(I have just recently updated this post to reflect Obama’s run against McCain and all new data. So please go to the post “Barack Obama: Strength Vs. Weakness 2″ in order to receive more recent info!)

 

For those of you who don’t know, I am the Camden County Community College Chapter Coordinator (CCCCC) for Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign. Last Monday, Oct. 22, I took a long trip out to Newark to see/hear him for the first time. He was introduced by Newark Mayor Booker, and then gave about a 40 min. stump speech to a very enthusiastic crowd.

I had a great time… I’ll be the first to say Senator Obama isn’t perfect, just like every other candidate. As a moderate, I strongly disagree with anyone who is a single party or single issue voter. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate and disagreeing on certain issues with Senator Obama, I still believe he is the best possible candidate for the 2008 Presidency.

Strengths:

1) Bipartisanship: I am convinced with his charm and rhetoric Obama will bring this nation together and strengthen out ties, hopefully this will include Congress. With the latest Presidency’s, Republicans and Democrats have continually pushed away from each other, getting to the point where they can’t even speak or love one another. Although Obama is clearly a Democrat, he brings people together, even if they don’t agree. This is something that Clinton, with all of her strengths, could NEVER do. She would do other things well, but she will definitely only push the two parties farther apart.

2) Judgment: Senator Obama has an incredible amount of wisdom and intelligence, the best example of this is his ability to see through the War in Iraq from the beginning. He has the street smarts necessary to look at things logically and make a good decision, while he also graduated with many honors from Columbia and Harvard University. Such a combination makes a good/wise leader, especially when adding his social skills…

3) Vision: Obama has an exemplary vision for America. He is optimistic of what we can accomplish while still being realistic about how we can go about it. He is passionate about cleaning up the garbage in Washington and making a country where people can hope again and have high expectations, rather then watch their representatives continually fail them.

4) Leadership: Obama is a strong leader, ready and willing to go up against the establishment. He already has made a point of not taking money from special interest groups (which is incredible considering how much he has made against Clinton’s PAC money and money from the Senate), and he wants to stop the political bickering and abuse. Rather then going in political circles, Obama will hopefully go right through to the heart of the problems facing America.

5) Clinton 08?: Looking at the polls, it seems VERY clear that the next President will either be a woman or black. The Republican nominees are sad at best and virtually un-electable. The Democratic primary will most likely be more difficult then the General Election, and Barack Obama is far more likely to win a General Election then Clinton. Looking at his emphasis on unity and her unfavorable numbers, Obama is a FAR better General Election candidate. Not to mention, if you don’t want Clinton to be your next President, I would DEFINITELY recommend you vote Barack Obama for President this primary!

Weaknesses:

1) Experience – He is generally cited for not having enough experience, but he has just as much political experience if not more then all of the top-tier candidates of both sides. Thus, although I admit that he doesn’t have an a plethora of experience, such an argument still must be made with Clinton, Edwards, Giuliani, and Romney (So you can’t really say I’m voting for Clinton because Obama doesn’t have enough experience). Still, in a general sense, I admit Obama does lack experience…

2) Race – Sadly Senator Obama will still take a hit because of his being black. Such a factor must be counted as a political weakness, although I don’t personally see a difference. Still, recent polling data that I have read reveals that it is more likely for people to vote for a black man then a woman for President. We’ll see…

3) Name – Such a name as Barack Hussein Obama will obviously worry ignorant voters. I have been asked MANY times whether Senator Obama is Muslim! The answer: NO! Barack Obama has a white mother from Kansas and a black father (Sr.) from Kenya (from where he got his name). He was born in Hawaii, but after his parents divorced he lived in Jakarta, Indonesia for 4 years with his new-stepfather who was from there. Later he moved back to Hawaii and eventually would attend Columbia and then Harvard University. Obama is a Christian, part of the United Church of Christ – he is NOT Muslim.

4) Clinton: Senator Obama is fighting a difficult primary against Hilary Clinton, a woman who is famous or infamous depending on who you ask. Win or lose, she has the war-chest and name to give him a run for his money…

5) Foreign Policy: Although I’ve mentioned experience already, foreign policy must be reiterated as it is so important. Even though he’s studied with an emphasis on International Relations, Senator Obama still has much to learn on the subject. Yet, once again, he still possesses just as much knowledge of this area as any other top-tier candidate.

A picture taken on my phone of Senator Obama in Newark -

A clip of Senator Obama during his speech in Newark -

http://www.diversityinc.com/public/2632.cfm

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