[Oe List ...] pulling strings

Mon Feb 4 22:33:38 EST 2008

I hesitate to jump in on this topic because I'm aware that we have plenty of
non-Americans on this list, and I try hard not to charge blindly down the
America-centric super-highway.  Plus, I'm not sure how much people want to
use this forum to talk politics.  That said, this is an important
presidential race that has the potential for impacting so much of the rest
of the world, for better or worse.  So I'm gonna stick my neck out.

If you are an undecided (American) Democrat looking for input, I offer a
story and some reflections.  Maybe you will find it helpful.  All others,
read on or delete as you wish.  I won't be offended, nor do I mean to
offend.

Five years ago I met Barack Obama when I was in Springfield (Illinois state
capitol) for a "Social Work Lobby Day" (read: social work students wandering
around the state capitol buildings hoping to recognize and introduce
themselves to state lawmakers.)  As luck would have it I was wandering with
a very assertive, politically knowledgeable young woman who recognized Obama
as the Senator from the district that housed the University of Chicago,
where we were students.  We stopped him on the sidewalk and talked for
several minutes.  We were hoping to get traction for some potential
legislation that would benefit social workers and the demographic we tend to
serve.  Obama, it turned out, was knowledgeable about the topic, and gave us
thoughtful, candid advice that included his opinion that the legislation
could not succeed in that year.  He explained why and went on to suggest
ways to position it for future success.  Not one word of BS.  No pandering
whatsoever.  Just very informed, practical, respectful feedback and
suggestions.

I had never heard of this man before, but I was so taken with his candor and
intelligence that I came home raving to Pat (husband) about this fabulous
state senator I'd met.  When he ran for U.S. Senate the next year I
supported him, needless to say.  Illinois may lean Democratic overall, but
when you get outside Chicago there are a heckuva lot of Republicans in this
state.  Those Republicans voted for him in droves.  White farm folks from
little towns downstate loved him.  (It didn't hurt that the Republican Party
lost its first candidate to a sex scandal, and then imported someone from
Maryland in a ridiculously misguided attempt to put up their own "black"
candidate.)  Obama won with 70% of the vote.

My reflections:

Obama does have the capacity to unite the country and appeal to people's
better natures.  Inspiring people is not just wishy-washy stuff.  It's good
and it's real.  It energizes people and has the potential to engage them
into positive action.

Obama is appealing to young people.  This is a very good thing.  We need
them to engage.  They're next in line to be in charge.

Obama is not perfect.  Politics is never a perfect process and compromise is
an essential factor in getting anything done.  That said, Obama seems to
have held onto his center pretty well.  I'm betting that he can move some
dirt.  He has been attracting smart, seasoned policy people (including some
from the Bill Clinton era).

If nothing else sways you, then consider the pragmatic view.  If you're a
Democrat and you want to win the White House then for God's sake, vote for
Obama.  McCain is very likely to be the Republican nominee.  Polls indicate
that in a McCain-Clinton race, McCain would attract most of the independents
and some Democrats, while Clinton would attract almost no Republicans.  In a
McCain-Obama race, independents would be split.  I'm betting that Obama can
get a lot of those independents and some of the Republicans.  Also, Obama
has coattails.  He can help other Democrats win.  We need a filibuster-proof
Senate.

Okay, now go and vote your conscience.  I'll still love you no matter who
you choose.

Marsha Hahn

  _____  

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of W. J.
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 6:28 PM
To: dialogue at wedgeblade.net; oe at wedgeblade.net
Subject: [Oe List ...] pulling strings

I'm bewildered. I was for Hillary, but the more I look the scarier he gets.
Did you read about the Kazakhstan uranium deal in
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html?em&ex=1202187600
&en=d99ce5d428ceda0f&ei=5070>
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html?em&ex=1202187600&
en=d99ce5d428ceda0f&ei=5070 ? 

  <http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/01/31/us/31donor1.600.jpg> 

This ain't more Borat yuk-yuks, folks. This is misusing political clout, big
time, to benefit cronies. And he can do it in spades if he's sleeping with
her (supposedly) in the White House and travelling the world on corporate
jets. Not to mention his overriding Hillary's opposition to endorsing the
corrupt regime in Kazakhstan. Sure, let him make her foreign policy. We know
the governments in all those --Stans are corrupt, right? <wink wink> And OUR
government officials are all squeaky-clean--at least the Democrats are,
right? So what else is new? 

Take a look at this guy's string-pulling fingers:

  <http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/01/us/01clinton.600.jpg> 

If you read the NYT about Oh-bama, you get the message that our prince of
righteousness is in fact, unwilling to confront the new-kew-lur Powers That
Be in Illinois that pay his bills. 

<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html?ei=5070&em=&en=
546128723b04748a&ex=1202187600&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1202083210-4Acur2iU7ibBlsZax
REYMg>
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html?ei=5070&em=&en=5
46128723b04748a&ex=1202187600&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1202083210-4Acur2iU7ibBlsZaxR
EYMg

So my vote comes down to: which is the least worst of all these evils? We
know that, hey, the Demo's are gonna throw their political weight around to
benefit corporate interests just lke the Republicrats. Only they may have a
slightly more populist tinge, if Edwards makes it to V.P., of even if he's
dumped.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/opinion/01krugman.html?em&ex=1202187600&e
n=bef391f10ddb3713&ei=5070>
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/opinion/01krugman.html?em&ex=1202187600&en
=bef391f10ddb3713&ei=5070

But folks, it's all in the vote-swinging political rhetoric, all in the
flash of the Kennedy dynasty vs. the Clintonian dynasty, all in the glitz
and the star power that hooks the younger generation, all in the promise of
anything other than last year's Republican pizza.

So what it comes down to for me is: Mr. Oh-bama can wave the flag, but I
fear he's pretty much a lot of hot air where the rubber hits the road. I
guess I'll have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary, in hopes that she can
grow the cojones to restrict him to the usual First Lady tea party stuff in
the East Wing. But I'm not betting on it.

Marshall

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