This is an email I posted today in our Kern County Barack Obama supporters group.  If you would like to join and participate in the discussion, please feel free to do so at: http://my.barackobama.com/p...

_________________________________________________ ______________

It’s been 13 days since Obama officially announced his candidacy in Springfield, and things are really getting interesting. My excitement in the campaign and the man is renewed today, so I thought it would be a good time to initiate some discussion.

In the past few weeks I had begun to feel slightly down about Barack. I began to be overwhelmed with the feeling that the race was already over. People I spoke to about it didn’t seem to be taking the campaign seriously, like the whole thing was just an exercise…bound to end up like Ralph Nader’s Presidential runs. A statement. A “good for him! See, how far we’ve come since the 60’s!” When I talked to friends and family about Barack, they blew him off and asked “But what do you think of Hillary?” I began to wonder if the whole thing was going to end up like Rocky. Barack would be a hero because he stayed in the ring longer than anyone thought he could…but he would never be President.

The biggest impediment, in my mind, was Hillary. Sure, there are a few naïve cases such as myself who are inspired by Barack’s refreshing outlook…but the majority of Democrats (it seemed) assume that this is Hillary’s race. It’s been a long time coming and the other candidates just don’t matter…no one will have as much clout and support with the liberal side of America as her, and that’s that. Bummer.

Today, I googled for a few minutes because I needed to find out what this “tiff” between Hillary and Barack was. I’d heard about David Geffen’s comments, but I didn’t understand why people connected them to Obama.

As I read deeper, I became very excited once again…

David Geffen was a HUGE Clinton supporter. For the most part, back when Clinton meant Bill & Hill. This week, he dumped a huge sum of money into Barack’s campaign and slammed Hillary, saying that the Clintons were liars and she is a divisive candidate. Hillary’s campaign is acting like Geffen is now some kind of wacko racist because of his criticism. Democrats aren’t allowed to say the Clinton’s are liars! Meanwhile, an African-American Democrat & supporter of Hillary said that Barack would be a disaster for the Democrats if he got the nomination…because he’s black. Who’s back-stabbing who here?

What’s exciting me, is not only are Democrats questioning Hillary’s destiny…it’s happening on a large scale. And Hillary is defensive, possibly threatened. I don’t like to see in-fighting among Democrats, but as I said…I think there is substance here that merits some examination. The thing is…Hillary is a divisive candidate. Conservatives can’t stand her. Moreover, a lot of fairly open-minded moderates can’t stand her either. The Clinton years left a bad taste in their mouths.

Here’s the thing…I can’t change their ideas about a woman’s right to choose, universal healthcare, and all the typical liberal issues. I’m fine with that. I want Barack and not Hillary because I don’t want the hassle of arguing the Clinton’s being liars, Whitewater, and a semen stained dress ADDED to the rest of America’s complex issues. The reason Clinton is a divisive candidate is she brings back all of this baggage that has nothing to do with the Democratic platform! Of course Clinton would be a fine President (in my eyes) but the other half of this country would never shut up about it, and we would waste precious energy and political capital on this BS.

In conclusion, I am not pleased about any negativity that has been indirectly or directly shot at Hillary Clinton. What I am excited about, is that this discussion is highlighting all the positives in Barack Obama as a Presidential candidate.

Furthermore, Obama is starting to look like a real candidate to mainstream America. This has been one of my greatest hopes, because now he has a chance to show everyone what we have seen.

Sorry to drudge through so much muck in this email, but reading between the muck I have made some really exciting realizations and I am really inspired and happy about what is going on. I’d like to write more in detail about my feelings about Barack as a candidate in the future…but I’ll save that for later emails. I have so many hopes, fears, and things to get excited about when it comes to BO…and I’m sure you do as well.

-Aaron