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| Compelling Reasons why you should support Obama |
Why I support Obama!
It’s obvious that George W. Bush's presidency can't end soon enough. Many Americans are fatigued by the state of the nation: a relentless war in Iraq, a bottomless deficit, the bruising mortgage crisis and the United States' flagging image abroad. So it is not hard to be energized by the prospects for a successor.
Hilary and Obama are both promising a new political era in our country. Each has the intellect and the skills to deliver. Hillary Clinton, with her years in Washington and most recently in the Senate representing New York, brings rich experience. She is tough and keenly focused, pragmatic and driven. But Barack Obama offers a more compelling vision for the country that he would lead.
(1) He wants to forge a new reality in Washington where consensus replaces confrontation. And he has shown a remarkable ability to enroll a diverse array of Americans in his cause, convincing a new generation that it too has a stake in Washington.
(2) When Obama promises change, surprising numbers find the pledge credible. Despite his few years in the Senate, Obama exudes confidence and assesses the nation's problems with a fresh eye. When questioned by the media on a number of tough issues, he showed a sophisticated understanding of them. His opposition to the war has been steady, and while committed to an early withdrawal from Iraq, Mr. Obama recognizes the challenges to that course.
(3) When asked how the troubled No Child Left Behind education program might be salvaged, Mr. Obama said achievement testing should not be abandoned but rather complemented with other measures of progress and more aid for schools.
(4) As the first African-American president, he would deliver on America's promise that there is no barrier to success.
(5)Mr. Obama is a powerfully inspirational speaker, engaging listeners with energy and warmth as he describes his goals. That's the essence of leadership. His conversations feel more heartfelt than calculating, which reminds us of President John F. Kennedy. Every president can get people to write budgets and policy but very few have the ability to get it passed. Obama has shown he can work with all parties and get things done.
(6) Untested in foreign affairs, Mr. Obama is not afraid to disagree with popular opinion, favoring dialog with Cuba, Iran and other hostile powers, for instance. But he still has lots to tell America about how he would govern and whom he would rely on to help him lead. His promises to work across party lines may favor hope over reality, and the same might be said of his plans to reach out around the world.
In the past few years there has been an alarming rise in anti-American sentiment around the globe, centered in the Middle East. To reverse this tide, the United States must begin working immediately to establish meaningful contact with the silent majority in the Muslim world, in ways other than through military force or traditional diplomacy. The anti-U.S. aggression witnessed today represents the boiling over of intense frustration, exacerbated by a sense that Muslims have somehow fallen behind. Rather than assuming that Islam is inherently more violent than other religions, U.S. policymakers should realize that there are practical causes of the widespread discontent in the Middle East, and try to offer practical solutions. As they do so, they should take inspiration from the successful cultural diplomacy (which Obama can deliver) of the Cold War, while tailoring their efforts to the new circumstances and enemies with which they are confronted. Obama’s international experience and cultural diplomacy is one of the most potent weapons in the United States' armory, yet its importance has been consistently downplayed in favor of dramatic displays of military might by Bush. I believe Obama will restore our credibility internationally by winning foreigners' voluntary allegiance to the American cause.
(7) Mrs. Clinton told us she would be "ready on Day One" to lead decisively, and indeed, her experience is one of her most appealing attributes. But her years of sparring with conservative adversaries have left her bruised and unpopular with many Americans. Mr. Obama is more likely to turn the page to a new era and deliver real change that is urgently needed to deal with the nation's economic, social and political problems.
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Posted by Passion09 on 2008-02-15 16:51:25 | Rating: | Views: 240
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