This is my first diary and it was prompted by Kerry endorsing Obama this morning. These are things I have been wondering for awhile so I hope I can get some answers.
My question is based on what I perceive, or rather, don't perceive. I hear Obama speak, I listen to his words, and I like what I hear....but I don't really understand this huge groundswell of support under him. Sure, he says nice things...he talks about hope and cooperation, but he says it in the most generic (not as in boring, but broad) terms possible. He talks about change but stops before he can explain how to accomplish that change. He talks about reaching across the isle, but in our current political environment, I don't believe that the Republican Party is willing to compromise. We have to turn back the wave of extra-Constitutional actions taken by this administration and its enablers, both Republicans and Democrats. We have to fight their interests. Obama has said nothing to indicate that he is really willing to do this. Remember, he is going to give them a seat at the bargaining table. He can't even take on Hillary Clinton aggressively. Sure, it is an unusual thing to be nice and probably even a breath of fresh air, but I don't believe it gets the job done. The United States has been pulled far to the right in the last 30 years and I don't think Obama is not the one to push back against it. Just look at his record in the Senate, and I don't mean his voting record. I mean his leadership record, for that matter look at Hillary Clinton's with the same sort of analysis. Can someone please tell me where Obama has taken a principled LEAD in order to accomplish something that he supports, especially if it was a minority opinion? I can think of one instance, and that had to do with a controversial FEC nominee who's name escapes me. He hasn't voted to stop the war, sure he was against it before he had a vote. But what good is the rhetoric of being anti-war when he can't even vote against it one time when he gets into a position of influence? I just don't see the appeal, other than his charismatic delivery. So if someone can explain it to, rationally, not emotionally, I am all ears.
For the record, I must state in advance that I am an Edwards supporter. But my hopes of him winning the nomination wane (I still intend to vote for him in my February 9th WA state caucus). But I am asking for an Obama supporter to convince me to vote for him in a general election, should he get the nomination. Because in the end, Democrats have to win my vote as well, it will never be an obligatory vote for a party for me, even if I support their agenda over the other side's. I want to vote for Obama and not just against the Republican, but I haven't found him to be that appealing based on the issues. I personally believe that a Democrat is better able to hurt the Democratic Party than a Republican is, just look at Bill Clinton (one of the main reasons I refuse to vote for Hillary), and for people the people of Daily Kos, yellow dog Democrats and Lieberman-type...well whatever he says he is now.
I am not trying to use this to attack anyone, but these are question I must have answered before I could justify giving Obama my vote.