I am not looking for information from the candidates themselves; I am looking for why he is getting the support he has been from those who are actively supporting him. I have heard nothing of substance from the candidate, which is why I am asking the supporters.

That is not my goal (taking a backhand swipe that is); again I have been getting asked repeatedly to attend this event for Obama and that event for Obama, especially from NPHC orgs. I want to hear from those who support him why I should support him. I am not going to say that I will ultimately support him. I just want to get an understanding of what issues he stands for that makes him so appealing from those who support him.

Then may I direct you here, for one example of why an Obama supporter is an Obama supporter based on the health care issue: http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress....y-to-railroad/

That's the best I will do for you, and I don't know if anyone else on GC is going to engage your questions for reasons that have been articulated ad nauseum.



Perhaps, knowing you, people just don't feel like making the effort to convince...

Yeah. The messenger makes a difference to some extent.

What matters even more is the reason behind why someone needs to ask supporters why they support a candidate. I always felt like people can choose to tell you who they support or not. They certainly don't have to tell you why they support a candidate. As long as they know this stuff, that's all that counts. Every person has to "research" a candidate on their own and make the decision of who they want to support (I do not support any particular candidate until I'm damn near headed to the election day polls). The threads that we've had on GC have included great info on almost every candidate and some people have chosen to share why they support a candidate (often in response to people questioning the candidate's president potential).

Exactly, a person does not need to justify her choices to anyone but herself, and I certain would not feel pressed to explain myself to someone who ultimately is not interested in what I have to say, but rather whether what I have to say meets his/her standards of significance.

So if you haven't heard anything of substance from Obama's own mouth, there is nothing that an Obama supporter can say to you that will make you hear what you already say you haven't heard (does that make sense?).

When it came to the Bush re-election, I felt like shaking people and asking them WHY? Why let this man continue to lead our country? Why let him seduce us with his so-called "religious" rhetoric? But at the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their feelings and opinions and no, they don't have to share them with anyone.

So let the Obama supporters feel how they feel about him. Maybe he inspires them and gives them hope which may be why people are inviting you to attend his events so you can experience him as opposed to simply watching and listening from a distance. For some people, this is all they need and is just what they need to feel that they too can start to make a difference. While it might sound sappy, Obama's right when he says that it starts with us and it always has but somewhere along the way many of us got comfortable and forgot about the shoulders we're standing on. Many of Obama's supporters believe that he hasn't forgotten and this is what makes him so appealing to them. Also, who says that it should ONLY be about what a candidate has already done as opposed to what they are inspired to do and are capable of doing?

And I'm not speaking as an Obama supporter because I don't know who I'm voting for yet. I have been very objective thus far and I can honestly see what each candidate (including McCain) brings to the table and they all have something to offer in my opinion. It's just a matter of what's most important to each person.

I dont know if you were speaking at me (as opposed to speaking to me) or just speaking generally in regards to the bolded, but assuming the former, I can assure you that I would be interested in what you would have to say. Whether I thought it met my standards of significance, I certainly wouldn't publicly declare because in part out of respect for your opinion, but more importantly because in the grand scheme of things, it isn't important.

Essentially I am trying to give Obama and his supporters the benefit of a doubt on his seriousness with the issues that have been plaguing our nation for quite some time and not try to write his stances off as empty rhetoric simply to appease the masses.

For the record, locally speaking I have heard NO campaign news from the GOP side, only the Democratic side, hence my reason for the above question. With Ohio's primary being next week (March 4), I'm just trying not to be as jaded in my thinking like I usually am (Surprise, surprise!!) :eek: :p

Nevertheless, you posts and points made herein was well said.

Thanks for responding.

If she or anyone did, PLEASE take it to PM and discuss it there.

Everyone,

Please post on the topic and MOVE ON! Posts will be edited if necessary.

ETA: Keep your posts in Black in the AKA forum. If I need to see your organization's colors, I'll stop by your respective forum or see it in your signature. Thanks!

KAP,

Did you get a chance to view any of the debates? They may be on YouTube or another site. It might be a good opportunity to hear from Obama from his own mouth. Other than that, I imagine if you research his website, his positions may also be discussed.
Re whether he talks in soundbites or just makes high-level statements. I have found his statements to be just as detailed as Hillary's or any other politicians with the limited time that they have to answer questions such as at debates.

Why don't you just go to the Obama function and see for yourself?
If you have the time and it's not a huge inconvenience for you, there probably wouldn't be any harm to doing so. At worst, I don't think that you will find it a waste of your time. At best, you might even decide to become an Obama supporter.

SC

RM: I suggest you read "Audacity of Hope" if you really want to gain a better perspective on who Obama is and why he has such a strong following. Good luck in your research.

Both candidates have detailed policy statements on their websites...

For some, this is just enough, that his campaign inspires them reinvest in the democratic process after years of being disillusioned by the system.

Update
 

After some research, reflection, and thinking, I think that even though Obama seems like a model presidential candidate, I decided to go with my gut feeling and vote for who I most believed in and who I thought truly cared most about the fate about our nation.

I voted for Ron Paul.


(I didn't see anywhere in the thread where discussion was limited to presidential candidates, hence the following):

I also decided to vote for David Ryon for my local Congressman, as his values were very similar to that of Ron Paul, and best of all his stance on the issues would most directly impact me, and that my letters and concerns to him would be least likely to be ignored. Frankly I am not impressed with Pat Tiberi and I hope Ryon stomps him in the general election.

ETA: David Ryon is also a graduate of Central State University :cool:

You're a Republican? And a graduate of Central State? Ryon might be a little more palatable than Tiberi. I think Tiberi has been around too long.

It was nice to see lots of people out at the polls in my neighborhood (early) this morning. :)

There's speculation that Ohio results won't be (definitively) known until the end of this week/beginning of next week.

Huckabee drops out...and the GOP is down to 2
 

I never would've imagined that Ron Paul would've lasted this long, surpassing all the other so-called "frontrunners": The Ghoul, Great Mitten, the Hucklebuck, Randy Watson, Tommy Thom, Tommy Tan, Duncan Hunter, wow. What a campaign race this has been.

Oh, and for the record....MCCAIN HAS NOT SECURED THE NOMINATION!!!!

Until the delegates have their final say in St. Paul in September, Ron Paul still has just as much of a chance of getting the nomination as McCain does (or anyone else for that matter). That said, the truth of the matter is that with the Hucklebuck dropping out, the odds of a brokered convention has diminished greatly. Nonetheless, it ain't over until September.

Great work, Ron Paul!!! Hang in there.

Oh, and congrats on your winning the primary to further secure your Congressional re-election seat. I read a news story that there was gonna be a re-vote in your congressional district.....


.....because someone Peden the ballot box. *rimshot* :D