Never In My Lifetime

[12string]

Have I been impressed by a Presidential candidate.Naturally, I have liked or disliked some more than others,but come election day, it always felt like time to pick the lesser of two evils.My original choice during the primaries was Congressman Kucinich,who I respect and admire.To be honest I didn't really give the other candidates equal time or attention until the primaries ended.I then had no choice but to turn my attention to what Senator Obama was about.I started watching videos of his campaign speeches and slowly came to the realization that maybe this man could be a politician a little different than what I've seen before,regardless of party affiliation.The more I listened I even felt uneasy at times because I was afraid of actually believing that there was any hope for real change and I've become accustomed to taking campaign rhetoric with a grain of salt.Imagine my surprise when I finally had to admit to myself that for the first time ever I believe t in a candidate.Never in my lifetime have I been so impressed as I am at the thought of having Michelle Obama as the First Lady.She is a remarkable person,intelligent,articulate,warm,compassionate,and I believe that she will become the benchmark that all future First Ladies will be measured.I truly believe that the only chance America has is to elect this man President.

[texpatriot2004]

1. He is impressive and so is Michelle. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[unpossibles]

2. I know what you mean

Obama was not my first choice either (nor my last), but I have come to really like the guy. I think he has a good chance at being a great president, despite disagreeing with him on some things. I also think he's exactly what the country needs right now, in that he will unite all but the most ardent asshats who think he's something he isn't and are afraid of him. I know a lot of conservatives who like him in the same way that many liked Clinton, again not counting the freeper asshats.

[KharmaTrain]

3. This Truly Is Unique

I've been observing and participating in elections since 1964 and have never seen a better run campaign as this one. From the moment he entered the primaries to today, Senator Obama has run a solid, consistant campaign...well organized and poised to do very well on Election Day. He has a solid team behind him that has been both loyal and highly efficient...and he's shown he can reach out to others...first in the party and then across party lines to make his candidacy stronger.

Barack is my Junior Senator and I've watched his career rise. During the primaries I remained neutral...I really had no favorite and wanted to see how the process would shake out. I was initially skeptical of Senator Obama due to his quick rise and lack of experience, but saw him in person at the YKos Presidential debates and watched how he built a solid campaign...by the time my primary rolled around, he had won my vote (and that of my family) and I've been both proud and extremely supportive ever since.

I give a credit to Dr. Dean's 50-state philosophy that laid the groundwork that the Obama campaign has run with. It's opened up the party to millions of new voters and has inspired people in a way I haven't seen since Bobby Kennedy, George McGovern and Mo Udall. The Democratic party has never been stronger and more focused than in this election...and hopefully we'll get some very positive results. The job isn't done...there's a lot of wild and hard days ahead, but the finish line is in sight...eye on the prize!!

Cheers...

[raccoon]

4. I've felt that way since 1968.

"Never...Have I been impressed by a Presidential candidate.Naturally, I have liked or disliked some more than others,but come election day, it always felt like time to pick the lesser of two evils."

[instantkarma]

5. Ditto.

My first awareness came in '68. Even so, it was mostly laughing at "Sock it to me?" and learning Humphrey's name from the evening news. I wasn't aware of RFK or MLK at that time. Obama is the first candidate I've ever been excited about. The first I saw of him was a speech he gave in the senate in '05 criticizing the war. I was instantly impressed.

[LWolf]

6. I've never been impressed by a presidential nominee, either.

I'm still not, and I'm still voting the lesser of two evils.

Recognizing that Obama is far superior to McCain/Palin doesn't erase the fact that I have many real policy differences with him.

"Hope," for me, is connected to authentic changes in policy that I'm not seeing.

I see 4-8 years of battling centrist democrats ahead, which I'd be doing no matter who wins. Hopefully, with an Obama win, I won't have to battle much of the republican agenda as well.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. You are apparently too young to remember Bobby Kennedy

This is the second time in my life that I have been so impressed.

[12string]

9. too young?

The first presidential race I remember was John Kennedy and Richard Nixon.I remember Bobby and believe he was a good man,but Obama seems more connected to the problems of everyday people.(IMHO)Also I like Joe Biden and I have never seen such a complimentary P/VP ticket.Same way I feel about Michelle Obama and Jill Biden,for the first time it feels like everyone involved is intelligent,compassionate,real people and I wish them all the best.We need them.

[lynettebro440]

8. I hear you

you have chosen the right man:)

[luvs2sing]

10. Amen and amen...

My philosophy was always that the person who was really best qualified to run this country was too sane to ever consider the job, the rest were, as you said, choosing the lesser of two evils. I remember a little about Bobby Kennedy...mostly that my parents were very fond of him and I remember my mother crying when he was shot and my father being very, very quiet. I was 10, and the person I remember most from that year was Rev. King. I had read a book about him in school, and he became my hero...only to die just a couple months later. Pretty "out there" for a little white Appalachian small-town girl who had never even met a black person.

I watched Obama's speech at the 2004 convention and sobbed. I remember my husband coming home just after the speech ended, and my saying, "I've just seen the person who is going to save this country." I'll admit to initially being apprehensive when he chose to run for president - I was afraid that the inexperience factor would be too great and had hoped he'd wait a little longer. I'm proud and happy to say that I was wrong, wrong, wrong! I never stop being impressed and inspired by Barack and Michelle Obama, and it will be an honor to have them as President and First Lady.

[12string]

11. Out-there

I grew up in an all-white small town also.The first black family moved to town when I was fourteen.I will be forever grateful that racism and bigotry were not allowed in our home.I had a wonderful mother who always said,"If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all!".Any way,welcome to DU Luvs2sing.I love to sing too but am afraid that my voice is a poor instrument.A shame I can't upgrade it the way you can a guitar or other musical instruments.You are fortunate.

[luvs2sing]

12. Ah, but you CAN (upgrade your voice, that is).

I took voice lessons about five years ago to prove to my husband that I COULDN'T sing! I'd had some really scary choir director in middle and high schools and was convinced I had NO musical talent. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can!

I think I was probably about the same age as you when I finally met a black person. However, I'd gotten a crash course in racism much earlier from the Japanese-American and German-American families that lived in our neighborhood. This was in the early 1960s, and there was still a lot of leftover anger from WWII and the Korean war, and I was the only kid on the street who was allowed to play with those kids.

I remember when the race riots started, and I asked my mother why they were rioting. I'll never forget her response, "White people have treated black people very badly for a very long time, and they're fighting for their rights." She went on to tell me that no one is less than anyone else, even and ESPECIALLY if they look different from me. My mother grew up in a very blue collar, racist, Appalachian family, dropped out of school in tenth grade, married at 18, never knew a black person until she was in her 50s...but she got it, and she made sure I got it, too.