Obama’s sticking points
If you’re set on voting for McCain because you agree with him on the issues that matter to you, or because you’re convinced that Obama is unsuited because of his character, then there’s nothing I can say to change your mind. Nor would I want to.
But as I’ve been asking people why they’re not voting for Obama, there seems to be a handful of basic sticking points beyond policy and character. Here’s why they’re not sticking points for me … and in one case, why it’s an argument in favor of Obama.
“He’s not experienced enough.” He clearly does not have as much experience as John McCain, if only because he’s younger. Experience counts, but only when it results in knowledge and judgment. Obama has not been found to be weak or superficial in his knowledge of the world. Indeed, there are some areas — such as Constitutional law — where his own experience leaves him more knowledgeable than McCain. And, in terms of judgment, if you think the Iraq war was a mistake, then Obama ought to get marks for the clarity of his judgment. Likewise, I thought Obama exhibited excellent judgment in a choice of a running mate who has all three: experience, knowledge, and judgment.
“He’s been unclear on his positions.” On Obama’s Web site, you can find detailed plans and proposals. They are at least as crisp, clear, and thorough as McCain’s. But what this criticism has meant for some of the people I’ve talked with is that McCain gives simple, unambiguous answers, while Obama sometimes seems to waffle. Part of it is that Obama likes to give fuller, more nuanced answers. That’s bad for campaigning but a good trait for a leader. But there’s a bigger issue here that I think gets at the heart of many people’s discomfort with Obama. Let me explain …
Obama was very clear in his book, The Audacity of Hope, that the change he wants to bring is to the process of politics and the tenor of democracy. Obama thinks that beneath the ugly divisions among us are some common values. To heal and to move forward, he proposes that we look for what we have in common and try to come up with positions that are not as polarized. That means he is open to re-thinking the standard Democratic positions, sometimes to the ire of the standard Democrats. Off shore drilling? Generally, it’s a bad idea, but let’s recognize that we all want less dependence on foreign oil (and on oil in general), and if there are some places we can drill that can help (eventually), without disturbing the environment, we should be open to it. But that can be only a tiny part of the solution. Abortion? There can be no compromising a woman’s basic right to control her own bodies, but let’s recognize that everyone wants fewer abortions…
The resulting positions are not compromises in which we give up some of what we want so our oppponents will go along, or ”triangulations” in which we forsake principle in pursuit of votes. Compromises are political calculations, and they have their place. But they don’t heal us. For that we need to recognize what we have in common, rather than simply what we disagree about. The positions that emerge can look like compromises or even betrayals — the Left is still furious with Obama about the FISA bill — when they are in fact attempts to listen to others with respect and reset the discussion on the basis of what we share. That is the basis of the hope Obama holds out.
(I hope, by the way, that what I’m writing right now adheres to Obama’s path of listening and responding with respect.)
“He’s changed his positions.” Yes, at times he has modified his positions. But I don’t think he’s changed his values or basic proposals. He’s changed as facts have changed. And he’s changed because he not only listens to those with whom he disagrees, he seeks them out. He is a constant learner. McCain, on the other hand, has switched from one side to another on issues as big as the Bush tax cuts, an anti-gay marriage amendment, and Roe v. Wade. The swings seem to me to be much bigger and more fundamental. So, given the two candidates, I don’t see this as an argument against Obama. Am I wrong?
“He’s weak.” I find this objection so odd. True, he hasn’t flown a plane in war, but I think Obama is made of steel. He is unflappable. He has remained true to himself and to his ideals throughout trying circumstances. He has shown tremendous strength as the McCain campaign has untethered itself from issues in order to attack Obama personally. So, this seems to be a matter of perception, and thus I cannot convince you of it. Nevertheless…
Beyond policy disagreements, are there other sticking points I’m missing?
PS: I’m not sorry to be inconsistent in tone and approach from post to post.
Four good arguments. I’ll be bookmarking this on Twitter and printing it for a few people in the near future.
I see the above arguments against Obama more as a crutch that many use to justify voting against him for other reasons that are either not politically correct (race) or not easy to put into words (a general uneasiness with his youth; former support for Hillary Clinton that makes supporting her opponent difficult, etc). The people I’ve spoken to who are “on the fence”, but who would otherwise vote for the Democratic nominee, seem to find it hard to discuss, using facts, why they wish Obama were not the nominee, and tend to use these general statements as their reasoning. Their arguments against him also tend to fall apart when they have to elaborate on their positions against him.
One you won’t hear but which will have an impact on this election is that he’s black. There is still a deep core of racism unfortunately alive and well in this country.
Perhaps those who answered you that Obama is weak, should rephrase their response that they are the ones who are weak.
I think there’s a covert one, having to do with melanin. White folk aren’t going to come right out and say it, though.
looks like the clinton nemesis is taking place also
from the ‘It’s our turn’/'we are entitled’ slot
there is nothing you can do but blaming
there s still time to skip that loop all together
posts like this are of great help in that
[...] Obama’s sticking points (Joho the Blog) Dave Weinberger does a great job of disemboweling a set of standing anti-Obama arguments. (tags: 2008 election obama) [...]
David, I hope your well reasoned points get some traction, and can hopefully change at least a few votes. (If the GOP were to win this election, I hate to think of the repercussions and the malaise that would set in)
The above comments that spoke directly of the ‘melanin’ or race issue, pin-point the great unspoken mega-issue… but its clearly not just one man’s skin color, and of course what immediately comes to mind is that half his blood-line is caucasian i.e. WHITE… so he is in fact the perfect compromise candidate for the race issue, not a token ‘Black-Man’…
However, deeper than all this… operates the ‘perception-level’ that predominantly guides the unconscious decisions of humans… and at this level, we are in the realm of semiology… ‘the language of signs’.
This is a race for the ‘WHITE-HOUSE’… i.e. How can it become the ‘Black-House’? – It will not make sense to millions of Americans, while they may recoil at the notion that they are at all ‘racist’, and who may be either dyed-in-the-wool Democrats, Independents, or jaded Republicans… but who nevertheless are influenced by decades of mental images like the 1960’s (so called) ‘Chamelot’ period in the ‘White-House’, and little John Jnr saluting his father, etc…
Unconsciously, (no matter how pretty and lovely Obama’s charming children seem to be, they will not seem to ‘fit’ within this hallowed sacred ‘white-on-white’ bastion of power… and perhaps hence, these folks are reluctant to give Obama ‘carte blanche’….
I have run into a distressing amount of overt racism, but always in the form of “I have a cousin who…” or whatever. The unconscious racism is also deeply troubling and harder to extirpate. That’s why I’ve been thinking that someone (not the O campaign directly) should start playing the positive race card: A gorgeous black family in the white House! How cool would that be? Not to mention how much it could help this country heal…
“A gorgeous black family in the White House”… Yes, that to me is also a truly wonderful prospect. ~ But, to be somewhat preemptive and strategic… maybe some smart folks at ‘O’ campaign HQ need to to start considering how to deal with the great unspoken sub-text inherent within this idea, that may be operating as an unconscious stumbling block for many would-be supporters. – I have no answers… just an insight that this might be part of the issue. ~ Its a pity that the great TV series ‘The West Wing’ didn’t have a relatively young black President in the lead role, with the requisite young beautiful black children… (as Obama and Michelle’s children plainly are)
boy oh boy…. this sketch is sooooooo hysterical
http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gm.....h_yes.html
This little video on YouTube (from FrankTV) seems on message…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....WsQa4AsL2o
Do you want to know why MCCain dosn´t like the president of spain?
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