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Edited on Thu Feb-07-08 11:39 AM by sidwill
Hi,
My name is Sidwill and I'm an Obama cultist.
I began following progressive politics way back in the mid 80's, those were the days of Reagan backing Saddam Hussein and funding right wing atrocities in Central America. First Reagan then GHWB used divisive tactics to separate white from black, rich from poor, educated from undereducated. They used a 51% solution so to speak, finding issues that split the electorate along higly polarizing lines and then played them against each other. I saw how this was used to incessantly attack WJC who although flawed was an excellant president. I witnessed how GWB took division and fear and raised it to almost Himmleresque level using fear and division not only as a tool but as the philisophical basis of his presidency.
And now we come to today.
We have two very good candidates.
The things that separate them from a policy perspective are negligible at best and irrelevant at worst since to implement any policy the eventual nominee will need to develop some degree of consensus within both parties and or have long enough coatatils that consensus would be nice but not neccesary.
I see Obama as the better candidate to accomplish this. Not because I am charmed by his smile or flowery speeches but because I have watched as a generation of US politicians have failed to heal the divides in this country and worse have deepened them for their own gain.
Obama has broad appeal, he will be able to not only bring new voters to the process as Democrats, but those new voters will also be voting for Senators and Congresspeople in the 08 election.
Obama is not a divisive figure (except on GD:P, LOL) he can fracture to certain extent the Republican coalition and garner Independents.
Hillary, who I like, who has been UNFAIRLY targeted by the right and who deserves our respect just cannot say the same thing. She would most likely win, but it would be with that 51-49% split again. Unfairly or not she is viewed as a divisive figure, a figure who wouldn't have the same appeal to new voters, moderate Republicans and especially Independents.
Her coatails wouldn't be as long, as a Republican party would unite in opposition to her.
Yet when these points are brought forth, these cold hard political facts, we are called "cultists"?
Well then count me in.
Yes, I'm a cultist because I want to see the Republican coalition fractured. Yes I'm a cultist because I want to see a DEmocratic president with a broad base of support. Yes I'm a cultist because I want a candidate which will greatly expand our majorities in Congress.
YES I'M A CULTIST BECAUSE I WANT A LANDSLIDE NOT ANOTHER 51-49% SPLIT.
Policy, will take care of itself.
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