I Have Decided to Follow Obama

My heart has been with Edwards, but I never really supported him, because I was sure that his decision on public financing would leave him broke for much of the general election. When I felt that I had to give up on Edwards, I moved to Obama briefly, but after New Hampshire, I started to hesitate.

I like many things about Hillary Clinton. I also think that most of the attacks on her here are unfair and are more worthy of Fox News than of Daily Kos. I have written a couple of diaries defending her, without committing to supporting her. I don’t mind saying that there are also many things I dislike about Clinton, too, but I won’t go into all that right now.

I have mixed feelings about Obama. I don’t like his healthcare plan. I am deeply concerned by his healthcare hit ads against Clinton. Also, many of his supporters have annoyed me, because they come across, quite often, as starry-eyed or holier-than-thou. (Plus, though this may not be a significant issue, I find Obama’s musical campaign videos to be simply painful – they make me think wistfully of fifth grade band recitals.)

I cannot say that I love Obama one hundred percent. However, I have decided to cast my lot with him, because I am getting the feeling that Obama is stirring up a movement in this country. Obama is galvanizing the masses and bringing the youth into political action. Obama’s presidency could truly change our nation.

Clinton could win – Clinton would win. Clinton would do good things. But Obama could bring about a sea change. Our country needs more than just good policies. Our country needs a fundamental transformation. I feel that Obama could truly shake up the status quo.

When I told my father-in-law, who grew up close to Pullman, WA, (which is just on the Idaho border) that 14,000 people had showed up to see Obama in Boise, his jaw dropped. That’s the kind of galvanizing I am talking about.

If Clinton gets the nomination, I will support her gladly and will campaign for her. But as of now, I am with Obama.

•  Tips

  by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:55:44 AM PDT

  •  look, he's cool

    But... "follow"???

    by Plutonium Page on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:15:31 AM PDT

    •  It was a play on words. n/t

      by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:16:27 AM PDT

      •  ok, whew

        You see, there are enough diaries around here that are that creepy.

        by Plutonium Page on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:17:17 AM PDT

        •  creepy is unfair and even cynical

          What's creepy is Larry Johnson's private security firm bankrolling his Obama hate fest website hoping for shillary contracts, and having the pieces cross posted here.

          Someone having the courage to believe in politics and a politician again after a generation of cynicism isn't creepy imho.

          by Number5 on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:24:03 AM PDT

          •  Creepy is totally fair.

            Politicians should be people with whom we agree, not whom we follow.  The latter speaks of a messianism for which "creepy" is the most apt descriptor.

            by burrow owl on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:51:08 AM PDT

            •  For some of us

              a leader isn't what we are looking to vote for. A representative is more what people like us, passionate and involved activist types, are looking for.

              Millions of people that can only partially invest in the political system, for what ever reason, want a leader.

              If you look, Obama offers plenty to both groups.

              Criticizing an appeal to the latter is a criticism of a core democratic constituency that works to put food on their family, in that uniquely American way of needing three jobs to do it.

              by Number5 on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 08:12:00 AM PDT

    •  Took the "follow" right outta' my mouth!

      PP, I mentioned you last night... We agreed, you were the embodiment of the women's movement! Yeah, Plutonium Page!

      /sorry, diarist, for the detour. :)

      by kck on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 09:01:29 AM PDT

•  thanks for your choice!

  I know it wasn't easy to make. I liked Edwards and he was my second choice because of his message.

  by slinkerwink on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:57:26 AM PDT

•  'I have decided to follow Obama' Great title nt.

  by kidneystones on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:57:54 AM PDT

•  You Are Joining

  The Obama army ... shaved heads, ragged clothes, each man giving up his family and everything he owns ... to follow Obama, follow Obama!

  by bink on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:58:35 AM PDT

  •  Heh

    Really? Does that mean I can cast out demons?

    I saw Scorcese's "The Last Temptation of Christ" for the first time this weekend, incidentally.

    by droogie6655321 on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:03:27 AM PDT

    •  I still haven't seen that n/t

      by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:13:36 AM PDT

•  Is there a website

  showing how I need to make my clothes ragged? I don't want to do it the wrong way.

  (snark)

  by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:01:21 AM PDT

  •  Can't go wrong with sack-cloth and ashes

    Good luck.

    Really.

    by kidneystones on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:14:02 AM PDT

•  "Follow" Obama . . .

  whoa . . . I won't even follow Jesus . . .

  by prodigal on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:02:27 AM PDT

  •  Wee, I do actually

    but I thought that I would have a little fun.

    by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:03:28 AM PDT

    •  That's was to be "well" n/t

      by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:03:49 AM PDT

  •  It's OK

    All Obama asks for is your vote. You don't have to wear sandals or anything.

    by droogie6655321 on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:03:56 AM PDT

    •  Good, because

      I don't like sandals and it's cold right now.

      by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:05:26 AM PDT

      •  I always trip.

        I only own one pair of flip flops. Weird, huh?

        by droogie6655321 on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:09:10 AM PDT

        •  Give me shoes or boots

          or give me death. :-)

          by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:12:43 AM PDT

  •  y'know, i followed jesus for a while...

    just to see where he would go when the sun went down. but he's wily, man. he kept vanishing into crowds and walking across rivers. he was hard to keep up with, so eventually i just gave up. and that's when my friend lucifer popped up.

    by koan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:05:44 AM PDT

•  There seems little doubt

  that the passion behind Obama's candidacy is a real hunger for change that will not be denied. I have always thought Clinton vastly better equipped to be the chief executive than Obama, but perhaps he can be buoyed by the movement behind him in ways that she never could, and perhaps that movement will help him overcome his obvious lack of seasoning. Certainly stranger things have happened.

  by Jim J on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:03:18 AM PDT

•  i prefer to think of it as leading...

  ...leading with obama. this is not about him, and we need to remember that so that we the people can remind him if somehow he were ever to forget that.

  ...anyways, good to know you're on board.

  by koan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:03:55 AM PDT

  •  Agreed.

    I was just having a little fun. :-)

    by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:06:10 AM PDT

    •  If Obama wins, you folks will be having a whole

      lot of fun.

      I hope he gets clobbered.

      That's looking increasingly less likely.

      by kidneystones on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:16:28 AM PDT

      •  I don't know

        I didn't realize about the sandles and the ragged clothes.

        He always seemed so well-dressed, and a lot of his followers are wearing NorthFace. But now I wonder.

        Oh well, I've made my choice.

        by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:18:24 AM PDT

•  Reminds me of a song...

  I have decided to follow Jesus...

  by Tom P on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:04:21 AM PDT

•  "..No turning back, No turning back (clap, clap)"

  But seriously... I'm with you.  Two great contenders here, but I've gravitated to Obama for my actual vote because of the same reasons you conveyed here.

  by Torta on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:04:37 AM PDT

•  BO

  I too was for JE and I only switch after he dropped out.  If you have a chance to read "The Audacity of Hope" by BO you can see and feel why so many believes that he can transformed America for the better.  I also think that Hillary Clinton could become a great President...however I cannot vote for her because of her namesake.  The country has one Bush too many and a vote for Hillary would be one Clinton too many also.  Dynasty is good in sport, but is bad for the country.  To think that only the Bushes and Clintons can lead this country is too narrow minded.   America is great because of its people.  BO is campaigning with the people.  Hillary is campaigning like we the people need her more than she needs us.    

  by jamaicanblood on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:07:59 AM PDT

•  It'll be a while before...

  ... you're even OT 1.  Did they tell you that?  When was your first auditing session?  There's a lot of work to be done, so get crackin'!

  And you've gotta pay a lot of money to make it this far.

  Are you serious about the "follow" part?  You can't possible have that weak a mind, can you?

  Follow???

  This site is so fucked.

  by Plutonium Page on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:15:02 AM PDT

  •  typo

    possibly

    by Plutonium Page on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:15:58 AM PDT

  •  It's a joke, okay

    A lot of the commenters got it.

    by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:19:17 AM PDT

•  I think I will have to update this diary to

  change the title

  by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:20:22 AM PDT

  •  on second thought,

    I'll leave it as originally published

    by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:40:14 AM PDT

•  Okay folks

  I have to leave my computer for a long day of work and errands. I hope you have some fun in the comments section.

  I'll chime in again tonight, if this diary is not wholly forgotten by then (sniff, sniff).

  Have a good day!

  by Zoltan on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:27:11 AM PDT

•  Welcome. Out of the many, one.

  by Travis Stark on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 08:05:27 AM PDT