# Why Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919 "2007-02-12T20:54:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/21 "2007-02-13T00:09:22Z")
Because he has the balls to stand up to the right-wing smear machine. Observe [his response to Fox News](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/2007/01/post_15.php) after their incorrect and grossly irresponsible reporting about the school he attended in Indonesia. Most candidates would step lightly around it with some mealy-mouthed finger wagging, because the last thing they want to do is piss off a major media outlet. Obama went right for the throat. Or his response when [Australian PM John Howard came out with some ridiculousness about Al Qaeda rooting for Obama](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/11/0445/84602). A successful candidate has to understand that ignoring these things will not make them go away. Obama seems to get that, so when the bitchslaps come, he slaps back, and hard. 'Bout time, I say. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/22 "2007-02-13T00:25:55Z")
Why is this thread f’d up? Posts are missing, etc. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/23 "2007-02-13T00:30:29Z")
Hey, after six years of Bushisms by the truckload (“nucular,” anyone?), _any_ candidate who can string together polysyllabic words without stumbling over his tongue is gonna look like effin’ Einstein by default. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/24 "2007-02-13T00:50:39Z")
Weird, the forum says that this thread has 20 posts, but I only see 9 posts starting with **ZipperJJ** ’s post. Anybody else getting this? Edit: And now when I just tried to post this I got a SQL error. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/25 "2007-02-13T00:52:00Z")
I think [Doonesbury said it best](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/pliny/db070212.gif) ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/26 "2007-02-13T01:19:57Z")
Yep, and I tried about 4 times to post “hey, wtf?” and it kept getting kicked out. Makes you wonder just exactly WHO is reading this… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/27 "2007-02-13T05:17:25Z")
In the Super Bowl, much was made of the fact there were two black Head Coaches. So presumably evidence of racial achievement matters in the US? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/28 "2007-02-13T06:26:25Z")
I got a copy of Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope, for Christmas and it was a very good read. I had only one quibble (he gives Reagan far too much credit for the fall of the Berlin Wall) but other than that, he opened up and explained his thoughts, his background and gave some insight into his ideas, goals and vision for the future. If there is any criticism, it would be his bubbling optimistic idealism and faith in the American public. Whereas I, a cynic still bitter over the past two stolen elections, find Obama both naive and refreshing at the same time, I want to believe he is right; that the American public still does have a core of decency and fair play and would like to be respected at home and abroad. Yes, Obama is a raving optimist, and he believes in an America I am not really sure exists anymore, but at this point - I would rather put my faith in someone who is a true believer than someone who is simply in the game to win. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/29 "2007-02-13T12:15:31Z")
He’s the candidate I dislike the least, and I know next to nothing about him. I honestly don’t think he has a chance to win in 2008, and I’m a little disappointed to hear that he’s going for the top office so soon after getting into the Senate. He might be enough to keep me voting Democrat next year, but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/30 "2007-02-13T17:45:01Z")
Any left leaning candidate pulls the whole bunch to the left, and that’s good in itself. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/31 "2007-02-13T18:01:17Z")
[QUOTE=fessie] Why is this thread f’d up? Posts are missing, etc. [/QUOTE] It’s okay, fessie. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/32 "2007-02-13T18:05:33Z")
[QUOTE=glee] In the Super Bowl, much was made of the fact there were two black Head Coaches. So presumably evidence of racial achievement matters in the US? [/QUOTE] Yes, but it’s also evidence that sportscasters love statistics and trivia and facts about who’s first/most/best to do something. And to some extent this is true of the media in general: it gives them something to talk about. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/33 "2007-02-13T18:11:30Z")
More on Obama’s responses to the media, from [a column](http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/107767.asp) in my local paper: > [@](#): > > He also seems unlikely to suffer foolish questions from flabby-minded journalists. > > From Springfield, Obama went to Iowa, where he was goosed a little for perhaps being high on charisma and broad themes and “short on details.” > > His retort had a bit of bite: “I have the most specific plan in terms of how to get out of Iraq, more insights into how I think and feel about issues (including in his two books) in America than any candidate.” > > Here it gets choice: “The problem is not that the information is not out there. That’s not what you guys are reporting on. You have been reporting on how I look in a swimsuit.” ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/34 "2007-02-13T18:24:29Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] I honestly don’t think he has a chance to win in 2008, and I’m a little disappointed to hear that he’s going for the top office so soon after getting into the Senate. [/QUOTE] An extensive Senate record is a double-edged sword when it comes to running for president. You may benefit from name recognition, but you’re guaranteed to have cast a bunch of votes that won’t look good in smear campaigns. Wasn’t JFK the last Senator elected president? I don’t think it’s the automatic disqualifier that some people do, but Obama’s got charisma, name recognition now, a lot of public goodwill, and national office without the black marks that go with it. I think he was smart to run this year, whether or not he wins, because I don’t know that 4 or 8 more years in the Senate would improve his chances. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/35 "2007-02-13T18:35:51Z")
[QUOTE=Interrobang!?] Wasn’t JFK the last Senator elected president? [/QUOTE] Yes. This year is unusual because Bush can’t run again and Cheney says he won’t run, so it’s wide-open on both sizes. Nobody should be shocked if a Senator wins this time. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/36 "2007-02-13T18:43:30Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Nobody should be shocked if a Senator wins this time. [/QUOTE] Right. All the more reason for Obama to run this year, rather than waiting 4 or 8. (And part of the reason I wished Feingold had run, though I never really thought he had a great chance of getting the nomination.) ---
**Author:** ![Alistair\_McCello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Alistair\_McCello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alistair_McCello)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/37 "2007-02-13T18:46:11Z")
> [@Interrobang!?](#): > > Wasn’t JFK the last Senator elected president? He was the last POTUS elected to office right out of a Senate seat. Both LBJ and Nixon were elected with a Senate record in their history. Granted both men had other platforms to run from (LBJ as the incumbant, and Nixon had been VP), but their Senate records were not enough to kill them. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/38 "2007-02-13T18:50:07Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] I have this same impression. The “candidate for all people” will not be seen coming from a million miles away … it’ll be someone walking in through the back door. [/QUOTE] Hmm…were you on an open mic the press would now be all over you for insinuating that Obama should use hte servants’ entrance. -Joe, 😉 ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/39 "2007-02-13T18:58:10Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink’s link] Here it gets choice: “The problem is not that the information is not out there. That’s not what you guys are reporting on. You have been reporting on how I look in a swimsuit.” [/QUOTE] I think I might be in love. He seems to be someone that can force the country to return to a more respectable level. I have hope for the future being better when I listen to him speak or read his remarks. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919/40 "2007-02-13T20:50:52Z")
Obama is a vessel. People are looking at the potential as opposed to what he’s actually done. You put your hopes and dreams into it and hope the vessel doesn’t get broken. People have a little less hope than they did in the mid to late 90s. The people that are lacking hope, by large, are also those that feel a big change is needed. It doesn’t get no more distance-y than Obama when you compare him to Bush the Younger. Liken it to the NBA draft. Teams draft the top 10 picks based on potential, not on how they’ve done. Part of it is smart, for if there’s a can’t-miss prospect, it pans out and then some. Of course, it’s also playing the lottery. If Obama wins and ends up being incompetent, dark days are indeed ahead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama/391919.md?page=3)