“Why I’m voting for Barack Obama” 101

In the aftermath of the Iowa caucus, an increasing number of my friends, family members, and acquaintances have asked me to explain why I will be voting for Barack Obama in 2008.  I’ve experimented with a number of approaches.  With some, I argued that Obama is the only one who can lead us to the change we need in areas such as health care, education, and job security.  To others, I explained that Obama is the only one who stands for hope and cares about the concerns of the future generation.  You get the idea…I basically relied on the usual rhetoric that Obama, his supporters, and political commentators alike have been feeding us daily on the airwaves, TV, and Internet.

But after Obama’s victory speech in Iowa, I came up with my own argument.  It’s very simple!  No need to unearth Obama’s voting record or embark on a tirade about why his policy proposals are the most sound and sustainable.   

Here goes…

I will not be voting for Edwards because, while he certainly talks the talk (re: poverty, job security, and health care reform), he most definetly does not walk the walk (think of his background as a litigation lawyer, $400 haircuts, and his new ranch…).

On the contrary, while at times Obama fails to go as far as Edwards on certain issues (e.g., poverty), he also talks the talk on a number of social, economic, and political issues that I care about, including civil rights, women’s issues, and the environment.  But most importantly, Obama walks the walk!  His personal and professional background, as well as his more recent social and policy initiatives as a Senator in IL, are a true reflection of his ideals, beliefs, and values.  In other words, Obama is both honest and authentic.  And that makes him someone to be reckoned with.  Just as dishonesty can threaten to break a campaign (just think of what is happening on the Republican side with Romney…), honesty can make a campaign. 

Last but not least, Hillary both fails to talk the talk and walk the walk! Her Iowa speech made it clear that while she has recently adopted the “change” rhetoric coined by Obama (along with all of the other candidates–both Democrats and Republicans), she fails to address the most pressing social concerns of our time.  She says nothing about social justice, nothing about women’s rights, nothing about poverty, and nothing about racial equality.

With that, I will be voting for Obama because he is the only one who both talks the talk and walks the walk–while standing for not only change and hope, but also for honesty and authenticity.

m.