The Case for Obama

When first introduced to Barack Obama I was more than skeptical. I’d never heard an entire speech, but only sound bites. I assumed, incorrectly, the media had chosen his best moments. When I read the texts I was more impressed but only with the language. After glancing at his record I recognized he reflected some of my ideals, and by virtue of the extent of his authorship, saw that he was a worker. Important, yes, but I was still a Hillary supporter. Of course I had my problems with her but I believed she was more than capable as well as on my side and the side of all decent Americans. Taking exception to her war funding, I still might have.

Feeling I owed this man a chance I picked up a second-hand copy of “The Audacity of Hope.” As with other candidates I did not agree entirely with his beliefs. However many of those beliefs, many of the ones I felt mattered most, were quite in line with my own. But what I was most impressed with was that while he admitted to still considering solutions, his grasp of the problems facing our nation was firmer and more complete than any politician I’d heard in my lifetime. This was particularly true with respect to foreign relations.

It is therefore ironic that I now find myself supporting him in place I formerly found suspicious and where his opponents attack him. It is also astounding that this candidate, who has run the best campaign in a generation, is questioned on his ability to execute by those whose candidates can’t seem to balance the budgets of their own campaigns. His level of experience is comparable to that of Kennedy and Lincoln yet he is being painted as a neophyte unfit for the office.

Since “The Audacity of Hope” Obama has gone from stating the problems no one else is talking about to outlining complex and detailed solutions. I feared he would fall into the Kerry trap of posting on his website, where voters wouldn’t dare be bothered to look, and thinking that would be enough. But people are looking, perhaps out of curiosity about the Obamanon. Or perhaps because, unlike Kerry, when attacked for lacking vision he responded. He doesn’t simply tell people to search for themselves but speaks of the outlines on his site in a way that motivates voters to view them. He is a man who moves people.

There is another possibility. With so many pundits pointing out how alike the democratic candidates are, the people have decided to look at the details for once. In Barack Obama, they’ve found them. And no devil in sight.