We all love Kucinich. In an ideal world I'd love him to be in charge. But in the world we're in - which is one embroiled in a useless war, where young people's general attitude toward the government and the future ranges from apathy to dejection, and where the energy of the '60s is seen as a curse to be averted rather than a passion to be reawakened - someone like Barack Obama is exactly what's needed. Because Kucinich - let's face it. His politics are wonderful and he says all the right things to make my heart glow with glee. But in terms of getting people excited? Making them feel that spark of pride that none of us have felt since, at least, 2003? He's a step and a half below Al Gore was. And while some people think that aspect of Obama is all fluff and no substance (generally people who haven't bothered to look for the substance) I think that it's as important, right now, as any other piece of any candidate's platform.
I've been meaning for ages to write up a big Obama vs. Hillary LJ post but I never got around to it. I don't know if it's worth it anymore - most people who read this will already have voted by the time I write it up. But for all of the things that you and I want - an end to the war, LGBT rights, protection of women's rights, social programs for the poor, Obama's the better candidate.
Factoid: Both Clinton and Obama want to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. But only Obama has gone on the books to say that he wants a program to help reinstate to good standing all soldiers who were dishonourably discharged under it. Factoid #2: Obama wants to repeal ALL parts of the Defense of Marriage Act. Clinton wants to leave in the part that allows states to choose not to recognise same-sex unions performed in other states.
Just throwing that in because soooooo many people think that Hillary is the more queer-friendly of the two. She's not. ;)
I'm not trying to preach to the choir, here. I'm trying to make you feel good about a decision that you seem uncertain about.
Thanks! Yeah, it's been hard to decide because so many people that I know, love, and respect are very fiercely and passionately pro-Hillary. But I think the big deciding factors for me were:
1) Not only is Obama "less jaded by the political system," but he's actually attempting to make things less corrupt (he's supporting anti-corporate-bribery type of legislation, where as Hillary has not.) You can read an interesting post by a geeky web comic author who I like at http://blag.xkcd.com here, which also mentions open systems/digital copyright/net neutrality issues--something that's certainly on the back burner in the face of iraq and environmental issues but is still important.
2) Lots of people really, really hate Hillary for reasons I can't quite understand (and sometime for no reason at all.) But it doesn't matter what the reasons are; I'm tired of half this country hating our leaders with a fierce passion. Obama, as far as I can tell, seems interested in talking to people, representing people, and uniting people--which is really what this country needs.
2b) He has a better website. Hey, don't laugh--I'm not just talking about the visual design (though I appreciate that as well.) It's set up not only to communicate his perspective on the issues to people, but there's also a "people" section with tons of sub-communities of people and minority groups he wants to support: queer people, students, Native Americans (he calls them First Americans, which is badass in my opinion), etc.
3) He does seem more queer-friendly but is also a nice Christian boy that people like.
4) He has charisma. Sounds dumb, but something our country's image needs pretty desperately is a leader who is respectful, literate, articulate, engaging, and so on.
I did very little decision-making based on their stances on issues, because in many cases they were practically identical or the differences were hard to pick away from all the BS floating around. I think having a president who wants to pull out of Iraq and start thinking seriously about our environmental impact will be such a huge change that I'm trying not to get too hung up on the details.
The gay rights issue actually wasn't as big of a seller for me as my two big issues (Iraq and environment), but I'm glad that Obama gets top marks for that.
Click to view
We all love Kucinich. In an ideal world I'd love him to be in charge. But in the world we're in - which is one embroiled in a useless war, where young people's general attitude toward the government and the future ranges from apathy to dejection, and where the energy of the '60s is seen as a curse to be averted rather than a passion to be reawakened - someone like Barack Obama is exactly what's needed. Because Kucinich - let's face it. His politics are wonderful and he says all the right things to make my heart glow with glee. But in terms of getting people excited? Making them feel that spark of pride that none of us have felt since, at least, 2003? He's a step and a half below Al Gore was. And while some people think that aspect of Obama is all fluff and no substance (generally people who haven't bothered to look for the substance) I think that it's as important, right now, as any other piece of any candidate's platform.
I've been meaning for ages to write up a big Obama vs. Hillary LJ post but I never got around to it. I don't know if it's worth it anymore - most people who read this will already have voted by the time I write it up. But for all of the things that you and I want - an end to the war, LGBT rights, protection of women's rights, social programs for the poor, Obama's the better candidate.
Factoid: Both Clinton and Obama want to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. But only Obama has gone on the books to say that he wants a program to help reinstate to good standing all soldiers who were dishonourably discharged under it.
Factoid #2: Obama wants to repeal ALL parts of the Defense of Marriage Act. Clinton wants to leave in the part that allows states to choose not to recognise same-sex unions performed in other states.
Just throwing that in because soooooo many people think that Hillary is the more queer-friendly of the two. She's not. ;)
I'm not trying to preach to the choir, here. I'm trying to make you feel good about a decision that you seem uncertain about.
Reply
1) Not only is Obama "less jaded by the political system," but he's actually attempting to make things less corrupt (he's supporting anti-corporate-bribery type of legislation, where as Hillary has not.) You can read an interesting post by a geeky web comic author who I like at http://blag.xkcd.com here, which also mentions open systems/digital copyright/net neutrality issues--something that's certainly on the back burner in the face of iraq and environmental issues but is still important.
2) Lots of people really, really hate Hillary for reasons I can't quite understand (and sometime for no reason at all.) But it doesn't matter what the reasons are; I'm tired of half this country hating our leaders with a fierce passion. Obama, as far as I can tell, seems interested in talking to people, representing people, and uniting people--which is really what this country needs.
2b) He has a better website. Hey, don't laugh--I'm not just talking about the visual design (though I appreciate that as well.) It's set up not only to communicate his perspective on the issues to people, but there's also a "people" section with tons of sub-communities of people and minority groups he wants to support: queer people, students, Native Americans (he calls them First Americans, which is badass in my opinion), etc.
3) He does seem more queer-friendly but is also a nice Christian boy that people like.
4) He has charisma. Sounds dumb, but something our country's image needs pretty desperately is a leader who is respectful, literate, articulate, engaging, and so on.
I did very little decision-making based on their stances on issues, because in many cases they were practically identical or the differences were hard to pick away from all the BS floating around. I think having a president who wants to pull out of Iraq and start thinking seriously about our environmental impact will be such a huge change that I'm trying not to get too hung up on the details.
The gay rights issue actually wasn't as big of a seller for me as my two big issues (Iraq and environment), but I'm glad that Obama gets top marks for that.
[/twocents]
Reply
Leave a comment