(Putting this in great debates as it’s likely that debating will occur).
A friend of mine currently plans to vote for McCain, but is willing to be convinced otherwise. However, she (reasonably) points out that when she looks for online stuff about Obama, she mainly finds incredibly polarized debates in which people either adore him or despise him.
So, does anyone have a link to a nice calm logical article authoritatively laying out good reasons to vote for him, describing his strengths, etc?
(Someone linked to something from the SDMB a few months back praising his legislative record as full of practicality and compromise… anyone know what I’m talking about?)
Thanks.
I don’t think you can do much better than his website. Republican’s love to say Obama is all hot air, but his numerous online manifestos lay out his positions in considerable detail.
Obama has a book focusing on his policy proposals coming out on September 9, called Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama’s Plan to Renew America’s Promise. Or, she could just read The Audacity of Hope.
Shayna has a laundry list of news articles and legislative action for your friend…she has posted many of them in threadss right here on the SDMB. I don’t know if she holds a running list.
I think that articles, etc. not directly written by the Obama campaign would likely have a greater effect on Max’s friend. The most persuasive arguments spend equal time evaluating both sides before reaching their conclusions; campaign materials are propaganda designed to reduce criticisms of their candidate whether they’re valid or not.
Also, why is she friend currently planning to vote for McCain? If she’s a conservative then reading his website may very well turn her off. I know that a number of the pro-Obama conservatives here on the SDMB support him despite his policy positions.
Heh – I just re-posted several links here that might fit the bill. However, it would be helpful to know why she’s currently leaning towards McCain, but open-minded to considering Obama. What kind of information do you think will sway her? What issues matter to her? I could fill her inbox for weeks.
I’m actually not entirely sure, despite having discussed the issue with her several times. I think the basic summary is that she’s liberal on social issues but leans more towards conservative on security/foreign policy issues, although not really pro-Iraq-war. But she’s VERY strongly pro-Israel.
However, her biggest problem with Obama is that she doesn’t trust his experience and ability to actually get things done. She thinks he’s a well meaning visionary and dreamer, but not someone who will actually know how to make things happen if he gets elected. Thus, while she may agree with Obama’s positiosn more often than McCain’s, she would rather vote for someone who she thinks will actually get things done rather than someone who will sort of flail around in a bubble of optimistic hope.
(I hope that’s a fair summation of her position… I may just send her the link to this thread and see if she disagrees. So everyone be polite! )
I would recommend reading The Audacity of Hope. Obama talks quite a bit about his time working in the Illinois legislature. Not only did he get things done, he was not afraid to cross the aisle and work with Republicans to get things done. I do not agree with all of his positions, its the way in which he gets things done that I like.
Luckily Obama doesn’t Flail I think President Clinton just nailed it on the head in his speech tonight. Outlining that in 1992 everyone said he didn’t have the experience needed, was too young, a dreamer etc…etc…Sound familiar?
Obama is different than Clinton, he works differently, and I think will make a fine president. Of course he will keep our great nation strong and engaged in security. How could anyone in the day and age question that?
Well, with any luck, the links I provided in the post I just referenced with disabuse her of any notion that Obama is a do-nothing flailer. He’s a VERY hard worker and has engendered enormous respect from both sides of the aisle. So much so, that a Republican Illinois State Senator was amongst several others who made a commercial in support of his election to the United States Senate. The video appears to no longer be available, but she can read an article about the commercial and its impact, here. Relevant text:
And as that article points out, Kirk Dillard is a McCain delegate!
And if she’s at all concerned about his stance on Israel, you may feel free to direct her to my blog post at my barackobama.com page, here.
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I think President Clinton just nailed it on the head in his speech tonight. Outlining that in 1992 everyone said he didn’t have the experience needed, was too young, a dreamer etc…etc…Sound familiar?