obama 2008!
Click to viewOn 1/31/08 debate: Even though Obama and Clinton have extremely similar views on most issues, I believe that there are key differences that, in my mind, make Obama more appealing.
Universal Health Care. Both candidates would like to lower costs and emphasize prevention to treat illnesses before they get to an emergency level. The main differences in their views are as follows: Clinton wants a universal mandate for everyone to get healthcare (through shared responsibility), while Obama advocates a mandate that parents must get healthcare for their children. It is hard to enforce universal health care - What are you going to do to people who don’t get it or still can’t afford it even with the discounts? Fine them? I think it is beyond the scope of government to force people to use a service. Make it more affordable and get rid of the huge premiums? Yes. Make everyone get it or else…? No.
Mortgage Crisis. Clinton wants a moratorium on foreclosures for 90 days and wants to freeze mortgage rates for 5 years. Obama wants to put forth a $10 billion foreclosure prevention fund to help mediate between lenders and borrowers. I agree with his argument against an interest rate freeze. Freezing the interest rates would cause a flurry of spectators to drive up the interest rates before they freeze. This precedent of freezing interest rates is also unsettling and goes against any sense of market efficiency.
Foreign Affairs. Obama seems more grounded in his stand against the war, while Clinton seemed much more naïve in her initial support to send force to Iraq. He set a deadline of 16 months to get the troops out, while Hillary was much more wishy-washy. Both candidates really think similarly on this issue, but I believe that Obama would be the better leader.
Beyond these platforms, I think there are certain leadership characteristics that put Obama over Clinton. If they were running for Senate, I would vote for Clinton - she is shrewd and political: forming coalitions behind closed doors to get things passed. She is much too, for use of a cliché term, “divisive.” Obama seems much more likely to stand out to do what is “right” and ethical. He has this sort of Lincoln-esque quality and optimism in him that inspires the people to come together to work for change. My favorite quote of the night: Warren Buffett has said, "You know, I made $46 million last year. It was a bad year for me. But I can still afford to pay more than my secretary, who has a higher tax rate than I do." - Obama
Teehee, I've been an Obama fangirl since 2004 but that doesn't make me biased in any way...