I want to make this clear that I am still a Hillary Clinton supporter and believe solidly she is a great choice for President. However, I decided since I was on two Delta flights yesterday to buy Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope. Hearing the clamour of many on this blog about Obama, I feel should Obama become the nominee....and that STILL is a BIG IF my fellow Kossacks....well I wanted to know Barack Obama.
Not that I want to sound like George W. Bush but I will borrow one of his lines and say after reading this book, I feel as if I have looked into his eyes, and seen his soul, and Barack Obama....I believe Barack Obama has a vision that is challenging, hopeful, and inspirational.
I found myself in near tears as I read the passage about first the lesbian mother who called him and from that phone call he was willing to listen and change his views humbly on gay marriage. I laughed in understanding about what he says about Alan Keyes, because I believe we all on face value hate someone who claims a title like Christian but cares more about an obscure verse in Romans to define a faith over say the teachings of Christ himself, like the Sermon on the Mount. I also see a man who understands, has a capacity to care, and truly will try to bring social, as well as political and economical change, to our nation.
But let me tell you I remain a Clinton supporter. If for anything than I just feel it's her time and Obama should have waited. Now allow me to explain this in more detail.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is a very intelligent and savvy individual. She came from modest middle class means and went to an Ivy League university. After she graduated she could have had her pick of corporate law firms. But here is an individual who fought for some of the most defenseless in society, through the Children's Legal Defense Fund.
As the wife of first the up and coming Attorney General and then Governor of a Southern state, Clinton went to work for a law firm that while the ilk of Whitewater has besmirched, I can attest as an Arkansan is a very well respected firm. The Rose Law Firm is the OLDEST law firm west of the Mississippi River and one of the most respected. As Obama breaks barriers, Hillary Rodham Clinton broke barriers as the first female associate and then the first female partner. She also did this while being a fulltime mom.
Hillary Clinton also believed in the feminist movement and values however her decision to keep her identity was an isssue the Republicans used to smear her husband in 1980. After her husband's crushing defeat, she could have said thats that, but she encouraged Bill to fight back, to make a comeback, and keep improving Arkansas. She also sacrificed her identity to claim his last name. Not because she was some cold and calculating person but because she realized then that sometimes you have to play by the rules set by society. Rather than force her views, she compromised for the greater good, and trust me thats a noble quality when someone places service above self.
As it is, as a progressive, as a member of the Democratic Party, I believe we have a wealth of riches to choose between.
We do need to remember this race should be decided on issues. This race also means when its over, and I think it should be at the convention, NOT WHEN A RIVAL CAMP OR THE MEDIA SAYS ITS OVER, then we should come back and be united.
Okay Obamanites, I stepped up to the challenge and I am glad I did. Now I challenge you to make peace with the other Democrats and to wax Obama's line remember we are not Clinton Democrats, we are not Obama Democrats, we are not Dodd, Biden, Kucinich, Edwards, Richardson, and Gravel Democrats but we are simply and proudly, AMERICANS first and DEMOCRATS after that!