How many here "dislike" Obama?

[kentuck]

I mean, you just don't like the guy? You don't think he is authentic or whatever?

Personally, I like Obama. I think it would be good for the country if he were elected. I think it would help to restore our very tarnished image around the world. In the best of worlds, his election could prevent a lot of lives being lost to war and violence.

However, I do not trust the Republicans or the MSM of this country. I believe they will turn on Obama with a vengeance and they will play race in a very subtle way but racism just the same. Somehow, I fear we are falling into a trap. I hope we do not have to look back and ask ourselves, if we had only done something differently?

Then again, the better angels whisper that we should not make decisions based on fear or conspiracy theories. We should do what is in our hearts. If we truly believe that Obama can be elected as leader of the free world, then we should follow our hearts. We should not question our decision. We should go forward with courage and optimism.

I'm certain many people are asking themselves the same questions.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. I like him. Don't necessarily trust him to follow through. nt

[EVDebs]

6. Agreed. Edwards would follow through, Obama with them 'at the table'

The corporate interests already OWN the table, Barack. Show us you can be as tough on corporations as your DU supporters are on us Edwards supporters. We're waiting.

[OKNancy]

2. He's nice enough

I like him fine... but as stated in this article I have reservations.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2654489

[Liberalboy]

I do not...

He is a typical politician who is trying to get elected and is covering himself in a cloak of "change."

My only reason, and it will be the only reason until there is full equality, is the fact that he allowed an ex-gay preacher to join him on a tour of the south. he would not apologize for it, and he would not pull him from the tour. He is just as conservative as all the other Democrats, he might be a nice guy, but I don't like him

[LisaM]

31. Yes, that makes me uneasy too

Then he said he had balanced it by adding a gay preacher to the campaign. Well, that's like balancing someone from the KKK with someone from the NAACP. One is from a hate group; the other is not. The concept of "balance" does not apply. He's simply got to get rid of that guy.

[Politicub]

3. I like him. He's great.

But I like Hillary more, and value her experience and record.

[cynatnite]

4. I like Obama, but I don't think he's the best one for the job n/t

[maddiejoan]

5. Like him fine.

Like Hillary more.

:shrug:

[bryant69]

7. I like him, and I don't think we should worry about the Media or the Right wing slamming him

Personally I think he'll get more balanced treatment from the Press than Hillary, but any Democrat will get slammed by the Republicans and the media will follow in suit.

I worry about the experience issue and who he's surrounding himself with; I don't think he's going to actually govern all that much differently than Hillary Clinton. Their attitudes towards the nation seem pretty similar. I should note that I don't mean that as a knock; Clinton has problems, but I'm a moderate Democrat - to me she's not a monster.

I wish Edwards had more or a chance though.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[book_worm]

8. I like all of our candidates.

[pnwmom]

9. I had been leaning toward Obama, but have a couple of concerns.

I don't think he handled the situation with the homophobic minister well -- I think he just brushed off the gay community's concerns and that was wrong.

I really don't know what he was up to with that nasty high-schoolish comment regarding Hillary in the debate. She was asked why people don't like her as much as Obama, for example. And she smiles warmly and says that "he's very likable." And then he, looking down and barely cracking a smile, interjects with, "You're likable enough."

Enough??? That took my breath away.

So I'm not worried about race issues, but it's possible personality issues may turn out to be a problem. I don't know.

As far as policy issues are concerned, I think it will turn out that he's actually more to the right than Hillary. That's just my gut instinct. And of the three leading candidates, I like his health policy the least.

[cloudythescribbler]

25. two issues

McClurkin (who I think is a gospel singer & mc but NOT a minister) may have said some awful things, but Obama made clear that his OWN position was sharply different. The problem of candidates not being able to control what those who endorse them (or even appear at their events) say is an all around issue (like Andrew Cuomo, backing HRC, and 'shuck & jive'). Unless there is some indication of pattern or strategy, it kind of goes with the territory of campaigning.

And these situations put the candidates on the spot ...

As for the 'likeable enough' statement, remember that it was off the cuff, and in response to Hillary having been posed with a very difficult question. I know this is a personal judgment but I don't think Obama meant any harm by it. One can overparse a campaign. Again, statements, even bloopers like 'I voted for it before voting against it' (which is what legislators ROUTINELY do in Congress) are again the natural product of the campaign trail.
Did you notice how TIRED the candidates looked in that debate? Stephanopolous sure highlighted it. At the outset, Hillary Clinton was glassy-eyed, Barack Obama was hoarse, and Edwards was snivelling annoyingly.

The Repugs looked much better rested and less visibly afflicted with colds

[pnwmom]

35. Obama very well could have controlled McClurkin's statements -- it was

Obama who gave him a platform and an audience. This wasn't just a question of an endorser of Obama having said some nasty things. Obama knew what McClurkin stood for, and how he expressed himself, and yet he chose to put him in an Obama fundraiser anyway. He should have found someone else who wasn't a hate-monger.

[russian33]

10. I don't dislike him

He's my third choice, after Hillary, and Edwards
what I do dislike, is the way republicans and the media have been fawning over him
i think it's all tactics, to get him to be the nominee, and THEN their true feelings will come out, and i hope he can withstand that avalanche of hate, lies and possibly videotapes :)
but...that's if he gets the nomination

[TahitiNut]

11. There're lots of folks I'd like as neighbors who I'd not want elected President.

Obama seems to possess a lot of admirable personality characteristics. He seems very bright, has good taste in wives, probably is a terrific professor of Constitutinoal Law ... LOTS of strenghts. I'd probably enjoy his company - I'd probably find him good as a coworker. So what?

It's about the FUCKING ISSUES! It's about PRINCIPLES!

:grr:

[Zynx]

12. I like Obama just fine, I think he is slightly arrogant though.

[blondeatlast]

13. I like 'em all, but I think I'm entitled to have a BFF until it's inevitable. nt

[earth mom]

14. I don't like Corporatists. Obama's a corporatist.

If Obama refused all that campaign money from the corporate lobbyists like Edwards did, THEN I'd respect him and wouldn't be so concerned about his possible presidency.

As it stands now, I don't want Obama elected because we're just looking at more of the same stranglehold by business interests.

Which means Bye Bye middle class.

That more DUers don't understand this simple fact, is totally mind boggling to me. :crazy:

FYI ya'll:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2636329

[David Zephyr]

15. I like him a lot. He represents the boldest leap forward for America in generations.

I am very, very proud to be his supporter.

[lanlady]

16. me, for one

I don't actively dislike the guy, but don't care for him either. He gives a great speech but his record in the Senate is less than thrilling. He doesn't really seem to stand for anything; what seems to driving him is Ego, nothing more. I hope I'm wrong about him, I really do.

[Marrah_G]

17. I like him- I don't think he is right for the presidency right now.

[timtom]

18. Liking someone and their being authentic

are not correlative.

I LIKE Obama; I simply don't trust him.

[2hip]

19. Obama is Hillary-lite to me

As Edwards said recently on Olbermann, Obama's approach is "intellectual" and "philosophical"...somebody who "just talks about it, for whom it's more of a political issue...the politicians are going to do the political thing."

Frankly, I'm sick of the politicians. I want a People's Advocate.




              Edwards '08 tees!

[karlrschneider]

20. I don't dislike him but do NOT want him to be the nominee...that would guarantee a GOP win.

...

[Buck Stopin Harry]

21. I like Obama

He strikes me as more honest than Hill

[Blue_In_AK]

22. I like him okay.

I'm just not sure he's all that he's promising. I'm just an old cynic, I guess.

[saracat]

23. I do not trust him. I do not trust media coronations particularly

of style over substance. There is just something creepy here. Wall Street likes him too much and he is too much of an appeaser to me.He is a Neville Chamberlain when we need a Churchill.

[MoonRiver]

24. I like Obama, Clinton and Edwards.

Any of them would make a great president. I really dislike the Democratic infighting. :(

[Naturyl]

26. I like him, but I'm skeptical that he has what it takes. (n/t)

[mondo joe]

27. He's very likable. I don't like the disrespect he's shown gays.

[ruggerson]

28. He's likeable ENOUGH

n/t

[tandem5]

51. haha nt

[dogman]

29. I dislike him as my Senator.

He has been a disappointment, which leads me to discount him as a Presidential candidate.

[SoCalDem]

30. I don't dislike ANY of our candidates.. All of them have every right to run

and all of us have the right to like or dislike or not to care one way or the other..

What I seriously dislike, is the constant "snippiness" by some people if someone dares to even mention "their person" in an offhanded way, that is somehow transmogrified into a major insult (in their minds)

[Bluestar]

32. I like him well enough, just can't stand his supporters on DU

I haven't heard anything of substance or any concrete plans come out of his mouth. And I'm bothered because he sounds like a preacher.

I took hypnotist training about 12 years ago. The teacher (very well-known) said he had been offered and turned down lucrative contracts to train ministers in the "hypnosis cadence" that is the voice technique that puts people into the "alpha consciousness" state. This allows the suggestion to penetrate into the brain easier. I hear that cadence in Obama's voice, whether it is planned or not. I'm bothered by people fainting at his rallies. I think there is something strange going on here.

[JuniperLea]

40. Whoa! You said it out loud! Good for you!

I've been very, very bothered by this whole "he inspires me" deal! Cheese and crackers! They said the same about Hitler fcol! I don't trust anyone who toys with my emotions! Appeal to my intellect and I will follow you anywhere, but leave my emotions the hell alone.

And you are right about his supporters! Ask any one of them why they like the big O and they will coo something akin to inspiration, etc. Oh, they'll cite his education and a few other things, but it seems to me every candidate up there on both sides have had a great education. The madman in the White House right now had one handed to him as well!

[rAVES]

33. I think he's a great man.. and a decent enough politician. brilliant orator.

[emmadoggy]

34. I agree with Tahitinut.

Personally, I'm sure he is a very nice individual. He's obviously intelligent and has been very successful in both his personal and professional life. I'm sure he has many admirable qualities. He comes across as being a bit haughty and arrogant to me, but that isn't something that would turn me away from a candidate if I felt they were right for the job in qualifications and on policy.

For me, it's about several things. Last summer I received a mailing from him where he said, "The biggest issue facing us today is not the largeness of our problems, but the smallness of our politics." That REALLY stuck in my craw. If he REALLY thinks that that is the biggest issue facing us today, then he is COMPLETELY and TOTALLY out of touch with what's going on in this country right now. With the raping and pillaging that has been going on for the last several years. And his solution is to reach across the isle and strive for kinder, gentler politics. HELL NO!!! That is exactly how we have fallen into this quagmire!! You give the Repubs an inch and they take a MILE!

I want someone who will fight for us and pull the repubs back in OUR direction instead of always being pulled inch by inch in their direction. I want someone who will shirk the lobbyists and corporations and work for US the PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. I don't believe Obama will do these things.

I want accountability and prosecution of the criminals currently in the White House. Frankly, I don't know if any of our current candidates will go after that (except maybe Kuch, which isn't going to happen), but I'm quite sure that Obama would NOT do it.

I also think he is way too green for the job and way too untested. I don't feel he has what it is going to take to reverse this horrible downward spiral we are in. The next President is going to have a monumental task - in fact, I feel like our next president is going to be the catalyst that determines whether we sink or swim in what looks to be a very bleak future to me right now - global warming, peak oil, undoing Bush's dismantling of our democracy, not to mention the witches brew of domestic issues that have been left to grow to desperate proportions. (This is why I held out for Gore for so long. He's the one who really has the strength, vision, courage and experience to take on the task.)

And finally, I think most of his proposals are pretty weak. I am especially unimpressed with his energy/global warming proposal and his health care proposal. I haven't looked through every one of his policy stances in great detail but what I have seen is just not impressive to me and not nearly progressive enough.

I saw someone on DU use the phrase, "The Audacity of Hype" in reference to Obama and that made me laugh for the play on words, but also because it fits. I feel he's come this far mostly on hype.

If he wins the nomination, I will be very disappointed and will not have a lot of HOPE for the future (oh, the irony). Of course, he WILL be better than any republican, but I just don't think he will go far enough to being what we desperately NEED. I will hold my nose and vote for him in the general, but I won't be happy about it.

That's my two cents.

edited to add: I also don't particularly care for the way faith and religion seems to sneak into his rhetoric. I don't like politicians who inject religion into their politics in an overt way. Also, some others mentioned that they just don't trust him and that is true for me as well.

[JuniperLea]

42. sigh...

*JuniperX stands, applauds, smiles, shakes her head, wipes tear from eye*

Awesome rant!

:yourock:

[emmadoggy]

44. Aw, shucks.

Thanks. Just the way I really feel. Nice to know I'm not the only one.


:pals:

[golddigger]

36. I like him...

But, he is not the right man for the job at this time. John Edwards is the right man for change at this time. But, if Obama or Hillary win the democratic nomination they will have my full undying support.

[JuniperLea]

37. I don't need inspired...

I need to know how the candidates feel about the issues. All I'm hearing from nearly all of them is noise and nothing solid. I read their websites and I find more of the same. It's hard to know exactly where they stand on anything.

To me, today, Edwards seems to have made the most sense and has talked more about the issues I feel strongly about. And he seems to be staying out of the cat-fights.

[jlake]

38. I do not trust him. I think he is phony and trying to BS his way into the WH

He has plenty of positive attributes, and is probably a good guy - but NOT good presidential material.

[readmoreoften]

39. I'm sure he's a nice guy. I don't like his tactics or his ideas and I think he's insincere.

[etherealtruth]

41. He's not my first choice ...

Edwards is; however, i will happily vote for him (or Hillary), work for him ...

[Justice Is Comin]

43. I can't like somebody

I don't trust. And I don't trust Obama any more than I would a car salesman.

I think he's an opportunist, he's self aggrandizing and will sell out within months to the people who will explain to a rookie how Washington works.

John Edwards is our only hope for the equivalent of another Boston Tea Party.

PLEASE Al, endorse John Edwards.

[nonconformist]

45. I think he speaks in platitudes, and I question his sincerity and his ability to get it done

He strikes me as an appeaser, frankly.

That said, I don't think he's a bad person. Just not the best for the job.

[BenDavid]

46. an inclination to withhold approval from some person i e obama

"my dislike of obama was instinctive" used as a noun.....
"I really dislike this politican" used as a verb.....

And when you go into that voting booth on tomorrow, the heavens will part and a bright light will shine down upon you and you will have an epiphany and you will vote for obama.
Messianic and that should scare many....

[Didereaux]

47. he is more condescending than I am! and he is an academia elitist

[Virginia Dare]

48. I like him a whole lot..

he's just not my top choice. I'll have no problem supporting him as the nominee, if that's the way it goes.

[Kip Humphrey]

49. I've liked him beginning with his Harvard Law Review days

I just think we'll need him after we clean up this mess we live in right now. Kucinich and Edwards are my choices for cleanup.

[Joe Fields]

50. I don't dislike him. I just think the only "change" he wants is a

different job. IMO, he is not for the people.

[hertopos]

52. I actually dislike him though I don't really know him.

Unlike many other people, I am actually turned off tremendously by his 'spectacular speeches'.

I am originally from Japan and I do think I have a cultural bias toward anyone who speaks too well. Again unlike many people, I like Hillary much more than Bill from the beginning.

I also feel he sounds very condescending and arrogant.
I prefer down to earth 'policy wonk' politician.

But just me. I still believe Obama has a very good chance to win.

Since you asked.

Hertopos

[krabigirl]

53. I don't know him. But he comes off as arrogant, and talks about faith too much.