Why I support Barack Obama (and why I don’t support Hillary Clinton)

by Jason Preston on January 11, 2008

I don’t normally post about politics on this blog anymore, because I like to appeal to everyone. I think if you appeal to everyone it’s more…money, and this is a good thing (credit: Steve Martin).

But recently I’ve started watching some Presidential campaign coverage and I’ve now seen one or two debates, and I now have An Opinion. So I feel like if I change at least one person’s mind, the post is worth it.

Major Reasons I support Obama:

  1. The man is extremely well spoken. (Communication is…ahhh…what’s the word?) – He can state his opinions forcefully AND respectfully, which is 80% of Getting Your Way. That’s important in foreign relations.
  2. He tends to answer questions, which means I can decide whether or not I agree with him (see below).
  3. I agree with him on health care.
  4. Obama’s leadership stye is inspiration, which is largely derided by people who are incapable of inspiring, and is far healthier for our nation that the culture of fear with which we’ve been run for the past eight years.

Major Reasons I Don’t Support Hillary Clinton:

  1. We’ve had either a Clinton or a Bush leading this country since 1989. I don’t like dynasties.
  2. She refuses to have any opinions. I’d like her better if I could disagree with her. More than any other reason, this is why I dislike her. Be honest with me. If I you and I have different ideas, but you state them and you support them, it shows me two very important things: first, that you’ve thought about why you have said opinion, and second, that you’re willing to back it up.

Major reason I see the candidates as significantly different, despite their common over-use of the word “change”:

When Obama says “change,” he means to effect a fundamental change in the way things are accomplished in national politics. I believe that he is “naive enough” to do it. And I believe that changing it will make for a better America. When Hillary says “change,” she means policy changes and message changes, but she is comfortable in and probably somewhat dependent on the very political “system” which Obama seeks to change.

I owe thanks to my friend Ben Adlin, who is a wonderful backboard for my political thoughts.

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