The Case for Obama

I have been a supporter of John Edwards since the day after the 2004 election. I supported him because I felt like we needed a change in Washington. We needed someone who wasn't too entrenched with Washington Lobbyists to turn the place upside down. Senator Edwards is one of those few public servants who I feel "get it." From predatory lending to health care, Edwards was the first to jump on these issues and shape the debate of the party.

When Senator Edwards dropped out of the race, I was taken aback! Who should I support now? I actually went back and looked at the candidates on the issues before I made a decision and I started leaning towards one candidate. I watched the debate and started leaning towards another.

Then I started thinking about past elections. Although I was just in elementary school, I clearly remember the 1992 presidential election. That's the first presidential election I actually remember and I recall a young man that accepted our nomination from a place called Hope and I remember the excitement that I felt for this candidate at 7 years old. That man, Bill Clinton, went on to become President and change this country. I want kids all around this country to get the feeling that I did. I moved to the near present and started reflecting about sitting in the Fleet Center in Boston in 2004 and the night before John Kerry accepted the nomination, I remember a country boy from South Carolina assuring us that Hope is on the way. That speech touched me dearly and Senator Edwards has had my support since.

As the old folks used to say back home in Birmingham, Alabama, "I need someone to Hope me!" I need a president that knows the policy end of the Oval Office and will be ready to make the tough decisions but I also need someone that can assure American's fears in this tumultuous time.

From the Iraq War to Education, Barack Obama is the best and most progressive candidate left to beat the Republicans on every issue.

Although I have already voted for John Edwards, my support goes to Senator Barack Obama in hopes that he becomes the next President of The United States of America.

A Unified Party

The past week has been interesting. First we had the departure of Senator John Edwards from the presidential race. Of course this saddened me as well as many others. Senator Edwards has fought for all Americans and has continuously shaped the debate of the primary.

Last night's CNN debate was great! we saw our two potential nominees have an open discussion of the issues that didn't leave anyone bitter and didn't give the Republicans ammunition for the general election.

Although we don't have a nominee yet, I feel like we are at the right place to go forward to beat any Republican in November.

After watching the debate last night, I wonder if someone pulled the coattails of the 3 candidates and told them that they need to get their act together and work toward the common cause.

Hopefully the last time I will talk about Obama and Race.

Obviously race has become a major issue in this campaign and I'm quite sick of it so I have a few things to say.

I find it INSULTING that people want to degrade African Americans who are not supporting Sen. Obama.

The basis of the criticism is pure hypocrisy. How does ANYONE have the testicular fortitude to say anything about a person whose decision to support a candidate is not based on race. Let's look at this scenario....

Average Joe is a white male and decides to support Senator Obama. A Clinton or Edwards supporter criticized Joe for not supporting a white candidate and called him a "nigger lover." The media outlets, bloggers, and activists would go crazy and DEMAND apologies from the campaign as well as the supporter.

I also have issue with the ignorance of supporting Sen Obama just because he is black. I REFUSE to choose a candidate just because of race. There are more important things to look at including elect ability, character, and if the candidate is speaking about issues that are important to me. Too many times have I seen elected officials and activists, including many African Americans who have SOLD US OUT on too many issues that affect us such as payday lending, affordable housing, public housing, gentrification, police brutality, education, and access to affordable health care, to blindly give them my support. For example, I also wouldn't expect myself or any other African American to support George Bush's nominee to the supreme court just because he is black. (Not to call anyone out but it's something to think about)

I would love to see a Black president in the near future, but its more important to me to win and bring about the change that I think will most benefit everyone and Senator Obama is respectfully not my choice.

As a good friend said recently, "What is HOPE? Hope essentially is the by-product of the absence of a definitive PLAN. (i.e. "Lets HOPE we make it to church on time this week...I HOPE the Lakers win tomorrow...I HOPE Obama isn't the democratic nominee") Something Obama's campaign clearly lacks - a plan"

You know, I never marched with King and my parents were in diapers around that time so they didn't either but I do think I remember hearing him say something about judging someone by "the content of their character and not the color of their skin" but what do I know, I'm just a young buck who is wet behind his ears and has a slavery mentality..

I do challenge everyone before they go to the voting booth to look at a few things...
1. What are the platforms of each candidate? Which one most represents you
2. Who is most likely to beat a republican and help down ballot races as well (US Senate and House, governors, and State Legislature races)

If you can honestly answer that your candidate does this, then I can respect you and your choice, but if you can't respect mine, go kick rocks.

Delegate breakdown

Here is a current breakdown of the delegate count for both parties

Democrats (2025 needed)
Clinton - 183
Obama- 78
Edwards - 52
Kucinich - 1

Republicans (1191 needed)

Romney 30
Huckabee- 21
Mccain- 10
Thompson- 6
Paul-2
Guliani- 1

The only thing that this tells us is that the primaries are far from over. There is no candidate that is anywhere near the votes needed to win the nomination. I think the next month will be interesting as the candidates criss cross the country seeking delegates.

With Richardson out, the Nevada race just got more interesting. I am wondering if the Clinton Campaign is trying to usurp the nominating process and will name Governor Richardson as her running mate soon in an attempt to trump all other campaigns. If that is the case, this is how I see the next few weeks playing out...

Clinton names Richardson as VP.
Clinton Skips South Carolina and focuses on Nevada
After the South Carolina, Edwards joins Obama as a ticket,
The campaigns come into Georgia California and other Feb 5 states campaigning stronger than ever and the central theme will still be "change vs. experience"

My question is, if this happens, which ticket benefits? Do we go all the way through the primary not knowing who our nominee is? Will that cause a knockdown dragout fight on the convention floor then Al Gore is nominated from the floor? (I come up with these scenarios at 4am when i'm battling insomnia)

Why I think John Edwards can still win the nomination

John Edwards has been polling in 3rd place for months and was often seen as a second tier candidate. Senator Edwards was outspent by Senator Clinton and still managed to beat her in the Iowa Caucuses. A former first lady who had the "establishment" supporting her as well as the former POTUS as well as Secretary of State campaigning for her to be beat by a former Senator who many pundits wrote off is AMAZING!!!

I believe that Senator Clinton will spend a lot of her money attacking Senator Obama in the next few days before the New Hampshire Primary. If Edwards continues a positive message, he may be able to siphon votes from both candidate and make a surprising show in New Hampshire and particularly South Carolina.

Alot of people are supporting Obama because he is black. This is more than about race. This is about electing the person that most represents your values. I must say this as I have been saying for a while as well, HOPE doesn't put food on the table, HOPE doesn't give you a fair mortage, HOPE doesn't give you universal healthcare.

Many people talk about Obama and the black vote, I'm still supporting a candidate who talks about issues that affect African Americans.

Bill Frist is out..

Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced today that he is not running for President in '08 (See Frist Says He Does Not Intend To Run for President in 2008 ) Wch ith George Allen losing his election, he is basically out as a candidate for President as well. I wonder what southerner on the Republican side will run. Alabama Governor, Bob Riley, was considered a potential candidate but due to Democrat Jim Folsom Jr. Winning the Lt. Governor's race, I seriously doubt Riley would run and leave the possibilty of handing the governorship over to a Democrat. I wouldn't be suprised if Judge Roy "nutjob" Moore throws his hat in the ring. I think the Christian Coalition was taken out to the wood shed and whipped badly this year and he would run for vindication.


Everyone has heard Newt Gingrich's name float around and I've heard Sonny Perdue's as well (See Sonny Perdue for President????) . I had a conversation over Thanksgiving that I've been seriously thinking about all day. If Newt Gingrich runs, does this hurt Clinton's chance in the primary. If Gingrich is in the race, will Democrats start thinking about the Clinton scandals and wonder if Hillary can beat him in the General or will it energize her campaign more?

I don't see another viable candidate in Tennesee or Florida. I doubt Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour would run. South Caroline Governor Mark Sanford said he will absolutely not run. None of the Southern Senators strike me as a presidential candidate.

Personally I want to see Roy Moore Run and everyone else from the South sits out this round. When he loses, he makes a public announcement refusing to endorse the nominee and the GOP loses more of the evangelical vote.

The only other scenario in the GOP Primary that I would love to see is Condi Rice run. There will be multiple stories about her being dubya's mistress. Can we say conflict of interest? A President appointing someone they have an affair with to a cabinet level position...Secretary of State at that. I don't think Mcgreevy has anything on this affair..It just reminds me of something else.