Not Disappointed with Obama! But not excited either!

[kennetha]

As many of you will remember I'm a former avid and still somewhat grieving Clinton supporter -- though it gets easier everyday to live with the loss. I have been mostly lurking and sitting on the sidelines rather than entering the discussion.

First, let me say that there is, of course, no way I will vote for John McCain. Haven't voted for a Republican once in my entire adult life --(although I do now regret that I didn't vote for Lowell Weicker over that yucky Joe Lieberman back in the day. That was probably taking party loyalty too far.) I see no reason to do so now. So I will definitely be supporting Obama.

Obama hasn't really done anything to make me truly upset with him in awhile. I don't approve of some his moves, to be sure, but I'm not at all angry with him. Maybe it's easier for someone like me -- who was never onboard with him from the get go -- to accept that he has to modulate some of his stances for the general election.

On the other hand, he also hasn't done anything to really excite me either. I'm not sure what could get me genuinely excited by him -- short of his choosing Hilary as VP - which I now think won't happen. Maybe that's too much to ask. Maybe it's too much to ask he excite former Hillary supporters. Isn't it enough that we are negatively motivated by the desire to end the Repugnant's hold on the presidency.

Maybe 4 years of a not just electorally successful but also genuinely progressive democratic presidency backed by a democratic house and Senate is the only thing that could really do the trick. I mean if Obama gets in and governs as a true progressive, all will be forgotten. At least by me.

I wonder how other Clinton supporters are feeling about now. Are you, like me, pretty much over the loss but still not quite won over to Obama, despite your willingness to vote for him? Are you still holding on to the anger and disappointment of the primary? Would you really contemplate voting for McCain or sitting this one out?

[KAZ]

1. Nice post Kennetha!

Yeah, I remember being angry with you may times during the primaries. May we never go through anything like that again!

[democrattotheend]

2. Welcome back!

And as a Deaniac in 2004, let me be the first to say that I empathize. I wouldn't say I had to hold my nose to vote for Kerry in 2004, but I wasn't jumping out of my skin with excitement either. It's tough to see a candidate you believe in lose and then have to turn around and support the candidate you've been arguing against for a long time.

At the risk of sounding like I'm pimping my store, I made a collection of shirts, buttons, and stickers for people in your situation. They say "Hillary Has My Heart, Obama Has My Vote". And in a show of party unity, I am donating the proceeds to Hillary's debt relief:

http://www.zazzle.com/democrattotheend*/products/cg-196053165511745923">Clinton supporters for Obama
http://www.cafepress.com/blue_america/5749703

[Saturday]

3. I would NEVER vote for McCain.

I am not happy about Obama and FISA but I would NEVER vote for McCain. I was more angry at the disrespect given to Hillary and Bill here at DU than anything. Now that the cult seems to have disappeared it seems the more reasonable Obama supporters are left here thinking rather than screaming. I think with time I'll be totally on the bandwagon because, if I haven't mentioned it before, I would NEVER vote for McCain. :)

[cobalt1999]

4. Not excited by Obama, but I am excited by the Republicans losing power.

I never bought into the whole emotional Obamamania, in fact, still don't see anything about him that makes me want to get excited beyond the fact he is not a republican.

Not being a republican is good enough to get me to the voting booth though.

[MarjorieG]

21. He's giving a whole new sheen and substance to what it means to be a Democrat. Big tent Dems.

Building organizations and people power in many states. He shifted emphasis on issues-and those in his books-to be inclusive. That's a good thing. He will need an overall appeal and trust for GOP and other than Denocrats to move policy, to get on board with personal sacrifice, to understand why everything can't happen overnight.

And in some survey, he was the third person people wanted along on a July 4th barbecue. Imagine a smart, savvy, and what I believe, caring guy as president.

Forget your one issue, or certain trigger point, and enjoy the possibilities.

[anonymous171]

5. If Obama breaks up big media, more progressive candidates will have a chance in 2012 and 2016.

[scheming daemons]

6. Maybe next week's trip overseas will get you fired up a little

[otohara]

7. Kerry Didn't Excite Me

but....I am a Democrat.

[NatBurner]

8. i wonder how the holdouts feel about McCon's latest pearl:

McCain calls Obama health care plan 'HillaryCare'

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/17/mccain-calls-obama-health-care-plan-hillarycare/#comment-1367078

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (CNN) – John McCain devoted a substantial chunk of his town hall meeting Thursday to drawing contrasts with Barack Obama on health care policy, stressing his opposition to the presumptive Democratic nominee's health care plan and noting the "great difference" between them on abortion.

McCain's strongest denunciation of Obama came when discussing the Democrat's health care plan, which would cost $50-65 billion per year but would not mandate insurance coverage for all adults, only children.

"My friends, we've seen this movie before," McCain said. "It was called 'HillaryCare' back in 1993, and we're not going to do it again. We're not going to have the government take over the health care system in America."

At a later moment in the town hall, when stressing his own bipartisan record, McCain accused Obama of generally having "the most extreme record of any member of the United States Senate

[anonymous171]

9. That's good because her plan was a superior rip-off of Edwards' plan.

I just didn't like the way she marketed it.

[NatBurner]

22. how did she market it?

the only diff i'm aware of is that she wanted to mandate coverage, obama didn't-

healthcare isn't my 'issue' tho, so i didn't pay too much attention

[anonymous171]

13. "most extreme record of any member of the US senate"

Wait, I thought Obama was a typical politician/flip-flopper? Now he's back to being "too extreme?" :rofl:

[JoFerret]

23. That's Mccain's chosen take

We all know that on most issues he is pretty mor and always has been. After all - he wants to get elected.

It sure would be nice to see a progressive move on health care though.

[LynneSin]

10. Here's one Clinton Supporter ready to help get Obama elected....

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHMeKqFP_LzUVeindmXH3n3SkHewD91VP7E81

Clinton says he's ready to campaign for Obama
By SARA KUGLER – 1 hour ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Clinton said Thursday he is eager to campaign for Barack Obama whenever the Democrat needs him, but has not given any thought to whether he wants to speak at the party convention in Denver.

"I told him that whenever he wanted me to do it, I was ready, and so it's basically on their timetable," Clinton said. "He's got a lot of things to do between now and the convention, of which this is simply one, so I'll do whatever I'm asked to do, whenever I can do it."

_______________________________________________

Look, I understand this is a bit of a heartbreaker; I know it would be tough for me. But ultimately in 2009 either Obama or McCain will be in the White House and we're going to need all the support we can get. If Bill Clinton, probably Hillary's #1 supporter, can get on board then I hope that many of the CLinton supporters here at DU can find their way of joining the team too. I realize that we all need time to heal our wounds, even Bill needed it.

What I really really really hope is that NO Clinton supporter advocates voting for McCain or 'Sitting this one out'. First, I believe it's a oneway ticket to being tombstoned from here but the other - can anyone honestly say that 4 years with McCain is going to be any different than what we've had for the last 8 years? Even if Obama only gets it right 25% of the time, that's still more than what McCain will get right if he gets elected.

And honestly, with our Supreme Court in perilous balance - who do you want picking your next Supreme Court Justice? It took almost 35 years for Republicans to get the bench stacked with enough judges to overturn Roe V. Wade. If they get one last progressive judge off the bench they have control and personally, I don't want to wait another 35 years to change it back.

[NatBurner]

11. i've heard of that guy

he was quite popular, if i remember right :)

[LynneSin]

12. Still popular with me and not once was I a Clinton supporter this election period

I love Bill and if he was running for office I would vote for him again in a heartbeat.

[NatBurner]

14. i'd vote for him too, but since i can't? hillary's got my vote in 2016

[anonymous171]

16. Hey, me too!

DLC or not, Bill is still awesome.

[democrattotheend]

17. I'm not sure whether I want him to speak at the convention

I definitely want Hillary to speak in primetime. Part of me would like to see Bill speak too, but I'm afraid if you have both of them speak the convention becomes all about them. And that's not a knock on the Clintons, it's a knock on the media who have a fascination with their every move for better or for worse. Then again, if Bill doesn't speak, the media will make his not speaking the story, so maybe we might as well have him speak.

[LynneSin]

19. Bill needs to speak at the convention

Bill has this strange appeal that still works for democrats. But he should speak early in the convention.

[Median Democrat]

15. I Was A Democratic Primary Wall Flower - Now I Am Excited

I have noted this several times, but I was fairly satisfied with either Hillary or Obama. There are things that I thought could be improved (which means they accept my views on certain positions, but, hey, I am not the one running for President), but I was not motivated to support one over the other. I did think that Hillary was a slam dunk shoe in to win the Democratic nomination at the outset, but I can't say I was overly upset that she is not the nominee either.

However, now that the primaries are over, I am excited at the possibility that notwithstanding what I see as a heavy anti-democratic slant by the MSM that Obama has a fighting chance to win the Presidency. I think it will be tough, since the MSM has become increasily willing to try tilt the scales against the Democrats by giving McCain a free pass on his many flip flops. However, I do like the aggressive approach taken by the Obama campaign, particularly with respect to contesting certain red states.

Another 4 years of GOP rule will just be catastrophic on multiple fronts. Also, if McCain wins, I really begin to doubt the viability of our system of government in an age of Media Consolidation. Politicians pander to the MSM and the MSM panders to sponsors. Obama has been outspoken with respect to promoting media diversity, and if he loses, will any other politician dare challenge the media giants?

I kind of see this election as a make it or break it year.

[Egnever]

25. Your last paragraph is spot on

if we dont stop it this time I am not sure we will ever have another chance.

[sufrommich]

18. I like Obama,I'm feeling good about him ,

I would have preferred Clinton,but frankly,Kerry wasn't my first choice either and I'm way more excited about Obama than I was about Kerry

[kennetha]

20. You seldom get everything you want in politics, I guess

I don't have to hold my nose to vote for Obama. I wouldn't at all say that. But I really was deeply gripped by HIllary's campaign and what I thought she could achieve. That got me up and motivated to work for her and to donate money to her. Don't think I can achieve the same feeling for Obama until perhaps he gets in office and wins me over not by his promises or rhetoric but by his concrete achievements. But hey, I'm willing to give the guy a chance now. Certainly wouldn't think of voting for the other guy.

[Kazak]

24. Of all the original primary candidates, Obama was about my 6th preference...

All of my favorite candidates were eliminated before I ever even got the chance to vote, so yeah, meh!

[MoonRiver]

26. I'm not excited either.

I just hope this country can get it's 'you know what' together sooner rather than later.

[JoFerret]

27. The idea of dems winning

is exciting.