I’m not too fond of Barack Obama. He’s pro-abortion in the most radical sense of the word, deeply indebted to the pro-abortion lobby, and not at all willing to even mouth the goal of “safe, legal, and rare” —the easiest compromise he could make on the issue. I think he’s stupid and misguided on Iraq, and he’s still insisting that surge didn’t work, couldn’t work, was a big mistake, in spite of all evidence to the contrary. He speaks in banalities and cliches:
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” (I change. You change. We all change. Now.)
“YES WE CAN!” (Can what?)
“I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.” (Isn’t everybody?)
However, there are some things I can appreciate about Mr. Obama.
1. He tried to help a Chicago woman whose daughters are being held by their father in Ramallah in the West Bank, Palestine. No one know how the issue here will be resolved, but I appreciate Obama’s intervention.
2. I watched the Saddleback Community Church Civil Forum on the Presidency on youtube, and I have to say that Obama IS quite personable. When he was talking, I felt as if I were eavesdropping on a real conversation between him and Pastor Warren. When McCain was talking, I felt as if it was Rick Warren giving Senator McCain an opportunity to say the things he wanted to say to the voters and McCain taking advantage of that opportunity. I liked both men, Obama with his nuanced and thoughtful answers and McCain with his stories and firm declarations of good intent and strong conviction. . . But either Obama’s the better actor, or else he’s more sincere and open and unrehearsed. Not sure which it is, and not sure if it really matters in the grand scheme.
3. He’s much better looking than John McCain, and he’s definitely younger. McCain was looking o–l–d at the Forum. Not to be morbid, but I really want Mr. McCain to choose an excellent running mate.
I hope those won’t be seen as left-handed compliments. I really tried.
I do have to agree. Obama is usually a wonderful, motivating speaker … but I’m still not voting for him. 🙂
I really recommend the book the Faith of Barack Obama. I sort of felt something positive for all the politicians after reading that book! Same guy who wrote the Faith of George W. Bush which I also really enjoyed.
The abortion issue…it bugs me. It is so deeply ingrained in me that it’s hard to ignore.
I honestly don’t know who I’ll vote for, because I honestly don’t know the best approach to all the issues.
I agree! I think?
I don’t get the Obama is a wonderful speaker thing…At the forum he was horrible, couldn’t answer directly, back peddled alot etc. Am I just being biased because I don’t like him? I just don’t *see* it. I think he is slick, but he appears so disingenous to me. I don’t know…Maybe McCain needs a better make up person;) Great post!
Sparrow was impressed with both candidates as they appeared with Rick Warren, too: .
I agree with you about the vagueness of Obama’s rhetoric. It makes me uneasy to see how much momentum he’s gained based on essentially empty words. He seems to represent what people want him to represent.
I didn’t agree with Clinton on the issues either, but at least she was more of a known quantity.
I don’t trust either Obama or McCain, simply because I don’t trust politicians. McSame, like Bush and the Republican party, has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Sure, Obama’s rhetoric is vague at best, but I’ll take that over Republican fear-mongering any day. McCain’s simply pulling pages from Rove’s playbook, and I’m tired of the administration and its nasty tactics. Obama’s like a breath of fresh air. He gets young people excited about voting, and that’s what we need. If there’s anything I’ve learned from the last eight years, it’s indifference.
I agree about Obama’s rhetoric totally–and now see what we have. I couldn’t stand the Clintons but Obama is still too you and too inexperienced for the job. And his rhetoric was just a loud “Change! Change! Change!” Sometimes I thought I was hearing some fascist leader roaring at me. And now he’s taken over half the country’s businesses, wants to dictate even what charitable deductions are taxable. . . . There was a whole lot to be said against Clinton, and not much to be said for McCain, but McCain was a least a man of integrity and has always been.