Politically active writers:

[reichstag911]

I received this email from Ayelet Waldman and her husband, Pulitzer-winner Michael Chabon, both of whom I've met and corresponded with in the past, about their advocacy of Obama:

So here's a question for you.

Have you ever voted for a presidential candidate you felt was truly worthy of the office?

A candidate whose ideas seemed tested by a genuine curiosity about history and human nature, shaped by education, by knowledge of law and politics, and also by an understanding of the realities, both bleak and heartening, of everyday American life?

A candidate who tries to see beyond the confines of received ideas, stale polemic and his own cultural assumptions? Who acknowledges ambiguity rather than fearing it?

A candidate whose dynamism and charisma are in service not merely to his own yawning vanity, but to talent and aptitude and the ability to voice the needs and desires of people across racial, political and cultural divides?

Have you ever voted for a candidate you really believed in?

We haven't.

Don't you want to? Once in your life? Can you even imagine the joy of being able to do that?

We can. We think that candidate is Barack Obama. We know Barack — Ayelet went to law school with him, Michael's met him. We have seen him speak, and were impressed by the restrained, focused eloquence he brings to bear, the way he held and engaged and moved an overcrowded room. We can imagine and we believe that a Barack Obama presidency would repair the incalculable damage the Bush cabal has done to our country and to our reputation in the world. Talk about shock and awe — imagine the signal it would send to the traumatized, impoverished, alienated people of the world (of Africa, of the Middle East) if the face of our country was President Barack Obama.

We believe Barack has what it takes both to win an election and to be president.

Come on—you know you want to believe it, too.

We've set out to raise $25,000 for the Obama campaign. And we'd like you to consider making a donation.

If you click on the link at the bottom of this message, you'll get to our donation page. Give for whatever reason you like. Because you like Obama, or because you like us. Because of all the elections where you had to hold your nose as you pulled the lever. Hell, we don't care if you give just because one time we donated to your diabetes walkathon or your AIDS ride or your kid's school auction. You can give a little (ten dollars!), or you can give a lot – as much $2300, $4600 if you tag your contribution as both to the primary and the general elections.

If we haven't convinced you, take some time on www.barackobama.com to read his position papers, look at his speeches. Read his books - the man can write. We're confident that you'll realize, as we have, that he's not just a pretty face and a brilliant mind, but the man who should be our president.

Thank for letting us impose on your inbox and your time.

Michael and Ayelet

The link to donate on our page is:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/ayelet

[LWolf]

1. My answer to their question:

Yes, I have voted for a presidential candidate I felt was worthy, but only in the primary.

That will not be Barack Obama, as he doesn't fit the criteria:

"a presidential candidate I feel is truly worthy of the office.

A candidate whose ideas seemed tested by a genuine curiosity about history and human nature, shaped by education, by knowledge of law and politics, and also by an understanding of the realities, both bleak and heartening, of everyday American life.

A candidate who tries to see beyond the confines of received ideas, stale polemic and his own cultural assumptions. Who acknowledges ambiguity rather than fearing it.

A candidate whose dynamism and charisma are in service not merely to his own yawning vanity, but to talent and aptitude and the ability to voice the needs and desires of people across racial, political and cultural divides.

A candidate I really believed in."