Barack Obama: The Black John Edwards

[SeaNap05]

This was mentioned on Hardball tonight. However, Obama has appeal, with not much of a voting record in the Senate, an Obama candidacy seems interesting. I think someone fresh that is not from 2004 or 2000 campaigns will add to the race with a strong message. He can deliver with passion and conviction, and you know he seems honest. He has time to decide and has to think about that long career in the Senate.

[PeaceProgProsp]

1. Obama has a long voting record in IL state leg, no?

[SeaNap05]

2. U.S. Senate

Voting record in the U.S. Senate not Illinois

[PeaceProgProsp]

7. My point is that he has a long history of legislating.

He's not an unknown quantity in the sense that if you want to see how his talk matches his walk, he has a legislative record to look at.

[MadMaddie]

3. I wonder why they have to frame it as the Black John Edwards?

I don't know why I asked that....it was Hardball....

Obama would make a great VP choice...but maybe he should stay in the Senate for awhile.....

[OhioBlue]

8. I wondered the same thing...

"The black John Edwards"??? Obama is Obama.

[PeaceProgProsp]

9. Yes. Would anyone say, "Edwards is the white Obama"? Don't think so.

I once read a black man say that he loved gadgets and his colleagues at work called him "a black James Bond." He thought that was strange because nobody would say to him if he were white, "you're an American James Bond" or "you're a 6 foot 1 inch James Bond" or "you're a blond James Bond."

Why qualify by race when there are so many other differences when comparing any two people?

I guess with race, people start thinking about the differences even when you're whole point is trying to highlight similarities. And if not for race, people would talk about similarities only.

[NNadir]

16. I was going to say that. Edwards, the White Obama.

Babe Ruth, the White Hank Aron.

Bill Evans, the White McCoy Tyner.

George Shultz, the White Colin Powell.

Henry Kissinger, the white male Condlezza White.

[Sherman A1]

4. I agree to a point

He is youthful, articulate and a reasonably fresh face. I would like to see him paired with Feingold or perhaps in a supporting role somewhere. I think perhaps, not just yet for the #1 slot, but it will be a wide open field on both sides. Time will tell.

[DJ MEW]

5. I think he would be a good person for Senate Majority Leader

that is assuming we win the Senate back.

[lindisfarne]

6. "Black"? Obama ancestry is really quite mixed. His mother was Caucasian

His father African (Kenyan).

[FrenchieCat]

17. In America, that makes you Black.....

I know, because I share Obama's mixture.....and I am considered Black....and I don't mind it one bit.

"BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL", so no problem!

Beyond that, I don't think Obama is or wants to be John Edwards. I don't know what it is about John Edwards, but I don't find him to be all that....but he does have a good PR team and gets good press.

[skeeters2525]

10. Here's The Problem With Dems

Besides the idiot, black Edwards comment, really seadude. Archie Bunker is dead. Keep race out of it. Is that so hard.

He is my Senator and he is a GOD.

And no, I don't agree with every vote, but so fukin what. Are we Nazi's goosesteppping.

Obama listens and has even changed his mind on some issues.

And reaching out to Evangelicals. Something I would never do. But he realizes this election is so FRICKIN HUGE. He wants to be sure to get everyone.

So Netroots, come down off your cloud and give Obama a listen. If you don't like religion, big shit, close your mind. But we need everyone in this election.

Why is that so hard to see. But Dems will still play the, boo hoo, Clark said this, I don't like him no more.

Watch. It is not the Dems that are out of touch. It is us.

[kiahzero]

11. So we're supposed to cave on key issues?

"Voluntary" teacher-led prayer in schools is not something we need to compromise on.

[depakid]

12. Sorry, but Obama has shown very poor judgment

during his short tenure- and doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes.

He's not going anywhere-

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Edwards has appeal, with not much of a voting record in the Senate.

:shrug:

Two guys I'm not likely to vote for.

Bernie, Barbara, Henry or Russ. Words and action- go figure.

[Lady President]

14. Ohio State Dem. Party Dinner

Edwards- 2004 Keynote Speaker
Obama- 2006 Keynote Speaker

Having seen them both speak in person at the Ohio State Dem. Party Dinner and at the 2004 Convention, I can understand the comparison. They are both politician/preachers when they get rolling. I think their charisma, as well as clean-cut good looks and youth are bound to be compared.

Personally, I vocally supported Edwards for VP and would support Obama for VP, but I prefer a President with more experience-- although I know that is the minority opinion here.

[beaconess]

15. If we want to play the race comparison, maybe Edwards is the "Black Obama"

Obama came to the Senate with much more political and public affairs experience than Edwards - in fact, Obama has been in politics longer than Edwards has, having been elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996 - two years before Edwards was elected to the U.S. Senate. If he decides to run in 2008, he will have 6 years more experience in politics and public life than Edwards did when he ran in 2004.

While Edwards' convention speech was very good, it paled in comparison to Obama's keynote, which electrified the nation (at least those parts of the nation with brains and hearts). Imagine what Obama will be like with two more years of seasoning.

[zulchzulu]

18. Obama needs another term at least...

Frankly I find Edwards to be a tad of a lightweight...good guy and all that, but...

Obama needs another term... a little seasoning... some more chops... watch for him in 2012.

[lojasmo]

19. Obama's black? EOM

[IndianaGreen]

20. More like the Black Lieberman

Hillary/Obama in 2008, the DLC's dream ticket to oblivion.

[OzarkDem]

21. Obama voted for the Oman Free Trade Agreement

which lets Oman contract to operate US ports. John Edwards never would have voted for something like that.