Why Not Obama?

I have always been a supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton. With that said, I do not dislike Senator Barack Obama and, should he get the Democratic nomination for president, I will support him. However, there are numerous reasons why I personally feel that Senator Obama is not as ready or as qualified to be the next president of the United States as Senator Clinton is. It is important to note that I don't think that either Clinton or Obama are the best and most qualified candidates that ran this election season. They are both superstars with fans and this has undoubtedly helped both of them. But...it has now come to a showdown between the two and the choice for me is clear...Hillary Clinton. She is, by far, the better candidate over Barack Obama.

First off, there is the love and hype for Obama. Yes, he is a phenomenal speaker. He has ignited people into politics in a way that I don't think any candidate, not even JFK, has ever done before in the history of our nation. But his words do not match his actions always and, after the election of George W. Bush, I have become cynical and skeptical towards "just words". Senator Obama gave a speech in 2002 in opposition to the Iraq War. Congratulations! You were right. The war would be a disaster. However, if your whole platform last year when you started your campaign was that you were against the war then why did you constantly vote to fund it and vote identically as Senator Clinton? In your own words, "it's business as usual." Obama, though not him alone, continues to throw the fact that Hillary voted in support for the war back in her face to try to show voters that he has better judgment. This is a tired argument. Obama was NOT in the senate at the time of the vote and therefore no one really knows how Obama would have voted had he had the same intelligence that was available to the MAJORITY of senators that voted for the war, including Senator Clinton. It's a waste of time for me. I don't care if you voted for the war or against the war. The point is...we ARE at war. So get us out. And you both agree that we need to get out so Senator Obama...stop trying to drive this issue as a wedge.

This leads me to my next issue with Obama. His whole stance on "politics as usual." He says he'll be different and that he will play things differently than the status quo and that he will bring the end of dirty politcs. Really though...he's not. He's playing the game just as those have played it before and he's masked it well. Part of his platform was that he would not attack. He has. He's played this election no differently than Senator Clinton. Do I have a problem with his attacks? Absolutely not. I most definitely think he should say what he needs to say to defend himself and to gain momentum. However, I have a problem with you attacking after saying that you will not attack and then masking your attacks as something else. Own up to the things you're doing and at least get some respect and stop sending out your staff to say things about your opponents. Say them yourself.

As a person who is training to be a part of the media, I think I am qualified in saying that the media has leaned towards Obama. There is no doubt a Clinton hating media. The way the stories are covered between Clinton and Obama is just upsetting and unfair. To me, Obama is getting a free pass. Even the whole trial of Antonin Rezko, who has been tied to Obama, has been seriously overlooked. One thing I know about the media is that, while the media loves a good comeback and the rise of a person...they love the fall of an individual so much more. The media will turn on Obama, like they do on everyone, at some point soon and I do not think he will be prepared for how much of an effect it will have. Can you imagine being loved and then suddenly unloved? I think he's gotten too wrapped up in the media not being so hard on him and he's become a big celebrity with all the supporters he has acquired. What happens when the crowds leave? What happens when they move on to someone else? Trust me...they will. If not now...then later. Will you be able to handle it? Maybe. But who knows. I compare Obama to one of those LiveStrong bracelets that Lance Armstrong made so popular. Everyone jumped on the bandwagon and everyone wanted one. Those bracelets rose fast, peaked, and now they are out of fashion and in the past. Barack Obama is a LiveStrong bracelet. Overexposure is a killer.

When people say that Hillary has been plotting her rise to the presidency for years and that all she can see ahead of her is the White House, it is infuriating. Every single person running has been plotting their rise to the presidency and has their eyes on the White House. They are all ambitious. I don't doubt that they all want to help change the country for the better...but to say that only one of them is power hungry is, simply, wrong. I see Obama as wanting the power way more than Hillary. I see him as impatient. He was elected to the senate in 2004 and then less than two years into his term he already has his focus on a new job. He's still a senator, but he's rarely there. True, Hillary is rarely there these days as well. However, at least she served a full 6 year term before throwing in her hat for the presidency. At least she spent the first years of this decade really and truly learning the workings of the Senate and making friends, joining strong committees, and working with Republicans who had previously villified her. I just cannot help by being put off by Obama being chosen to do one job and then neglecting that job because he wants to climb the next step of the ladder.

With all this said and probably a couple more unwritten things that I forgot to mention, notice I neither mentioned race nor gender, I firmly believe that Hillary Clinton is the BETTER candidate over Barack Obama. She's been vetted and tried over and over again. He has not. She's been patient. He has not. More importantly, I've been listening and I've been talking to people and I know that there is no one in the race right now with more knowledge on the issues than Hillary Clinton. I've spoken to health insurance professionals that have told me how Obama's insurance plan is seriously flawed in comparison to Hillary's and how it's clear that he doesn't quite understand it as well as she does. Again, I will support Obama should he win the nomination. No doubt he has worked harder than everyone. But he still does not have the nomination despite what the media says and despite his attitude that he has this in the bag. If anything, I think Hillary's losses will prove to be a good thing because I think it humbles a person and will make her realize not to take the job for granted because it was hard to get there. She's ready. If she wins...bring on the hate storm. She could win the presidency and people will still speak ill of her, perhaps even more so than now and in the past. She's not running to be liked...because many people will never like her no matter what. I admire her for putting herself out there and dealing with all the hate she has to face. She's a powerful woman...but she didn't get to where she is today by sliding by and leaning on her husband. She's intelligent and, get this, she's actually a warm and good person. It's been sad to see many of the Democratic elite turning their backs to her because they don't want to see her in power. I don't see it as a pro-Obama vote by some of the superdelegates, but more of an anti-Clinton vote. But that's a whole other argument over Hillary's electability. The party is split. Of course, I end this with an encouragment for the United States to vote for Hillary Clinton.

A Monster of a Mess

A top aide for Senator Barack Obama has resigned after a news report leaked where she called Senator Hillary Clinton a "monster." And the gloves are off. Full story here.

Because it's just too damn funny...

I'm coming back to my entertainment base to show you the trailer for the new Anna Nicole Smith biopic starring Willa Ford.



I smell disaster. But I'll probably watch.

Bush Endorsement

President George W. Bush has now officially endorsed Senator John McCain for the presidency. The two ran against each other in 2000.

Thank You Texas

Senator Hillary Clinton is the projected winner in Texas.

This is truly incredible.

Thank you Texas.

Thank You Ohio

Senator Hillary Clinton is the projected winner in Ohio tonight.

Now, let's win Texas and do this thing!

1 and 1

So far....Senator Barack Obama can claim victory in Vermont and Senator Hillary Clinton can claim victory in Rhode Island.

McCain Wins Nomination

After almost clinching the nomination in 2000, Senator John McCain has finally won the Republican nomination for president.

Vote for Obama

Today is a crucial day for voters in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

We need a President with great judgment and the ability to unite the country to get things done.

Someone who can inspire and give people the sense that everyone has their own personal stake in the government.

Americans are hungry for change and are turned off by old-established politics and corrupted Washington.

We need someone with leadership to move this country forward for the better.

That person is Barack Obama.

Join the movement and vote for change you can believe in.

Vote For Hillary

Today is a pivotal day.

Texas, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Vermont.

Go out and vote.

Vote for our future.

Vote for real change.

Vote for experience.

Let your voice be heard.

Stand with us.

Vote for Hillary Clinton

Together, we can win.

Stand for Hillary

Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Tomorrow is an important day.

Look deep before falling for hype and rhetoric.

Think about the next four years.

Think about the last eight.

Use your voice.

Take a stand.

Vote for Hillary Clinton

The time is now

Clean Sweep for Obama

Image Courtesy of MSNBC.com

Presidential candidate Barack Obama continues to make history. As if the momentum on his campaign was not strong enough already, the results from the February 9th primaries/caucuses further increased his viability in the race.

Obama won all three states (Washington, Nebraska, and Louisiana) and the Virgin Islands by a substantial margin:
Washington - Obama 68%, Clinton 31%
Nebraska - Obama 68%, Clinton 32%
Louisiana - Obama 57%, Clinton 36%

With Obama receiving a majority of the delegates from each of the three states and all three delegates from the Virgin Islands, it seems the race for the Democratic nomination may continue through the spring and up until the convention itself. Barack's message is spreading all across the country and many are ready for the change necessary to unite the country.

Maine is next up. Many are calling it a "New England challenge" for Obama, since Clinton is highly favored in the Northeast, especially by women. The historical presidential race continues...

Still A Long Way To Go

The Green Room is proud and happy with Senator Hillary Clinton's performance in the Super Tuesday primaries. A thank you to all those who went out and voted...for anyone.

Both Hillary and Senator Barack Obama had amazing nights yesterday. Obama carried a total of 14 states with a key win in Missouri. However, Clinton took home the night's top prizes, which were California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Take that Senators Kerry, Kennedy, and Governor Deval Patrick.

On the GOP side, Mike Huckabee performed quite well but it looks like the GOP nominee will be Senator John McCain. Mitt Romney had a bad night but has vowed to stay in the race.

Thank you to all who voted.

Forget the Hype

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday.

Wipe away the hype. Take a deep look. Think about it. Change the country.

Vote for Hillary Clinton

It ain't over 'til it's over...

First off, congratulations to the Giants for winning the 42nd Super Bowl! What an upset, eh? The second wild card team to ever do that... Sad story about the Pats 18-1. Couldn't go 19-0.

Now, onto an important message as we head into the last 48 hours before Super Tuesday.

College life has generally prevented me from posting as often as I'd like, despite my efforts to stay political involved and engaged on campus. However, reading the previous post on the Green Room, I felt compelled to make a last stand before leaving voters and readers to make their decision without the harassment of the media, on or offline.

What sparked this entry was really a quote by Oprah Winfrey. She said words which struck a chord with me; words which summarily prompted this entry and enforced one of my main reasons for supporting Hillary. The Politico quotes Oprah as saying at a recent Obama rally in California,

“We have won the struggle,” she declared in her best preacher’s tone, adding the two candidates are “a declaration of victory for women’s rights and civil rights and now we are free – free from the constructions of gender and race,” meaning “for the first time we can vote what we believe.”

"We have won the struggle." "A declaration of victory for women's rights." We have won the struggle. Won the struggle? My mouth remained agape as I read these words. Perhaps to the average reader they do not seem some incredulous. Perhaps to a male, they might not strike him in the way I was struck. But for me, I gave a look of shock, then a snort of laughter when I read Oprah's words.

Women have not won the struggle. Women may have come a long way from women's suffrage, the Equal Rights Amendment (er, still working on that) and the Second Wave of feminism, but that is all relative. Did someone shatter the glass ceiling while I wasn't looking? Oprah, if you define "winning the struggle" as the status quo, then I'm deeply disappointed in you, as a fellow woman and a fellow minority.

I hate to break it to you, but we [women] have not "won the struggle" nor can we "declare victory." Last time I checked, we're still 78 cents to the dollar. One in four collegiate women will be sexually assaulted. Roe v. Wade stands a few hairs away from being overturned. As Jessica Valenti rightly states in her book, Full Frontal Feminism, "What's the worst thing you can call a girl? Bitch, slut, whore, cunt. What's the worse thing you can call a man? Pussy, sissy, girl, 'mangina.' Notice anything? The worst thing you can call a girl is a girl. The worst thing you can call a guy is a girl...That is royally fucked up."

If you could see me throwing up my hands in total agreement and simultaneous exasperation, you'd be in for quite a visual treat. Valenti summarizes the subconscious sexism that still exists. Women still have a long way to go--there's no way we're out of the woods yet. Are you happy with America right now? Are you? No, clearly not, since we've all been vehemently opposing Bush and his policies. I'm pretty upset with our economy, our foreign policy, the state of our nation's education system, women's rights (or lack thereof), the state of race and ethnicity, and hmm, I guess, all of our domestic policy. Now, what does this have to do with all this women's stuff I keep spewing? Well, women's rights are humans rights. Equalize the status of women in a nation, and you will be creating progress in most fields. Women are scoring lower than men in math and science exams. Women are disproportionately afflicted when it comes to job security and welfare. They are one of the largest demographics afflicted by the failure of our healthcare system. You want to repair our country? Improve our nation's education system? Change healthcare? Then fix the gender status.

Why am I so focused on all this gender stuff? Because honestly, I'm only 20 years old but good gracious, am I tired. I'm tired of my emergency contraception, my Plan B, and my birth control being restricted in parts of the country. I'm tired of other nations like Chile, Germany, heck even LIBERIA, having female leaders in political power. I'm tired of women's issues not being topical. I'm tired of white males deciding what I do with my uterus. I'm just tired.

My tiredness has led me to believe that Hillary Clinton is not only the right woman for the job, but the right person for the job. The wonderful thing about Hillary is that regardless of her gender, she's still the most qualified, the one with the most experience, the experience that will actually be able to create change.

I'd be lying to you if I told you I wasn't inspired by Barack Obama's dashing good looks, outstanding rhetoric, and youthful appeal. But what I'd also tell you is that Hillary stirs something in me emotionally, something that I can't articulate in fancy words or with trembling voice. I would tell you that when I hear her speak, or read her policy, or see her campaigning, I feel in my gut that she is not only the woman who's not only going to fight for change but the woman who's going to make it happen, too.

A Plea

There are 48 hours until the Super Tuesday primaries and all I can say to Democrats is not to be fooled or blinded by Barack Obama's message. He has amazing rhetoric but he lacks the ability to make things happen and we still do not know who he is as a person. He is a live strong bracelet. A passing fad that people are jumping on the bandwagon for. If you really believe in him, then vote for him. The vote is yours. However, if you aren't sure about him....if you are skeptical....then vote for experience. Vote for a real change.

Vote for Hillary Clinton

Romney Wins Maine

Mitt Romney has won the Republican Maine caucus.

Wesley Acquitted

Actor Wesley Snipes has been cleared of tax charges against him. He was found guilty of lesser charges but is gonna avoid substantial jail time. Snipes owes $17 million in back taxes plus interest.

Mendez in Rehab

Actress Eva Mendez has checked herself into rehab for substance abuse.

Spice Girls Not To Extend Tour

The Spice Girls will not be extending their tour to Asia, South America, and Australia. They are ending their highly successful tour in Toronto at the end of this month. The quintet have issued a statement.

“We’ve had such an amazing time over the last 3 months. It’s been incredible being back together and seeing our fans again. We want to thank everyone who came to see us. It was all so mad the first time round, so we’ve really been able to appreciate it properly this time. There have been so many highlights and good times that we know it will be hard to be apart after Toronto. Really sorry if we didn’t get to see you this time round. We all have other commitments in our lives now but who knows what will happen next.”

I don't think this is the end. Maybe they will regroup for an album...though their new single failed. I hope they do stick together. I caught the show in Boston two days ago and it was absolutely phenomenal.