Not an Empty Suit: The Opinions On Obama of His Harvard Colleagues
Her'e a link to a post on dailykos that does much to reveal Obama's depth, judgment, and temperament.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/30/175948/927/778/559599
Most memorable are the comments alluding to his willingness to include disparate views. And he is portrayed as someone, unlike many law review editors, who enabled authors to better express their own arguments rather than pressure writers to bend to his opnions. This trait is evident in many reports throughout his career showing that he makes every attempt to examine opinions that conflict with his preconceptions and then revise his views.
The caricature on some TPM blogs of him as an empty suit or too naive don't seem to take these characteristics seriously as they have been manifested at every stage of his adult life. Most notably, these critics don't seem to take into account his demonstrated judgment during his Senate campaign regarding the war in Iraq. That position at that time cannot reasonably be portrayed as the presentation of a sort of insubstantial presidential candidate; he even accurately predicted the course of the war. Moreover, these kinds of critics don't see the depth of understanding and wisdom apparent in his speech on race, the general conduct of his campaigns, his coinage among so many politicians and political figures, his speech on Iraq, and his flawless, big picture presentations in his tour of Europe and the Middle East.
The experience factor has importance to be sure, as these critics persist in pointing out, but in his case, it pales in relation to his wisdom, temperament, and judgment, especially relative to McCain and Clinton. Noted historian, Gary Will, writing in the New York Review of Books, favorably compared Obama's speech on race to a similar kind of speech delivered by Lincoln. Will's opinion, along with the opinions of many other noted academics and political figures add to this writer's impression that Obama is worthy or deep respect and intense support.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/30/175948/927/778/559599
Most memorable are the comments alluding to his willingness to include disparate views. And he is portrayed as someone, unlike many law review editors, who enabled authors to better express their own arguments rather than pressure writers to bend to his opnions. This trait is evident in many reports throughout his career showing that he makes every attempt to examine opinions that conflict with his preconceptions and then revise his views.
The caricature on some TPM blogs of him as an empty suit or too naive don't seem to take these characteristics seriously as they have been manifested at every stage of his adult life. Most notably, these critics don't seem to take into account his demonstrated judgment during his Senate campaign regarding the war in Iraq. That position at that time cannot reasonably be portrayed as the presentation of a sort of insubstantial presidential candidate; he even accurately predicted the course of the war. Moreover, these kinds of critics don't see the depth of understanding and wisdom apparent in his speech on race, the general conduct of his campaigns, his coinage among so many politicians and political figures, his speech on Iraq, and his flawless, big picture presentations in his tour of Europe and the Middle East.
The experience factor has importance to be sure, as these critics persist in pointing out, but in his case, it pales in relation to his wisdom, temperament, and judgment, especially relative to McCain and Clinton. Noted historian, Gary Will, writing in the New York Review of Books, favorably compared Obama's speech on race to a similar kind of speech delivered by Lincoln. Will's opinion, along with the opinions of many other noted academics and political figures add to this writer's impression that Obama is worthy or deep respect and intense support.
