The Perils of Passion

Ultimately the conundrum is that Hillary is running for the votes of the democratic base, while Obama is running for the votes of a part of the democratic coalition, but is actively and openly recruiting independents and disaffected republicans -- and the large number of open primaries has allowed these people to play a role in his rise in the democratic primary race. If Obama doesn't win, these latter parts of his coalition are *not* natural supporters of Hillary Clinton, and could opt for McCain. That's a significant problem for Clinton, I think.

The problem for Clinton is that she attracts mainly Democrats. Obama, on the other hand, attracts new voters, independents, Republicans. That is why it is easier for Clinton supporters to say that they would probably vote for Clinton and not vise versa. Obama, by attracting more than just Democrats, is attracting people who would be willing to seriously consider McCain.

The Democrats have a decision to make. Go with the establishment candidate and risk losing these new voters, independents and Republicans or invite these new supporters into the fold.

Frankly, both candidates are very smart people. Brilliant, even. Their positions do not differ much at all. In that realm, it then comes down to character and integrity. Unfortunately for Hillary, she is quite lacking in inspiration. She reminds me so much of Al Gore (back in 2000) and John Kerry. Policy wonks, all of them. A bit too controlled by the polls, so they seem to drift in the wind. But the ability to get a real mandate to actually get all those well planned out proposals passed? The Al Gore of 2000 did not have it. Neither did John Kerry in 2004. Bill Clinton even lost the Democratic majority in the House and Senate. Hillary Clinton is just more of the typical Democratic presidential candidate. The only thing that sets her apart? The fact that she happens to be a woman.

Obama has a consistent message, a thoughtful and engaging manner, and operates from a set of core principles. Those are the kinds of things that attract new people to the Democratic Party. They do not have to agree with everything he wants to do, but they feel he can be trusted to listen to the other side and to tell the truth. And, yes, he can give a speech like no other person in the history of American politics for the past few decades.

So, given the choice in the nomination process, who does this independent choose? Obama, because I think he has more than enough intelligence to hit the ground running on day one and will have the political will of the people behind him. If Hillary wins the Democratic Primary, as a non-party member, there is nothing to keep me from seriously considering John McCain.

The Democratic Party is United....REMEMBER....The Media (You All) will feed their Family....will keep this HYPE going as long as you can. We know Obama won California & Nevada, You know those "States" would not ask for a RECOUNT! THE VOTING MACHINES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY (2008, ALSO!!!) NEW MEXICO HAS NOT FINISHED COUNTING SINCE """LAST SUPER TUESDAY"""" THEY NEED TO BE HONEST, ALSO....TELL IT! BARACK OBAMA WON NEW MEXICO!!!

WE THE PEOPLE!! WE THE PEOPLE OF THE 'UNITED' STATES OF AMERICA, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION MUST BE HONEST....

EIght years ago we were at peace because the Clintons did absolutely nothing the many times we were attacked, which emboldened the enemies and enabled them to attack the Twin Towers and the Pentagon (and the White House, had it not been for some very brave souls). Oh, wait... Clinton did bomb an aspirin factory in the Sudan the day Lewinsky was going to testify. And he formed a mightly Caribbean coalition to attack Haiti. I forgot about those two stellar foreign policy achievements.

yes we can !

The benefits of the competition between Hillary and Obama outweighs the costs. It allows the candidates to sharpen up their message and be heard by more people.

The problem is the superdelagate and Florida/Michigan issue. For me, the Superdelagate can go ahead and do what they want. Of course, they must consider the backlash of its consituencies and all. But its part of the game.

No doubt, to date, the Superdelagates favor Clinton because she is the established candidate. Justifiably, that means Obama has to try that much hard as the newcomer. It should mobilize his supporters.

But if Florida and Michigan delegates get counted, then that is changing the rules midstream. It will be sick and unfair to Obama. Florida and Michigan knew the rules. Thus, their delegates should not be counted. End of story. However, again, the controversy should rightfully push more people toward Obama because Hillary is trying to change the rules in her favor.

For the reasons Anna states, I would urge the older generation of democrats to show some wisdom and consider the very real positive impact that choosing Obama as our nominee would have on the prospects of the party going forward. Obama has attracted hundreds of thousands of young people to his campaign. Even if you think they just like him because they think he's "cool" (which sells them short in my view), the fact is that he has not only attracted them, but has motivated them to get involved and to VOTE. If Clinton is the nominee, I would venture to say that a good many of those young people might be turned-off by politics for a good long time. I say this notwithstanding that I'm a female late baby boomer. Expanding the base of the democratic party would be good for all of us. And inspring young people to take an active interest in politics is no small feat. Telling yourself that Obama is all inspiration and no perspiration is belied by the evidence that he's getting those young people to perspire heavily for him and it's producing results. It would be a shame win the battle but lose the war.

Anna states the hard core facts here... the passions among the two camps of Obama and Clinton are creating a very unhealthy situation for all of us democrats. The feelings are so deep and you can read about it, hear it, and see it in the media daily. It is so energizing to have this excitement, but it is dividing us into tow distinct camps. I can tell by the Obama supporters that they are going to be "sulking" if Clinton is nominated. As a Clinton supporter, I know I am turned off by the unwillingness of the Obama supporters to realize that Clinton or Obama would be better than McCain. I will vote for Obama if he is nominated... but I won't do it with passion and I don't think all of our Clinton supporters will vote for Obama because of the things that have been said. I'm not sure the same can be said for the Obama supporters. The dems will not win in Nov without both camps are together. I don't believe that Obama or Clinton can unite the two camps when the nomination is over unless they both are on the ticket. Very scary!!!

Thank you. :)

They don't need to attack us on our soil now. Bush has given them a blank check to slaughter us wholesale in Iraq and Afghanistan. Between 9/11 (which was on Bush's watch, regardless how you may like to spin it) and the GWOT, nearly 7,000 Americans have died. Could any of the casualties from the '90s hold a candle to the carnage Bush has engendered?

First he's a Muslim, then son of an Atheist, then people start calling him Hussein from putting his hand on the Koran. Now some guy post a video on Youtube saying that Barack and him had oral sex 4 years ago.

So he goes from a Muslim to Atheist to Hussein and then gay, why don't they just use the N word and be done with it?

All of the information are unsourced, has no witnesses or reliable evidences and can be counted as BS. Idiots who jump to conclusion based on taloid headlines like these are the reason we are in Iraq right now. I won't feel bad if he loses to Hilary because she beats him decisively in votes or debate but I'll lose a lot of faith about this great country and its people if his loss comes from the smear campaign.

And to dear Obamaholics, I support the guy too but I don't believe he can change everything or be the second coming, Obama himself said that no one is perfect and none of our hands are clean, frankly it's the most sincere word that I've ever heard from a politician for a long long time. I'd rather focus on the fact that he can inspire me to do something greater than myself for others and the good of all.

PS. The Christian right are neither Christian nor Right

Hey, you racist whisperers, Obama is not now and never has been a Muslim. You are lying when you say that. The only question is, are you lying out of ignorance, or did someone pay you to say that.

This is Obama's REAL biography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama

If you are REALLY worried about Obama and Israel (and not some slimeball doing character assassination) here is what Richard Cohen from the NYT said about that issue. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/opinion/l11cohen.html?hp

Liberalguy, you should heed your own advice

"Before you vote for any candidate I'm sure you can search the internet
and find out about all the candidates"

Everything that you said in your post has been refuted online, and in the news.

Wow Mr rosenberg, looks like you have some issues you have to deal with before you make comments about candidates. You may want to attend some inner faith meetings to clear up some stereotypes you seem to hold against people. Also, it looks like you cut and pasted a lot of the mess you spewed out and claimed to be your own. In the future at least come up with your own bigoted ideas and not just paste someone elses up.

as a jewish american I ammn afraid of muslim factor,sincerely dave rosenberg

I am one of the 7 of 10 who will vote for either one. I admire and respect Clinton, but I lean toward Obama primarily because I live in a red state. My neighbors, most of whom seem ordinary on the surface, but are really wing-nut, neo-con, evangelical haters, just froth at the mouth at the mention of Clinton's name. I don't have a clue why she deserves this, but we must remember we are dealing with people who believe in intelligent design, fixate on gay marriage and still think that Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden are the same person.

When you mention Obama to them, they sort of mellow out and say they could stand him. Again, don't know why, I've just seen it on several occasions.

I really think people on the coasts don't get red state mentality. Heck, I live here and I don't get it. It's hard to imagine seemingly intelligent, successful people who think Democrats are destroying America. But, honest to God, I know physicians and business owners who are wing-nuts. There are lots of them here. I wish I could say something about their believe system made sense, but the only way it makes sense is if you start from a position of pure hate. And, pure hate with incredible zeal, describes their reaction to Clinton.

Our country is in a world of hurt right now....we need someone who doesn't put salt in the wound for the other side (even if the other side is made up of crazy people).

Of course, soon the fake terror alerts will start and many voters will freak out and decide we can't change direction in war time and we need a military person to run the country -- I hope it doesn't become 2004 again, but, if it does, we get what we deserve.

Oh, and another thing. The Republican Party will be looking for a distraction from the economic woes and the war in Iraq. Having Clinton as the dem nominee allows them to change the subject to how she is such a polarizing figure. The media will eat this up too. Having Obama as the nominee allows the Dems to concentrate on the issues better than Hillary. Obama is like a boot pressing down on their necks and the Republicans are terrified by this prospect. Let's ensure that Barack Obama is there to crush the Republicans' necks until they can't breathe.