Super Tuesday, at last

[rymenhild]

Tomorrow I am voting for Barack Obama. When viridian asked who I supported and why, I gave her the following list of reasons:

1. I can't forgive Hillary Clinton for voting to approve the war in Iraq.
2. I am seriously frightened of making dynastic succession a traditional way to choose a president. Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton would be a worrying string of family members in the White House. What if it continues further?
3. I love listening to Obama talk. (This is not a reason to choose a president, I know, but it does affect my gut reactions.)
4. I think Obama's got a better chance against McCain in the general election than Clinton.

Other people, wiser and better at expressing themselves than I, have provided reasons to vote for Obama. (Read the comments and follow the links.)

Finally, if you have time, watch the interview Obama gave at Google on November 14, 2007 (on YouTube in two parts, 22 and 24 minutes long respectively). Obama articulates his positions at length, clearly and with conviction. It's worth seeing.

Comments

[meadb.livejournal.com]

Also, he is the only presidential candidate in my lifetime with whom I have wanted to make out. Surely that counts for something?

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

What do you think of Obama's position on queer rights? (This isn't meant to be a trick question -- I know that there probably aren't any better candidates.)

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

I thought Al Gore was pretty hot when he was running for vice-president. I wouldn't hit it now, though.

[ajodasso.livejournal.com]

I am voting for Barack Obama.

W0rd! Medievalists for Barack!

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

I heard a talk last week on the election and GLBT issues (by which the speaker actually meant GLB issues), and was convinced that, as you said, there are no better candidates than Obama. Clinton, whatever she may be saying these days, supported DOMA. Obama's voting record has always been positive on queer issues, and as irritated as I am with his support of 'civil unions' rather than 'marriage', I'll take him over Clinton or any other option we've got this year.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Also, I have a lot of respect for him for his willingness to speak out about gay and lesbian (if not bi and trans, yes, I know) issues in historically homophobic spaces.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

He does have a certain amount of human beauty, yes.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Here's to a president who doesn't think the Middle East is in the Dark Ages!

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that -- I watched the video, and I'm convinced now.

Sadly I don't get to vote until May.

[reconditarmonia.livejournal.com]

I wish I could vote.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Are you too young? I think it's wrong that teenagers who are old enough to drive (16+ seems like a good age to me) aren't able to vote. Young people have stakes in long-term political issues: global warming, the Social Security troubles, wars and their ramifications in military recruitment, government funding, the deficit, etcetera. If the American educational system has done what it's supposed to at the middle- and high-school levels, every sixteen-year-old in the country should understand electoral politics well enough to participate in the voting process.

(My apologies if you are, in fact, 18+ and there's something else going on; my further apologies if you're an articulate and well-educated person under the age of sixteen. You write well enough that I really can't tell.)

[reconditarmonia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm 16. Believe me, I wish I had some say in the government, especially since, if news reports are correct, I know loads more about the Constitution than a lot of rightist politicians. (At least I go to a school that's sensible about health education.)

At least if Huckabee, for some inexplicable reason, gets elected, I'll have time to apply to all foreign universities...?

I'm anxiously awaiting the NY results. My mum voted for Clinton today.

[nigita.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links. I've reposted, and shared them via email with friends and family.

For once, the opinions of voters in my state actually matter in a primary, and I'm quite excited about it.