Obama on Clinton: "I welcome her and all the candidates, not as competitors, but as allies"

[beaconess]

"in the work of getting our country back on track."

I like that.

In the coming months, Dems need to focus, not on tearing each other down and apart, but on how we get our wagon out of this ditch Bush and the Republicans have driven us into and where we're going once we get back on the right road. Let's not play into the hands of folks on the other side by being crabs in a barrel.

Our candidates can have a vigorous, healthy debate on the direction we want to go and which candidate will be the best to lead us there without turning this into a death match. I hope people follow Obama's lead (and hope he sticks to it, as well) and elevate this race into one that we can all be proud of in the end.

[janx]

1. Obama is pure delight and class.

We have some wonderful candidates so far.

"Crabs in a barrel"-- :rofl: Perfect!

[illinoisprogressive]

2. Such elegance and class...you just don't see that much.

[NV1962]

3. That's pretty much my take, too - the more the merrier; it foments substantial debate.

[historicaljoe514]

4. I said this a few days ago

As nasty as this primary season will probably be, with Hil's supposive statements directed towards Obama, we're all still on the same side. Its good that Obama recognizes that.

[beaconess]

5. Hear hear!

[Imagevision]

14. Obama does have the support from Oprah and Sorros -- Oprah may be

able to conjure up a few extra votes? -- umm, ;-)

[TheDonkey]

6. Yes, I think the last primary was mostly civil

I fear Hillary and her more seasoned operatives will make things very dirty.

[Renew Deal]

7. Dems did a great job of this in 2004.

They ripped Bush to shreds. They were the only ones debating, so dem views got out en masse. Hopefully they can do the same to conservatism.

[AtomicKitten]

8. Obama has a vision and it is sincere.

And it is that same forward-looking vision and being willing to set down his sword that annoys the living crap out of people here. I just don't get that. I still have a child at home and this messed up, fractious world isn't one I want to leave to him. If I can change that, I intend to. I want someone who inspires me, preferably someone who spoke out against the immoral, illegal war on Iraq (our generation's greatest shame, the next being Katrina). Obama is definitely a contender.

[beaconess]

12. Such a great point

What good does it do to defeat the other side if we adopt their worst characteristics and become indistinguishable from them?

I like to think that we're better than that and that, if given the chance, most Americans will want to be and do better as well.

One of the things that I like about Obama is that he reaches out to the best in each of us. It's easy to appeal to the lowest common denominator, but it's much harder - yet so much more worthwhile - to encourage us to listen to our better angels.

[Trajan]

9. A message that is utterly lost here in DU ....

Where the knives are long, sharp, and dripping with semi-fresh blood ....

[Dean Martin]

10. No policitian has inspired me in my lifetime like Obama

Even if Sen. Obama decides to hold off on running in 2008, I believe we're looking at someone very special, someone who hasn't come along in the political ring since JFK. I don't care what his detractors say.

I too hope the race will be one to be proud of.

[Tatiana]

11. Smart, savvy, and classy. n/t

[Imagevision]

13. I agree! Obama is fresh - Hillary is from the old McCain school - Hil asks

us how to improve health-care, next thing she'll suggest/ --probably will be a suggestion box?

[generaldemocrat]

15. How long before the Clinton Imperium begins smearing Obama?

It's only a matter of time.

[beaconess]

17. I don't know about Clinton, but there's been plenty of smearing of him right here

and not just by Clinton supporters.

Not to mention how viciously consistently Clinton is attacked in here.

[bling bling]

16. I am so ready for a candidate who can rise above the nastiness of the campaign trail.

I think that both Hillary and Obama will run smart campaigns but Obama really does seem to just transcend the gutter politics we've become so accustomed to. Unfortunately the GOP has proven that the road to the White House is paved with character assasinations and lying. Still, I'm hopeful our guys can outsmart them this time without having to stoop down to their level. I haven't been as excited about an upcoming Presidential election, well, ever.