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Question for Obama supporters
He seems pretty confident and is defintiely an amazing speaker - but do you think he is knowledgeable enough in foreign policy issues?
He seems pretty green to me - such a nice, fresh face, and I certainly find him charismatic, but I don't want to be pulled in by that - so I'm just curious for those who really know a lot about him - want to hear your thoughts....
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Posted 2/22/08 11:22 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
I would not say that I know everything about him, but I think foreign policy is definitely his weakness. I think should he get the nomination, I predict that he'll choose Bill Richardson for VP as he is very experienced in that area. If he doesn't pick Richardson, he'll pick someone else who knows FP very well.
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| Posted 2/22/08 11:25 AM |
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LightUpOurLife
Totally in love
Member since 8/06 12785 total posts
Name:
Bonnie-Jean
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
From Wiki: "Obama was serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004.
Clinton was elected as senator for New York State in 2000. "
While this info can never show anyones true experience they could very well have the same exact amount of knowledge.
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| Posted 2/22/08 11:49 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
For one thing I don't really buy Clinton's "35 years of experience" thing. If you include all of her early experience you can include Obama's too, and he's no slouch in the experience department.
Obama has held public office for longer than Clinton has. Yes, Clinton was first lady, but I don't know that that necessarily gives her the experience needed to be president. I don't know that it doesn't either.
The reason I think Obama is strong on foreign policy is because of his approach. He wants to engage other nations in diplomacy and bring the United States back into good favor in the world. To me, this is the most important thing we can do to ensure physical, political and economic safety.
Obama is also multi-cultural by birth and upbringing. I think this gives him the vision necessary to bring us together not only within our borders, but in the world.
No one, not Clinton, not Obama, not Rice, not Powell, has all of the knowledge about the world, that is why we need to entrust our nation into the hands of a capable leader who will put together a team of experts who will be able to help us take steps to regain our standing in the world.
ETA: My problem with Clinton, if I have one, is that I think has TOO much Washington experience. I think she's a shrewd politician. I think she is great at saying what she needs to say to get elected, and I do think she has good ideas, but I also don't feel that she is willing to go against the Washington grain and take a risk to really make changes.
Message edited 2/22/2008 12:02:00 PM.
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| Posted 2/22/08 11:59 AM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
I do worry about his experience with FP, but I also worry about how well he will be received by Congress.
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| Posted 2/22/08 11:59 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
foreign policy is definitely his weekness.
you can be as charasmatic as all hell, and still not fly with your counterparts over seas.
it's fine to want to be friends with everyone, but when they hate you, they don't care that you can speak well, they want to know what you are CAPABLE of...
will the 100 people in the Senate and the 500-ish people in the House get behind you.
b/c to the leaders of other countries, it doesn't necessarily matter what the American PEOPLE want, but what their ELECTED OFFICIALS are going to do.
I think it was fairly well documented (and even downplayed at the time) how involved Hillary was in her husband's precidency.
even inactively, she observed more...hell, she even KNOWS some of the leaders already.
I don't think this is the time for him to get his FP feet wet, when we are already drowning in the wake of the Bush administration.
I like him...he's just a bit too soon.
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| Posted 2/22/08 12:09 PM |
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
Great thoughts ladies!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
To me, he has this really enthusiastic "I can't believe I'm here" look to him, while endearing, and impressive, I'm not sure is truly president material. I almost can see him go "Now What" once he steps foot into the White House (if he actually gets elected...)
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| Posted 2/22/08 1:36 PM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
Posted by JenniferEver
For one thing I don't really buy Clinton's "35 years of experience" thing. If you include all of her early experience you can include Obama's too, and he's no slouch in the experience department.
Obama has held public office for longer than Clinton has. Yes, Clinton was first lady, but I don't know that that necessarily gives her the experience needed to be president. I don't know that it doesn't either.
The reason I think Obama is strong on foreign policy is because of his approach. He wants to engage other nations in diplomacy and bring the United States back into good favor in the world. To me, this is the most important thing we can do to ensure physical, political and economic safety.
Obama is also multi-cultural by birth and upbringing. I think this gives him the vision necessary to bring us together not only within our borders, but in the world.
No one, not Clinton, not Obama, not Rice, not Powell, has all of the knowledge about the world, that is why we need to entrust our nation into the hands of a capable leader who will put together a team of experts who will be able to help us take steps to regain our standing in the world.
ETA: My problem with Clinton, if I have one, is that I think has TOO much Washington experience. I think she's a shrewd politician. I think she is great at saying what she needs to say to get elected, and I do think she has good ideas, but I also don't feel that she is willing to go against the Washington grain and take a risk to really make changes.
I agree with you 100%. Does Hillary appear more "presidential" because she has lived in the White House for 8 years as first lady? Did she learn how to be president by osmosis? I don't think so. No one ever has the experience of being president before, unless you are elected to a second term. And no one person is going to be an expert in every field.
The fact is Obama has held public office longer than Hillary Clinton. This article gives a great summary of their records in the senate. Basically, Hillary has been pushing for children/women and health care, but she has failed to be really tough on the issues and she has failed to gain support for her ideas. Obama has been tough, has gotten bipartisan support and has addressed a broad set of issues. not only health care and other domestic issues such as the environment, fuel/energy, veterans and lobbyists, but also foreign policy issues involving Iran, global poverty and nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
I only hope he gets the nomination.
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| Posted 2/22/08 2:13 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
Tha article CHai posted shows exactly what I like about Obama. He sees the big picture, and not just the political big picture. He's willing to do things differently and try other means to get results.
Tax Credits can only go so far.
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| Posted 2/22/08 2:57 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
I want to add that "Experience vs. Change" is just a sign of the success Clinton has had in framing the discussion. Her campaign set that comparison up. She's been running on "experience" acting as though it's a known fact that she's more experienced. It's just part of her rhetoric. You may agree or disagree with it, but it's her success in framing the debate that way that makes it a household phrase, not gsopel truth.
I think a lot of people are saying "oh Hillary has more experience" but if you ask them how that is, they can't tell you, they have accepted the rhetoric.
On the flip side it's the same with Obama, if you ask people what he wants to change, many people couldn't tell you that either.
it's like "red states and blue states" just something the media has gotten us to all accept.
ETA: Also, people said the same exact thing about Bill Clinton "he's a great speaker, but he doesn't have esperience" And IMO he's one of the better president's we've had, esp on foreign policy.
I think Clinton could be a good president, I think Obama could be a GREAT president
Message edited 2/22/2008 3:50:55 PM.
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| Posted 2/22/08 3:36 PM |
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neenie
Member since 5/05 22351 total posts
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Re: Question for Obama supporters
Posted by JenniferEver
ETA: My problem with Clinton, if I have one, is that I think has TOO much Washington experience. I think she's a shrewd politician. I think she is great at saying what she needs to say to get elected
While it's off topic, i wanted to add that i totally agree with this. I wouldn't call myself an Obama supporter, but he certainly holds his own in this race.
And, of all of the words that they have thrown around, i think there's a MUCH better chance that his words will actually materialize. Healthcare has been her issue since she started her career- she had 8 years while her husband was in office where she was in charge of healthcare reform and she didn't get the job done then- what convinces people that she'll get it done now? (w/o even taking into account the faults to her proposal).
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| Posted 2/22/08 3:50 PM |
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