| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
13 Feb 2007 01:59:03 PM |
| Object: |
Why Obama has independent appeal... |
More than 1/3 of all Americans identify themselves as Independents,
and these are the voters that will ultimately choose our next
president. Clearly, if Democrats want their nominee for president to
be elected in 2008, they will have to select a candidate who resonates
with Independent voters. But what are the qualities that Independent
voters are searching for, and who among the Democratic frontrunners
best reflects those qualities?
To judge from some recent (and current) Democratic candidates for
president, a common assumption would seem to be Independent voters
simply want a candidate who chases after that elusive "middle ground"
between Republicans and Democrats (even if these "centrist" views are
a recent shift for the candidate in question). I see two main
problems with this logic, which point to ways that many candidates
fail to understand what a large number of voters are looking for:
First, voters can sense when they are being pandered to. There is an
incredible thirst for honesty and integrity in American politics, and
a candidate who truly projects these qualities will gather much more
support from Independents than one who merely tries to match their
positions to as many people on as many issues as they can.
And second, "chasing the middle" strikes me as rather amusing, but not
very effective, as a political strategy. Politics is a tug-of-war of
ideals, and I can't picture anyone winning a game of tug-of-war by
dropping their end of the rope and running after that ribbon tied
around the middle. A player who chooses that strategy will certainly
find the "middle" drawing ever-closer to their opponent's position.
To win for your ideals in politics, the only real option is to bring
the middle to you, through open discussion and debate.
Independents are not necessarily people who can't decide if they're
Democrats or Republicans, and they're not yearning for some chimeric
candidate who is half donkey and half elephant. What so many of us
want is to see our troubled democracy fixed, to see an end to the
corruption and partisan acrimony that have plagued Washington for so
long. Any candidate who speaks to this need, who offers real
solutions for reform, and who demonstrates that they are "independent"
of special interests, will win the lion's share of Independent votes -
regardless of that candidate's place on the ideological spectrum.
Independents will support a candidate who speaks with sincerity and
conviction, and one who recognizes the need for fundamental change in
American politics. And I contend that among the 2008 presidential
hopefuls, Barack Obama represents these qualities uniquely well.
Obama's ability to connect with a broad spectrum of Americans is
unparalleled, chiefly due to his direct and genuine approach. And his
own independence from the status-quo is well-represented by his recent
quote:
"I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But
I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must
change."
Barack Obama is the kind of force for change that Independents have
been waiting for. Let's hope Democrats realize that Obama is, by far,
their most "electable" candidate.
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| User: "Docky Wocky" |
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| Title: Re: Why Obama has independent appeal... |
13 Feb 2007 10:49:08 PM |
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Gee. That must have been really important - if it had to get posted 3 times.
However, Obama has little independent appeal, being that he is a liberal
Democratic.
Obama has appeal to only a small percentage of liberal Democratics, who,
when they are given the chance, will vote, several times each, for Obama, as
well as Hillary Clinton, and Vince Edwards.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Why Obama has independent appeal... |
14 Feb 2007 02:40:16 PM |
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On Feb 13, 8:49 pm, "Docky Wocky" <mrch...@lst.net> wrote:
Gee. That must have been really important - if it had to get posted 3 times.
He evidently believes in "The Hunting of the Snark" rule of 3 - A.
McIntire
"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.
"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What i tell you three times is true."
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