying to achieve his policy goals.

    by buzzsaw on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 09:33:58 PM PDT

•  I completely disagree!

  Haven't we learned anything at all from the past 2 prez races!

  There is an Anti-Obama wave just on the surface ready to explode anyday now.
  People are getting sick and tired of him. Mark my words on this.
  The party will split in 2. Young for Change vs. those of us who actually live in the 'real world' (no jobs, no health care, facing foreclosure, living in ghost towns) why don't we see Obama visit those people?
  Because he caters to the college crowds all his gigs are at the universities.
  Pep Rallies.

  by MisforMichigan on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 09:53:29 PM PDT

•  Speeches don't do much for me, I need more than

  pretty words, give me concrete proposals of what you will do if elected. Soaring rhetoric is mind candy, give me substance, something with not only what you will do, but with a way you will pay for all those things talk about in your flowery speeches. Lay your proposals out like John Edwards did, with solutions to real problems like Health Care for everyone and ending the stranglehold the Corporations and Lobbyists have on our country.  

  by ichibon on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 11:07:52 PM PDT

  •  couldn't have said it better. EOM

    by dykester on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 12:43:00 AM PDT