To ask someone to forget their identity or gut feeling when voting is dangerous. The fact that a person can vote for any reason they seem fit, is what democracy stands for. Whether it’s a politician’s stance on Kanye vs. 50 Cent or Soda vs. Pop, every American (so cliche’ has the right and opportunity to vote as and for whatever reason they choose. This even applies to people who purposely vote AGAINST Barack because he’s black. They have the right.

Would I be voting for Barack if he wasn’t black? Who knows. However, his blackness represents to me a common identity. Just as a soldier might have with John McCain. Just as a woman might have with Hillary Clinton.

Just my two cents.

Oh, and Obama 08.

I generally have a problem with people supporting or voting certain ways over meaningless/trivia reasons. I hate it that people vote a certain way, because that’s the way their parents vote, or their pastor, or because the sun is shining. I used to work with pre-service teachers and I had a girl who was confused by the fact that she was the only republican in her class of fellow teachers. I had to break it down for her, and how each side approached education. She had been voting, because the way her family votes.. Sad I know! People should be voting and supporting people who have the same ideas and views as they do, on ISSUES that’s important to them, and not just important to them, issues that affect them the most. (And please something else besides abortion and gay rights)

Back to Obama…. I’ve read and heard this on just about every Media outlet possible in some form or fashion. “Of all the candidates Obama is the youngest and freshness and has the best chance of bringing change”. Yet again another reason why I should vote for Obama. Please. Because some how change and youthfulness goes hand in hand, especially when running a country is involved. Sure he hasn’t been in the game long, which may be a good thing, maybe the system hasn’t corrupted him yet, but age is not reason to vote for him.

Yet don’t get me wrong, Clinton’s entitlement eats me up inside as well. Her campaign comes off at times, that just because her husband did it, she can do it, or should do it. Or better yet, that she already knows what it takes to run a country, giving the dry run she’s already had or eight years. As if America somehow owes her, and that’s far from the truth. She’s going to have to earn it like anyone else.

I’ve had enough politics for the week, as today people around me in FL will be voting in the primary. I’m out.

Anyway…I just think it’s funny how quickly people forget the events that have transpired over the past several months. Obama started out with large factions of Black folks not supporting him for a long list of reasons including questions about him being “Black enough” and not believing in his electability…yet that has somehow been re-written to be that he has always been/acted like he is entitled to the Black vote? Meanwhile the Clintons are giving us permission to vote for Obama like we need their approval…it just doesn’t jive.

I have to ask…why are folks (i.e. Bob Johnson) are so willing to support every negative Black stereotype that 80% of these rappers and other entertainers perpetuate about Black men (especially); yet when people have the opportunity to stand up for someone who represents something so positive for the country and for Black folks it is such a personal struggle? I can name so many times when Black folks have rallied behind an embattled celebrity accused of doing something illegal- T.I., Michael Vick, OJ, hell even Kobe. People (i.e. Russell Simmons) fiercely defended the right of rappers to say n!gga, b!tch, hoe every other word and have people slide credit cards down people’s asses, yet now there is a moral dilemma about supporting Obama?

I’m not even saying don’t support Clinton or whoever else…because regardless of who gets the nomination Black folks need to deal with why famous criminals get more universal support than a Black Presidential candidate. We need to deal with why the image of the Black male thug, womanizer, etc. is more easily embraced than that of a college educated senator, why that image conjures up so much cynicism rather than inspiration, and why too many people don’t care enough to change it.

I also argee with Vision. Expereince does come to mind in this race, but it’s not so very important. Looking at the choices, one would lean towards, the pros, but sometimes you have to shake things up. Vision does brin up a good point, everyone seems to be fighting to find a reason, not to support Clinton. I guess that’s what happens when you’re the crowd favorite going in?

Change is Obama main issue, and I’m sure of all the candidates he’s the one that have the greatest chance of doing so, and if you listening to him he’s got some real decent ideas. Will I vote for him?, I don’t know yet.

My problem with Clinton is that her and her husband are doing everything I despised from the Republicans in the 04…I hated the “swift boat” attacks on John Kerry and how they smeared his service in the military with no factual basis. The campaign they have run over the past few weeks epitomizes everything that is wrong with the “business as usual” politics in Washington. I know politics is a rough game, but that doesn’t mean I am going to condone a “by any means necessary” type of attitude. I didn’t like how they flat out lied and distorted Obama’s record and his words and I especially didn’t like all of the attack dogs they unleashed on him that used despicable race/religious baiting tactics. I wouldn’t condone it if a Republican did it, and I won’t condone it with the Clintons doing it.

Obama said it best…people have gotten too comfortable with the slash and burn politics and through their complacency are letting it continue. I’m no longer voting for the lesser of two evils and choosing to vote for the candidate that I find inspiring and right for the job. If Hillary can infuriate Democrats the way she has with this campaign, it is not hard to imagine what kind of furor she will stir up on the Republican side.

YES WE CAN DO THE DISHES!

YES WE CAN GET TO WORK ON TIME TODAY!

…ahhhh so funny

I agree it is hardball, but even if hillary wins, it may be a overall negative to the demo party (but i’m indie so not as a concern to me). In addition, i think it would have been closer b/c he is turning off his base support (blacks).