Aimee May is absolutely right.

There's nothing wrong with BO taking the moral high ground with his anti-war stance, and it is certainly a popular one with liberal Democrats. But rightly or wrongly, being antiwar WILL present an electability issue in the general, among moderate voters concerned with national security and defense issues. After all, we ARE still at war.

McCain will come across as the stronger candidate on security and in the war on terror to these voters. What kind of military service or national security strengths can Obama counter McCain with? None.

And as for the issue that cannot be mentioned, it's not that he's black, it's unfortunately that racism is endemic in the US. That will be a huge hurdle for him to overcome, and I'm just not sure it's possible at this moment in time.

Posted at February 7, 2008 9:52 PM in response to Obama Nixes Hillary's Invite To Town Hall Meeting

You hit the nail on the head, Matthew. Of course BO doesn't want to debate HRC any more than absolutely necessary. He doesn't do well speaking without a pre-scripted speech, and his cranky, petulant tendencies come out, but he's also occasionally funny. I actually like to see him in debates, because I think we see the real BO more than when he's just delivering speeches. That said, I like BO more when he's being himself than when he's doing the noble orator thing.

Then again, I don't think any single candidate running this year could best HRC in a one-on-one debate.

Posted at February 7, 2008 9:39 PM in response to Obama Nixes Hillary's Invite To Town Hall Meeting

The point is clear: Hillary Clinton is more likely to win a general election than Barak Obama. Especially if John McCain is nominated, since many Republicans who don't like McCain would vote for Clinton over Obama.

Posted at February 7, 2008 8:59 PM in response to Just Do The Math

Obama is a decent-enough liberal candidate. But he is not electable because 1) he's perceived as too liberal (even though he isn't), 2) he's black (and racism is endemic in the US), 3) there are issues in his past that will provide fodder for the Rovian machine (Rezco, drug use, Exelon, etc.), 4) moderates will perceive him as weak on defense (and McCain will drill that home), and 5) Michelle (vastly more polarizing than Hillary ever was). I'm also tempted to add 6) his evangelical campaign and the supporters it attracts are so offputting.

As you revel in the money and the support flowing into the Obama campaign, Mr. Sifry, remember that if nominated, he'll need more than 7 million votes to win a general election, more like well over 50 million. So at some point he'll have to figure out how to reach those voters who have better things to do than sit at their Macs and surf Facebook.

Posted at February 7, 2008 11:22 AM in response to Obama, the Internet and the Decline of Big Money and Big Media

This part is what I find highly disturbing, and the core of why I must support HRC over BO:

"She told the volunteers that potential voters would no doubt confront them with policy questions. Mack's direction: Don't go there. Refer them to Obama's Web site, which includes enough material to sate any wonk."

This statement seems to indicate that the "movement" thing IS more personality cult than substantive political campaign. Which is a pity, because I think BO is a decent-enough liberal candidate.

I'm an HRC voter who will definitely vote Dem no matter who is nominated. But that won't really matter, because if it's BO the Republican machine will grind him up and spit him out. I'm personally trying to steel myself against the possibility of another 8 or 12 years of Republican rule, along with the complete gutting of the Supreme Court.

His campaign is giddy over the 7 million votes he garnered on Tuesday, but he'll need well over 50 million in November. I just can't see his personality cult every attracting that many sane voters, especially among the more moderate. And if it does, what does that say about us as a nation?

Posted at February 7, 2008 10:45 AM in response to Barack Obama Is Not Jesus

I agree with Foxx, it IS sad to see a feminist so naive. And to all those who assume women are voting for HRC just because she's a woman, you have a lot to learn about feminism.

It seems the Kool Aid doesn't work on everyone. And if it doesn't work on you, you're left wondering where is all this charisma and charm so many people are talking about. Let alone substance. If you're not swept up in the personality cult, there just isn't much there.

As to BO's campaign funding purity, well. like the rest of his act, it's not so pure...

From an article by Dan Morgan in the LA Times:

WASHINGTON While pledging to turn down donations from lobbyists themselves, Sen. Barack Obama raised more than $1 million in the first three months of his presidential campaign from law firms and companies that have major lobbying operations in the nation's capital.

Portraying himself as a new-style politician determined to reform Washington, Obama makes his policy clear in fundraising invitations, stating that he takes no donations from "federal lobbyists." His aides announced last week he was returning $43,000 to lobbyists who donated to his campaign.

But the Illinois Democrat's policy of shunning money from lobbyists registered to do business on Capitol Hill does not extend to lawyers whose partners lobby there.

Nor does the ban apply to corporations that have major lobbying operations in Washington. And the prohibition does not extend to lobbyists who ply their trade in such state capitals as Springfield, Ill.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Sacramento, though some deal with national clients and issues.

"Clearly, the distinction is not that significant," said Stephen Weissman of the Campaign Finance Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that focuses on campaign issues.

"He gets an asterisk that says he is trying to be different," Weissman said. "But overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists."

Posted at February 7, 2008 2:48 AM in response to Can A Real Feminist Support Obama?