HATE-ORADE! Obama's Most Progressive/Electable! No, Hillary! No! Edwards!

[El Pinko]

I honestly don't get it.

Let me get this out of the way, first of all, so you can decide whether you love me or hate me - I support Edwards - for a number of reasons, but mainly because my primary concern is helping working people of limited means, and Edwards' rhetoric simply resonates the most with me.

But that being said, I don't dislike ANY of these candidates at all.

I have my qualms - I was REALLY peeved at Hillary for voting yes on IWR, and I think she's making a SERIOUS miscalculation by trotting out WJC so often - people are already getting "Bill fatigue"

I have qualms with Obama, too - he was only in the senate 2 years before he decided to run for president, and as wonderful as he sounds when he's talking, a lot of it is a little too nebulous and feel-good to be true, and I'm especially uncomfortable about the whole "reaching out to republicans" thing, because really, we have give MORE than enough ground up to the republicans over the last 20 years. Oh, and then there's the name thing - we'll never hear the end of that from Rush & Savage.

And even my favorite, Edwards - he only has one term in the senate, and before that he was a trial lawyer (which is a profession I highly respect, but the fact is that trial lawyers definitely get a bum rap in this country.

All three of these people have achilles heels, and they each have some formidable strengths, too. I personally came to the conclusion that Edwards would run strong in the general election, and that he would do the most for working people once elected.

But I don't doubt that Hillary or Obama would run a strong campaign, too (they would almost certainly run with more passion than Kerry did - he seemed like he wasn't all that interested in being president).


So why is it that I can like Edwards and not attack Hillary for being a DLC repug-lite or Obama for sliming Hillary or whatever?

Why does it have to be this way? We are NEVER going to have a perfect candidate. They all have their faults And god knows the GOP guys have a slew of faults too.

I just wish more people would focus on what's GOOD about their favorite and lay off of the criticisms of their rivals. ESPECIALLY the really shallow nonsense like "Hillary's speaking with an insincere lower voice inflection" (and before they complained about how her voice was high and grating) or "She's had botox" or whatever. Jeez. I hope I look as good as Hillary when I'm her age. And I wish I could speak to people the way Obama does. And I wish I had Edwards' talent and passion for fighting the good fight.


Stop drinking the hate-orade!!!

[Bright Eyes]

1. I think its because after 8 long years of Bush

We want a Democratic President...but not just ANY Democrat. We're sick of seeing our country torn to hell, and we all have different opinions on which candidate is most likely to fix things. Some of us are just more passionate then others.

Just my 2 cents.

Welcome to DU.

[El Pinko]

2. Thanks for the welcome - and I am passionate about Edwards.

And if he loses, I'll be passionate for Hillary or Obama. I honestly do have considerable esteem for both of them.

I was NOT excited about Kerry, at any point in the nomination process. I was actually quite shocked when he got the nomination.

At least this year, I feel like I can get behind the nominee, whoever it is.

I have the most qualms with Hillary, but at least with her, we have some idea of what to expect, and 4 more years of Clinton would be a damn sight better than 4 years of McCain, who make no mistake, is an EXTREME right-wing nutjob.

[Armstead]

3. My antipathy to the Clintons is based on a lot of damage they did

I appreciate your positive tone. Welcome to DU.

But sorry but I have to be honest. For many of us, the influence of the Corporate Wing of the Democratic Party is too crucial an issue to be glossed over.

Although I'm sure Hillary is a fine woman, she represents what has been wrong with the Democratic Party for the last three decades. The complete capitulation to the Corporate agenda at the expense of the majority. And the marginalization of liberalism as "too far left."

I don't know about Obama. he's certainly fresh and inspirational. But to me he's a cipher on the real issue of Wealth and Power.

Edwards is the only one of the three who is actually highlighting the issues that are most important at this juncture. The horrific concentration of wealth and power, excessive corporate dominance and the neglect of the poor and working classes.

[NastyRiffraff]

4. Welcome to DU!

Great post. People are passionate and tempers are raw. I've snapped at a few people myself...the morons who "suggest" that Edwards should quit the race: for the good of the country/to support Obama/never should have run in the first place.

I don't hate any of the candidates, but I really get angry at some of the Obama supporters.