As a democrat living in one of 22 Super Tuesday states, I was faced today (actually, more like 3 weeks ago since I vote by mail) with a choice between two very different candidates. Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. Who will you choose?
Do not vote for Hillary Clinton today.
The arguements for Barack Obama are many, and they have been touted on newspapers, blogs and other media incessantly for weeks, so I won't rehash them. Obama is running a positive campaign, and unfortunately this means we do not get to review the negative aspects of a Hillary Clinton candidacy enough. Let me give you a few points on which to mull.
1. She voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq.
I'm sorry, but this should be a deal breaker for any serious progressive Democrat. After 5+ years, haven't we had enough of this mess? Regarless of whether we are accomplishing anything in that country, the waste of money, goodwill, reputation, and above all life, should make one pause to think. Honestly, consider whether we want someone running for our half of the country that helped put us in the current international morass. Vote for McCain if that's what you want. Enough war...
2. We want a president, not a politician.
Yes, I'll be the first to admit that the Clinton machine is a magnificent political machine. It is backed almost entirely by large special interests that have a lot riding on this election. When the tide started to turn to the Democrats favor back in 2006, lobbyists began jumping ship from the Republican camp, with hopes of garnering favor with the future Democratic president. At the time the most "electable" candidate was Hillary Clinton, and they have been showering her with money since.
With Obama's campaign rising to prominence only recently, his backing is primarily from the bottom up, and he is less beholden to these corporate lobbyists. Sure, he has some big name backers as well, but I can guarantee you many of them are behind him purely with the intent of upsetting Hillary, and he owes them no favors. Speaking of favors, how many do you think were left un-repayed from Bill's time in office? I'll bet it's a few.
3. Let's surprise the rest of the world.
Yes, yes, America's first female president would be amazing. However, it is much less impressive when this woman has the same last name as a president from 8 years before? Do we really want to go Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton? Who's next, Jeb? The world expects us to elect Hillary. They believe we are predictable and averse to chage. Let's be honest... electing Hillary would not be change. It's a vote for politics as usual. The only thing that changes is the party identification of the person in the White House. That means nothing if that person is just like every other career politician out there.
Also, it's going to blow everyone in the Middle East's, and the rest of the world for that matter, mind if we elect Obama... I'll let another blogger state it more eloquently.
4. McCain would beat Clinton.
Okay, so pollsters have been wrong a lot this year, but I truly do believe this one... McCain has crossover appeal, Clinton does not. Something like 35% of the voting public wouldn't vote for Clinton unless she was running against Osama Bin Laden. I firmly believe Barack Obama can bring independants, and even some Republicans, over to his side.
I hardly believe my opinion matters to my few readers halfway through Super Tuesday, but this is how I feel. Flame on?
Do not vote for Hillary Clinton today.
The arguements for Barack Obama are many, and they have been touted on newspapers, blogs and other media incessantly for weeks, so I won't rehash them. Obama is running a positive campaign, and unfortunately this means we do not get to review the negative aspects of a Hillary Clinton candidacy enough. Let me give you a few points on which to mull.
1. She voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq.
I'm sorry, but this should be a deal breaker for any serious progressive Democrat. After 5+ years, haven't we had enough of this mess? Regarless of whether we are accomplishing anything in that country, the waste of money, goodwill, reputation, and above all life, should make one pause to think. Honestly, consider whether we want someone running for our half of the country that helped put us in the current international morass. Vote for McCain if that's what you want. Enough war...
2. We want a president, not a politician.
Yes, I'll be the first to admit that the Clinton machine is a magnificent political machine. It is backed almost entirely by large special interests that have a lot riding on this election. When the tide started to turn to the Democrats favor back in 2006, lobbyists began jumping ship from the Republican camp, with hopes of garnering favor with the future Democratic president. At the time the most "electable" candidate was Hillary Clinton, and they have been showering her with money since.
With Obama's campaign rising to prominence only recently, his backing is primarily from the bottom up, and he is less beholden to these corporate lobbyists. Sure, he has some big name backers as well, but I can guarantee you many of them are behind him purely with the intent of upsetting Hillary, and he owes them no favors. Speaking of favors, how many do you think were left un-repayed from Bill's time in office? I'll bet it's a few.
3. Let's surprise the rest of the world.
Yes, yes, America's first female president would be amazing. However, it is much less impressive when this woman has the same last name as a president from 8 years before? Do we really want to go Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton? Who's next, Jeb? The world expects us to elect Hillary. They believe we are predictable and averse to chage. Let's be honest... electing Hillary would not be change. It's a vote for politics as usual. The only thing that changes is the party identification of the person in the White House. That means nothing if that person is just like every other career politician out there.
Also, it's going to blow everyone in the Middle East's, and the rest of the world for that matter, mind if we elect Obama... I'll let another blogger state it more eloquently.
4. McCain would beat Clinton.
Okay, so pollsters have been wrong a lot this year, but I truly do believe this one... McCain has crossover appeal, Clinton does not. Something like 35% of the voting public wouldn't vote for Clinton unless she was running against Osama Bin Laden. I firmly believe Barack Obama can bring independants, and even some Republicans, over to his side.
I hardly believe my opinion matters to my few readers halfway through Super Tuesday, but this is how I feel. Flame on?
2 comments:
So did you vote in Arizona? Or elsewhere? How's the political atmosphere there?
Sorry, stayed up late watching primary results... sigh.
The political atmosphere here is interesting. Everyone is either extreme left, or extreme right. You know McCain is our senior senator, right? Our governor is a Democrat though, who backed Obama.
Fun fact: Arizona is the only state with no governors mansion. Our governor lives in a condo that she herself owns.
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