The Dividing Line: Why Obama over Hillary

[pbca]

t is true that Obama and Clinton aren't far apart on the issues (which is sad for me because I tend to be closer to the Kucinich camp) and you can debate back and forth who is more 'electable' and throw out various poll numbers but the clincher for me is this:

No one creates policy all by themselves, whoever wins will have a huge team (of other Democrats) helping them do research, come up with solid policy proposals and wrangle votes in Congress.

My guess is that if Hillary sat down and made a list of who she'd like on that team right now, and Obama sat down and did the same thing that 1/2 to 2/3 of the names would be the same.

What it boils down to is, Obama is a better salesperson (just watch his rallies) and that's what is needed. Someone who can take solid progressive policy, developed by bright and experienced people and sell it to the country, the Congress and sometimes to foreign governments; Someone who can energize the general public and get them involved in solutions (as opposed to the Bush method of convincing them to hide and duct tape the windows.) That's why Obama.

[tandem5]

1. ah the ol' municipally sourced bottled water vs. tap argument...

I'm thirsty.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. I disagree, not is essence, but in substance.

I think the lists would match only to about 1/3 -- Hillary is solid DLC, and Obama is not. She's a Washington insider, and he would pull much of his support from the Illinios party.

She depends now on the failed policies of the DLC insiders, and that is reflected in the disintigration of her overwhelming lead - she draws on the 90s Clinton operation the same way * drew on the 80s Reagan/Bush team. Obama will look more forward.

[Lisa0825]

5. 'Hillary is solid DLC.' That is my main problem with her.

The DLC issue relates to a lot of issues that I differ with her on....No Child's Behind Left, the Iraq War, NAFTA, etc. These are not trivial issues to me. Issues such as these (and others) are why the only way I would ever have voted for Hillary was if she got to the GE, but I would never ever support her in the primary. I would only support her in the GE because of the Supreme Court and I think she would be a bit better than a Republican.

[Whisp]

3. Obama does not have her ugly history.

that is why I support him.
His may not be so positive in the end (except that he has made people believe they count, and count, and counting)

her 35 years experience does not do her so well. She has told who she supports, and it's not the great unwashed.

HOPE things may change a bit with Barack at the helm.

[niceypoo]

7. Obama is running as the anti-Hillary

Hope has absolutely nothing to do with being president, or running the country.

[thevoiceofreason]

8. A clear distinction, finally

Hope has everything to do with it.

Not to the .01% of the democrat electorate here in DU, but to the public, absolutely.

[Whisp]

14. Hope is a good four letter word.

where it may go from here, who knows.
but better than FUCKed by the the dynasty.

[niceypoo]

16. Hope has absolutely nothing to do with running a country

It is a sound bite, no more. If it has anything to do with running the country, please, by all means tell us what it is.

Bumpersticker slogans like 'Hope' or "Compassionate Conservatism" or, what was Bushes other one in 2000? Oh yeah, "real plans for real people" are written by slick, paid professional writers to grab people on emotional appeal.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. "I have a dream" was NOT a message of hope?

"I do not look at the state of the world and ask 'Why' -- I look at the state of the world and ask 'Why NOT'!"

Sounds like hope to me.

[Indenturedebtor]

4. Yep

Behind every great CEO, Engineer, Accountant, Clerk, Marketing Director, et al, there is a great salesperson. We all have our part to play but things have to be SOLD before anything else can happen.

Yeah I'm a salesman so :P

But really the pukes learned this LONG ago. That's how they've gotten their BS contradictary self defeating policies have gained traction with the public and turned into policies. They sell them. Right or wrong has little to do with it. From Leer Jets to bubblegum people 99% of the time buy on emotion and then justify their choice with rationale.


That said he also has some GREAT policies and there are some significant differences. Look again at ethics and transparency for example.

[niceypoo]

6. We don't need a salesperson

We need a president. Salespeople will tell you what they believe you want to hear in order to get what they want. What we have thus far from him are slogans, and a stump speech, written by paid professional writers.

I withold judgement until I see substance, emotional appeals just don't cut it.

[El Pinko]

9. A perfect summation of why I finally chose to vote Obama.

On policy, I actually had a slight preference for Hillary, but looking at who I thought had the best chance of winning over the people and winning in November, it was definitely Obama. His way of speaking is powerful and charismatic, whereas Hillary just sounds like a school principal at an assembly. Bless her heart, but I think she's going to have to stick with being a senator or a veep.

I hope there will be a woman president soon, but I simply do not think that it is going to be Hillary Clinton.

[Rageneau]

11. In other words, Obama would be more fun to have a beer with?

We elected a president based on that exact sort of thing before. And we got what we deserved.

[El Pinko]

15. That's not what I said.

I think Clinton & Obama's qualifications are relatively equivalent, and it's his ability to sell himself that tilts the scales in his favor.


To compare that to the idiots that voted for the UTTERLY UNQUALIFIED Bush because he was a "Christian" or "good to have a beer with" is the height of gall.


Are YOU saying that you think Obama is Bush-like?

[Cha]

17. Reading comprehension probs?

That's not what the poster said at all..that was your projection because he was voting for Obama.

[TexasObserver]

10. K&R

[ginnyinWI]

12. Obama has a fresh approach.

He actually believes in representative government--that leaders should be accountable to the people. That government ought to be transparent--put everything on c-span and let the people support it or not. No more smoke-filled rooms and secret deals with lobbyists. That, friends, is why we see so much selling out on the part of our legislators, even some Dems. For the people to get back the power we need to get the money out of it, and have a president who leads honestly and sets an example for the rest of them to follow.

He's not naive and knows how hard this will be. But he firmly believes in getting back to honest government. And he knows it won't work unless he can aquire a mandate from the people.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Obama is the Anti-Bush and the Anti-Hillary, all at the same time!

:patriot: IT WILL BE A GREAT JANUARY DAY IN 2009.
WAIT TILL THE IGNAUGURATION ADDRESS!
IT WILL BE SENSATIONAL!

[El Pinko]

18. His daughters are just beautiful.

What a wonderful portrait of a first family.

[Johnny__Motown]

19. Can't trust a Clinton