"Just tell me one thing Barack Obama has done that you admire," I asked a prominent Democrat. He paused and then said that he admired Obama's speech to the Democratic convention in 2004.I'm interested in answers to the question, not criticisms of Cohen's motives or of the premise of the question. What has Obama done that you admire? I'll post the more interesting responses.
« Weird Correction Of The Day | Main | Just Asking... » The Richard Cohen Test29 Jul 2008 11:00 am
I'm curious, because I know a lot of my readers support Barack Obama, how they'd answer the question Richard Cohen poses in today's Post:
Comments (117)
Taught Constitutional law. And my God, do we need somebody who respects the Constitution. 
Work on nuclear proliferation. Senate ethics bill, which tried to curb some of the hijinks going on. In the Ill State Senate I'm really impressed by his work reforming death penalty system as well as getting cameras in the interrogation room to protect suspecs and cops. Another thing that doesn't get mentioned much, is that he supported a gas tax suspension in Illinois, but his EXPERIENCE led him to realize that its a gimmick that does not work.
I genuinely admire Obama's luck. There are very few individuals who become a leading candidate for President with so little in the way of a resume. If he brings that luck to the Oval Office, our country will be in really good shape.
I'm not really interested in you saying you're not interested in criticisms of the question. How about the same question of McCain (and bamboo cages don't count). oh, for an answer Being virtually unknown, mixed race and perceived as black with a Muslim name, yet running a campaign which took down the biggest name in Democratic politics.
I'm not really interested in you saying you're not interested in criticisms of the question. How about the same question of McCain (and bamboo cages don't count). oh, for an answer Being virtually unknown, mixed race and perceived as black with a Muslim name, yet running a campaign which took down the biggest name in Democratic politics.
I'm not really interested in you saying you're not interested in criticisms of the question. How about the same question of McCain (and bamboo cages don't count). oh, for an answer Being virtually unknown, mixed race and perceived as black with a Muslim name, yet running a campaign which took down the biggest name in Democratic politics.
What has Obama done that you admire? He has risen meteorically to national -- even international -- prominence thanks to autobiographical ruminations on his young life and his hyperactive political ambitions to be admired. He is an over-achiever in the world of career politicians. That does impress.
Has run a campaign from start to finish at a level of decency not seen in years. His success and management is something you have noted before. I don't need to go into it but it has been impressive
Despite the fact that being for the war seemed a prerequisite for anyone with presidential ambitions, he not only opposed the war, but gave cogent, prescient reasons for doing so. I realize this is not an accomplishment per se, but more of a way of thinking, (and backing up your thoughts) that recommends him.
Despite the fact that being for the war seemed a prerequisite for anyone with presidential ambitions, he not only opposed the war, but gave cogent, prescient reasons for doing so. I realize this is not an accomplishment per se, but more of a way of thinking, (and backing up your thoughts) that recommends him.
Oddly, the first thing that popped into my mind: He and his wife went to Africa and had HIV tests. And he opposed the war. Mostly, though, I admire that he wrote a really good book. As a writer I appreciate the skills it takes to pull a book together, whether it's fiction or non-fiction. That's three things.
Though I respect his pre-2007 achievements, I support him because of the campaign he has built. The Obama campaign has registered more voters, trained more organizers, and gotten more young people involved in the political process -- all without drama, staff shake-ups, or wasting his supporters' money. Wouldn't it be nice if someone ran the country that way?
Though I respect his pre-2007 achievements, I support him because of the campaign he has built. The Obama campaign has registered more voters, trained more organizers, and gotten more young people involved in the political process -- all without drama, staff shake-ups, or wasting his supporters' money. Wouldn't it be nice if someone ran the country that way?
I admire Sen. Obama's demonstrated ability to bridge ideological divisions in a notoriously divisive environment while leading the Harvard Law Review; his successful leadership of a multi-million dollar grassroots start-up that didn't even exist two years ago (his campaign); and how, with Michelle, he has managed to raise a healthy, apparently happy family.
The Obama campaign has registered more voters, trained more organizers, and gotten more young people involved in the political process -- all without drama, staff shake-ups, or wasting his supporters' money. Wouldn't it be nice if someone ran the country that way?
He opposed the war in Iraq for the right reasons and has been correct in the fallout and events have bourne out that his judgement has been reasoned and correct. I can not emphasize how huge this is to me personally and it doesn't get enough play. This war has cost trillions, thousands have died, more wounded, families fractured. That more people didn't stand against this war is a tragedy.
Opposed the Iraq War from the start, when it was extremely politically unpopular. Arguments that go something like, "well, he wasn't in the Senate yet," or "well, he was running in blue Illinois," ignore Obama's blatant ambition. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing when he came out against the war, with presidential ambition in mind. And, like Graham and Kennedy and Brown and Nunn and Webb and so many others, he was accurate. Maybe it was luck? No, I think when he spoke about an occupation of "undetermined length," etc., he knew what was up. I admire him for it. Ambition, hubris, the character traits you (Ambinder) dislike in him, I like. Bush has those, yes, but he ALSO has ideology, etc., things Obama does not have. Obama's also a hell of a lot smarter than the guy.
First, I don't believe anyone cares what Cohen writes. He is an irrelevant clown. But on the question: A mixed race man in the US goes to the top college in the country, and achieves arguably the most prestigious position available as a student (pres law review), achieves success on a massive scale, becomes first non-white major party nominee, etc. You can argue: Those aren't really things he DID, as in actions, like building a business or getting shot down in an airplane. But what really do career legislators DO? If you didn't come to politics from a substantial period in another career, what have you done? Legislate. Let's examine the flip side: What has McCain done that you admire? Crashed a bunch of expensive jets...well, that's not it. Keating scandal figure..nope not that one. Nepotistic hook into brewing industry...nope. The only thing he's done I can admire is refusing to leave as a POW while his fellows stayed behind. It's a ridiculous question really, but what do you expect from Richard "I'm a funny guy (no, really) who's sleeping with your wife" Cohen?
I admire how Obama's success irks people like Marc Ambinder and Richard Cohen.
Sen. Obama has spoken to me like a literate adult and inspired my generation to open up a website and learn a little bit more about the world around us. I am 25 and thought that the Presidency as a source of inspiration, and not just embarassment, was something for the history books. I believe Obama can reengage America and lead us through the sacrifices we are going to need to make in order to improve this country's disastrous healthcare, retirement and education systems.
Well, he battled racism to get where he is today. He's shown that it's possible that hard work can beat the entrenched wealthy corporate controlled politicians.
He beat the Clintons in a national campaign despite starting off without any institutional or financial advantage for the Democratic nominations (Hillary and Bill). In 1992 and 1996 no Democrat or Republican could do that.
Cohen is a fool, a DC insider, who became a Lieberman-type centrist long ago. Supported the Iraq war and piled on Obama over Farrakah for goodness sake! Anyway, here is what I admire about Obama: 1. Opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. 2. After graduating Columbia in the 1980s and after graduating Harvard in the early 1990s, he sought out low-paid, sometimes low-profile work to help working class communities. 3. Overcame a very modest background to become the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. 4. Having read his books and watched his political career, I really admire his analytical abilities and intelligence. 5. His honesty, along with his aversion to gas-tax-holiday style pandering.
Well, he battled racism to get where he is today. He's shown that it's possible that hard work can beat the entrenched wealthy corporate controlled politicians.
Top 5 Things to Admire About Barack Obama 1 - Turned down multiple lucrative job offers following his graduation from Harvard Law to work as a community organizer 2 - Found consensus while reforming a broken death penalty system in Illinois 3 - Opposed the Iraq war from the very start, for very sensible reasons 4 - As an early all-star Senator, chose a series of not-so-sexy but very important issues to champion in a bipartisan way, from weapons non-proliferation with Dick Lugar to earmark transparency with Tom Coburn 5 - Gave (at least) two important speeches that substantively, and substantially, improved the national dialogue on 1) the red state v. blue state divide (2004 Convention Speech) and 2) race relations (the More Perfect Union Speech)
First, his campaign is incredibly impressive. This supposed neophyte came from nowhere and defeated the Clintons; built the best fundraising machine in political history; and assembled a very large team that's nonetheless disciplined, error-free and on-message. Now, you may say campaigning and governing are two different things -- but surely Obama has demonstrated in his campaign a level of leadership, managerial skill and ability to choose subordinates that bode well for a presidency. Second, if you look at his legislative record it's true that he hasn't done many very high-profile things because he's so new in the Senate. But the things he did do (on loose nukes, ethics reform and other things) suggest he's thoughtful, pragmatic and smart, as described by Hilzoy here: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/02/dear-chris-matt.html. Finally, he was right about Iraq when most Democrats were cravenly going along with the Bush Administration. I realize stating a position is not "doing" anything, but it speaks to his judgment.
Look, he's had accomplishments, both at the state level and in the senate. Others have outlined them here very well. But what do we really admire? How about being a completely self made man in an age where it is harder to be completely self made? It seems every successful person you look at has had a head start you can point to. Not Obama. I'm sorry, but this is a huge inspiration for everyone to stop making excuses and achieve their dreams (economic impact of expanded entrepeneurship, anyone?). I'll take that over Navy royalty any day. How about being a good teacher? He has an ability to argue a point - the right point, not always the safe point (FISA notwithstanding. You can't win em all) - and bring the public along with him. The great communicator, a modern fireside chat moderator, in an age where communication's quantity is rivaled only by it's incredibly low quality. So yes, I admire who he is and has become, which is very intimately tied to what he has done. But his value for this country is not his accomplishments. There are enough of them to be comfortable with his commander in chief skills. His value is his attitude and reasoned approach. A desire to do better, and a willingness to ask more of the American people as part of a citizen's covenant with their government.
I admire that during one of the toughest weeks of the Wright controversy, before pivotal primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, Obama not only had the courage to oppose the Clinton/McCain gas tax holiday pander, but was able to explain the responsible position on an economic issue in a compelling manner that brought a majority of voters around to his view. Courage, responsibility, skill. When it has counted, Obama has consistently displayed those qualities.
opposed the invasion of iraq.
I admire that during one of the toughest weeks of the Wright controversy, before pivotal primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, Obama not only had the courage to oppose the Clinton/McCain gas tax holiday pander, but was able to explain the responsible position on an economic issue in a compelling manner that brought a majority of voters around to his view. Courage, responsibility, skill. When it has counted, Obama has consistently displayed those qualities.
First, Obama is and has been a relentless champion of ethics reform. Thanks to his work in the Senate, any US citizen can track government spending, earmarks and abuses through this web site (www.usaspending.gov). Not only in the US Sentate but in the Illinois Senate, he has successfully legislated transparency in government to ensure honest and open governance in which the powerful cannot rob the lesser. Second, Sen. Obama has long been an ardent supporter of veterans and their families. When he learned that wounded veterans had to pay for their own food and phone calls while being treated in VA hospitals, he wrote an amendment to fix this travesty. He got the Pentagon to stop discharging vets with psychological wounds so they didn't have to treat them and ensured they were properly diagnosed and treated. He supported the latest GI Bill. Finally, I am impressed that Sen. Obama, before even hitting the national stage, saw what allegedly great military minds seemed hard pressed to see: the "war" in Iraq was one of choice and not of necessity. Obama's vision, despite great risk to his Senate chances, could not and would not support it - acurately predicting that what happened, would happen. Unlike Sen. McCain - military "hero" and supposed foreign policy "expert" and sitting member of the Senate - who couldn't be bothered to read the intellegenc estimate provided him. For these reasons and so many more, I admire Sen. Barack Hussein Obama.
That he's given a young generation reason to believe in politics and public service again.
I read the Cohen article and see his point but I also I second the comments of Charles and others. Obama's campaign is a marvelous example of what he has done. It has exemplified strong managerial skills. It hasn't been perfect (what is) but for the most part his campaign has been a tightly run and managed ship. Compare that with the disorganization and disarray of Hillary Clinton's campaign. Compare it with the shoddy and unfocused campaign of John McCain. Compare it with a Bush administration where the Monica Goodling case is another example of a poorly managed presidential operation and that's just one example of many when it comes to the Bushes. Obama has shown consistency in how he gets things done which is not something we've seen from any administration that I can remember in my lifetime an my memory goes back to LBJ.
I live in Illinois. My family and I have health care, in part, because of him.
I emailed a lengthy response to Mr. Cohen about his completely inane column and included many things I admire about Obama. Here's one: I admire Obama's decision to establish firm rules within his campaign that they would not demonize their opponents or distort their positions. I remember reading an account in Newsweek or Time back in the fall of 2007 detailing a meeting between Obama and his top campaign advisors. At the time, he wasn't doing well in the polls and they were urging him to really go after Hillary. He flatly stated that while he would go after her positions, he wasn't going to demonize her, distort her positions or personally attack her -- that if he had to "knee-cap" her he wasn't going to do it, he would rather lose with his values intact. The article quoted former Clinton U.S. attorney Eric Holder saying that the room fell completely silent as though all the air had been sucked out of it. Despite the fact that the Clintons continually distorted his positions and played just about every dirty trick in the book on him, he refused to do the same.
1--his work on the interrogtions bill in the Ill. legislature. He was tenacious and got a very important bill passed over the initial opposition of powerful constituencies, on behalf of people who are pretty unappealing (accused criminals). Getting anything at all passed in a state legislature is much harder than most national reporters know. And he got a very tricky and good bill passed in spite of the fact that after a bruising primary, he came in with less power than many legislators. 2-His overall discipline and smarts. He has been respected by his peers in just about every job he's done, from the Law Review to his campaign. He does his homework. He's genuinely engaged. He takes his job seriously, but not always himself. He builds good teams. I'm sure you can find people who hate him and think he was lousy. But whatever his job, he seems to do it very well. And overwhelmingly, successful and competent people of all walks of life meet Obama and don't just come away impressed, they say "I want to work with that guy." 3-his campaign. His political success seems based largely on two things: betting on the smarts and decency of the voters, and making the right political judgment based on the effect a given policy will have in the real world. Of these, the first you see in his campaign for the Presidency and his speeches. He really articulates a strong and appealing message of what it means to be an American progressive, and he ties it to a proud history and a vivid future. And he seems to look for the decency in people who believe racist or horrible things about him--he gives them the benefit of the doubt, and appeals to a shared sense of humanity. I like this, but it's what everyone focuses on, and frankly I think it's one of the less important of his qualities. The second part of his campaign rationale I actually think is more important. Obama didn't get "lucky" with Maliki's pronouncement. He supported policies that he thought would WORK better, even if they were less politically saleable. That's why his tour was so successful--his actual policies were based on objective reality, not on grandiose and sound-bitable pronouncements of American awesomeness. The world as it is, our power as it is, not as we wish it to be. Let me be clear, I'm not saying he's "above politics" or any such nonsense. Everyone puts the best lipstick on the pig they can, and everyone will pander. But Obama is like Clinton in that he believes following and implementing the right policy really matters to your political success. That if you do things in government that work as advertised, people will vote for you, history will judge you well, etc. You see it in the campaign--Obama's campaign on every level is more accountable than McCain's to facts. McCain's campaign is based on tribal identity, and on appeals like "vote for me and prove how patriotic you are." McCain's ads say he is the American hero Americans have been waiting for. Obama's argument makes me more confident because it makes him ACCOUNTABLE. If we are worse off in 4 years, we should still re-elect McCain, because we're still Americans who love America. But if Obama fouls everything up, his own argument demands we fire him! Anyway, other people have hit on other things Obama has done that they admire, so I won't belabor them. But these were a few of mine.
There are a number of reasons I like and admire Obama, most of which have already been laid out - his principled, well thought out opposition to the Iraq war, the sheer amount of work involved in coming from his background to the head of the Harvard Law Review (to say nothing of what happened afterward), and his work on nuclear proliferation most notably. However, the moment that sealed my support and my respect for him was his speech on race. It was an ugly situation, and conventional wisdom would have advised against anything to call further attention to the Wright controversy other than a flat distancing. What Obama did, though, was something I don't recall anybody else doing in my (admittedly young) political life: he talked to us as if we were adults. He didn't divorce himself completely from Reverend Wright (it was Wright's further gasbaggery which provoked that move later), but rather took the opportunity to talk to the American people at great length about a topic integral to his story - a topic we too often avoid discussing. It took a lot of maturity to do that, and a lot of faith in the intelligence and fundamental honesty of the American people. It was risky, but showing that kind of faith in us is why I admire him. He's the first real adult to run for office in decades.
There are a number of reasons I like and admire Obama, most of which have already been laid out - his principled, well thought out opposition to the Iraq war, the sheer amount of work involved in coming from his background to the head of the Harvard Law Review (to say nothing of what happened afterward), and his work on nuclear proliferation most notably. However, the moment that sealed my support and my respect for him was his speech on race. It was an ugly situation, and conventional wisdom would have advised against anything to call further attention to the Wright controversy other than a flat distancing. What Obama did, though, was something I don't recall anybody else doing in my (admittedly young) political life: he talked to us as if we were adults. He didn't divorce himself completely from Reverend Wright (it was Wright's further gasbaggery which provoked that move later), but rather took the opportunity to talk to the American people at great length about a topic integral to his story - a topic we too often avoid discussing. It took a lot of maturity to do that, and a lot of faith in the intelligence and fundamental honesty of the American people. It was risky, but showing that kind of faith in us is why I admire him. He's the first real adult to run for office in decades.
I admire the fact that a young, multi-racial man, raised by a single parent of modest means can achieve through hard work and academic excellence, the praise of his law professors at Harvard, and his faculty peers at the University of Chicago, and then inspire millions of disenfranchised Americans to register, volunteer and vote. I admire the speech he gave on race in America, that started a whole dialogue (see CNN, PBS, NPR, etc). I admire the restaint and civility he shows toward his political opponents. I admire his commitment to fatherhood, his wife and two daughters. I admire that he isn't using an inherited fortune or money of the family he married into, to further to the financial agendas of the top 1% wealthiest families in America. Its not like both his father and grandfather were admirals in the Navy, and he graduated third from the bottom in his class at Annapolis (suggeting he didn't belong there to begin with). And, if Ross Perot is to be believed, its not like he dumped his disfigured first wife. Or, authored an immigration reform bill that bore his name, only to say he wouldn't vote for it when it became politically untennable in the Republican primary. And, I have to admire the strategica and tactical percision with which he ran a national campaign without the structural and institutional support of the Democratic Party elites.
I admire the fact that a young, multi-racial man, raised by a single parent of modest means can achieve through hard work and academic excellence, the praise of his law professors at Harvard, and his faculty peers at the University of Chicago, and then inspire millions of disenfranchised Americans to register, volunteer and vote. I admire the speech he gave on race in America, that started a whole dialogue (see CNN, PBS, NPR, etc). I admire the restaint and civility he shows toward his political opponents. I admire his commitment to fatherhood, his wife and two daughters. I admire that he isn't using an inherited fortune or money of the family he married into, to further to the financial agendas of the top 1% wealthiest families in America. Its not like both his father and grandfather were admirals in the Navy, and he graduated third from the bottom in his class at Annapolis (suggeting he didn't belong there to begin with). And, if Ross Perot is to be believed, its not like he dumped his disfigured first wife. Or, authored an immigration reform bill that bore his name, only to say he wouldn't vote for it when it became politically untennable in the Republican primary. And, I have to admire the strategica and tactical percision with which he ran a national campaign without the structural and institutional support of the Democratic Party elites.
I admire the fact that a young, multi-racial man, raised by a single parent of modest means can achieve through hard work and academic excellence, the praise of his law professors at Harvard, and his faculty peers at the University of Chicago, and then inspire millions of disenfranchised Americans to register, volunteer and vote. I admire the speech he gave on race in America, that started a whole dialogue. I admire the restaint and civility he shows toward his political opponents. I admire his commitment to fatherhood, his wife and two daughters. I admire that he isn't using an inherited fortune or money of the family he married into, to further to the financial agendas of the top 1% wealthiest families in America. Its not like both his father and grandfather were admirals in the Navy, and he graduated third from the bottom in his class at Annapolis. And, if Ross Perot is to be believed, its not like he dumped his disfigured first wife. Or, authored an immigration reform bill that bore his name, only to say he wouldn't vote for it when it became politically untennable in the Republican primary. And, I have to admire the strategica and tactical percision with which he ran a national campaign without the structural and institutional support of the Democratic Party elites.
I admire the fact that a young, multi-racial man, raised by a single parent of modest means can achieve through hard work and academic excellence, the praise of his law professors at Harvard, and his faculty peers at the University of Chicago, and then inspire millions of disenfranchised Americans to register, volunteer and vote. I admire the speech he gave on race in America, that started a whole dialogue. I admire the restaint and civility he shows toward his political opponents.
1. I admire his 2006 speech on faith far more than his convention speech. I had never heard a politician speak with such nuance and intelligence. Richard Cohen may think that this, too, was "just a speech," but I'd argue otherwise. First, this speech (which is on his website: http://www.barackobama.com/2006/06/28/call_to_renewal_keynote_address.php ) actually represented a totally unique point of view. It is impossible to imagine this speech coming from any other senator but Barack Obama. Secondly, and more importantly, he has acted on the themes expressed in this speech in basically a revolutionary way. The way he is aggressively pursuing the evangelical vote; his retooling of Bush's faith-based initiative; and his embrace of social issues in the way past Democratic candidates have avoided all have roots in that speech. 2. I admire his days as a community organizer. I know that there's a tendency in the media now to see his time in Chicago as mere politicking, but that seems like a pretty cynical take on it, to me. 3. I admire that he wrote his own book instead of getting someone else to. Ahem, John McCain, Hillary Clinton. 4. I admire that he has run a generally optimistic campaign, and that for the most part he was unwilling to go sharply negative against Hillary Clinton. Really, the worst thing he said about her was that she represented the "old kind of politics." In comparison, she basically said that John McCain would make a better president. 5. Finally, though this isn't a reason to vote for the guy, I admire the way he's surrounded himself with strong women, and the way he's raised his daughters. There are plenty of things I don't like about Obama as well, but overall I think he's a pretty admirable guy. Lest we forget, being the first African-American nominee of a major party is admirable in itself.
Obama's opposition to the war was one of the most politically courageous acts in recent memory. 1. The media was rabidly pro-war, and harshly punitive of any doubters; 2. He has Muslim forbears and 'Hussein' in his name. Obama risked more than any other public figure in opposing the war. In this single act he demonstrates sound judgment and political courage. And he bet the farm on his belief in America.
The two things that drew me to Obama were his stance on the war and his support for open government initiatives. His stance on the war has already caused change. People say words don't matter, but Maliki supported his time frame and that forced McCain to change his tune. Words and politics obviously do matter. And for the record, I can only name two of McCain's policy initiatives off of the top of my head -- McCain-Feingold and the surge. McCain-Feingold doesn't seem to have elevated the debate one bit, and the surge...well, who really knows how much of an impact it really had independent of political considerations.
I admire that Barack Obama opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, he inspires people, he has lived in different parts of world and hence has a better outlook on foreign policy, he has not driven down to McCain's gutter level politics of negative personal attacks.
The 2 things I admire most are:
McCain wants to continue with Bush-Cheney policies and Bush-Cheney-Rove nasty politics of personal attacks. Obama represents everything that is opposite of Bush-Cheney-Rove-McCain. And that is what I admire about Obama. Simply put I admire Obama because he stands for everything that is opposite of Bush-Cheney-McCain. We Americans as well as vast majority of the people around world are sick and tired of Bush/Cheney/McCain.
The tone of this blog implies that just giving a nice speech is not significant enough to be worthy of admiration. In other words, it plays to the meme that Obama is just an empty suit who gives admittedly pretty speeches. Others in this thread have approached the answer to this question by listing many of the Senator's accomplishments in elected office. I'm going to attack the underlying premise of what your blog post above implies. Good speeches, that say the right thing at the right time, can change the entire course of human history. Where would we be today without Lincoln's Gettysburg Address? How about King's "I have a Dream" speech? When you think of the great men and women throughout history who have impacted us in meaningful ways, either positive or negative, often what they were best at, what was their weapon of choice, was deploying words that inspired or persuaded others. I reject the implication that simply giving pretty speeches is unworthy of praise. Sometimes a good speech at the right time and at the right place can be more important than ten high profile, watered down bills that make it through Congress. So yes, I admire Obama's speeches. I could have listed many of the things that the others listed in this thread and most of them are worthy of great admiration, but I'm going to instead focus on Obama's speech after he won the Iowa Caucus. I'm married to a wonderful Swedish woman. Before that night, while she was fond of the U.S. largely because she loves me and wanted to share my feelings for my country, she never understood, really understood, why I loved my country still after what the Bush Administration had done. After we watched that speech together at Obama's Boise, Idaho branch office she turned to me and told me that now she understood. I admire Obama for his speeches.
The 2 things I admire most are:
What I admire about Obama? That he is not McCain who represents everything that is wrong. Obama pushes for positive energy out of us to do common good while McCain pushes for negative, mean instincts which will continue current state of affairs.
I think this has all been hit on but I'm going to pile on: 1. Work on nuclear proliferation -- the issue that Bush and Kerry agreed was most important to national security in a 2004 debate. 2. Work on passing legislation that required videotaping all police interrogations in Illinois. This was a sensible but much opposed measure that Obama worked hard to pass. 3. Despite the Richard Cohen column, yes, his 2004 speech! I re-watched it recently and it is a great speech. 4. Telling a crowd of pacifists in Hyde Park that he was not against all wars and defending some of our country's past wars before going on to oppose the Iraq war with uncanny prescience (e.g., pointing out that we were ill prepared to occupy a country that we knew nothing about). 5. The palpable sense that he is trying, hard as it is, to elevate politics just a little bit. 6. His ironic and distanced perspective on his own fame. 7. His acknowledgment in his 2004 speech among other places that our political identities (let alone our identities) are much more complicated than they are typically depicted in political journalism.
It's a very very easy answer. What is the biggest threat to our nation and to the world? It is terrorism. What increased terrorism multifold during last few years? Wrong policies from likes of Bush and McCain, policies like starting Iraq war, ignoring real problems like Afganistan and Pakistan, avoiding diplomacy with Iran at all costs. What reduces terrorism? Goodwill around the world and good policies. Whose policies are not like Bush and McCain? It's Obama's policies. And that is what I like about Barack Obama.
1.) Opposed a stupid war when no sensible (i.e., craven and unprincipled) pol of any ambition, not even one hailing from Hyde Park, would do so; 2.) Has issued detailed policy prescriptions on truly pressing national issues (as opposed to, say, God, gays and guns), the worst of which (coughHEALTHCAREcough) have the benefits of being not crazy or totally insubstantial hokum, unlike his opponent; 3.) Has done more to frame a moral argument for liberalism than any national Democrat since probably Johnson and has coupled that with well thought out appeals to the national interest and individual self-interest 4.) Has shown himself to be principled, smart as hell, decisive, an excellent manager, cool under duress and the best communicator to run for president in a generation. Blows Reagan right out of the water, and he isn't acting.
1) His opposition to THE war, grounded in the reasons the war has actually been counterproductive. Anyone can oppose war generally, but making legitimate criticisms specific to a particular mission and having them proved right should be lauded. 2) His convention speech that captured the frustration of Democrats (especially after the '04 loss) and channeled it into an optimistic vision that undergirds the 50-state strategy and the entire rationale for the Democratic party this year. In order to have a realignment, we have to blur the divisions. 3) His almost singlehanded revival of the idea of personal diplomacy. 4) His worldwide trip that has proved his assertions about the power of #3. 5) His willingness to actually debate foreign policy/nat'l security without always making a reflexive pivot to domestic affairs. (see #4) 6) His demonstration in Berlin with 200k people waving American flags that europe is more of an "us" than a "them." It's not anti-Americanism, it's anti-Bushism. 7) His willingness to invest resources in states he won't win. 8) Opposing the popular offshore drilling. 9) Opposing the gas tax holiday in such an effective manner as to actually curb its popularity. 10) Work with Dick Lugar and his early stance for total nuke-free world. 11) His ability and willingness to take an issue and go beyond soundbites to expand the scope of the issue itself into a real discussion that America needs to have. 12) His drawing clear lines about what is and isn't acceptable in a campaign, and forcing his allies to more or less adopt those lines. 2 + 11 + 13 + 12 = a positive Vision argued persuasively, grounded in studious Intelligence, pursued Ruthlessly within the restraints of Honorable conduct.
His ability to take nuanced positions and stick to them even when it is potentially politically disadvantageous. It would be easier for him now to say the surge "worked" but he won't because it's a more complicated than issue than that, despite the press's best efforts to force the him to their simplistic way of thinking. The same was true for the way he handled Reverend Wright, the gas tax issue as well as a host of other ugly but smaller issues -- he was gracious when Biden called him "articulate," gracious to Hillary Clinton even when she was at her most specious and revolting (not a muslim as far as I know), he's even being gracious to McCain now. The guy has, out of nowhere, run the single best campaign in modern electoral politics. That tells me he's a better natural executive/leader than either McCain or any of the democrats who challenged him. I think people like Cohen and many other galactic nerds in the press do not like to see someone doing something easily when they themselves plod through life in a ham-handed and inelegant way.
Running against Hillary Cliton, he ran a campaign that win or lose, he can be proud of against Karl Rove-style hackery that everyone thought would win --- and he won. Like Clinton, McCain is running a shameful, unprincipled, cynical Bush-Cheney-Rove do-anything-to-win kitchen-sink campaign. For the sake of the country, let's all hope that his defeat is an historic one.
1. His work on death penalty reform in IL; his discussions with the police union led them to changing their position to support taped interrogations of all murder suspects. 2. His work passing an anti-racial profiling bill in IL 3. The Lugur-Obama Nuclear Nonproliferation Bill, and his recognition of old stockpiled weapons as a huge problem 4. His time at Harvard Law Review all mention his desire to hear different points of view 6. His speech on race, and his writing about his issues with race in Dreams from My Father 7. His decision to become a community organizer, particularly in the face of several much better-paying options. 8. His expertise on the Constitution 9. The way he's run his campaign in a civil manner 10. The "no drama" mantra of his organization. 11. He's galvanized interest in politics in America and challenged the popular mindset of apathy - registering new voters, training organizers, and generally showing that grassroots organization can be effective rather than, um, a bunch of aging hippies and vegan college kids bitching about the state of the world. 12. He took on the Clintons and beat them for the Democratic nomination. 13. He's a self-made man. And something that isn't a reason to vote for him, but is something I admire about him: right before he was elected to the US Senate, I saw him one afternoon in a virtually empty CPK with his family. They were all eating pizza while he and Michelle listened to their daughters tell about their day; they looked like a very sweet and very normal family.
I think this has all been hit on but I'm going to pile on: 1. Work on nuclear proliferation -- the issue that Bush and Kerry agreed was most important to national security in a 2004 debate. 2. Work on passing legislation that required videotaping all police interrogations in Illinois. This was a sensible but much opposed measure that Obama worked hard to pass. 3. Despite the Richard Cohen column, yes, his 2004 speech! I re-watched it recently and it is a great speech. 4. Telling a crowd of pacifists in Hyde Park that he was not against all wars and defending some of our country's past wars before going on to oppose the Iraq war with uncanny prescience (e.g., pointing out that we were ill prepared to occupy a country that we knew nothing about). 5. The palpable sense that he is trying, hard as it is, to elevate politics just a little bit. 6. His ironic and distanced perspective on his own fame. 7. His acknowledgment in his 2004 speech among other places that our political identities (let alone our identities) are much more complicated than they are typically depicted in political journalism.
He appears to love his children. I voted for him in Illinois for Senator and I will be happy to vote for him in 2012 or 2016 but I will not vote for him for President in 2008. I would like him to do some things for Illinois first.
He appears to love his children. I voted for him in Illinois for Senator and I will be happy to vote for him in 2012 or 2016 but I will not vote for him for President in 2008. I would like him to do some things for Illinois first.
Simple answer. The Google effect. I describe a Mcain vote as a 30 something year company veteran worker getting a CEO node from company people just because he is been there longer even if that company is a sinking ship. It is a vote of absolute fear and resist to change. It is essentially a No Vote Period. If we are conventionally measuring Obama's experience as a 30 something year veteran, we are missing the point. Things like Oh- he opposed this bill, missed that vote, was for this and that does nothing absolutely nothing for me. On top of all this the Alternative McCain absolutely cannot make up his mind on what he wants to do. He has no message for me and for the country. He seems to be tweaking non-existent plans about the economy and what not forever.One to many people in this country look for guidance and motivation and he is definitely depressing for me to vote for. As for national security, I am convinced and always will be that America will protect it self no matter what. Nationalism does not really have a party on this front. John McCain will not add any thing more that what Obama can offer. It is a team effort and always will be. We have many, many advisers, what we need is a vision and leadership from our president.
Simple answer. The Google effect. I describe a Mcain vote as a 30 something year company veteran worker getting a CEO node from company people just because he is been there longer even if that company is a sinking ship. It is a vote of absolute fear and resist to change. It is essentially a No Vote Period. If we are conventionally measuring Obama's experience as a 30 something year veteran, we are missing the point. Things like Oh- he opposed this bill, missed that vote, was for this and that does nothing absolutely nothing for me. On top of all this the Alternative McCain absolutely cannot make up his mind on what he wants to do. He has no message for me and for the country. He seems to be tweaking non-existent plans about the economy and what not forever.One to many people in this country look for guidance and motivation and he is definitely depressing for me to vote for. As for national security, I am convinced and always will be that America will protect it self no matter what. Nationalism does not really have a party on this front. John McCain will not add any thing more that what Obama can offer. It is a team effort and always will be. We have many, many advisers, what we need is a vision and leadership from our president.
Simple answer. The Google effect. I describe a Mcain vote as a 30 something year company veteran worker getting a CEO node from company people just because he is been there longer even if that company is a sinking ship. It is a vote of absolute fear and resist to change. It is essentially a No Vote Period. If we are conventionally measuring Obama's experience as a 30 something year veteran, we are missing the point. Things like Oh- he opposed this bill, missed that vote, was for this and that does nothing absolutely nothing for me. On top of all this the Alternative McCain absolutely cannot make up his mind on what he wants to do. He has no message for me and for the country. He seems to be tweaking non-existent plans about the economy and what not forever.One to many people in this country look for guidance and motivation and he is definitely depressing for me to vote for. As for national security, I am convinced and always will be that America will protect it self no matter what. Nationalism does not really have a party on this front. John McCain will not add any thing more that what Obama can offer. It is a team effort and always will be. We have many, many advisers, what we need is a vision and leadership from our president.
I wish Cohen would have asked me that question (but then he couldn’t have written his column). I would have readily answered: First, I admire Obama’s inner strength. Cohen rightly mentions McCain’s strength required to endure his time as a POW, but overlooks what it took for a half-black, half-white boy to grow up with no father, searching for identity and direction in a white world…raised by his grandparents and often relocated…then rising to the level he is today. As a person with a severe disability, I know that discrimination presents huge barriers, literal and emotional. People can readily understand the emotional challenges of being locked in a cage. But I know the challenges Obama faced were something that few of us would choose either. Second, I admire his broad intelligence. He seeks out the thoughts and ideas of many people, and has the ability to synthesize them into a very coherent strategy. Just look at the direction he has set for ending Iraq, talking to Iran, reigning in Nuclear weapons, achieving energy independence, and helping the middle-class consumer to kick-start the economy. And watch as other politicians have been moving in his direction lately. Third, I admire his assuring confidence. And, no, I don’t see it as arrogance. (I’m secure enough not to be threatened by it, I guess). Americans are feeling very anxious these days, and want to feel confident again. Over the past eight years, we’ve had a bumbling, insecure, un-insightful leader who has eroded our confidence in ourselves (and the world’s confidence in us) to be able to solve the big problems facing us. Fourth, I admire his ability to inspire people, in the US and around the world. It’s exciting to break out of the impotence brought on by cynical politics, and feel energized and passionate again. No other politician, certainly not McCain, is doing this. I know Obama was blasted for daring to suggest in Berlin that we can solve big problems when we are motivated and united, but it’s true. I’ve seen it in business, government and volunteer work. I guess, if Cohen is keeping score based on the number of bills sponsored or the number of times he bucked his party, then Obama comes up short. But I believe the presidency should be about leadership…and a true leader is strong, intelligent, confident and inspirational. I think if people stop sniping for a minute and take a serious look, Obama is offering a chance to elect a true leader. I hope we do.
I admire his decision to become a community organizer and his decision to return to that work after graduating Harvard Law. That took guts and integrity. His audacious decision to run for the presidency of the United States and to accept the enormous personal risks of such an endeavor are also highly admirable acts. Aside from honorably surviving his captivity by the North Vietnamese and mastering the dangerous art of carrier landings, I don't think John McCain has done anything worthy of any great admiration.
I think Obama's understanding of the mechanics of this nation's politics is insightful, and bereft of orthodoxies that tend to cloud reality. I tend to think that getting a grip of problems starts with identifying them, and I think Obama does that better than most.
On top of some other things already mentioned, I like how Obama calls black churchgoers and pastors on their tendency to resort to homophobia and anti-Semitism....when he is in their church, unlike someone like Hillary Clinton who would only speak about gay issues to gay audiences, gay media, and gay donors. (And poor John is probably up at 3am with heartburn about his coming meeting (or not) with Log Cabin Republicans, a meeting which may (or may not) even make it onto his published schedule of events.)
On top of some other things already mentioned, I like how Obama calls black churchgoers and pastors on their tendency to resort to homophobia and anti-Semitism....when he is in their church, unlike someone like Hillary Clinton who would only speak about gay issues to gay audiences, gay media, and gay donors. (And poor John is probably up at 3am with heartburn about his coming meeting (or not) with Log Cabin Republicans, a meeting which may (or may not) even make it onto his published schedule of events.) And who's Richard Cohen anyway?
On top of some other things already mentioned, I like how Obama calls black churchgoers and pastors on their tendency to resort to homophobia and anti-Semitism....when he is in their church, unlike someone like Hillary Clinton who would only speak about gay issues to gay audiences, gay media, and gay donors. (And poor John is probably up at 3am with heartburn about his coming meeting (or not) with Log Cabin Republicans, a meeting which may (or may not) even make it onto his published schedule of events.) And who's Richard Cohen anyway?
On top of some other things already mentioned, I like how Obama calls black churchgoers and pastors on their tendency to resort to homophobia and anti-Semitism....when he is in their church, unlike someone like Hillary Clinton who would only speak about gay issues to gay audiences, gay media, and gay donors. (And poor John is probably up at 3am with heartburn about his coming meeting (or not) with Log Cabin Republicans, a meeting which may (or may not) even make it onto his published schedule of events.) And who's Richard Cohen anyway?
As a short-tenured U.S. senator, Obama can't claim credit for a long list of legislation. Washington Monthly patriarch Charles Peters wrote a good piece on Obama's accomplishments in the Illinois legislature, including government ethics, tax credits for the working poor and criminal-suspects' rights: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303303.html Beyond legislation, I admire Obama for his potential, and stated intentions, to: 1. Move the country beyond 1960s-'70s culture warfare, and the partisan gridlock that grew out of it. This will require some recipocration from Republicans; that may happen if they lose badly this year and an Obama administration crafts legislation skillfully enough to attract or neutralize potentially vulnerable GOP senators or seats that come up in the 2010 cycle - Specter, Voinovich, Bond, Grassley, Gregg, Martinez, Bunning, Murkowski, Vitter, Thune. 2. Take the next step toward healing between and within the races. Four or eight years of a black nuclear family with young children in the White House promises to deflate the still-widespread view among whites that African-Americans are "not like us," as well as giving the black community a compelling model of a high-achieving two-parent family. 3. Rejoin a community, however loose-knit, of like-minded nations in combatting terrorism, weapons proliferation and other destabilizing forces in the world. I also like most of his laundry list on economic and social legislation and tax reform, but that's sausage yet to be made.
As a short-tenured U.S. senator, Obama can't claim credit for a long list of legislation. Washington Monthly patriarch Charles Peters wrote a good piece on Obama's accomplishments in the Illinois legislature, including government ethics, tax credits for the working poor and criminal-suspects' rights: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303303.html Beyond legislation, I admire Obama for his potential, and stated intentions, to: 1. Move the country beyond 1960s-'70s culture warfare, and the partisan gridlock that grew out of it. This will require some recipocration from Republicans; that may happen if they lose badly this year and an Obama administration crafts legislation skillfully enough to attract or neutralize potentially vulnerable GOP senators or seats that come up in the 2010 cycle - Specter, Voinovich, Bond, Grassley, Gregg, Martinez, Bunning, Murkowski, Vitter, Thune. 2. Take the next step toward healing between and within the races. Four or eight years of a black nuclear family with young children in the White House promises to deflate the still-widespread view among whites that African-Americans are "not like us," as well as giving the black community a compelling model of a high-achieving two-parent family. 3. Rejoin a community, however loose-knit, of like-minded nations in combatting terrorism, weapons proliferation and other destabilizing forces in the world. I also like most of his laundry list on economic and social legislation and tax reform, but that's sausage yet to be made.
As a short-tenured U.S. senator, Obama can't claim credit for a long list of legislation. Washington Monthly patriarch Charles Peters wrote a good piece on Obama's accomplishments in the Illinois legislature, including government ethics, tax credits for the working poor and criminal-suspects' rights: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303303.html Beyond legislation, I admire Obama f |
Opposed the Iraq War from the start.
Posted by RickDFL | July 29, 2008 11:07 AM